Trussville artist uses skills to deliver ‘silent sermon’ depicting creation

The man in black donned a leather jacket and sunglasses and began to croon Elvis songs.
   
Meanwhile, his wife, Helen, jovially assured those sitting around her that he doesn’t act this way during normal worship services.
   
Indeed, this wasn’t a “normal” worship service. It was a Valentine’s banquet at New Hope Baptist Church in Pell City, where the entertainment was provided by lip sync-ers and dulcimer players.
   
Nor was the message “normal” delivered by the man dressed in black. His wasn’t a testimony in word or music. Instead, it was conveyed by one verse (“Be still and know that I am God”), the silent strokes of a paintbrush and background instrumental music.
Moment by moment, images that seemed to be inspired by the music began to appear in oils on the canvas.
   
Within a half hour, this painting of lush grasses and trees flourishing beside a stream was complete, and Wesley Dickmann’s silent sermon was finished.
   
Using art as a ministry is something that caught Dickmann and his wife, who have four children and 18 grandchildren, by surprise.
   
“Painting, to me, wasn’t something I considered a ministry,” said Dickmann, a Sainte Genevieve, Mo., native. He was the minister of music and associate pastor at Central Baptist Church, Trussville, until December, when he decided to commit full-time attention to his painting ministry.
   
He said it was Ken Maddox, pastor of Argo Baptist Church, who saw one of Dickmann’s silent sermons and suggested that it become a ministry.
   
So Dickmann and his wife, also an artist, prayed about this and decided to step out in faith.
   
And he found that God can speak through a paintbrush for His glory. Dickmann said he paints and gives an invitation, and decisions are being made.
   
Although Dickmann attended Famous Artist School in Connecticut in 1968, he didn’t begin his style of painting until about 15 years ago. Dickmann said he now looks at God’s handiwork differently. “There’s so much beauty in the world, and we don’t notice it,” he said.
   
Although his ministry is new, Dickmann has given presentations at Calvary Baptist Church, Odenville, and Second Baptist Church, Pell City, in addition to New Hope. Events at other churches and events have also been scheduled.
   
Dickmann has done paintings at banquets, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and churches on a love offering basis. The work of art created at each venue is either presented to the sponsoring facility or given away in a drawing to an audience member.
   
While using his talent for the Lord, Dickmann is also helping others hone their artistic skills through instruction at stores and at his Happy Heart Studio in Springville.
   
In addition to his training in Connecticut, Dickmann has received further education through New Orleans Theological Seminary and at workshops of National Artists North Light Art. He also received degrees at Calhoun Community College in Decatur and at the University of Montevallo.
   
Dickmann noted that his ministry is one that knows no denominational affiliation. He’s given his silent sermons at a Presbyterian church and an Assembly of God church, among others. “This is something that crosses denominational lines,” he said.
   
And it speaks differently to each person. After Dickmann completed his piece at New Hope Baptist, master of ceremonies Matthew Pope pointed out that the Holy Spirit had spoken to him early on as Dickmann applied the first color to the canvas.
   
Pope explained that the color is subtle in the finished painting, but it is still extremely important.
   
Without it, the painting wouldn’t be the same. It is this way, he noted, in the church of God. Every person, artist, musician and teacher is important.
   
To contact Dickmann call 205-467-7766. (Malinda Hallman McGill contributed)