Meet Grace Carol Bomer

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Grace Carol Bomer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with grace carol below.

Hi Grace carol, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

A perfect question, since I am currently showing my paintings in an exhibition called RESILIENCE. Alternative spaces and galleries have come to the rescue of artists who have lost working space and artwork because of Helene’s devastating flooding. First Presbyterian Church in Greenville hosted RESILIENCE for Asheville artists. And a week before Helene hit Asheville, Bowie Art Center at Erskine College picked up 43 paintings for an exhibit and unknowingly rescued a lot of my work.

But in this loss and sadness, where does my hope and resilience come from? Thankfully it does not come from me. In this storm I saw how fragile our lives really are and the reality of our “human condition” (see my Website: gracecarolbomer.com). We need the grace of God. We need his help and blessing to be resilient.

I chose to talk about resilience because I want to encourage others who feel hopeless right now — post-Helene. It has been sad and so devastating. My artwork tells of the God who came to us in our broken condition. He became a man to die and to know our sorrows. My Incarnation Series is about this mystery of God’s grace!

I was working on this rescued painting called, “Heaven Is My Throne/Earth Is My Footstool/On Earth As It Is In Heaven” before the flood in my Warehouse studio. It survived on the second floor. Ironically, it is Jesus with his feet on the flood. Post-Helene, many galleries have created opportunities for Asheville artists to show their work. Not only RESILIENCE in Greenville, but “Ghosts of Helene” at Weizenblatt Gallery in Mars Hill and The Outpost on Lexington, a beautiful temporary gallery space for River Arts District artists.

I am praying that the God of grace will give many hurting people resilience and hope at this sad time. He is the God who walked on water and is in the storm.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

The name of my business, Soli Deo Gloria, was incorporated in 1988. I have maintained a studio in Asheville’s River Arts District for over thirty years, -now displaced by Helene, but hoping to return to my Warehouse Studios #6 (170 Lyman Street) by March. This is where I enjoy interacting with visitors, teaching workshops, and most of all, painting!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

My faith in God’s Word is foundational to my work as an artist. I learned to think biblically about the world in college. My World Lit professor, a Yale graduate, who had become a believer in Jesus, made an impact even on my artistic journey. And my English / History degree would prove important to my work as an artist, not only in my ability to write, but also in my understanding of my place as an artist in the post-modern culture. Importantly, I continued to pursue an art degree. The study of art and art history is important as is developing your artistic skills. I also took focused workshops and entered competitions and gradually built a resume’.
In today’s technological world, I believe artists must learn how to promote their work on social media, sharing artwork and perhaps creating videos. A professional website is paramount. I used WordPress, which includes creating a blog. And finally, I write a newsletter to stay in touch with visitors and patrons. Yes, being an artist is a bit overwhelming!

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

We all feel overwhelmed by seeming impossibilities. I keep my focus on the God with whom all things are possible. I work and rest in His wisdom and power, taking time for worship, family and friends. I “know that he gives to his beloved sleep,” (Psalm 127:2) It reminds me of a painting I did called “The Night Watchman.” While we sleep, God is awake and is lovingly working all things for our good and his glory. I use gold leaf in my work to point to this “eternal narrative!” God is “The Gardener”!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gracecarolbomer.com
• Instagram: grace bomer https://www.instagram.com/gracebomer/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqhp1_ojXKk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HW4JT-c7Ro
• Other: The You Tube video — interview is with Convergence (Wash.DC) but please do not feel obligated to post them.

Image Credits

photos by grace bomer