"A Shield About Me": A Mixed Media Art Piece Inspired by Faith and Film

I don't get to see my parents very often since they live overseas, and I'm here in Saint Paul, but they visited us this summer. My love for movies, which has evolved into a favorite hobby with my husband, is definitely homegrown. I was raised on classics, and we learned to love analyzing stories and discussing them together. One of these classics, a favorite in the Dye household but especially for my mom, is the original Superman (1978). The weekend my folks were in town coincided with the premiere of Superman (2025), so of course we had to go see it.

I won't give any spoilers, but there's an incredible fight scene where one character is protected by a force field as all the chaos surrounds them. The danger is everywhere, very visible, yet they're entirely protected. Over some coffee afterward, my mom shared that she particularly enjoyed that scene because it reminded her of two Psalms she had been meditating on:

The theater we went to

Psalm 3:3 "But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high."

Psalm 5:12 "Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield."

Inspired by the powerful imagery of the movie and the comfort of God's Word, I created "A Shield About Me" - an original artwork that combines multiple art techniques. I loosely drew my color palette from the early renditions of Superman, choosing a bright, pulp sci-fi aesthetic: lots of bold blues, block shading, and punchy oranges to really make it glow.

My Mixed Media Art Process

I started with a photo of myself as a reference and created a digital art sketch in Photoshop. The finished piece is a mixed media painting made with gouache, oil pastel, acrylic paint, and colored pencils - each medium bringing something unique to the composition.

The gouache painting provided that rich, opaque base layer, while the oil pastel art added texture and vibrancy. I used acrylic paint for the bold color blocks and finished with colored pencil details to really make everything sharp and defined.

This contemporary art piece holds special meaning for me, blending my love of storytelling, faith, and painting techniques into one cohesive work. There's something powerful about creating art that connects personal inspiration with universal themes of protection and hope.

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Follow along for more art inspiration and behind-the-scenes looks at my creative process here in Saint Paul. I love sharing how different mediums work together to create original artwork that tells a story.