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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 30, 2007 - 37 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2007 Big Picture Book puts human face on Bible By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF I f you've driven down Bronte Road near Rebecca, you probably know James Paterson's house. Hub cap art on crosses, brightly painted televisions hoisted on top of totem poles, paintings on the front lawn ­ that's the one. The man who for years has been expressing himself artistically on his front lawn "to create public discourse," he says, is now the author of an effort that will reach an even bigger audience: Jim's Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book. Soon to be in Chapters stores across the country ­ and now available online ­ Paterson hopes his illustrated effort casts a new light on the Bible. "I want to encourage a new passion for the Bible as a human story, to sort of strip away the religiosity, to make it more personable," said the long-time professional artist, now author. "That's what the Bible is about. It's about people, our relationships with each other, and our relationship with God." Despite the `picture book' title, the book "I want to encourage a new passion for the Bible as a human story, to sort of strip away the religiosity, to make it more personable." James Paterson, artist LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER BIG PICTURE: Bronte resident Jim Paterson has had some of his works published in a book entitled Jim's Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book. is not specifically intended for kids, but rather as a way of introduction. "I wanted it to be more of a doorway into the Bible for people who weren't familiar with it," said Paterson. "My hope is people will read the story of Joseph here, and that they will want to go back to the Bible and really delve deeper." A graduate of Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo, Paterson opens each chapter with a painting, followed by a story that includes a paragraph deconstructing and explaining the painting. "It's sort of trying to present the Bible as real, not something that's dead and dry," he said. "Real people were involved, doing real See Artist page 38 NEED A DENTIST?