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38 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 30, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Artist hopes to install a passion for the Bible Continued from page 37 things." There are a lot of examples of that in the Bible, says Paterson, who explains he was raised in a Christian household. Noah built his ark in his backyard and when he was finished, he got drunk. "David ­ who God described as a man after his own heart ­ had an adulterous affair," Paterson says. "There's so much human-ness going on," Paterson said. "These were real people, but the church certainly doesn't bring that out ­ the humanity of people. "I guess I hope that my take on things here will open a door for people to the Bible and to a real relationship with God." That different take on the Bible is why publisher Bastian Books decided "I don't see myself as a religious painter so much as painting stuff I'm interested in at a particular time." James Paterson, artist to take on the project, Paterson says, "because they hadn't seen anything like it on the market yet." The artist seems to have a knack for original works. Walk into his living room and there's a giant moving piece he created. Turn a wheel and bird's wings flap. At one point Paterson's main interest ­ and you can tell when you walk into his house ­ was hockey. He created one painting per game the Toronto Maple Leafs played in 1999, a series he dubbed `Hockey all the time.' "I documented the game and whatever was going on in the world," Paterson said. "I was using hockey as a commentary." The cabinets are decorated, the walls are brightly painted ­ even the kitchen chairs are hand-painted, personalized for his family members. Also hanging on a wall are a handful of works he did as part of a commissioned project for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada to represent the church calendar. "I wasn't doing quote unquote religious work until James Paterson recently," Paterson explained. "I don't see myself as a religious painter so much as painting stuff I'm interested in at a particular time." In a sense, though, Jim's Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book has been a long time coming for the artist. "The first sort of religious painting that I did was for a Christmas present for my parents while I was in first year university," he said. "It was the Garden of Eden." That was back in 1978. Paterson continued doing what he calls "Bible paintings" over the years. "Different people started suggesting, why don't you put this in a book? I had never thought about it," he said. Paterson will be signing copies of Jim's Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book at Good Books in Oakville on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. ­ 1 p.m. The book is also available for purchase through www.amazon.ca and www.chapters.ca. Women love koala bears, but they go home with the dingo. Kelita concert on World AIDS Day An award-winning singer and songwriter is performing on World AIDS Day, tomorrow, to help sexually abused children in Cambodia. Canadian musician Kelita will perform a Christmas Benefit Concert to raise $30,000 to support young girls rescued from the sex trade industry in Cambodia. The Heavenly Night Benefit Concert ­ recently released on a CD ­ is at The Meeting House at 2700 Bristol Circle. The concert features traditional Christmas songs with new arrangements from smooth jazz to R & B, and four original songs composed by Kelita. Kelita was inspired after watching a documentary on the sex trade industry and a trip to Cambodia in 2006 . A private Gala Event and News Conference will precede the concert at 5:30 p.m. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $35 at the door. For information, visit www.heavenlynight.org. Foster's is available at The Beer Store & your local licensed establishments: Emma's Back Porch, 2084 Lakeshore Rd. The Plough & Harrow, 33030-3040 New Street The Dicken's, Burlington, 423 Elizabeth St. Coach & Four, 2432 Lakeshore Rd. W. The Queen's Head, 118 Dunn St. Boston Manor, Burlington, 4460 Fairview St. QB's, 4460 Fairview St. Gator Ted's, 1505 Guelph Line 1222 Walker's Line 1124 Guelph Line Outback Steakhouse, Oakville, 2520 Hyde Park Gate