He Leadeth Me  is a  self portrait but it is also a depiction of Psalm 23.   I wasn’t intending to portray the Good Shepherd when I began the work,  but rather a rancher simply watching his sheep.   I needed a model for the shepherd,  so I asked my youngest son to come outside and “take a picture of daddy.”   In the last second, instead of looking down towards the sheep, something caught my eye and I looked up for the photo.  When I was well into the painting, events in my life came about that left me feeling lost and confused.   After seeing myself in the painting, I felt comforted, because it appears that the shepherd (me) is himself being led.  The painting which developed before me depicted the Good Shepherd taking care of his sheep and at the same time, I saw myself and I knew that God leads us by still waters.

In a time of uncertainty and confusion in the world,  my newest work inspires one to be at ease and rest in the provision and plan of the Good Shepherd.   I tried to capture the tender care of the shepherd in this self portrait as well as my own faith in God’s leading in my life.  He Leadeth Me speaks of the Divine love and leading that is available as one of His. 

–  Mark Keathley