Meet Al Sauls | Artist & Iconographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Al Sauls and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Al, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
I have a favorite quote by the Roman writer Epictetus: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it.” This quote always gives me clarity when dealing with a problem that seems unsolvable. It prompts me to consider how I should respond to the issue and to keep the bigger picture in mind.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art style is very spiritual. I am motivated by the religious stories of the bible. I have been creating different forms of art for ten years. In the last five years, I have grown a passion to work on iconography since it is the most challenging form of art I have pursued. My favorite artists that influence my style are Giorgio Vasari and Leonardo da Vinci and I find their work to be expressive and bold. I sometimes use their color scheme in my work as a homage to them.
Since I started working on religious icons five years ago, I have displayed my work at the Link Lee mansion and have been honored to have some of my work shown in the Scanlan Foundation building. I also enjoy giving back to the community and supporting my alma mater the University of St. Thomas. Recently I gave a piece to the UST Alumni Foundation to help support scholarships for incoming students.

When people see my work, I hope they experience an uplifting feeling. All I want to do is give people hope and express something beautiful and full of spirit.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favorite spots in Houston is the Menil Collection. I love visiting the icons gallery, which houses icons from the 12th century. The way that the icons are displayed in an open setting allows you to come close and study the intricate details in the layers. For food, I would go to the Menil Bistro. It’s a quiet, small restaurant that has a wonderful brunch menu. I often spend time eating there because the food is top-notch. Another exciting place in Houston is the Chapel of Saint Basil on the campus of the University of Saint Thomas. The chapel was designed by architect Philip Johnson in the early 1950s and took years to be completed. It is such an artistic endeavor and a real labor of love. I enjoy mass in the chapel, witnessing the light shine beautifully on the altar.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The person who has had the most significant impact on helping me achieve my goals is Larry Massey of the Scanlan Foundation. Very few people believed in my dream of becoming an artist. However, Mr. Massey recognized my talent and connected me with the right people to help me achieve my goals. I believe that without Mr. Massey’s guidance and work ethic, I wouldn’t have been able to reach the level of success I have today. His success has been a tremendous influence on my success. In the future, I aspire to support young and aspiring artists and give back to the community, just as Mr. Massey did for me.

Website: https://sacredartlive.org/al-sauls/

Instagram: @iconsofalsauls

Image Credits
all images made by myself.