Laura and Jason Van Dyk are the artists behind God’s fingerprints, where they create art for people who love God’s Word. In this Q+A with American Bible Society, they answer questions about creativity, faith, and Scripture and share how you can enrich your faith by engaging with the Bible through art!

Tell us a little about yourself!

JASON: We’re Laura and Jason Van Dyk. Our passion is creating artwork that declares the truth of Scripture. We do this through our business, God’s fingerprints. For us, it’s a natural way to connect with God and use the gifts he has given us for his glory.

LAURA: As artists, we have backgrounds in fine art and graphic design. We came to faith later in life, during our college years. We met during a design course in New York City. At the time, we were both trying to find a way to combine our newfound faith with our passion for art and design. I was doing something called a “52 Project.” I would create one piece of Scripture art every week for a year.

JASON: At the same time, I was doing a “365 Project.” I’d use photographs and typography with Scripture verses, making a new piece every day for a year.

LAURA: When we realized that we were both doing these Scripture art projects, we started to think about how we could join forces!

JASON: Our stories became one as we started dating and eventually got married in 2014. Today, we have one beautiful young daughter named Florence.

Why did you start God’s fingerprints?

JASON: At first, we were trying to solve our own problem. As young Christians, we were inspired by verses like Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and wanted to fill our home with Scripture. But we couldn’t find any art that matched our style.

LAURA: Many of our friends agreed that there was a lack of Scripture art from people in our generation. Since my background is in fine art, I felt that we had a chance to bring the quality of fine art into the Christian art world. We had a desire to meet that need for ourselves and others, and we’ve been so excited to see what God has done with that!

JASON: At first, we were only sharing our Scripture art online. It was something we both really enjoyed, but it was more of a passion project than a full-time job. Then, in 2015, people started asking us if we would ever sell prints. We launched our God’s fingerprints website in 2016.

For a while, our art continued to be a side project. Laura was working as a freelance graphic designer, and I was working at a homeless shelter. Near the end of 2016, I was laid off unexpectedly. We looked at God’s fingerprints and decided that maybe it was something God wanted us to pursue full-time. But we needed to take a big leap of faith.

LAURA: At that point, we decided that I would keep working while Jason dove into the business and steered us ahead. For our vision to succeed, we knew that one of us needed to commit the time to take it to the next level.

JASON: We took the leap, and I started working on God’s fingerprints full-time. Shortly after, Laura was able to join me. It’s been about four years since we both committed to this work, and we now have a small team of seven people, located all around the world. God has been so gracious to us.

How has creating art deepened your personal faith and Scripture engagement?

JASON: For me, sitting down and creating artwork around a Scripture verse is a great way to meditate on God’s Word. It helps me connect with God and deepens my appreciation for the Bible.

LAURA: My art and faith are deeply connected. Honestly, I struggle to create Scripture art unless I’ve been spending time with God. When I feel distant from him, it’s hard to make something that resonates with me on a personal level. But when I create something out of a place of worship and closeness to God, I see how it resonates much more deeply—both in my own heart, and with others!

I rely on God to guide my work. When I’m struggling to illustrate a certain verse, I pray and seek God’s wisdom for a deeper understanding of his Word. I invite him into the process. I ask questions like, “How do you want me to depict this verse? How do you want to speak to others through this art?” This process has taught me that I’m inadequate to portray the depth and power of God’s Word without him!

Why should someone try to engage with the Bible through art?

LAURA: Seeing Scripture combined with visual imagery is another way for us to hide God’s Word in our hearts. It helps me meditate on and memorize God’s Word. I can recall an image and verse in moments when I need comfort, reassurance, or confidence from God. And I think others can experience the same blessing!

JASON: We’ve thought about this question a lot. Art can be a great vehicle to communicate the truth of Scripture in a unique and fresh way. One thing we hear from our customers is that the art they hang on their walls reminds them of God’s truth. It’s through Scripture that our minds are transformed. And it’s through Scripture that we combat the lies we’re told throughout the day or the week. Surrounding ourselves with God’s truth keeps his love for us at the forefront of our minds each day.

LAURA: These reminders don’t just have to be on your walls. For example, we have free phone wallpapers on our site—something you look at one hundred times a day can become a constant reminder of God’s promises to you. We also have free coloring pages to help you relax and engage with Scripture. We think Scripture art is a great way to engage children as well. Children comprehend images before they understand words. That’s one reason we created the Nursery Series of artworks, which are meant to be displayed in children’s rooms.

JASON: The other side of Scripture art is how God can use it to impact people with his Word. Beautiful artwork has a way of drawing people in. When we put artwork on our walls, desk, or phone screen, our friends, coworkers, and family will typically engage with it on some level. When that happens, they are engaging with the Word of God! And God promises in Isaiah 55 that his Word will not return to him void. It always accomplishes what he intends. So, in a way, displaying Scripture art in our lives is a way to partner with God, trusting him to plant and water seeds in people’s hearts.

What advice do you have for people who want to create their own Scripture art?

LAURA: For anyone with a desire to make their own art inspired by Scripture, I’m so excited for you and your journey! I believe we need more creative Christians to contribute to the art community. One good way to start would be a “52 Project” or “365 Project.” Those models help you consistently create something each day or week. You can also try taking a class—especially from artists you love!

It’s also great to share your art with others and get feedback. I am so encouraged when people tell me that my art spoke to them, or that the verse I painted was just the verse they needed to see that day. It reminds me that my art is not just for me. It can have an impact on the body of Christ while being a witness for people who have not yet met Jesus.

Finally, give yourself permission to play and experiment with art. Don’t be afraid to try new things and don’t fear failure. Be patient and gracious with yourself on the creative journey, even if certain pieces don’t work out. Don’t let yourself be distracted by perfectionism or overly concerned with productivity. Instead, try to see the creative process as a way to co-create with God. Place worship at the heart of it, and trust that God will work through you!

JASON: It’s also important to be okay with not being very good when you first start. We both look back at our original art and cringe a little bit! And that’s just part of the journey. The key is to make sure your heart is in the right place. Don’t create art for praise or monetary gain. Instead, create art to honor God and to bless others. Do it for that audience of One. If that’s where your heart is, then no matter what happens, it’s a win because your focus is on glorifying God.

Is there any art that has enriched your own faith?

JASON: There are so many other artists creating amazing artwork that incorporates or is inspired by Scripture. For example, we’ve really enjoyed Dana Tanamachi’s work in The Illuminated Bible. And there are many artists on social media whom we follow and enjoy, including Saint Lennon, Scripture Type, and Sword and Pencil, just to name a few. We’re encouraged by the way God is moving through other artists.

LAURA: With my background in fine art, I’ve been profoundly impacted by the Renaissance. The work of old masters like Michelangelo and Da Vinci fueled my faith and made me want to depict God’s Word through art. A few years ago, we went to Italy and got to see a lot of Renaissance art, in person, in cities like Rome and Florence. (Fun fact: we named our daughter after the city of Florence because we were so inspired by our visit!) When we saw the art, we were both moved to tears! These artists had amazing dedication to their craft. Their faith was also a crucial platform for them to grow in their skill. And almost all their art was directly inspired by Scripture.

During that trip, I was reminded of Jesus’s parable of the talents. Scripture encourages us to invest the gifts God gives to us, which includes artistic ability. It’s an invitation into the joy of using our gifts to serve others and glorify him. Ultimately, art is creativity that points us to our Creator.

Favorite verse or Bible passage?

LAURA: That’s a hard question! One passage that had a big impact on me as a young Christian artist is in Exodus 31, when God is describing one of the men who will help build the tent of the LORD’s presence: “The LORD said to Moses, ‘I have chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with my power. I have given him understanding, skill, and ability for every kind of artistic work’” (Exodus 31:1-3 GNT).

This passage spoke to me because art always played an insignificant role in my growing up years. I came from a very traditional and pragmatic cultural background, where the attitude is that you don’t want to be an artist because you won’t make a living. It was hard to value creative endeavors. But these verses showed me that God has a heart for artists. Everyone has been given unique abilities to contribute to his kingdom in unique ways. It’s an idea that has stuck with me.

JASON: I was baptized at age 24. Before that, I lived a life far from God. I had never even gone to church. But even before I believed in Jesus, I always had this sense of shifting, sinking sand under everything I was trying to build in this life. As I started reading the Bible, one passage that really stood out to me was Matthew 7:24-25. It meant so much to me that I had it read at my baptism: “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock” (Matthew 7:24-25 GNT).

Coming to know Christ and understanding his Word as truth helped me realize that no matter what happens, I have the firm foundation of God’s Word. That verse spoke to me when I was baptized, and it still speaks to me now. As Christians, we know that our faith is not all sunshine and rainbows. The streams do rise, and the floods do come. But that verse reminds us that God’s Word stands firm. It’s a promise to every believer that if we continue to treasure God’s Word and put it into practice, we will have a sure foundation.