PORT TOWNSEND — An oil painting that is the first effort of a 3-year-old girl has received a $500 bid as part of a church fundraiser.
Bids for Miriam Brown’s “Play,” an abstract mix of vibrant reds, greens and grays, began slowly until an anonymous Alaska cleric entered the high bid over the weekend.
The painting auction is part of the “Invest It for God” fundraising challenge sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church, 609 Taylor St. of Port Townsend, of which Miriam’s father, Tony Brown, is pastor.
The church is in the middle of a building project and is committed to the work of Imagine No Malaria.
Auction proceeds are to be divided equally between the two causes, the pastor said.
Brown said many church members have a special interest in the well-being of children in South Africa and last year sent 11 people on a two-week mission trip to Swaziland, South Africa, to help repair an orphanage.
“Malaria is a constant threat to South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens, so Imagine No Malaria is close to this congregation’s heart,” he said.
Miriam has established a painting routine, sitting on one stool while the canvas is placed horizontally on another.
She tells her father what color she wants to use and where on the canvas it should go, and she applies the paint with a brush.
As soon as she finishes, her father carries her to the kitchen sink and washes the paint off her hands before it ends up all over the house.
She was unwilling to talk about her art and motivation to create with a reporter.
Her parents attributed that to extreme shyness.
“When she is alone with us, she never stops talking,” said her mother, Starla Brown.
Her father’s suggestion that Miriam show the interviewer her room in an effort to get her to talk met with only moderate success.
“I don’t know what the froggy’s name is,” she said, pointing to an aquarium.
Does she want to paint animals? “I don’t know how to.”
When asked if she paints every day or just special days, she handed over a battery case from her Christmas tree that had a loose top.
“Can you fix this?” she asked.
Does she know what her next painting is? “Uh-uh.”
The next question, asking why she didn’t like talking about her painting, prompted her to leave the room.
Tony Brown said Miriam’s painting impulse originated in her response to a lesson on Matthew 25:14-30.
“A man entrusts his wealth in the form of talents to his employees when he goes on a long journey, and some of the employees earn a better return on that money than others,” he said.
“Play” drew three bids — $50, $60 and $75 — before the $500 bid was submitted.
Miriam is currently working on her second oil painting, which probably will be given to her grandmother, who dropped out of the bidding for the first painting when the price skyrocketed.
Miriam has a sister, 2-month old Lydia, who will portray baby Jesus in the church’s Christmas pageant.
Money collected for the painting is tax-deductible.
Those interested in submitting a bid can send an email to pastortonybrown@hotmail.com.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
