Randall May received his first paint set for Christmas when he was eight years old, and that was the beginning of his journey as an artist.

May has memories of drawing at a very early age. "I remember sketching and doodling as soon as I could hold a pencil," he remembers.

Art is in May's blood. Both of his grandmothers are artistically inclined, and all 13 of his first cousins have some form of artistic talent, but only May has made a career out of his art. He was featured on PBS and is known in the art world for his western, cowboy and wildlife art.

In 2003, May participated in a mission trip that changed his life. "I can still see this clearly," he recalls. "We were in Egypt, and there were Sudanese refugees playing soccer. One little boy had a tennis shoe on one foot and a dress shoe on the other."

Seeing the poverty made Randy realize that his focus was not where it should be. "I was pushing for fame and recognition in the art world, but those kids didn't have the bare essentials," he says. "I realized I have so much and I didn't need more."

When May returned, he moved his family to DayStar Academy in Castle Valley, Utah, where he taught art and preformed odd jobs for a living. For two years, he rarely sculpted or picked up a paint brush, except to paint the school, and he felt empty. He began to doubt and question his decision.

Soon after, Jason Morgan from Amazing Facts encouraged May to try Christian art. He wasn't convinced. "The Adventist world already has Nathan Greene, does it really need Randy May?" he questioned. In early 2006, May attended an ASI convention and spoke with Kenneth Cox. After their conversation, he knew Christian art was his calling.

Thankful for the opportunity to serve God through his art, May is working on pieces commissioned by Amazing Facts and Cox. He painted a banner for the Colorado Conference last year, and created the banner for Nevada-Utah's camp meeting this year. Inspired by Ellen White's "Incredible Vision," which he heard as a child, May worked feverishly for two weeks to complete the banner. At times, he felt the brush moving, but it was not his hands making the strokes. "It must be divine intervention, because my mother read me the story when I was real young, but as soon as I heard the theme, that was what came to mind," he describes.

May used all available resources, including his own hands, which were modeled in the banner, his two children and a DayStar student. His son held the cord while his daughter took the picture used to paint the banner and the student sewed the banner edges.

For more information on May's work, contact the Nevada-Utah Conference for a brochure.