This true story took place six years before our National tragedy of September 11, 2001. When our "AMERICAN SPIRIT SHIRT" journey began,  Patriotism was not in vogue, flags were not flying.
Now, America must remember her Foundations...

Autumn of 1995 my husband Paul and I had just returned from our August vacation in Cape May, NJ...I felt inspired to create a new work somewhat different than my chosen Profession. Love for people and Art had brought thirty-five years of "people art"...Portraits; T.V. Make-up & Consultation; Set Design; Art Instruction; also, painting Still Life and Landscapes.

In the days and months that followed a deep concern and compassion for our country rose up within me...I was burdened. "Hi-Tech" knowledge had exalted our nation yet, as a people we had lost our moorings. Who knew the basics...the values that formed our Government...the Ten Commandments, Bill of Rights, and Constitution? Who remembered that "Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom?" Appreciation for the blessing and protection of God on this country, was being swept away. What of the children who have never been taught to honor God and respect these values? Our people needed to understand the link between our Rights and our Responsibilities. Our Constitution and form of government can only work when each citizen is self-governed by these God-given Truths. Somehow this new work would embody these thoughts...

Then suddenly and steadily...Elements of the finished piece poured forth in unrefined form... assembled like a Recipe; Words between stripes, an Oval frame, a Parchment document entitled "We the People"  with Quotations, Stars and Stripes bunting; a National Portrait combining our Founding Fathers with people from both history and today; our Rights and our Responsibilities and the promise of  "2 Chronicles 7:14" were all there. This would be an educational work, a wearable-work of art. When worn, these Truths would live and move among our people...swirling off the pages of history...into our lives, encouraging and inspiring those who already believe them and reaching those who never knew them...or had forgotten. This work would be presented nationally. The process of creation had begun. New Years Day of 1996, I shared some sketches with our family around the dinner table.

It was obvious this would be an enormous undertaking requiring explicit wisdom and direction for the multilevel concerns; mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially. Who would silkscreen this unusual over sized work...full color print on front, back, and long sleeves? Research began with shirt fabrics and styles, suppliers and silkscreeners. In April we received prices and samples from our shirt supplier. In May we were directed to Ampro Sportswear, the second largest silkscreener in the country (print for Nike & Starter) and able to print full length sleeves (nearly unheard of at that time), located only 45 minutes away from our home. Finances would run high on a project of this dimension (over $20,000.); where life savings were concerned we needed absolute confirmation...from God. We definitely felt led to complete this "AMERICAN SPIRIT SHIRT" project and I continued to draw yet, to this point no major spending had taken place...because we would soon have to commit major funds toward production costs, we awaited emphatic word from the Lord... 

In June Paul and I were enjoying breakfast on the front patio, a favorite radio program "Let My People Think" with Ravi Zacharias was just beginning. The opening statement... "He is trying to mold you to understand your calling...He may call you to be an ARTIST...are you willing, in that setting to be the life of Christ in the midst of a dark situation?...Motivated by compassion, by the desperate need of the people...honor the call...when God writes His Word on the hearts of the people...then national revival can break out."  The rest of the message was about the "vision"; disillusionment; the need to persevere; telling the truth with sensitivity and power; and the government. Now that is emphatic! "Yes Lord, I will honor the call, we will do it." Confirmations continued...

After drawing till nearly daylight in mid-July, my request was for someone to teach us more about shirts...within hours my request was granted. We met a man who had been a shirt maker for ten years. He taught us about construction, collars, seams, stitching, fabric, knits; he gave us names, numbers, addresses; invaluable input, safeguards, advice. We could now make or select a shirt wisely, based on workmanship and quality.

In August we were vacationing in Cape May, NJ again and I was fulfilling the mission begun in my heart, the year before. Much work was accomplished in our cheerful little Motor home. Constant motivation bubbled up from within me to complete the thirty-two portraits. Pencil renderings were finished; then everything was redrawn in ink on a Mylar transparency; I painted color on a second Mylar, as black line and color had to remain separate. All of this was new to me and required much concentration. Final art was formed by placing the color transparency under the ink transparency. This process was repeated for both sleeve designs and front design, in preparation for the silkscreen color separations. I did get to enjoy the beach our "last two days" in Cape May.

We returned home on Labor Day. Immediately, the text fonts were chosen and developed by our son-in-law, on computer. I cut and arranged them to fit the final sleeve art; Quotations were produced as film positives for the Parchment artwork. "We the People," I drew as art; "2 Chronicles 7:14," I applied directly into the Oval frame art transparency. Once completed, the 16x21 original artwork was photographed at 14x18 (silkscreen production size) to archive for safe keeping...also, each of the four designs, with their line art and color transparencies, were reduced to 8x10, to be scanned onto disk for the Art Department of Ampro Sportswear. Technology has vastly improved, since then!

November 4, 1996 my original artwork, the 8x10 prints, and the disk were delivered to Ampro. What a sense of awe accompanied us on that trip. Remembering the many months of labor, research and prayer, constantly being led into new waters. Literally being carried along by the Spirit...sensing the order of details day by day, in completely unknown territory... from designing art for full color silkscreening, to Licensing with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Estate...knowing that, "The One Who calls is Faithful, Who will also do it."

The "AMERICAN SPIRIT SHIRT" was reportedly, the most complex and challenging project Ampro Sportswear had ever produced. Nearly 20 of their most highly skilled technicians were selected to maneuver an unprecedented 34 silkscreens to create the complex color tones and multiple images. In addition, prior to production, 5 pre-production houses, 3 suppliers, and our devoted family team, were involved behind the scenes at various stages of preparation and development.

December 31,1996 we received the "AMERICAN SPIRIT SHIRT" and New Years Day 1997 one year after showing the first sketches, we presented the "AMERICAN SPIRIT SHIRT," at our family gathering. 

The "AMERICAN SPIRIT SHIRT WEBSITE" is located at www.betty-lou.com/spirit.html where one may view the shirt, read the Biographies and Historical Documents, ponder the symbolism of the shirt in detail, and purchase shirts through PayPal.

The "AMERICAN SPIRIT SHIRT" project has been a Spiritual adventure from the beginning. Ravi's opening statement revealed truths we are still learning. We have been motivated by compassion, by the desperate need of the people, "My people perish for lack of knowledge." We go where we are called, when we are called. We've been filmed by CNN and NBC. Hundreds of citizens are presenting "these historical Truths" across our Nation by wearing the "AMERICAN SPIRIT SHIRT."

May we each honor our call, to make a difference in our time...as the Founding Fathers were called to make a difference in their time....

"We have given you a republic, if you can keep it." Benjamin Franklin