COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION

COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION is a documentary about the life and journey of American painter Steve Skipper. The iconic sports painter recalls the story of his difficult upbringing and eventual success against all the odds. The documentary also interviews several mentors, friends and influential people who are a part of his story.

The documentary begins by weaving through a river with Skipper talking about his journey. The camera shows some of his detailed sports paintings and some of the figures who consider him to be one of the greatest sports painters ever, and the most prominent sports painter today.

Skipper is a successful painter. His unique ability to combine talent and passion didn’t go unnoticed by the NFL, College Football and Golf legends, who commissioned his artwork. However, some of them recall the harsh life that Skipper lived before his painting career and said they “cannot explain it.”

Next, the documentary picks up in the 1960s when Skipper was a child, and the Civil Rights Movement was nearing its peak. Skipper grew up in Alabama, but said he never realized what the Civil Rights Movement was until later. As a child, his brother and uncle were both talented artists, but neither pursued it as a career. His uncle felt as though he wasn’t allowed to be an artist due to the racism that was still happening at the time, specifically in the fine arts arena.

Skipper stopped pursuing art after joining one of the most prolific gangs in America. Originating in California, the young Skipper sold drugs to his classmates and teachers while attending one of the more prestigious high schools near his home. It wasn’t a group you could leave, but at first, Skipper didn’t want to go. He made more money than his teachers, had new clothes and new shoes, and quickly became one of the top gang members in his area.

Despite this, Skipper recalled being exhausted and that, somehow, God knew. He was sitting on a park picnic table one day, and a man started evangelizing to the group of gang members. Despite being interested, Skipper instinctively knew this man’s life was in danger and agreed to go to church with him if he would leave and stop his preaching.

While in the church, the sermon seemed to be addressed solely to Skipper. The pastor brought up details that only Skipper thought he knew. While at first this made him angry, he felt God calling him away from his life of crime. Emboldened by his new faith, Skipper did the impossible by telling his fellow gang members that he was out, and they let him leave without a word.

However, life as a born-again Christian was not miraculously marked by a quick and easy journey to fame. Skipper still struggled and experienced many setbacks. He distinctly recalls that when those hard times came, he listened to what God had to say and obeyed. When he did that, despite people saying he couldn’t “make it” due to his skin color or his background, despite his parents thinking he was crazy for turning down a scholarship, Skipper trusted the Lord, and the Lord was faithful to use Skipper to break down racial barriers and become one of America’s most influential artists.

COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION shares interviews with role models and influential people in Steve’s life, including sports figures, faith leaders and civil rights icons. The use of supplementary footage and the acting in the reenactments of Skipper’s early life sometimes distract from the story being told through the interviews. However, COLORS OF CHARACTER has a strong Christian, biblical worldview with powerful examples of redemption and trusting wholly on God. COLORS OF CHARACTER reenacts some of Skipper’s past involving drugs and gang violence, and there is mention of an affair. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for children.