Dorothy Sofia Johnson-Messenger, the artist www.dorothymessenger

Born in San Diego, California in 1925 to Swedish parents, Dorothy graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. A member of Cap and Gown, she was listed in "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities".

She subsequently pursued post-graduate art studies at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, Columbia University, and the Art Students' League in New York City. In 1957, she married Bethel Seminary student Eugene Arthur Messenger, a native of Minneapolis Minnesota, and in 1959 their only child, Guy, was born.

Dorothy's work was exhibited in several galleries, and her illustrations and cover designs were featured in many books including "Till We Have Faces" by C.S. Lewis, "Sandals for Jesus" by Ellen Kirkwood, and "Parson McFright" by Allan Whitman.

Her most famous, or infamous illustration was a depiction of THE LORD'S SUPPER in which as she burned the midnight oil to reach a deadline, she drew thirteen disciples at the table with Jesus, rather than the standard twelve men. The error was not caught by editors and the book went to press with the thirteenth disciple in attendance.

Dorothy described her own work as "fey and whimsical". Her earliest work featured painting; both oil and watercolor. In the years of her formal studies, she drew more sketches and portraits with pencil and charcoal, and her later works featured more free and abstract ink and pencil line drawings, as well as torn paper pieces.

A lover of ballet dancing, literature, music, and all fine arts, Dorothy's quiet personal Christian faith was also always a part of her life. She passed peacefully and quietly in her sleep on her 86th birthday, February 9, 2011.