The creator of this painting intentionally been left this image unfinished. What you see is the initial draft of what could later become a refined finished product. This tells the story of God creating the world out of nothing, with arrows clustering together in the middle, showing an atom or molecule during the process of creation.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made… For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm. (Ps 33:6, 9)
The mirror in this image is designed so that you as a viewer can view your reflection in the mirror (in the original painting there is a round mirror attached to the centre of the image). This reflection represents being made by God, and being made like God “So God created mankind in his own image” (Genesis 1:27).
This picture is also a reminder that each person has been created with inherent worth, and made for a purpose “For we are God’s masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
Interpretation #1 Alabaster Jar :
“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” (Luke 7:36-38)
Interpretation #2 Secret Place
“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be..” (Ps 139: 13-16)
In this painting a series of pink and yellow arrows all lead in one direction, into the cross of Jesus. It is the story of a loving God “who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1Timothy 2:4). But it is also a warning, that accepting Jesus death and resurrection is the only path leading to salvation and everlasting life. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14).
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleedingfor twelve years.She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes,I will be healed.”Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.At once Jesus realized that powerhad gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked,“Who touched my clothes?”.“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask,‘Who touched me?’”But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.He said to her,“Daughter, your faith has healed you.Go in peaceand be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:25-34)
The white curve shows the spiritual journey of someone pursuing faith in Jesus. The story begins in the bottom left corner of the painting, which shows the beginning of the white curve. This represents how each person is created by God (white), but they are born into a sinful world (dark coloured background). The white curve dips down, which represents how each person naturally sins against God and others. The white curve going up symbolises being given a new life and spirit that comes from accepting Jesus’ payment for sin. The mixture of darkness and yellow represents a transition phase on earth for followers of Jesus. Whilst Jesus has forgiven the person’s sin, their life and character isn’t perfect yet. The yellow at the top of the painting represents eternity in heaven, a place that is perfect and free from mistakes and suffering.
Interpretation #1: Baptism.
This image represents baptism, which is an outward expression and sign of the commitment to following Jesus. “John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:6, NIV)
Interpretation #2: Deep Waters
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,”…” (Genesis 1:1-3)
The blue circles in the painting represent suffering and challenges in life and the yellow dashes shows the journey. Some of the paths go around the circles, illustrating that through prayer and trusting God, some instances of suffering can be avoided or minimised. However, the pale blue swirl instances where God doesn’t’ take away suffering, rather it is something to be endured. The different shades of blue and flowing brush strokes show how suffering can lead to positive outcomes such as character growth, turning pain into something beautiful. “Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-5).
This work was inspired by the song “Build My Life” by Elevation Worship, especially the lyrics “ I will build my life, upon Your love, it is a firm foundation. I will put my trust in You alone, and I will not be shaken”. This song is based a parable of Jesus: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be likea wise man who built his house on the rock.And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be likea foolish man who built his house on the sand.And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
The anchor in this picture represents the security found through having faith in Jesus. Faith is stable, whereas emotions change moment by moment. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19, NIV).
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein
Mildura Based Visual Artist
Good design shows off the content, not its self
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