'Unifying Light'

Student Reflection

My artwork is inspired by the passage ‘The Birth of Christ’ (Matthew 1:18-25), capturing the sacred moment of Christ's birth as the coming of a divine light in a world of sin. The soft gentle presence of Mary and Joseph surrounds the newborn Baby Jesus, who is the embodiment of new light, “saving his people from their sins”. The faceless figures are a symbol representing each and every one of us, allowing the viewer to easily place themselves in the scene and identify with the figure's spiritual experience, bringing us closer to the Christmas Story.

I chose to use watercolour paint, as the gentle washes of colour symbolise the tenderness and perfection of Jesus's birth. My artwork depicts the profound softness and reverence surrounding the birth of Christ, the gentle lines between the figures suggest a seamless, loving bond between the Holy Family. By switching the traditional colours, placing red on Mary and blue on Joseph, I united the couple as one harmonious unit. Mary’s vibrant red clothing symbolises her loving heart and sacrifice, while the soft blue represents Joseph's calming presence and devotion to Mary as “he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him”. My artwork is a visual prayer, inviting the viewer to contemplate the softness, fragility, and immense love present in the Christmas Story.