'The Crowned Path of the Camel'

Student Reflection

I chose the scripture ‘The Journey to Bethlehem’ (Luke 2:1-5) because it is the story I connected with most. At Christmas, we remember the birth of Jesus, and for me, this is also a special time to celebrate with my family from New Zealand. Just as Mary and Joseph travelled with joy and anticipation, so too do my family members as we look forward to celebrating both the birth of Jesus and the gift of being together. 

My artwork symbolises the journey of the Three Kings to Bethlehem to see baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The path itself is not just a physical journey but also a journey of faith. The Three Kings travelled on camels along the sandy pathway, following the bright, shining star in the night sky, to the town of Bethlehem.

I drew a camel’s head and chose to place the buildings within this outline and to add colour and vibrance to my artwork. The materials I used were sand for the pathway to represent the journey through the desert landscape and gold glitter to represent the presence of royalty. I used earthly red, orange, and yellow chalk pastels blended to represent the desert. The night sky is shades of blue and purple, highlighting the shining stars. My artwork includes a representation of the camel's footsteps, the Wise Kings’ footsteps, and the golden crowns, which are all important symbols within the story.