art of christmas: judith monroe

Prophecy of Hope
Mixed media on wood panel, 48” x 48”

Isaiah 11:1— Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

This piece illustrates one of the prophecies about the birth of the Messiah. Over several chapters of Isaiah, the nation of Israel and people in general are referred to as trees or a forest. Isaiah talks about God’s anger at Israel’s disobedience and his coming judgment as a wild fire that would destroy the forest of Israel, and of allowing the king of Babylon to chop down Israel like trees before he would be a mighty tree felled himself. It was in this context that the hope of a new shoot that would grow from the stump of what was left of David’s family tree was given.

As I was working on this piece, it came to me that I should make a small section to the left primarily green and then separate the section off with a red stripe, and another red stripe across the top to balance the composition. This would be a new kind of element that added to my work and I literally asked myself, “Why would I do that?” As I pondered and stared, I realized that I would be creating a cross, red like the blood sacrificed by Christ there; and on the other side of the cross there was new life, represented by the green field. This was not my idea, but truly inspired by the Holy Spirit and I was thrilled and humbled by the experience.

Judith Monroe
www.judithmonroe.com

art of christmas: terry ray flowers

Before the Foundations
Assemblage

Rev 13:8— …everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of like of the Lamb who has been slain.

Both Before the Foundations and Father’s Heart have to do with the revelation the Jesus’s birth, life, death, and resurrection were not an afterthought brought about by man’s fall but a strategic plan put in place before the foundations of the world.

Terry Ray Flowers
www.boxartgospel.com

Seed of David
Assemblage

2 Samuel 7:12-16— …I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom…

Romans 1:3-4— …concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David…

This piece refers to the fact that Jesus was a direct descendent of David as prophesied in 2 Samuel, the Davidic Covenant, and confirmed in Romans.

Terry Ray Flowers
www.boxartgospel.com

Father’s Heart
Collage 5” x 7”

2 Tim 1:9— …who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.

Terry Ray Flowers
www.boxartgospel.com

art of christmas: teresa harbert and julie bjorgum

Poured Out
Turkey egg pysanky

Isaiah 53:7-12— …He poured out Himself to death and was numbered with the transgressors, yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.

While reading through Scriptures related to Christ’s coming and His birth, this image of Christ pouring Himself out for us struck me.

Along with the more traditional star and stable symbols I included a red egg representing His shed blood to complete the real Christmas story.

Teresa Mihalko Harbert
www.eggsbyteresa.com



A Debt I Can’t Repay
Shredded credit cards 12” x 14”

Romans 5:8— …But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

A nest is like the foundations we build, the place where we put that which is most important to us…LOVE.

Can love be bought with money? On credit? Why would someone give us money when we haven’t yet earned it? Yet wasn’t Jesus given to us when we weren’t worthy? When we had nothing of value to offer in return?

Christ was the treasure that lay in a manger. And He was given to us when we couldn’t pay the price for our sins. Christmas isn’t about worshiping the straw. Its about what was IN the straw. The gift of Love.

Julie Bjorgum
www.aplaceinmyart.com

art of christmas: stephen scott

Inshallah/Deo Volente
Mixed media 12” x 12”

Luke 1:26-38 — …I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

I buy frames and display boxes in thrift stores. For this piece I mostly used images from the photos I took while travelling in India and different parts of South East Asia. In both instances, the frame and the images are `redeemed, recycled and repurposed.’
I would like to think that this kind of renewal carries a faint, imperfect echo of the possibility that God offers any of us through the coming of His Son.

According to the earlier verses (26 on) Mary was initially troubled by the angel’s visit, and uncertain of the meaning of what was being said to her. As the implication of the angel’s words began to dawn on her she asked questions. And then she placed herself at God’s disposal. `Inshallah’ is how they say `If it is God’s will’ in a Middle Eastern context. This was Mary’s attitude when the angel told her the impossibly good news.

Stephen Scott
www.cana-arts.blogspot.com

art of christmas: ronna scott

 The Gift
Oil 11” x 14”

Isaiah 7:6— For to us a child is born to us a son is given.

Rev 22:17— The Sprit of the Bride says “come!”….let us take the free gift…

The chaos of the darkness represents a life lived without a relationship with The Heavenly Father. Life can be so difficult and yet accepting The Gift is so simple. In Revelations it simply asks us to come and take the gift.

While The Gift is simple to accept, my walk with Christ has taken many twists and turns, always with the request to look deeper.

Ronna Scott

art of christmas: raulin olivera

Angel's Announcement 1
Graphite 18” x 24”

Luke 2:8-14— Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God...

Prior to joining the Covenant Artist's group I had seen some photos by Norbert Rosing on the Internet of polar bears and sled dogs interacting in a very peaceful and playful manner. They were awe inspiring and sparked in my imagination images of what Creation may have been like before the fall of man. After joining the Covenant Artist's group and entering into discussion, prayer and Bible reading with the “Art of Christmas” and the birth of Jesus in mind I was inspired by Luke 2:8–14.

The angel announces Jesus' birth to the shepherds. I imagine that the first angel to appear was Gabriel because he is consistently the messenger angel and the heavenly host was a large number of other angels. Angels are most often scary to humans and since I enjoy drawing animals and birds, I decided to depict angels as polar bears (also scary to humans). Border collies are a shepherding dog so I chose to use them to depict the shepherds in the story. Gabriel is not shown but is in the position of the viewer as he speaks to them.

Raulin Olivera



Angel's Announcement 2
Graphite 18” x 24”

Luke 2:8-14— …Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

The scene and the background for this drawing are the same as "Angel's Announcement 1."

This is my expression of the angel telling the shepherds about Jesus' birth but with a different twist from the first. Gabriel is in the drawing and is represented by the large eyes overlooking the scene. Polar bears are angels of the heavenly host and the border collies are shepherds.

Raulin Olivera

art of christmas: randy blasquez

The Light of His Birth
Oil on Linen 40” x 40”

Isaiah 9:2— The people who walk in darkness will see a great light: Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

For my piece for the show, I felt drawn to the idea of the Light of Christ. Originally I was envisioning a large abstract piece with a scripture written within the piece. Something with clouds showing the light of the Messiah.

I was feeling that connection to His Light at the beginning, while he was in the womb through to His Birth. Then somehow the two ideas came together when I read this verse and I painted this ocean scene.

Randy Blasquez
www.randyblasquez.com

art of christmas: katie murphy

His Purpose
Mixed media on canvas 36” x 12”

John 12:27-28 — Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

The purpose of Jesus’ birth was His death for us. In this verse, Jesus is absolutely unwavering in his willingness to fulfill this purpose set before Him. He has complete confidence in God and what He is about to endure for us.

To emphasize His confidence, I partially covered up the beginning of the verse with images and symbols of His earthly journey. No matter how troubling His circumstances, He lets God lead His life every step of the way, and glorifies Him in the midst of it all.

I thought it only fitting to also include Jesus’ command iin John 15:12. “My command is this, love each other as I have loved you.” Jesus loved with utter confidence and sacrifice, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. He loved those whom we might categorize as “unlovable.” Are we not all children of God? It may be troubling to our hearts at times to love this way, but it is what he asks of us. Jesus humbled Himself, came to earth, and fulfilled His purpose for us…are we willing, with humility and God’s consistent help, in spite of troubled hearts at times, to fulfill ours for Him?

Katie Murphy
www.justwonderingthrough.com

art of christmas: kathleen ellertson

Mary’s ‘Yes’
Sculpture 24” x 12”

Luke 1:26-80— …”I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

This piece represents Mary raising her hands, spirit and heart up to the Lord, saying “Yes” I will give myself up and over to You. I will be Your Mother. It represents the power of how a simple “Yes” to Jesus is so mightily received by Him – and how much it means. It also represents the fact that God reaches us where we are.

I work with computers and the media is shredded CD’s.

Kathleen Ellertson

art of christmas: dianne mattar

Leaning on Him
Acrylic on canvas 24” x 20”

2 Samuel 22:2-4— The Lord is my rock, my fortress & my deliverer: My God is my rock in whom I take refuge…..leaning on Him.

The real Spirit of Christmas is looking beyond our traditions to living the true joy of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ by seeing within each of us a heart decorated with God’s love.

Christmas gave us a living God who came to earth to make a way for us to have eternal life and is the beginning of knowing that God is at our side through all the conditions in life. The undertow of the world may pull us down but with Christ by our side we will surface and be able to stand tall.

Dianne Mattar
www.dmattar.com

art of christmas show: allison carlos

I know many people can't make it to the actual gallery show to see all the works that have been created for this year's Art of Christmas show, so now that it's up (and my school semester is over) I'm posting all the works with the artist's description for the next several days - I think it will be our "Eleven Days of Christmas," if I've counted right. Enjoy.

Mary
Oil 48” x 24”

Luke 1:26-38— I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

This painting is about how God uses everyday people within their everyday circumstances to fulfill his purposes. Mary (and Joseph) were going about their lives of faith, yet if they were not attentive to the movements of the heavenly realm and truly believing in his presence in their lives, …. well … who knows what Mary might have said. BUT, what she actually said was after initially being a little unsettled, “I am the Lord’s servant”.

Allison Carlos
www.allisoncarlos.com