annunciatio (SOLD)

“annunciatio”

I have painted since I was sixteen, but for a long time, it has been an incubating desire of mine to begin a painting series of, for lack of a better term,  “altarpieces”.  I use the term loosely but it ties what I am doing with art history.

I studied art history in undergraduate school, and there is an aspect of the ancient ecclesiastical arts that appeals to me.  Although true Iconography is a strict discipline with rigid guidelines, my interests lie in something more modern and of today but influenced and nuanced by the beauty and patina of historic, devotional art.  Not every artist, I guess, considers their work inspired of the Holy Spirit.  I admittedly am not a great theologian but I think most people formulate their beliefs based on not only data but also human experience and feeling.  Perhaps that’s a slippery slope…..

Our former minister begins his sermon with prayer and he always prays “Pour through me the gift of preaching.”   I am trying to develop that practice in my painting.   We are created in His image, so it makes sense to me that creating is His nature and therefore our nature and gifting as well.  So….I pray, “Pour through me the gift of painting.”

This Diptych, which is an archaic term often used to describe a two-panel altarpiece, entitled “annunciatio” (Latin for “annunciation”) depicts the virgin Mary’s perspective of her frightening encounter with the angel Gabriel, the messenger from God, who announced to her that she would become the mother of Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Gabriel holds divine light in his left hand and a dove, the Holy Spirit, in his right hand.  Behind him on the ground is the broken, defeated cross.

In the left foreground is Gabriel’s bidding, “Be not afraid”.   My intent is that in addition to it being words of comfort to Mary, that they will be words of comfort and encouragement to the viewer of the painting, whatever their individual circumstance might be.  It’s hard to see in the photo, but I have used a palette of metallic paints—gold, silver, bronze, and copper, which are used to portray light.

The finished work is 5 ft by 8 ft, and its monumental size enhances the impact and drama of the work.  As a ground for the painting, I have used 120 year old, handwritten, deed documents from Parker County, Texas, glued to the canvas.   Throughout the painting, the handwriting shows through, and I think it gives the work a sense of history and a connection to early Texas.

Every painting I do is wrapped up in “story” and there is a lot of symbolism and narrative.  At this point in my career, I’m just not satisfied with painting pretty pictures and it is my desire that my artistic expression connects with the viewer on many levels, including the spiritual.  I hope it blesses you……

“be not afraid”