'Prince of Peace I, Joseph's embrace'
10 x 14 watercolor
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!
I've wanted to paint the baby Jesus for a long time, but have felt so intimidated and lacking in my skills to actually attempt it until now. And still, I think it's been a very humbling experience to try and paint my Savior.
But this is my attempt and for my first try I think it captured the feeling I was going for pretty well.
I've often wondered about Joseph, Mary's husband, and his relationship with baby Jesus. What did he feel when he first saw Him or held Him? What was it like to raise Him, knowing what His future held?
Watching my own husband raise our children has been an incredible experience. To see his tenderness and love for them, his complete and total devotion and concern for them. To see his joy in their success and his sorrow in their pain. It's drawn us closer and has increased my love for him in a way that nothing else could. It's helped me appreciate the role of a father in the life of their child.
I think that Joseph had that same experience with the Christ child. But on an even grander scale. For he knew the great price that little baby would one day choose to pay. For us.
I've tried to capture here a little bit of that tenderness and love that Joseph surely felt for Him. And there's Mary's hand reaching to touch her baby, always there, always loving Him. I've titled this 'Prince of Peace-I' because it's the first in a series I want to do of my Savior, from his birth and throughout his mortal life.
I wish all of you the best now and always, whether or not you celebrate Christmas. Thank you so much for being my friends and for always encouraging me. :):):)
"The Christmas season is wonderful in many ways. It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven. It is a season to enjoy the music and lights, parties and presents. But the glitter of the season should never dim our sight and prevent us from truly seeing the Prince of Peace in His majesty." Deiter F. Uchtdorf
Crystal, it's absolutely stunning! Such a powerful piece. What an amazing series you are embarking on. I'm sure it will be emotional and spiritually satisfying. Beautiful, Crystal, just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWonderful portrait and post. This is an awesome way to use the gift of your artistic abilities. God bless!
ReplyDeleteMy eyes are tearing up, Crystal. This is incredible.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully painted, Crystal. Intimate yet strong.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet Crystal. Have a very special Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I remember when you first posted this as a WIP and asked us what it could be about - Well, I suppose I was close in the way that it had a spiritual connection.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing painting by such an amazing person/artist and it is right that you are so pleased with it.
You are right - Christmas is about so many things but we should never forget where it all came from :0)
Wow, it's incredibly beautiful! Very tender and transmits a thousand emotions!!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and the you're family!
Ciao Crystal!
Beautiful! Merry Christmas, Crystal-
ReplyDeleteSheryl
That is beautiful! Merry Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteNever feel you don't have the talent, Crystal. As I have said before, you hold such a special gift that radiates through your watercolors. All of you art has an inner glow. This one in particular.
ReplyDeleteHave a joyous and loving Christmas to you and your family.
Michael
Precious!!! you have painted tenderness and love :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and a Very happy New year too!
All I see is love. Happy Christmas to you too. And may all our lives be filled with love.
ReplyDeleteThats a beautiful painting and great title, hope you have a wonderful Christmas Crystal, your work continues to inspire:)
ReplyDeletewishing you and your family a very happy christmas cyrstal and every success with this beautiful start of this series.
ReplyDeleteLovely - truly lovely!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a blessed Christmas xx
Oh, what a delicate painting.
ReplyDeleteWish you & your family a very Happy Christmas.
Such a wonderful painting!
ReplyDeleteI wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!
Beautifully painted my friend! I just wanted to wish you and your family a truly Merry Christmas and warmest wishes for the year ahead ; ))
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful gift full of tenderness. For me it was a great pleasure to discover your blog, ... much to learn from you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and your family. Merry Christmas!
Wonderful painting! Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year.
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented, such a moving painting, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love it!!! You are so clever! Also, when I went back and saw Mary's hand, I have to admit the first thing that crossed my mind was, "Joseph, honey, I love you, but for goodness sakes, don't drop Him." "Mary, I've got this!"
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