COMMISSIONS

The Mission

This image was created for Christ Church Carrollton‘s ‘Missions’ page on their website.
I wanted to create an image reminiscent of traditional church art from medieval times, but that was also distinctly in my style. It was quite challenging but I ended up with a piece that was not only fun to create but is also deeply symbolic. Everything in the image relates to how the gospel came to be, why it’s needed, and how it is spread.

The trees with fruit stand for the genesis story of original sin - the necessity of the gospel. The middle tree forms a crown of thorns, recalling the crucifixion, with a lamb (Jesus) in the middle -calm and poised as the vessel of the gospel side – the gospel itself. The figures in between the trees are traditional depictions of the four Gospels: Matthew Mark Luke and John - the physical gospels. The bush is on fire represent the Holy Spirit, Breathing life into the physical word and appearing in fire throughout Scripture. The harvesters are today’s believers: diverse and varied vessels through which the gospel is spread on earth.

Creación, Caída, Redención, y Nueva Vida

This image was created for Cristo Rey’s Spanish women’s 2022 bible study for the book of Exodus.

The intent was to create an image for teaching the four overarching stages of the biblical salvation story: creation, the fall, redemption, and new life. The inspiration for this commission was a painting the commissioner had seen of a tree symbolizing those phases, but with a single tree. In line with that vision, I endeavored to create a symbolic piece that highlighted the active participation of God throughout the salvation process: His hands are the ones that cut off the dead vines (ie: sin and sinful natures that separate humanity from Him) , planted the new seed (replaced those natures with His righteousness), and tend to the new growth (constantly works to perfect righteousness in us).