At first glance this painting may appear to be the Holy family fleeing to Egypt in the dead of night. Look more closely.

I actually painted this image to commemorate the Feast of Candlemas (Also known as The Presentation of the Lord). Mark your calendars for this Friday, February 2, the day we will celebrate this feast, 40 days after the birth of Christ.

In Scripture

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. -Luke 2:22–24

Symbolism within the work

Some elements that I incorporated into this painting:

• Two turtledoves or pigeons - A sacrifice offered to the Lord specifically by the poor (those who couldn’t afford a lamb), according to Jewish custom.

• The light, emanating from Christ, piercing the darkness - referring to Simeon’s prophecy that Jesus would be a light to the gentiles.
  

That day the Spirit led him (Simeon) to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
-Luke 2:27-32

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• Candles - Traditionally one of the ways this feast day is celebrated, specifically because of Simeon’s prophecy.

• Mary’s pierced heart - Referring to another prophecy that a sword would pierce her soul. (Luke 2:35)

• The curtain of the temple torn down the center - A foreshadowing of the completion of Christ’s sacrifice, his death on the cross.

• Yellow roses - symbolizing enlightenment and wisdom.

• Red roses - symbolizing Christ’s passion, and Mary’s sufferings.

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This unique painting can be found here: https://paintedsanctuary.etsy.com/listing/1306095038

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Wishing you a wonderful week,
-Kristina

P.S. Do you like knowing more about the symbolism in the art I create?

I’m excited to share this next painting with you! I will give a brief summary of the story behind it, share my own meaningful connection with the art, and end with a reminder that you don’t want to miss.

The Miracle of the Roses

According to tradition, in 1531 Mary appeared to a native Mexican man named Juan Diego. During that time in history, the people of Mexico were experiencing much suffering & oppression as their culture and identity were being attacked by the Spanish colonists.

Mary appeared to Juan as a young indigenous pregnant woman, wearing native Mexican clothing and speaking the native language. She requested that a church be built on that site, and so Juan went to the archbishop in Mexico City to make this request. The Archbishop didn't believe that Mary had appeared to him and asked for a sign, to confirm that this was truly a miraculous encounter.

A couple days later, she appeared to Juan again and instructed him to pick flowers from the top of a nearby Hill. This was an unusual request as the area was usually barren - especially in December. He went anyway, and discovered beautiful roses blooming there.

He brought the flowers to the archbishop and when he opened his cloak, the roses fell to the floor revealing another miracle: the image of Our Lady was miraculously imprinted on his tilma. This image remains there, even until today. And the site of this apparition is one of the most visited places in the world.

How she mothered me

In order to paint this image, I read various commentaries about the story. It was the theme of hope that most captured me.

In choosing to appear as an indigenous woman, speaking the language and wearing their clothes, Mary identified herself with the oppressed and vulnerable native Mexican people. In doing this, she revealed their dignity. She came to them as a mother. She drew close to them, pregnant with God himself - hope literally alive in her womb. Her presence assured them that they were loved and seen by God. She would be with them in that dark place.

In the image that I painted, I used a dark blue night sky to represent the sorrow and oppression that the indigenous people lived in. I contrasted that with Mary who is lit up in the center of the piece (with unborn Christ lit even brighter), a symbol of light and hope. The darkness in the painting is overwhelmed not just by Our Lady, but also by bright blue skies, pink roses, and vibrant colors pointing to the reality that hope will forever be more powerful than our pain - but pain and hope can, and often do, coexist.

During the months that I began painting Our Lady of Guadalupe, I was experiencing a lot of sorrow. My sense of identity and belonging in my community felt uprooted, and I was surprised by the way her presence brought tangible comfort to my heart. Her words, once spoken to Juan Diego, were gentle and compassionately directed to me, “Am I not here who is your mother?”

Let her speak these words to your heart too.

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Gift of Gold

In my last email I shared the special limited edition print I am offering this year for the Christmas season (pictured below).

I will have this available through November (so you can use it to decorate during the Advent or/and Christmas seasons.) Today is the last day to claim my special gift to my newsletter patrons. I will add the gold ink to your print(s) for no extra charge. Just include “Gift of Gold” to the “personalization” section of the order (or shoot me a message). I will send one more reminder about this tonight.

I’ve already been fulfilling your orders for these, and let me tell you, these prints are stunning!

Claim your Gift

Our Lady of Guadalupe is also available in this set of Christmas cards! These cards are made of thick card-stock and look amazing framed.

Have a lovely Tuesday!

With love,
Kristina

Where I share a poem I wrote & the inspiration at the heart of this painting.

Oh child
Little Prince
Swaddled in old rags
You could have had…
The planets as your mobile
Golden sunbeams for a crown
The galaxies, your play-yard
The heavens as your home
But you chose instead a mother
To be held close, and rocked, and nursed
Your blanket, her sweet kisses
Your throne, her gentle arms
Your lullaby, her singing, instead of angel choirs
God with us
God with us
God is near
God in us

As I thought about what I wanted to communicate in this piece, the following words played over and over in my mind:

"God with us... God with us… God with us…”

Sit in the truth of that phrase a moment. Breathe the words in slowly, and then out slowly.

"God....

with....

us..."

Do you see the sweetness in the way this little family snuggles together, holding each other close? Do you hear the Lord’s invitation to you? “Let me come near. I want to be with you. I love you.” As I whisper those words, my body involuntarily returns to a state of calm. My shoulders relax, the adrenaline slows.

Moving outward from the heart-center of the painting, a vast galaxy encircles the Holy Family. The intimacy of family is contrasted with expansive galaxies, a multitude of stars, the richness of color - all speaking to the greatness of God. A God most powerful and most beautiful, a God great in wonder - It is that God who came near to us.

It is that God who continues to come near to us. He marks the mundane with the glory of His splendor, and He raises the poor to a place higher than Kings.

Next things

In the next few weeks I will continue to share this series with you! Also, I plan to finish book illustrations this week, and soon Christmas cards and limited edition Nativity prints will be available. Thanks for following along!

Sincerely,
Kristina

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Belonging. This word has been a frequent guest in my vocabulary lately. I have been exploring what it means to experience true belonging - the way it leads to flourishing and wholeness. The way it only “works” when I am vulnerable and choose to show up authentically - which takes act after act of courage.

I have also been pondering what belonging looks like in the messiness of actual life - because communities are imperfect and family life is messy. What happens when the places I experience belonging are also the places I experience disappointment, rejection, and real harm?

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For me, to belong means deep connection - it means I am an integral part of something much bigger than myself. I am necessary to the flourishing of others just as they are to me. We belong to each other. In this painting Joseph, Mary and Jesus are literally connected to each other/wrapped in each other’s arms. God didn’t have to belong to a family, but he chose to belong to the human race -experiencing love, pain, sorrow and joy just as we do. He chose to place himself in time and history, in the home and heart of a family.

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To belong means safety. In the womb we are intimately connected to our mother and nourished by her. Out of the womb we remain connected at the breast. How fitting is it that the moment we are conceived, we belong. It is in the quiet safety of the womb that we grow, and then in the love of our family that we flourish.

Also, to belong means I am safe to be authentically myself - to be vulnerable. I don’t have to perform to earn a place at the table. I am wanted, known, and loved as I am - no strings attached. This is demonstrated in a beautiful way in the relationship between a baby and its parents. An infant needs everything and gives nothing, but is loved and wanted unconditionally. In this painting we see this reflected in the Christ-child.

Other Symbols & Themes

• Creation

• The star of David

• The stump of Jesse

• The humility of God

• God as Infinite

• God is near

• Planets and stars as a mobile

• The tree of Life

• The tree of the cross

• The tree of Good and Evil

• The womb

  

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This month is flying by! Some highlights:

• My Grandpa and Eileen visited Michigan and we had the most wonderful visit. It was a day with so much laughter, hugs, and love.
  

• Joseph will be one year old next month and I feel like I am still adjusting to having a baby in the house. I thought I’d have it figured out by now! He is full of curiosity and loves to get into everything -as a baby should. I’m still figuring out how to balance work and baby.
  

• My husband, Paul, is so close to finishing his Master’s degree in counseling. This is a big career shift and change for our family. He is currently in the internship phase, and it has been a great fit. I am really excited to see what God has in store.
  

• One of my favorite things this month has been long evening walks with Paul. We’ll bundle up (well…I will), make a thermos of tea, and walk countless circles around the block. Whether its talking schedules, theology, or processing through the joys and struggles of life, it has been really special.
  

• I’ve been working hard on the book illustrations this month. So much painting! They will be done soon! Stay tuned for more on that.

Sincerely,

Kristina

Starting this upcoming Monday, I plan to bring you on a journey through the pieces of a special collection that I created last year - I call it the Catholic Folk Art Collection.

This was a project that just burned on my mind and in my heart until it came to fruition. Just talking about it again brings a surge of excitement and the desire to create more pieces like this. Everything from the sketching to the colors, the research to the execution…it was unlike anything I’ve done, and it was SO fun & fulfilling!

What is it?

A few preliminary notes on what constitutes folk art:

• The compositions are balanced and often symmetrical.

• The artist uses decorative and expressive line-work & patterns.

• There is a harmony of background elements.

• Generally the subject matter incorporates traditions from one's community and culture.

For me personally, the illustrative style, the incorporation of nature, the bright color palettes, the patterns, and the symmetry really drew me in. Also, I love the idea of pulling in traditions and symbols from my Catholic faith. I encourage you to look up this style of art! There are so many beautiful examples.

My hopes

For this series, I hope to break open my creative process for you. I’m excited to share more about why these pieces are significant to me. I plan to show you some of the rough sketches, behind the scenes, and share vulnerable stories about how I connect to the art.

As we go through this, I encourage you to reach out if anything speaks to your heart. I love to hear from you.

Last Words

I am still getting the Christmas card pre-order information ready! I’ll keep you posted. I do have some card options up already (ready now!!!)

Get your cards here

Sincerely,

Kristina

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