Introducing
my newest painting:
Pure
Reflection.
8.31.2005
My friends Serena & Justin asked me to do a painting for the cover of he wedding program and this is the result. I thought a lot about the symbolism of weddings while making this painting. In the Bible marriage is used as an example of Christ's relationship to the church. So in other words, Jesus is the groom and the church (believers) are the bride. Jesus' love for the church is seen throughout the Bible in his interaction with people but was ultimately exemplified by giving His life as payment for all the ways that each of us has dishonored God. Because of this sacrifice we can have a relationship with Him and be with Him forever in heaven.
In a wedding the groom stands waiting excitedly for his bride to take his hand. His face lights up with joy as he sees her coming towards him. Her face is covered with a veil that only he can remove. This symbolizes how sin blinds us from seeing God face to face. The veil keeps her from seeing clearly. But in vowing to love him and have a lasting relationship with him, he removes the veil and they see each other clearly. They become one.
In this painting the bride is moving up the aisle towards he groom. As she walks her gaze rests on the lighted cross in the window. In this moment she is reflecting on true love.
The verse below kept popping into my mind while I thought about this painting, and I ended up putting broken mirrors on the side of the painting to symbolize a poor reflection. (See below.)
See this painting in progress here!
"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
The Bible, 1
Corinthians 13:12
detail of mirrors on the
sides of the painting
