The Word

John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:14 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

My thought about the Word of God coming, which is Jesus; is him reading the word of God, The incarnate Word reading from the written word.  He is the perfect mediator between men and God, equal to represent both sides, he came into this world to be the first born amongst his brothers (Hebrew 2:17). On this day in history we celebrate the birth of one who preexisted whom through all things was made. And through ultimately his death and resurrection, everything will be made new when he returns, to the praise of His glorious grace.

Merry Christmas

Nino

The Shepherds High Honor

The reason for the white page is the un-represent able experience of the shepherds.  In my mind the little use of color best represents the glory that was seen.

I feel envy over shepherds whose eyes have seen the Glory of heaven, yet it produces in me such a hope. To know that what the shepherds experience was a Holy and reserved honor, the fact that the incarnation was a onetime event, and God in His love for the meek and lowly invited shepherds to the birth of His Son. God still does this today (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) yet he gives us more (John 1:9-13). God adopts us as sons and daughters. The high honor of the shepherds was to see what had been proclaimed to Adam and Eve.  The seed of the woman was finally here.

Merry Christmas

Nino

The Journey

The painting takes root in Luke 2:1-7. My original idea was to have Joseph and Mary struggling to get to Bethlehem with a ghostly Herod looming over them.  But as the painting does, it decided with a simple picture of them approaching the top of a hill overlooking Bethlehem. The journey of faith the newlywed couple has embarked on, has taken them from their home with uncertain prospects for their future. Mary’s walk of faith realized with the birth of her First Born Son and for Joseph, the hard road of faith with the adoption of the Son of God.  Little did they know, after the census they would be on the run to save the life of their son into Egypt which was once the land of captivity for their people.  I can’t help but wonder what it was like filling the days in between the message of the angel to the birth of the child. How many late night talks did they have of who the boy would be, what he would be like?  I know that with every child, my wife and I were in continuous wonder and anticipation. The amazing incarnation would blow my mind!

Merry Christmas

Nino

...And Clothe Her in His Righteousness

Title: He Will Dry the Tears of She Who Weeps and Clothe Her in His Righteousness
Medium: Ballpoint Pen
Text: Isaiah 61
Time: 16+ hours
Actual Size: 11.5 x 9 inches

So, apparently my resolutions against ballpoint pen were less adamant than I thought. I have decided there is a certain sense of freedom one gets when setting out for failure. I feel like when I pick up a ballpoint pen I have already ruled out the possibility of a masterpiece, so I am free to create a disaster. The funny thing is that usually the opposite happens.
This portion of scripture is so incredibly, resonatingly beautiful. It is a portrait of what Christ will do for his people. From before the foundations of time he called us to become "Oaks of Righteousness," clothing us in his perfection. And it's amazing because Titus writes,
"he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." [Titus 3:5] and in verse seven he writes, "so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
I love that phrase, "being justified by His grace" ...he justifies us by His own goodness and then clothes us in the righteousness we could never have. And in that, the assurance that He gives completely and we can rest that he will keep us justified and righteous by his own promises, and not ours.

Imagery References:

Blindfold: Matt 13:16-17, John 20:29, also John 9:39

Tree: Psalm 1:1-3, Isaiah 61:3

Water: Titus 3:5, John 7:37-39

Foliage: Isaiah: 61:11

Clothing: Isaiah: 61:3&10, 2 Corinthians 5:21

-Nathan

Jesus ties up the Strong man

Inspired my Matthew 12:25-29

How great is Jesus! He binds the strong man to set us free! He makes war against Satan, Sin and Death to set the captives free! 
-Nino 

Message to Mary

Our passage comes from Luke 1:26-38

The visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary is a power full scene. The humble Mary so troubled and confused, given such a high honor by God. When you think about it, God acts in the life of Mary. This didn’t happen to someone else, it happened to her. This unexpected girl will now have to face the world as an adulteress! She was living a normal life then God showed up. Even though the world would look at the child she bore as a bastard with disgust, saying to themselves “who knows who the father really is?” Mary knows and Joseph knows (read the story; the angel has a talk with Joseph).  They walk in faith with who the Lord has entrusted them with. It’s their inside story that the world would not believe about the child. This story, we have the privilege to believe Emmanuel God with US!

Enjoy And God bless

Nino

Awaiting the Savior

The painting is based on 1 Thess. 5:16-24 coupled with Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11. My thoughts on 1 Thess. verses 23 and 24 really catapulted the Idea of Being guarded until Jesus returns. The thought of Jesus protecting us from spiritual enemies; and as we await his return, it’s the same as in Isaiah’s time.  They were waiting for the messiah. The reality that we have a savior, yet we are waiting for the savior and that we are protected by the savior. Our assurance that we have promises from Jesus that none can snatch us from his hand, and the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans about nothing separating us from the love of Christ. So the image of the spirit of Christ protecting a woman in prayer seemed to capture this for me. I hope you enjoy

Nino

God bless

Woman, Why Are You Weeping?

Title: Woman, Why Do You Weep?
Reference: Isaiah 40:1-2, John 20:13
Medium: Pen, Watercolor and Prismacolor Pencil
Time: 3 hours
Actual Size: 9x6 inches

This picture is a two-fold representation. Firstly, it is a Picture of Isaiah 40 as a depiction of a desolate and hopeless Israel, worn from years of waiting for a Messiah. All of the sacrifices and commandments, the whole nation was built around one event: The coming of Christ, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." And for years -ever since the fall in Eden, Israel had only one hope: The Messiah. Isaiah 40 speaks of comfort for Israel because, at long last, time was drawing near for God to come and save his people. -But, here, the painful piece. They rejected him. (John 1:11)
At His Resurrection, Christ first appeared to Mary Magdalene. Not much is known about her, only this: Mark 16:9. Christ had healed her of seven demons and sickness.
She sold this life for devotion to Him, and when He died, the separation she felt was, I'm sure, that same longing for her Messiah as Israel felt. But when he appeared to her, she cried, "Rabonni!" And as purpose washed through her soul, I can't help but think of the terrible and beautiful contrast between her response with Israel's... when they saw him they cried, "Crucify Him!"
It's incredible to me.

-Nathan

And Are We Then to Drown in Our Tears?

Title: And Are We Then to Drown in Our Tears?
Medium: Ballpoint Pen
Text: Psalm 80
Time: 22+ hours
Actual Size: 11x14 in.

So when, at long last, I heaved a breath of completion over this piece, I vowed never to pick up another ballpoint pen so long as I lived. That was a short-lived resolution.. I love the things, but they are just so painstakingly unmessy.
Insofar as interpretation goes, there are a few key points which I'll make note of, top to bottom, and let you discover the rest if you so chose.

1. The top-central figure is Christ. (v 1a)
2.The swirls that wind around the throne are a cross-reference to Psalm 141:2.
3. The figure in the center of the page is a depiction of a cherubim
(v 1b) cross reference to Ezekiel 1
4. The gears are symbolic of God's sovereignty and His complex and incomprehensible workings. (Referencing Romans 8:28.)
5. The scroll which winds across the bottom is a picture of Israel.
(Referencing Genesis 6-9. Exodus 1-14. Esther 1-9.)
6. The tapestry bottom-center is a portrait of Israel. (v 8-16)

In Christ,
-Nathan