This was painted live during worship and here’s a little bit of back story for those interested. To keep the post length manageable, I am formatting it differently than usual. Still long though 🙃
1. I pour water mixed with different colors (red, yellow, blue) in small cups to create background
– I see water and fire as a result.
– I write words – Bread of Life, Manna, the Way, the Truth, the Life, Prince of Peace and more(I no longer remember them all).
– I use more red, orange yellow, light and dark blue.
– I switch to using my fingers now.
– I create a large circle on the upper right corner with blue paint
-I realize red was stuck to my fingers so now I have red lines in my blue water (my theme for Lent was water and blood poured out of his side)
– I deepen the red and orange and add texture to resemble fire on the left.
– I make an eye out of the large blue circle (which coincides with the song being sung “I see you”. )
– I add the words El Roi God sees you.
– I add the words “I AM” three times (Trinity).
– I add large tear drops
-I add read hearts inside each tear drop.
– I see my palette and notice a strange shape formed by accident. I think it looks like a Hebrew letter (I don’t know Hebrew). I consider adding the shape to the canvas – what if it has a wierd meaning? What if it’s gibberish. I decide to add it anyway. (More about this shape at the end)
– I add planets to the right and texture to the left.
– I paint a light flare to the left.
– I add a red heart under the light flare ( I realize that’s in the reverse order).
– Add more texture in red and blue
– Add the final touch- the Greek symbol Alpha (I later understand the name of the painting ties in with this).
The whole thing was done in about 1.5 hours and was done with zero prep upfront. I painted whatever the Holy Spirit impressed on my heart.
The odd shape on my pallete that resembled a Hebrew letter was indeed a Hebrew letter. When I put it on the canvas, I had no idea of what it meant. The videographer who was shooting the event came to me after the worship ended. He asked my why I kept staring at the palette. I mentioned about the shaped that appeared in my palette. He curiously asked if I put that on the canvas. I did and showed it to him. He said, “we will need to Google that out to see what it means, don’t we?” That evening I Googled it out, as per his advice and I learned that the shape resembled the Hebrew alphabet “Shin”. The significance? This is the shape the high priests make with their hands while pronouncing the priestly blessing on the people of Israel(Vulcan hand salute in Star Trek). This is also the alphabet engraved on the prayer box containing the Mezuzah.
My interpretation of the painting- the God who was at beginning, who created all things and who sustains all things is mindful of us. When He sees the pain, suffering, evil, sin and death, he grieves. He weeps and His tears are born out of love for His people and for His creation. Fire and Water denotes justice, judgement and refining. However, God’s heart is one of love. To the ones who desire true intimacy with Him, He will bring light and clarity to the heart. His heart’s deepest desire is to bless.
I did not name the painting until almost a month later. As I was asking God for a name, the word Elohim came to mind. I researched the meaning and it perfectly describes the painting.
In the beginning Elohim… Genesis 1:1
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” Numbers 6:22-27
