Immanuel Canvas Art

The Story: Immanuel – Live Art

This piece was painted live for a Christmas Eve service at a local church. I had the wonderful opportunity to finish this painting with my 6-year-old son.

​Immanuel means “God with us.” My son’s middle name is Immanuel as well, and he was very excited to work on a painting named after him. To begin, he wrote several phrases and scripture verses on the blank canvas. The first phrase he wrote was: “Immanuel, God with us.” May the name Immanuel bring peace and comfort to you, knowing that God is indeed with us. He came to be with us when He was born as a baby.

​The painting also features three important symbolic aspects: the candle, the snowflakes, and the butterfly.

​The Candle: Jesus is the light of the world. I initially wondered if I should paint a lamp (my daughter’s name, Diya, means lamp), but I decided to use a candle because a lamp needs oil to give light, whereas a candle does not. The candle melts sacrificially to give light to the world. Jesus, too, gave Himself up sacrificially to be the light for those sitting in darkness.

​The Snowflakes: The snowflakes are white and cover everything in a scene of purity. Snow falls silently, just as Jesus, the baby born in a manger, came quietly into the world. He chose one of the most obscure places and lived among humble people. His love is pure, and His grace is capable of covering any sin.

​The Butterfly: The butterfly that has landed on Baby Jesus represents new life and new beginnings. It is symbolic of Jesus’s birth, life, death, and resurrection—a true metamorphosis. The butterfly also represents the work of the Holy Spirit; like the “butterfly effect,” His movement impacts all of human life.

This painting was commissioned by a local church for their live art ministry. After a month of display on the church gallery walls, this piece is now available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will be donated back to the commissioning church to support their continued mission.