"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world."
Every year, I try to create art centered around advent. Advent really is just a fancy word for arrival, and what arrived during Christmas? The light of the world… The holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Years is a time that can be difficult. We’re reminded of the loved ones we’re far away from, whether it’s physically or emotionally. We’re reminded of the loved ones who used to have a place at our table to celebrate but aren’t there this year because they’ve passed away. We’re reminded of all the nostalgic Decembers of our childhood which seem so unattainable now. All these things weigh on me this Christmas season, and I know that’s okay. It’s okay to be sad and to grieve. This year has been full of difficulties and disappointments, losses and loneliness, grief and grime… And yet here comes Advent, here comes the arrival… the arrival of the light, the arrival of love.
I think this is one of the key things about the Holidays- we craft things we get to love together with our friends and family. We decorate our homes inside and out, not just for us but also for a neighbor who we might not ever have talked to. We bake things that are indulgent not only for ourselves but also for our friends and family and coworkers. We gather gifts for those around us to show we care about them, and we treasure the moments we see their faces light up. We create love and light around us, making a dark world a little lighter, a little brighter.
So I created this first advent artwork. This is a celebration of a pregnant woman carrying a child during a dark time in history as an act of faith. I pieced this collage together, and maybe I could give some deep explanation about Christmas being a time of coming together and patching things up, but truthfully? Truthfully in my first drawing, I really liked the figure and I didn’t like the background. So I cut the figure out, and crafted a new background. For me, art and advent is an attempt to create something symbolizing the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
If you’re interested in purchasing this original artwork, or a print of it, send me an email!
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