ORIGINAL CHRISTIAN OIL PAINTINGS

Interpretation of the painting: This painting is correctly viewed from the view point that I have spiritually died to this world and am born again to a new reality, which is a life in Jesus Christ. The painting is a considered prayerful response to the beatitude; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

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Background: The Holy Eucharist is the central celebration of the Roman Catholic faith. Whenever possible, a devout Roman Catholic will endeavour to consume the body of Christ (Holy Eucharist) and drink from the chalice which contains the blood of Jesus Christ. The bread and wine offered at the altar is miraculously trans substantiated into the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a meditation on why we are satisfied. This painting began before the COVID 19 pandemic but was painted during the global lockdown period of the pandemic. This was a very special painting for me as I painted it during the Covid pandemic.

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The journey: This painting was a long time in coming and the ideas and meditations started in 2019 and the final painting was finished at the end of April 2020.

In my prayers and meditations I wanted this moment to be the primary focus of the image. I wanted to give Christ all the Glory and Honour that is due to him. This is a moment I have experienced week after week, and have experienced the wonderful transforming moment many times. But during the lockdown I was now being denied it. So this was a moment of greater reflection. I had to reflect not only on the theology but also physical and spiritual effects that I was experiencing.

I searched scripture and read many writings by the saints as the full meaning of what I was now missing. The scriptures were clear; unless we drink his blood and eat his body we can not enter the kingdom of heaven. But how often was a matter of tradition.

As a person who thinks in images I began to get the key symbols that were beginning to form in my mind and an image began to form. I took this image to God in prayer and in contemplation, I awaited his reply. His reply came soon enough and I was called to put more meaning. I was called to try and get the viewer to question the image more. It was only then that I began to paint.

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The meaning of the painting: The whole image is how we move from darkness and chaos into order and light; which is depicted using the transition from the bottom to the top of the painting. The Catholic belief often focuses on the opposed nature of sin and love.

The perspective of the image is of one sitting in the nave of the church looking up at the priest who, is in persona of Christ, stands in front of the altar; this invites the congregation to be a participant in this moment.

Jesus is reaching out of heaven to give up his body and blood. The priestly vestments are those worn by the priest during the Easter season (this is the celebration of the moment of when Christ died for us). By relating the garments to Eastertide, the image emphasizes Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for mankind.

The scroll running behind the Eucharist is the 'Book of life' on which are written the names of saints. There are over 100 names recorded in this image. The book of life is mentioned in the book of the Apocalypse and it states that unless your name been written in the book of life you can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If the viewer looks closely they will see that all the writing is upside down.

The crucifix that runs behind the Holy Eucharist is a symbol that every Roman Catholic knows. It is a constant reminder of the Sacrifice that Jesus made for us by giving up his life willingly for the forgiveness of our sins. It is also a call for us to pick up our cross and to follow him.

Just above this cross is a hole in the sky and this relates in shape and size to the Holy Eucharist that the priest is holding in his hands. This serves to connect the Manna that fell from heaven to feed the tribes of Israel in the desert after leaving Egypt en-route to the Promised Land. This reminds us that we are pilgrims in this world and we have died to this world and live for the next that is to come and the cross of Jesus is the only way to get there. Jesus stated; I am the way the truth and the light. This is food that we hunger and thirst for and Jesus is the only righteous one.

The Holy Eucharist is the brightest object on the painting and demands the attention of the viewer. This is to bring our attention that this is the body of Christ. It is the only tangible way of seeing Christ. It is bright because Christ is the light of the world.

There are five portraits of Christ in this image. There is Christ leaning over the clouds, there is the crucifix, there is the priest in persona of Christ, there is the Eucharist itself, and lastly if you look very carefully there is the reflection of the priest in the chalice. This latter portrait is to suggest that we can only truly see Christ if we see a reflection of him in all of humanity. These multiple portraits bring our focus on Christ, the righteous one. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. You will also notice the lack of faces in the image, as only the pure of heart can see the face of God.

Looking at the whole image the viewer will notice that the things of this world are abstract. This is because a Christian has died to this world and lives only for Christ. It is only the priest that is realistic; this brings focus on this miraculous moment. The things of heaven are all realistic. This is every Christian’s new reality.

The biggest challenge in this picture is when you turn it upside down. When you do this try to ignore the people and focus on the larger elements and you will see that this is an arched doorway, with the scroll acting as a gate. This is the reason for the writing being upside down. For it is in heaven, that they read if your name is written in the book of life. If it is, you will be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is a further reminder to all the faithful that you must view all scripture through the eyes of God and not human eyes. This is what is meant that only those who have received the Holy Spirit will be able to understand the scriptures.