The Annunciation

8x10 Oil on Panel

Interior Illustration for Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Mary

The Angel Gabriel Visits Mary.

“Do not be afraid.” The angel said to Mary. This painting meditates on the intimate conversation between the angel and the virgin after those words were spoken. In this painting, the angel, Gabriel, interrupts Mary in her daily chores to announce that she will give birth to Jesus. Gabriel’s glow not only reveals his glory, but also, like a candle’s light, brings a comforting glow of grace to Mary. Although appearing small and modest, Mary stands comfortably in the angel’s presence—listening to his every word. The painting is a balance of miraculous wonder and prayer-like peace.

This painting is also about vessels. The two vases on the floor represent the Law and the Prophets. Mary, a vessel herself for Christ, holds a basket representing our Savior, Jesus—God poured out for the entire world.

Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Mary is a devotional journal and video series published by Ascension Press. To purchase the journal and art prints of this painting, visit: shop.ascensionpress.com/collections/rejoice

Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Mary

Recently, I was blessed to have the opportunity to paint illustrations for Ascension Press. The artwork was for a devotional guide called Rejoice, Advent Meditations with Mary by Fr. Mark Toups. The meditation guide focused on several key stories in the life of Mary leading up to the birth of Christ. The stories were: Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary, Mary’s visit with Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, and the Holy Family at the nativity. Each composition was a truly prayerful and meaningful experience. 

In addition to the devotional guide paintings, Ascension beautifully made a companion video series. The series is full of meditations and prayers centered around Mary’s story. For the video, I had the opportunity to create digital illustrations to be shown during the prayerful meditations.

It has been an honor to illustrate Mary’s story. I hope you enjoy these special paintings and take a moment to reflect on the story of the Blessed Mother, her faithful husband and the advent of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

I will be posting more images from this series and giving you my reflections on them soon.

Click HERE to order 

• Prints of my Rejoice paintings 

• The meditation journal & videos 

• Get FREE iPhone background art

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

12"x12"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
For Unto Us  A Child Is Born

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government
Shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion

8"x10"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion,
get thee up into the high mountain:
O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up thy voice with strength;
lift it up, be not afraid;
say unto the cities of Judah,
Behold you God!
Arise, shine, for thy light is come,
and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

And He Shall Purify

8"x10"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
And He Shall Purify

And He shall purify the sons of Levi, 
That they may offer unto the Lord an
Offering in righteousness.
(Malachi 3:3)

But Who May Abide

5"x7"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
But Who May Abide

But who may abide the day of His coming, 
and who shall stand when He appeareth? 
For He is like a refiner's fire. 
(Malachi 3:2)

I Will Shake All Nations

5"x7"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
Thus Saith The Lord

Thus saith the Lord of Hosts:
-Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land;
And I will shake all nations;
And the desire of all nations shall come.
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple,
Even the messenger of the covenant,
Whom ye delight in:
Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.

And The Glory Of The Lord

12"x12"
Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
And The Glory Of The Lord

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
Together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
(Isaiah 40:5)

Every Valley Shall Be Exalted

5"x7"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
Every Valley Shall Be Exalted

Every valley shall be exalted,
And every mountain and hill made low,
The crooked straight and the rough places plain. 
(Isaiah 40:4)

Comfort Ye, My People

6"x6"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
Comfort Ye, My People

Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God. 
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, 
That her warfare is accomplished, 
That her Iniquity is pardoned. 
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness
Prepare ye the way of the Lord. 
Make straight in the desert a highway 
For our God. 
(Isaiah 40:1-3)

Wait for the Lord

One of the greatest gifts the season of Advent gives to the church is the gift of waiting. As our attention spans shrink and our cravings for instant gratification grow, the more we need waiting space in our lives. Waiting is a gift that fills us with blessings. Waiting blesses us with hope, wonder, patience and self-control.

This year’s Advent art is an abstract depiction of a dawning morning. It is that moment when the sky glows in soft, low light, but the sun has not yet revealed itself over the horizon. That’s how if feel about waiting for God to act in my life. I feel like I’m never alone, but rather surrounded by God’s presence like dimmed, soft, pre-dawn light. I wait for a fully revealed sunrise over the horizon. The metaphor is also quite true for Christian Advent waiting. We live in the pre-dawn light of Emmanuel while we wait for the full light of Christ’s return.

Accept the gift of waiting this season. Let us slow our rhythms for a fuller experience of time and discernment. Let us enjoy the gifts of wonder, hope and patience. Let us walk towards the horizon in the soft, dim light. God is faithful and will answer our prayers. And sooner or later, the day will come.

O Emmanuel

2.5"x3.5" Acrylic on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to you, O Israel.

"O" Antiphons series.

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

There are many different texts for the O Antiphons. For this series, I'm using the verses to they hymn "O Come Emmanuel" which lyrically contains all of the O Antiphons.

O King of Nations

2.5"x3.5" Acrylic on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

O come, thou King of nations bind
all peoples in one heart and mind.
Bid envy strife and discord cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace.

"O" Antiphons series.

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

There are many different texts for the O Antiphons. For this series, I'm using the verses to they hymn "O Come Emmanuel" which lyrically contains all of the O Antiphons.

O Dawn

2.5"x3.5" Oil on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer

our spirits by thine advent here.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadows put to flight. 

"O" Antiphons series.

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

There are many different texts for the O Antiphons. For this series, I'm using the verses to they hymn "O Come Emmanuel" which lyrically contains all of the O Antiphons.

O Key of David

2.5"x3.5" Oil on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

O come, O Key of David, come

and open wide our heavenly home.

Make safe the way that leads on high
and close the path of misery. 

"O" Antiphons series.

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

There are many different texts for the O Antiphons. For this series, I'm using the verses to they hymn "O Come Emmanuel" which lyrically contains all of the O Antiphons.

O Root of Jesse

2.5"x3.5" Oil on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,

unto your own and rescue them!

From depths of hell your people save,

and give them victory o'er the grave.

"O" Antiphons series.

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

There are many different texts for the O Antiphons. For this series, I'm using the verses to they hymn "O Come Emmanuel" which lyrically contains all of the O Antiphons.

O Lord and Ruler

2.5"x3.5" Oil on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

O come, O come, great Lord of might,

who to your tribes on Sinai's height

in ancient times did give the law

in cloud and majesty and awe. 

"O" Antiphons series.

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

There are many different texts for the O Antiphons. For this series, I'm using the verses to they hymn "O Come Emmanuel" which lyrically contains all of the O Antiphons.

O Wisdom

2.5"x3.5" Oil on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

O come, O Wisdom from on high,

who ordered all things mightily;

to us the path of knowledge show

and teach us in its ways to go.

This is the first of a new series of "O" Antiphons. 

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

There are many different texts for the O Antiphons. For this series, I'm using the verses to they hymn "O Come Emmanuel" which lyrically contains all of the O Antiphons.

Hope #4

2.5"x3.5" Oil on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

The Final post on my Hope Abstract ACEOs, "Artist Card Editions & Originals." They are 2.5" x 3.5" in size and are hand painted trading cards. For inspiration for my cards this year, I'm running with my abstracts based on Advent themes. This the last of a four-part series on Advent Hope. As you can see below, the colors get brighter as the series goes on. It is an abstract interpretation of the candles of an Advent wreath. The closer to Christmas, the more candles are lit and the brighter hope becomes. Fear not. I have some more small Advent works to share soon. So keep waiting.

Hope #3

2.5"x3.5" Oil on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

The third post on my Hope Abstract ACEOs, "Artist Card Originals and Editions." They are 2.5" x 3.5" in size and are hand painted trading cards. For inspiration for my cards this year, I'm running with my abstracts based on Advent themes. This is the third of four in a series of Advent Hope. Below are the first 3 all together.