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For the past few years, a Catholic missionary organization has commissioned me to paint a version of the Nativity for their annual Christmas appeal. Due to the length of time it takes to paint, design, print and put together the materials in order to send the stuff out in time to get a good response, the painting actually has to take place in the middle of the summer. Which, if you live in southern California like I do, is the least inspirational time to think about Christmas.For this year’s appeal, the organization wanted a colorful, close-up depiction of the nativity with animals. I looked around at various depictions and saw that it’s very common to have baby Jesus facing the viewer. I was thinking about it, and I thought a much more intimate depiction would be if Jesus was facing his parents. I also hoped that the different perspective would help the viewer to remember the amazing point: God chose to be incarnate in this world not in a grown, powerful man, but in a helpless baby.
Thinking year after year about the Nativity and finding new and interesting ways to depict it is definitely challenging. How on earth can you do this year after year and still keep people on their toes, inspirationally-speaking? I try my best and am honored that this organization thinks that I do a good job, year after year!