I read in the paper that the Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights is themed, “A Galactic Holiday.” I had no idea we were thinking along the same lines when I painted my version of the Nativity. The difference: The yachts-folk were thinking Star Wars. I was thinking Jesus.
“Detail,” click on picture for larger view.
My friend Christine Gunn-Danforth asked me to do it. She commissioned ten or so artists to depict various aspects of the Christmas story to display in Barrington, Illinois, near Chicago. Mine was the Nativity itself. Two weeks ago Anne and I traveled there to present it. Above is a detail. Keep scrolling for the full picture.
“Creator of the Cosmos in a Manger,” oil on canvas print, 80×32.
Click, and then again, for larger view.
Now you’ll see what I mean by “Galactic Holiday.” Not only was it a starry night, if they’d had the Hubble telescope they’d have wondered beyond wonder. I heard on NPR that there are 100-billion stars in our galaxy, and there are 100-billion galaxies that we know of! It’s too much to fathom.
Here’s another beyond fathoming: The whole thing was created and sustained by the One who came to earth that night.*
The names in the sky are two genealogies, separating off and joining back again. The documentation was necessary: Messiah would come through a certain line. Whether he knew it or not, step-father Joseph was qualified to be king. I took liberties; I gave him a purple robe.
The Virgin Mary would not likely have been wearing red, but I like red. So does God. Witness those bantam hens.
Then there are the shepherds who came to check. Not that gawking at babies is generally a man thing; they were confirming their non-hallucination in the field . . . radiant personages breaking though with a message not to miss.
Regarding that central star, a viewer identified it as Vega. So I looked it up. Vega is our brightest star, 25 light years away, and still in our galaxy! It’s not the star of the Biblical account, but so be that, it serves a purpose in my painting . . . star reflecting star.
Here’s the painting as it was coming together. It’s the size of a door (on which it was later mounted). You’ll note my ironing board palette and my ladder for the upper reaches. As I painted, I listened to Handel’s Messiah, receiving new insights right along about the wonder of it all. Rarely do I call painting a “spiritual experience,” except this time.
It is a galactic holiday, indeed.
________
*Psalm 8:1-4, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:13-20, Hebrews 1:1-3, 10
________
Painting Live Christmas Eve
I’ll be sharing all this, plus making a new rendition of the painting, live, during the candlelight Christmas Eve service at Heritage Christian Fellowship.
Times: 3:00 and 5:00 pm.
Address: 190 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente.
All welcome.
Would be great to see you there.
1:06 am
A most beautiful painting for the season, Hyatt.
Merry Christmas to you and Anne and your whole family.
From Kei and Judy
6:36 am
This is so beautiful. What a gift to wake up to this this morning on the morning of day before Christmas Eve. It brings the spirit home to my heart. Thank you.
7:59 am
Gorgeous. Worthy.
8:05 am
Oh, what a joy! Always a enjoy your work and sharing what God is revealing to you is especially meaningful. Thank you for sparking joy in my heart for the reason for each season!
Big hugs to you and Anne
8:19 am
So blessed to see and read this this morning Hyatt! Truly a reminder that our Heavenly Father is a sovereign God who has a plan for each of us, guaranteed by HIS Son, should we choose! Thanks for continually taking us from our daily activities to who HE is and what HE did on the cross.
8:26 am
A wonderful painting. I like the lineage added with its two arms.
May you have a Blessed Christmas.
8:29 am
Most BEAUTIFUL painting of JESUS on his birthday
Thank you for sharing
8:31 am
Hyatt!
Thank you. Your creativity is amazing and your craft keeps getting better and better. Who else would come up with an
ironing board for a palette!!! And I love the depiction of the light. This is a wonderful tribute to the season and I wish you and Anne a very joyful tide!
Shea.
8:36 am
Great and inspirational painting
8:41 am
Spectacular & heart rending beyond words…
9:07 am
Highly creative, Hyatt, just like the Subject of your painting.
Christmas Blessings on both you and Anne.
9:20 am
OHHHHHHH again Hyatt, when I don’t think there is any way to out do what you have done before, the Lord through you by the power of the Holy Spirit —DOES IT AGAIN!! YOU DO IT AGAIN!!! WOW! NO KIDDING! I DO DO DO LOVE THIS!! THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR LORD, FOR WORKING AT ONCE AGAIN, COMING AT THIS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TIME OF THE SEASON WITH THE LORD IN THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR MIND!!! SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT THIS SEASON IS TRULY ABOUT!! THANK YOU HYATT! LOVE TO YOU AND ANNE AND THE FAMILY!!! XOXOXOXOOOXOXO LOVE TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS TOO!!! XOXOXOXO
9:30 am
What a marvel that God has given you this insight and truth and to portray it the way you do! The Lord Jesus must be smiling right now.
9:46 am
I love it. Brilliant.
9:56 am
This one really strikes a chord with us! Any chance of producing poster-sized reproductions for sale??? Linda and Helmut Boehm
10:03 am
Marvelous Rendition I was at the Getty Museum admiring the rendition of Nativity of the Masters
Star Wars Nativity it’s just perfect for the Season
Congrats Hyatt
Artist
Art Guevara
10:32 am
Hi Hyatt — beautiful painting! So proud of you for using your God given talent for His glory. Merry CHRISTmas!
10:47 am
. . . . Hyatt,
I wasn’t going to blog one more time this week – who has time? to write? to read? but we all have time to wonder! I will send my readers to the wonder of this glorious tribute to our Lord Who came to make all things possible – love and joy and peace and forgivenss. Have a blast on Christmas Eve – wish we were there EXCEPT we have 40-50 expected for soup and bread (and hopefully some joy and wonder mixed in) -God bless us everyone. Must go cook. xxx
10:55 am
Beautiful, Hyatt! Can hardly wait until tomorrow night. Just sent out to my entire student community, including alumni. Merry Christmas!
11:04 am
I love the painting and your process creating it. Both
Christmas gifts.
11:44 am
If, by some miracle I owned this beautiful painting, I’d permanently, hang it on the wall opposite our front door so it was the first thing seen when walking into the room. It’s beautiful, as well as a great reminder of Who life is all about. Your work touches my soul like no other’s. Thanks for sharing it with us. Wish we were close enough to attend your Christmas Eve “redo”. May you and yours have an especially blessed CHRISTmas! Sheila
11:57 am
Absolutely beautiful and brilliant. This is now one of my favorites!
12:52 pm
I had the same idea this year in kind of a Vincent Van Gogh sort of way. Maybe God is saying something to us. If so, you did an amazing job communicating it. Merry Christmas to you and Anne! :)
5:59 pm
Lovely. I’D like to see a shepherd touching the baby’s cheek. Jesus was and is quite touchable.
7:39 pm
Thank you, Hyatt; a wonderful Christmas to you and your family.
9:22 pm
Don’t know what is left to say…everything I feel about this painting has already been said. Magnificent!
Merry Christmas,
Susan Morrison
11:30 pm
Thank you!
1:22 am
A very Merry and Blessed Christmas … Thank you. … Your art so speaks without words …I love the symboligy of the lineage from the heavens
9:04 am
Oh Hyatt. Another beautiful and amazing work. Thank you for sharing. I am glad Sue shared this with us through her blog. This is a Christmas gift to cherish. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
10:59 am
Wonderful! Merry Christmas to Hyatt and family
12:22 pm
A beautifully inspired work of art. You have become an awesome artist. May God continue to bless you with great health, happiness, and joy.
8:21 am
Wow! So absolutely wonderful!
6:37 am
Looks great Dad; love that you listened to Handel’s Messiah at the same time.
12:47 pm
WOW!!!
5:33 pm
It’s WONDERful and INSPIRed . . . loved that you listened to Handel’s Messiah while painting it.
8:34 pm
Absolutely beautiful!