ART FOR THE HEART….Comes from…..ART FROM THE HEART
Today we will begin to explore the many steps to creating spiritual or mystical art. I will start with origins of Christian mystical art and later we will study Jewish and Eastern origins; as the methods and principals are very similar in all spiritual art.
So lets begin with “Visio Divina” or divine seeing. There are two ways of seeing; with our physical eyes and with the eyes of our heart. There is a language that speaks in colors, symbols, painted parables and other images. Since the beginning of time there has existed a language that can by-pass the level of ordinary mental understanding and speak directly to the deepest recesses of our soul and spirit.
The Holy Spirit speaks many languages, among them the language of art in all it’s forms. Frank T. Griswold
Look at the Icon of “Christ Pantocrator” above. What do you see….what do you feel….what is drawing you?
Start a journal. You will need it if you want to study and try your hand at creating this type of art. Write down what you feel as well as what you think.
Next, let us study the Icon. I will give you some facts that will help you understand the symbols. Write down your thoughts.
Christ Pantocrator – The Sinai Christ
This portrait was painted in the Egypto-Roman tradition around 600AD at St. Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt.
1. the halo: can be a symbol of a solar disk, or an ancient way of painting an aurora.
2. the robe: is painted in a deep purple color, a symbol of royalty.
3. the hand: is positioned in the sign of the blessing, or in the sign of an orators gesture indicating he is speaking or has the right to speak.
4. the book: what book is it, the Torah, the Bible, why the cross (Christianity didn’t exist until after Christ’s death), could this be an image of Christ the Living Word?
5. the face: take a piece of paper and place it on center of the nose, covering one half of the face; what do you see? Now, do the same on the other side; what do you see? Are there two faces in one? Could it be the Lion and the Lamb, or the face of the King and the Suffering Servant, or the face of the Righteous One and the Lover of Mankind.
This is the end of this lesson….. you may want to continue writing….. you might see things I haven’t mentioned here. I have a comments page on this site and I would love to hear your thoughts on what spoke to you.
Blessings on this journey of mystical art!