“Blood of the Covenant” was inspired by a meditation on the Eucharist. I could not let go of Matthew 26:26-29 for several days and kept hearing the phrase without prompt. I knew that God was calling me to reflect on this scripture, so I thought about how I could visually express my process. I had been looking for a new and unusual medium to work with, specifically wine- this was the perfect opportunity to experiment and visually process this specific passage.
The base of the painting is red wine, which was intended for the body of Christ, and acrylic paint was used as another material to create dimension, as well as give a nod towards Byzantine images. The result is a mix of different eras of church visuals: more realistic anatomy combined with the colors and spiritual symbolism of icons.
Painting with wine was an interesting experience. I was not prepared for the constant layering of the liquid on canvas; turns out water is more water soluble than I initially thought, which meant building up the color required patience and consistency.
I think this process helped put Romans 12:12 into perspective. There were moments when this project seemed daunting and I doubted whether this would be sufficient. After re-reading the passage in Romans, I realized that the three actions listed were exactly what was needed for this endeavor. I prayed that the focus of this piece would not be on my talents as an artist, but on the meaning behind representing Christ’s body and blood with the physical embodiment of the latter. To do so was a sacrifice and exercise in constant prayer, which has led to a deeper understanding of what Jesus did on the cross.
