Annunciation

Medium: Watercolor on paper

Date: 2024

The Annunciation: A Reflection in Watercolor 

For this week's blog, I wanted to explore a theme that has always held deep, personal significance for me, both as a spiritual event and as an artistic inspiration: The Annunciation. As I recall from my Bible studies, “The angel of the Lord came down to Mary to tell her that she will conceive and bear a child who will be the Son of God, whose name will be Emmanuel or Christ the Lord.” Furthermore, God would sacrifice His son to cure the sins of mankind. This moment, steeped in spiritual significance, has always resonated with me, inspiring both my faith and my artistic endeavors. 

This divine moment has inspired countless artists throughout history. I've particularly admired various Annunciation images created in the 15th century, especially those by Simone Martini and Andrea Verrocchio, the latter featuring the delicate touch of Leonardo da Vinci, who painted the peacocks. These works have long captured the sacred and solemn nature of this biblical event. As I reflected on these historical depictions of the Annunciation, I found myself drawn to the theme in a more personal and vivid way through a dream that would eventually shape my own artistic interpretation. 

One night, I dreamed of orange flowers with large yellow centers glowing across a dark blue sky. In my dream, I recognized these flowers as angels. The imagery was so vivid that I felt compelled to capture it on paper. As I began to draw, a large angelic face emerged, full of sympathy and concern, gazing downward. Beneath this cloud of angels, I painted a sea, where a young woman floated, seemingly sinking into the water. This evoked in me the image of Ophelia, as painted by Lord Leighton in the 19th century. The young woman I depicted bore a sad and concerned expression. I thought, “Could this be Mary, being told she was to bear the Son of God, knowing He would in early manhood be sacrificed on a cross for the sins of mankind?” 

As the artist of this piece titled "Annunciation," my approach was to blend symbolism with a dreamlike interpretation of a spiritual moment. In creating this watercolor, I sought to capture the essence of a divine message being delivered, a theme deeply rooted in the concept of annunciation. 

Techniques and Composition: 

I employed a soft watercolor technique, allowing the colors to bleed and blend naturally. This approach creates a sense of fluidity, representing the ethereal nature of the subject matter. Watercolor, with its delicate and unpredictable nature, allows for a unique interplay of light and shadow, making it particularly suited to capturing the intangible qualities of the divine. The warm tones of yellows, oranges, and pinks are contrasted with cooler blues and greens, symbolizing the warmth of divine light against the calm of earthly existence. 

The central figure, a small childlike figure on a large face, symbolizes innocence and the humility of receiving divine wisdom. The surrounding flower-like faces represent celestial beings, each expressing different emotions. These faces are intentionally abstract, inviting the viewer to interpret them as they see fit—whether as angels, spirits, or representations of different facets of the divine message. 

Symbolism: 

The large central face, adorned with a crown-like halo, is a depiction of a divine presence, possibly a motherly figure or a deity. The face exudes a calm and nurturing expression, symbolizing the compassionate nature of the divine. The smaller faces surrounding it are manifestations of the various aspects of the message being delivered, each face conveying a different emotional response, from joy to contemplation. The childlike figure represents not only innocence but also the pure receptiveness required to receive divine wisdom, mirroring Mary's humble acceptance of her role. 

The use of circular shapes and flowing lines reflects the continuous and unending nature of spiritual guidance. The horizon, depicted in soft blues and greens, grounds the scene, indicating that this moment of divine revelation occurs within the human experience, connecting the heavenly with the earthly. 

Life Lessons: 

Creating this piece taught me about the subtlety of communication—how profound messages are often delivered in the quietest moments and how important it is to remain open and receptive to these moments. The process of painting "Annunciation" was a meditation on the nature of divine inspiration and how it manifests in our lives. As the watercolor bled and blended unpredictably, I realized how much this process mirrored the nature of divine messages—often subtle, always profound, and requiring a balance of control and surrender. 

Through this work, I learned the value of patience and intuition in the creative process. Watercolor, with its unpredictable nature, mirrors life itself—where control is limited, and outcomes are often a blend of intention and chance. This piece, like many of my works, is a reminder that beauty and meaning are often found in the unexpected and the delicate balance between effort and surrender. 

The Moment Captured: 

The moment I sought to capture in this painting, titled "Annunciation," is deeply introspective. It embodies the profound mixture of emotions that Mary must have felt. “Great are you among maidens!” the angel said. While Mary had to accept this great honor, she also knew it would bring a life full of challenges—honor and glory on one hand, and on the other, a deep personal despair that would pierce her heart. This is the essence of the moment captured in this picture. 

The angel's words are represented as a transparent path and bubble from the angel’s mouth to Mary’s ear, symbolizing the divine communication and the gravity of the message being delivered. 

As I continued to develop the painting, I filled out the angels, placing their faces in the large yellow centers. These are hardy angels, some joyous, others reflecting the sorrowful awareness of the pain Mary would endure. They have come to honor her, to serenade her, and to witness this profound moment of divine intervention. 

For every great thing I’ve received in my life, I’ve also found an equal opposite—not necessarily bad, but something that brings wisdom, though not always a choice I would have made. This is the idea of the thorn with the rose. I’ve been surprised that some people, upon seeing this painting, immediately recognize the subject of the Annunciation. This confirms to me that the message, like the one conveyed to Mary, resonates deeply, transcending time and medium. 

This painting, like the Annunciation itself, invites each viewer to bring their own experiences and emotions to the interpretation. What does this divine moment stir within you?