Christ of the Cosmos

posted December 23rd, 2015 by

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.

NativScene-detail

“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.

NativScene-final

“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.

NativScene-in-process

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.
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*Psalm 8:1-4, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:13-20, Hebrews 1:1-3, 10

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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.

36 Comments

  1. Judith Anton Dec 23, 2015
    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

  2. Jane Moore Dec 23, 2015
    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.

  3. Joe Black Dec 23, 2015
    7:59 am

    Gorgeous. Worthy.

  4. Kristine N Dec 23, 2015
    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

  5. Scott Kvandal Dec 23, 2015
    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.

  6. Rita Hopper Dec 23, 2015
    8:26 am

    A wonderful painting. I like the lineage added with its two arms.
    May you have a Blessed Christmas.

  7. don graves Dec 23, 2015
    8:29 am

    Most BEAUTIFUL painting of JESUS on his birthday
    Thank you for sharing

  8. Shea Dec 23, 2015
    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.

  9. Larry Rausch Dec 23, 2015
    8:36 am

    Great and inspirational painting

  10. Gloria Dec 23, 2015
    8:41 am

    Spectacular & heart rending beyond words…

  11. Jack Popjes Dec 23, 2015
    9:07 am

    Highly creative, Hyatt, just like the Subject of your painting.
    Christmas Blessings on both you and Anne.

  12. Lisa Hoyt Dec 23, 2015
    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

  13. Mabel Pittman Dec 23, 2015
    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.

  14. Bob Thomas Dec 23, 2015
    9:46 am

    I love it. Brilliant.

  15. Linda Boehm Dec 23, 2015
    9:56 am

    This one really strikes a chord with us! Any chance of producing poster-sized reproductions for sale??? Linda and Helmut Boehm

  16. Art Guevara Dec 23, 2015
    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

  17. Gina Dec 23, 2015
    10:32 am

    Hi Hyatt — beautiful painting! So proud of you for using your God given talent for His glory. Merry CHRISTmas!

  18. sue@welcomeheart.com Dec 23, 2015
    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

  19. Norm Dec 23, 2015
    10:55 am

    Beautiful, Hyatt! Can hardly wait until tomorrow night. Just sent out to my entire student community, including alumni. Merry Christmas!

  20. barbara Dec 23, 2015
    11:04 am

    I love the painting and your process creating it. Both
    Christmas gifts.

  21. Sheila Goetze Dec 23, 2015
    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

  22. Laura Dec 23, 2015
    11:57 am

    Absolutely beautiful and brilliant. This is now one of my favorites!

  23. Becky Crawford Dec 23, 2015
    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! :)

  24. Laurel Dec 23, 2015
    5:59 pm

    Lovely. I’D like to see a shepherd touching the baby’s cheek. Jesus was and is quite touchable.

  25. Jerry Dec 23, 2015
    7:39 pm

    Thank you, Hyatt; a wonderful Christmas to you and your family.

  26. Susan Morrison Dec 23, 2015
    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

  27. Paul Carden Dec 23, 2015
    11:30 pm

    Thank you!

  28. Randy Mosten Dec 24, 2015
    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

  29. Suzanne Kelley Dec 24, 2015
    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.

  30. Renuka Pillai Dec 24, 2015
    10:59 am

    Wonderful! Merry Christmas to Hyatt and family

  31. Jerry Kaufman Dec 24, 2015
    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.

  32. Ginney Dec 27, 2015
    8:21 am

    Wow! So absolutely wonderful!

  33. Hyatt 4 Dec 28, 2015
    6:37 am

    Looks great Dad; love that you listened to Handel’s Messiah at the same time.

  34. Rosalie Irish Dec 29, 2015
    12:47 pm

    WOW!!!

  35. Patricia Rody Jan 4, 2016
    5:33 pm

    It’s WONDERful and INSPIRed . . . loved that you listened to Handel’s Messiah while painting it.

  36. Betty Shea Jan 19, 2016
    8:34 pm

    Absolutely beautiful!