MAJOR AWARD: STAR OF HOPE AWARD
2023 YEAR 5 FINALIST

'guiding light' 
ethan dowe
st clare's catholic primary school, narellan vale
year 5

My artwork is inspired by “The Visit of The Magi” (Matthew 2:9-12), I was inspired by Thomas Kinkade’s painting The Nativity and my art is an appropriation of this painting. It says in the scripture “When it rose it went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

The star in my work is the only element where I used colour. I did this because the star signifies that something very special was about to happen and I wanted the star to be a stand out feature. I created my artwork using graphite pencils. I used the lighter shades such as 2H, H and F around the barn as it shows brightness, because that’s where the Messiah was. I chose these techniques as they are my strengths and therefore play a big part in my artwork. The techniques I chose were blending, feathering and circling showing realism in every aspect of my artwork. 

I connected personally to my artwork when I chose to have faith in God and myself when facing challenges like how the Magi had to have faith when following the star. This passage has an important message which is to believe and have faith in God at all times.

View more of our Christmas Story Art Exhibition 2023 artworks by clicking on our young artists' names in the teal panel. Alternatively, click through our artworks below.

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