'mater amoris' 
pia jochum
st clare's catholic parish primary school, narellan vale
year 6

My artwork 'Mater Amoris' (Latin for 'A Mother's Love') shows Mary looking lovingly at her son Jesus. I used pastels, coloured pencils, and blenders to create a soft glow. The halos around Mary and Jesus represent their divine status, with Mary as our mother in heaven and Jesus as God in the flesh. Mary's halo reads "Queen of Heaven" and the quote, "She conceived from the Holy Spirit and from that, the son of God was born to save the world." Jesus' halo includes the titles "Bread of Life," "Son of Living God," "Jesus Christ," and "Savior of the World," all written in Hebrew to emphasise their significance.

I solely focused on Mary and Jesus to show how she viewed Jesus not only as God but also as her son. This is important because Mary was young, and motherhood would have been difficult. I wanted to connect this artwork to modern-day mothers and highlight the dedication required to raise a child in the light of God.

Mary's loving gaze reminds me of my own mother and how she sees me as a precious gift from God and the love and care it took from both my parents to raise me. 

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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