2023 YEAR 5 HIGHLY COMMENDED

'take a breath' 
Elizabelle Pulou
good samaritan catholic primary school, fairy meadow
year 5

A mix of emotions was felt by Mary as she travelled by donkey to the city of Bethlehem with her husband Joseph. The scripture passage  A Journey To Bethlehem (Luke 2:3-5) connected me to Mary as she was feeling fear and worry on her travels. I too, have felt these emotions as I have struggled sometimes with anxious feelings. I have painted Mary blue to represent this.  Her face is divided down the centre, to symbolise both the joy and fear that she would have experienced on this journey.

Jai Vasicek (a Byron Bay artist) bases a lot of his work around these colours and his intricate and careful designs showcase flowers which remind me of my Samoan heritage. I have used bright watercolours and acrylic paint, with gold to show Mary’s holiness, as well as my heritage shining through. I have used the Star-of-Bethlehem (native to Israel) and Hibiscus flowers and also incorporated tattoos which represent our Samoan storytelling.

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.

View Next Artwork >>