God and Art
Sacred art in the home makes it a “domestic church” where your family can constantly praise God. Children are likely bombarded by hundreds, if not thousands, of media images every day or week. Religious art provides images of God’s peace and love, leading to prayer and quiet reflection. Christian images of beauty convey messages of faith without words. Here’s how parents can use different forms of art to help their children learn about God’s presence in their lives.
Visual Arts: Paintings and Drawings
Encourage children to create artwork that reflects themes of creation, love, and faith. Discuss religious art from different cultures and eras to see how artists have depicted God’s presence.
Crafts
Create crafts that have religious significance, such as Advent calendars, Easter decorations, or prayer boxes. These activities can help children understand and celebrate religious holidays and concepts.
Drama and Performance Arts
Engage with religious plays, skits, and performances that tell stories from the Bible or depict moral lessons. Participating in such performances can be a powerful way for children to experience and express their faith.
Poetry and Creative Writing
Encourage children to write poems, prayers, or stories that express their feelings about God, faith, and spirituality. Reading religious poetry together can also be inspiring.
Sculpture, Carvings, and 3D Art
Explore religious themes through sculpture and three-dimensional art projects, such as creating crosses, doves, or other symbols that represent aspects of God’s presence.
Photography and Film
Use photography to capture moments of beauty, wonder, and awe in the natural world as a way to discuss God’s creation.
Digital Art
Through digital art, we can explore and create religious-themed illustrations, animations, and even interactive experiences that can engage us in a deeper understanding of our faith. Family members can discover and enjoy religious digital art together by going to Christian Photoshops.
Drawing God
Children often have a natural curiosity and desire to explore and express their understanding of God through art. Encouraging children to draw or create artwork related to their understanding of God can be a way for them to engage with their faith and express their thoughts and feelings. For inspiration, check out Drawing God.
Religious Symbols
Religious symbols in art serve as visual representations of spiritual truths, biblical stories, and theological concepts. Symbols such as the cross, the dove, the fish, and the lamb, among others, can convey profound meaning and invite contemplation. You can find these in paintings, sculptures, stained glass windows, and icons.
Art and Decorations for Advent and Christmas
Artistic decorations capture the spirit and significance of the seasons and help believers enter the mystery of the Incarnation. The Advent wreath consists of four candles marking the weeks of preparation for Jesus’ birth and second coming. The Nativity scene represents the humble and miraculous birth of Jesus. A Christmas tree is adorned with lights and ornaments, and a star or angel at the top represents the Star of Bethlehem or the angelic announcement of Christ’s birth.
Art and Beauty at Lent and Easter
Certain art and symbols can invite believers to enter the mystery of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. Purple or violet are colors associated with Lent, representing repentance and conversion. The Stations of the Cross are a series of paintings or sculptures that depict the various moments of Jesus’ journey to Calvary and his crucifixion. Easter lilies are popular during the holiday and symbolize purity, new life, and resurrection.
The Arts and Mass
You can find various forms of art that enhance the liturgical celebration during Mass. There are paintings, statues, or reliefs depicting the saints, as well as stained glass windows rendering biblical stories. The Paschal Candle is a large candle with sacred symbols and remains lit during the Easter season, representing the risen Christ. The music and hymns call each listener to actively participate in the liturgy. The use of burning incense is rich with symbolism, with the rising smoke representing the prayers of the faithful ascending to heaven.
Resources
Incorporating these various forms of art into your child’s life not only helps them learn about God’s presence but also allows them to express their spirituality creatively. Each child can connect with God in multiple ways, so offering a range of artistic expressions can help them find the ones that resonate most deeply with them. Find ways to help your children foster a sense of connection, wonder, and exploration with the following resources.
