Advent Painting Series: “Longing, Hope, Expectancy”

The approach of Advent means a number of changes to our services and structures at City Church. We change out the green vestments of ordinary time for purple; pray prayers of expectancy and longing; and wait for Christmas day to celebrate the coming of Jesus. One of the new ways we are marking the changing of the seasons here at City Church is through art. Erice Liu, an artist and member of City Church, has been commissioned to paint pieces representing the various seasons of the liturgical calendar. She did a beautiful piece in the sharp greens of Ordinary Time, and we are glad to be sharing the piece she has done in the rich purples of Advent. This triptych painting, titled “Longing, Hope, Expectancy,” will be on display at our Sutter campus throughout the season of Advent. Erice responded to a few questions about her artwork here.

What is the purpose of this painting?

Advent means “coming.” Advent is the time we anticipate and prepare for Christ’s coming in our hearts, and meditate on Christ’s coming as incarnate and His second coming. This painting expresses the layers of meaning that Advent has for us:

1. Preparing and longing for Christ to come in our hearts and life – re-examining where we are in our relationship with God, and what it means to welcome Him in our hearts.
2. Meditating on the first coming of Christ – reflecting upon Christ as our Redeemer and Savior.
3. Meditating on the Second coming of Christ – reflecting upon Christ as King. It is about His triumph and reign at the end of history, His eternal rule, and the one who will restore a new heavens and earth. I drew inspiration from the book of Isaiah that speak about Christ’s first and second coming.

What is the symbolism behind this painting?

The shape of the silhouette represents a longing for Christ’s coming. It is growing, moving, and transforming. As we think upon preparing to meet a Holy God, we are moved to reflect and examine where we are with God, and to assess our faith. It may stir in us a heart of repentance.

Purple symbolizes the royalty of the coming King. In my painting, the purples are a meditation on Christ’s first and second coming, as well as the inner spirit longing for His coming. I chose some purple towards violet reds to express more of a burning and yearning for Christ, as well as a passion that Christ has for His people.

The darker, bold purples express God’s justice, redemption, vengeance, and power in both his first and second coming.  There is a serious tone to the darker purples because of what Christ will do in the second coming - that is of judgment. However, His coming is also about hope, and the restoration of a new heavens and earth. Reading about God’s character and how He will come again particularly inspired me. Isaiah 35 speaks about God coming with divine retribution, vengeance, and to save his people.

The purples are also entering into a different space; it is a space that is being transformed – Jesus bringing newness, life, and hope into our lives as we welcome Him in.

The lighter colors also refer to simultaneous meanings – it is about us coming out of darkness into His light: Isaiah 9:2 says “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”  It is about the call to “arise and shine” because the Lord will shine in us, and will rise upon us (Isa. 60:1). Finally, it is about God’s glorious Day – when He will triumph and create a new heaven and earth.

How did you go about making this painting?

Making an abstract painting reflective upon God becomes meditative. As I paint, it becomes a personal time and encounter God – a time where I can reflect and think aloud through painting, colors, and express feelings. I usually don’t fully plan out my paintings from beginning to end. The painting becomes a textured history of events and thought processes. I have been working with an abstract expressionist style. While painting for Advent, it has been a time of learning to prepare and yearn for Christ’s coming, and what it means to prepare for Christ’s coming.

I experimented with finding different colors/shades of purple before I began, so I would be more familiar with making different shades of purple and to be ready to mix them when the painting requires it.

As I said, I drew a lot of inspiration from the book of Isaiah while painting. In it, Israel is spiritually stagnant and became indifferent towards God; God spoke through Isaiah to to tell them to turn from their ways, but also to bring messages of comfort, hope, and renewal. He prepares the people for Jesus’ first coming as the Savior. He also prepares them for Jesus’ second coming when God would bring restoration for the people, and in creating a new heavens and earth.