Heaven And Nature Sing

I want to capture the joy of the Christmas season by using bright red cardinals. I want to suggest snow, and so, I look through my painted papers.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

I begin this piece with an icy blue background. Then, I add pine cones and evergreens that are torn, so they suggest a touch of snow. I had painted the green papers 4 years ago, and I had painted dots of white to suggest snow.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Psalm 98

Next, I add two red cardinals. They are vividly colored birds with unique markings. The bright red brings joy to my soul.

The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. Psalm 104:12

My matted and framed collage – Winter Cardinals

My collage of “nature singing” is complete, and my own heart sings a bit as I place this work in my bedroom. It will encourage my heart when I go through the next chemo – coming up Christmas Eve. I know Heaven will be singing as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our saviour and rescuer from sin, darkness, cancer and death. And, so will the birds!