What Wonder Turns Into Print (Birth of John the Baptist) by Lisle Gwynn Garrity
What Wonder Turns Into Print (Birth of John the Baptist) by Lisle Gwynn Garrity
What Wonder Turns Into
Acrylic painting on canvas with digital drawing
By Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Inspired by Luke 1:57-66
Museum-quality poster made on thick, durable, matte paper. Unframed artwork will arrive rolled up in a protective tube.
Framing option available.
Print Details:
Museum-quality posters made on thick, durable, matte paper.
Paper is archival and acid-free.
Unframed prints arrive rolled up in a protective tube.
Frame Details:
Alder, Semi-hardwood frame
Black in color
.75” thick
Acrylite front protector
Lightweight
Hanging hardware included
Made in the USA
From the Artist:
When was the last time you were truly amazed? I don’t mean surprised; there is much about this world that should shock us. I mean amazed—wrapped up in wonder, absorbed in an unexpected delight.
I love witnessing the moments when my one-year-old daughter allows amazement to wash over her like a gentle rain: her jaw drops open, her eyes widen and stay fixed, and for a rare moment, she gets very still. This recently happened when she discovered the kids across the street playing basketball for the first time. Her senses have not yet grown dull to the magic surrounding her.
In this image, I wanted to capture the moment Zechariah’s voice returns to him. I decided to depict only half of Zechariah’s face; this miracle is not really about him, but about what happens through him. When he confirms John’s name, he sheds his distrust of the angel’s impossible news. His skepticism and weariness subside as he awakens to the joy in his midst. He allows himself to be amazed.
Zechariah’s voice pours out of him, parting the surrounding crowd like the Red Sea, stirring each person into confusion and bewilderment. The blessing of his song spills over to his son, who is held tenderly by his mother.
Elizabeth is the only person in this scene who is not presently swept up in wonder. I believe Elizabeth has spent months allowing herself to be amazed. She was in isolation for the first five months of her pregnancy (Luke 1:24). Perhaps she needed that time to go inward—to heal from the trauma of her infertility, to trust the promise of life in her womb, to attune herself to her child. She was capsized with awe the day Mary showed up at her doorstep.
And so, when Zechariah’s voice returns, Elizabeth’s senses have not grown dull. Instead, her amazement has metabolized into something new: attunement for her child. It has transformed into love and deep trust. It has turned into joy. When we allow ourselves to be amazed, we might be surprised what that wonder can turn into.
—Lisle Gwynn Garrity