The Arab Series: The Strength of the Still
In the shadows of the rock, restoration is found not in movement, but in the stillness. These works capture the “Provision of the Path” - a reminder that the One who guides us to the desert also provides the shade, the bloom, and the strength for the next ascent.
Technical Note
“In the heart of the ‘Rose City,’ these works explore the strength found in stillness. Utilising a weighted blend of texture, ink, and oil, I have layered the canvas to mirror the ancient, unchanging walls of Petra - the ‘Rock’ that provides shade in a weary land. This texture serves as a backdrop for the delicate oleander blooms and the patient servant, reminding us that waiting is not a passive state, but an active posture of trust. Here, restoration is found not in the movement, but in the shadow of the Provider.
WAITING BETWEEN ROCK AND BLOOM > Mixed Media and Oil Paint on stretched canvas, 50/60cm. The Strength of the Still > In the heart of the “Rose City”, where stone has stood for millennia, there is a specific kind of provision found in the waiting. This piece captures a moment of sacred pause. The donkey, a symbol of humble service, stands not in exhaustion, but in patient expectation. It is a reminder that “waiting on the Lord” is not a passive state, but an active posture of trust.
THE CARAVAN OF TRUST > Mixed Media and Oil paint on stretched canvas, 70/60cm. In the heart of the “Rose City,” where stone has stood for millennia, there is a specific kind of provision found in the waiting. This piece captures a journey of sacred trust. As the caravan moves through the shadows of Petra, we are reminded that “waiting on the Lord” is not a passive state, but an active posture. It is the quiet confidence that the One who guided us to this path also provide the strength for the next ascent.
THE MELODY OF THE DESERT > Mixed Media and Oil paint on stretched canvas. 50/40cm. The Echo of the Unseen > In this piece of the series, the focus shifts from the physical journey to the internal song. As the musician sits in a posture of quiet dignity, his music becomes a bridge between the ancient dust and the heavens. It is a reminder that our praise is not always loud or fast, sometimes, the most profound worship is a single steady note played in the presence of the Creator. “I will sing a new song to You, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to You.” (Psalm 144:9)
THE GARMENT OF PRAISE (Radiant Transit) > Mixed media and Oil paint on stretched canvas, 50/40cm. This piece explores the transition between the ancient, heavy weight of the past and the vibrant, living joy of the present. Set within stone corridors, it captures a moment where praise becomes a visible mantle. It is a reminder that even in the narrowest passages of life, we are called to be clothed in a “garment of praise” that defies the shadows. “..to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3)
THE SHEPHERD’S SABBATH (Resting in the Reach) > Mixed Media and Oil Paint on stretched canvas, 50/40cm. This piece captures the essence of a “sacred pause.” Within the ancient walls of the Rose City, the Shepherd finds rest - not just for his own soul, but as a sanctuary for the generation following him. It is a visual representation of the Sabbath not as a day, but as a state of the heart: a moment of shared peace where the weight of the journey is set aside to acknowledge the One who provides the path. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters..” (Psalm 23:1-2)