NEW Angels and Church Painting “Christmas at Southside”

I finished my new 2025 Christmas painting LIVE in Savannah, Georgia on December 14. Below are photos of the event and a 4 minute video of how the painting “Christmas at Southside” came together before the show, followed by live footage of the parts I finished during the program. I’ll also explain in this blog what the painting means (from my perspective, as the artist. To you, it may mean something else; feel free to interpret it in a way that is special and unique to you personally).

The parts I finished live are these: light in the sky, light in the angel’s candle, light in the church window, and finally- during the last notes of the song- light in the cross on the church steeple (spire). The entire painting was done in only black and white, except for those final additions of light at the end which was a mix of white and yellow.

The light in the sky (above image) was added live, as was the light in the candle, window, and cross in the image below.

ABOUT THIS PAINTING

“Christmas at Southside” oil painting was inspired by a photograph that Pastor Kevin Barron took of our church during a rare January snowstorm in the deep south of Savannah, Georgia, and by my experience of what it feels like to worship with my church family (represented by angels). In my painting, you see angels in various roles and forms of worship. The deep emotions we feel are both individual and collective, as we gather together as the church of Christ. According to the Bible, angels didn’t really have wings, but because most people know that a being is meant to be an angel if they have wings, I painted them with wings. The wings are white not only because of tradition, but to remind us of doves (peace, messengers of God, and most importantly the Holy Spirit).

The painting story: God’s Light (represented by the light added to the dark sky) is sent down to earth through his Son (represented by the cross on top of the church), and through the Holy Spirit (the dove-like winged angel bringing the candle lit by the Holy Spirit). The angel on mission is carrying a light to the church (Christians everywhere in the world), while other angels are in acts of worship: singing, praying, yearning for God (the angel to the right of the one delivering the candle stretches a hand, longing to see God).

I hope that all who view my painting can see themselves and their special people in the body language and expressions of the angels. Worship is so personal and unique, and yet, when we worship together, we feel the love, peace, and joy in such a powerful and overwhelming way. I painted the figure on the top right to loosely resemble myself and how I feel when I sing in the choir, while the angel below with outstretched hands reminds me of my dear friend who sings next to me.

But, personally, my favorite is the one I call the “yearning angel”. I deliberately left her and the messenger angel in an unfinished state, to be more unworldly and less human.

To learn more about my art and view over 200 oil paintings online, with videos to watch me paint (free), please continue exploring my site here at NatalieBuskeThomas.com. Most of my paintings are done at home, then I finish them live if I have an event. Also, please share my art with others.

I am grateful to paint for you. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love and blessings,

Natalie

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Note: the Christmas program was wonderful (see two photo highlights below), with an orchestra and choir (I sing high soprano, except for during the song that I was painting to). I didn’t include the live audio feed for copyright reasons. The music I used in my video instead are instrumental compositions from Megiss “Epic Angel Story” and JuliusH “Enchanting Christmas Carol with Shepherd Flute and Humming Angel Choir” from Pixabay. Thank you for your delightful work!

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