Close to God

By Ella, aged 14 from Farnborough Hill

My write up- by Ella Oldaker

My acrylic painting is based on the theme of sacred spaces. It shows that people often discover sacred spaces not only in churches but also through challenges in life, but many people find comfort, hope, and guidance in peaceful places such as mountains, rivers, forests, the sun, different places in nature, in churches, or during quiet moments.

The painting does not focus on one specific sacred place or one specific church, but faith itself. The door is a symbol of moving from the physical world to a spiritual journey. The mountain represents the struggles and challenges that build strength. The river leads toward the bright sun, which represents hope, guidance, and God’s presence.

The centre path is a river. The river shows how faith can change over time. Just like a river is always moving, a person’s relationship with God can grow stronger, become deeper, and lead them through different experiences.

The path passes different landscapes, including the sea, savannah, mountains, churches, but can also take one into a forest. This shows that people can feel connected to God. This shows that sacred spaces are not only found inside churches but can also be found in nature.

The sunlight is shining over the mountains. This reflection represents the connection between heaven and earth. The sunlight shows that God’s guidance and presence can be found in everyday life, not just in special places.

The quote “I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only.” Jeremiah 23:23 reminds us that God can be present no matter how far along our faith journey we are or how distant we may feel from Him.

Overall, my painting shows that sacred spaces are not limited to churches but can be found through faith, tradition, people can find sacred spaces anywhere, including in nature, in silence, and through their own personal journey of belief.