Chinoiserie acrylic ornament, The Journey to Bethlehem

In the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, his parents had to travel to the town of Bethlehem. I have interpreted the scene in a chinoiserie style, in the tradition of "inculturation," where religious art isn't created as a literal representation of the scene, but is adapted to reflect global traditions and culture, so that everyone might see themselves reflected in the story.

Chinoiserie is also a blending of my own two heritages, so it's very personal to me.

In my painting, Joseph walks leading a donkey, ridden by a pregnant Mary. The scenery shows mountains and trees from Judea, in a Chinese painting style. Three threes on a mountain foreshadows the crucifixion of Jesus, which, in fact, is the reason for his birth.

My watercolor painting is reproduced on a durable, clear acrylic ornament that measures 4 inches.