For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ~ Luke 2:11-12
I painted this picture, and it is featured on the cover of the book, "This is the Season, Beloved of the Year." I wanted to make this piece appealing to children by including some of the animals that could have been found in the manger scene. For the model of Joseph, I decided to use the model I use for Christ as well because he and his wife had just had a baby. By having the models for Mary and Joseph actually be the parents for the model of baby Jesus, I felt that I was able to capture the concern and hope that Mary and Joseph must have felt in the manger looking at the newborn Jesus.