I started creating this painting when I found this contest. After reading Ephesians 10-20, I though a lot about what it meant to me, I realized that we all have a spiritual battle in our lives, because we are all surrounded by good and evil everyday and if we are not careful about the choices we make we may take a path we never thought we would. I had that experience when I had a depression, I was at my lowest point that led me to make the worst decisions I’ve ever made and it made me someone I wasn’t.
Fortunately it passed and as I gradually felt happier I also started helping other people who had similar experiences, and seeing that my influence made other people happy is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had, we have much more influence on the world than we think, and the world has a lot of influence on us. All of this made me realize how important it is to be a good person, no matter what happens around us or even in our own lives, we have to fight against the bad feelings, even though it is natural for us to feel them, but we must always do our best to be a better person.
Our biggest weapon and armor against evil is to keep a pure heart, eventually we influence and help other people and that is the the best we can do.

In the painting we can see that the main figure is set in the skies in attempt of allude to the "heavenly realms" referred in the chosen verses of the bible.
Going deeper into detail, we have the three doves that stand to symbolize the Holy Trinity, this being composed by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and the seven hands that stand for the Seven Deadly Sins (also known as Capital Vices). An important take on these two contrasting details on my work is that, while the doves circle around the main figure in hope that she may decide to take their side, the hands try to reach out for the girl, to allure her, to drag her down with them. This clarifies the biggest difference between good and evil, heaven and hell, God and the devil.
The choice of the main figure’s stance, having her right leg slightly raised, places evidence of the character’s intention of trying to make her way up, it conveys how she is strongly fighting and avoiding the evil forces that surrounds her even as she tries to make her way to the heavenly realms. Through her peaceful facial expression, we can easily feel her faith, not only in God and all his kindness, but also in herself and her pure willpower. "Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."
There’s also an explanation behind having the main figure to stand alone in her journey between good and evil, heaven and hell. What this vision intends to convey is that this path is one that must be taken by ourselves, we must be certain of what matters most for us and us only: a pure soul or temptation.
The main figure of the painting leaning toward the closest dove, to have her reaching it out with her hand. She is choosing to "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" and to take her stand "against the devil’s schemes". She is also wearing a white dress, which is a symbol of her pure heart and intentions, that is her armor and her weapon against evil.

My family, my boyfriend and my friends, they all supported and helped me so much.

If you are interested in my painting please send me a dm through Instagram, my account name is “shinysketch”, a picture of the painting will be posted there.

For now I only have my art account on Instagram, here is the link: https://www.instagram.com/shinysketch/
I also intend to open my shop in the summer, to be able to sell my art and prints of my work, if you are interested, the website will be available through my Instagram page
If you see an artwork that interests you feel free to send a dm