Artist

Cris Miles

Artist bio

Cris Miles, a retired union painter and sign maker is an artist and crafts person who lives in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas. Graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay with a B.A. in Creative Communication and a minor in Visual Arts. Grandma Moses was the first artist to influence her. She remembers the printed fabric that graced her mother's drapery and studying the depiction of snowy country scenes in the folk art style. She was hooked and consider herself an artist at age 5, though she may have been alone in that early assessment. Like Grandma Moses, she waited until her children were grown before she felt she had the time to devote to her real life's work. As an artist, Cris likes to explore various mediums and expressions with an emphasis on the movement and the feeling that art evokes. Working in series helps her to develop ideas, skills and continuity of work. She has only recently begun to enter juried shows and artist venues. Currently she is completing a series on “Creation” that is to be included in the August issue of Edge of Faith magazine. “Day Seven” was featured on the cover of the April edition of the magazine.

Title

Always Ready

Medium/Genre

Painting

Artist Statement

I decide that I wanted to depict the armor of God on a warrior in a spiritual world of darkness. I was influenced by the recent event in my home town of Minneapolis, the death of George Floyd and “talk” that parents must have with their young black children to help assure their safe return home and how God must feel about this too. He wants our safe return to Him as well. Our black youth are in a battle every day and must remain alert and vigilant. The young black warrior must be “Always Ready”

How it fits into contest

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10-20 to gird our loins with the the belt of truth. The truth of God should be wrapped tightly around us. Secondly, the breastplate of righteousness protects our organs and our life that we may be guided by the righteousness of God, that is, kindness and mercy towards others. Thirdly, we are to move forward in peace. Fourth, we are to take up the shield of faith which extinguishes the fiery darts of the wicked. Fifth the helmet of salvation. The Hebrew word for salvation is Yeshua. In English Yeshua is Jesus. Jesus is our final covering. Sixth, sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and is our only offensive weapon.

And how do we put on this armor? We put on this armor through prayer. Paul tells to pray always, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness.

Lastly I have include an image from I Peter 5:8, where we are told to be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Credits

Cris Miles

How to Purchase this Artwork

Copies from original may be purchased for $45.00 each

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