Jesus Tempted in the Desert

Artist

Geoff Phillips

Artist bio

Geoff Phillips is a Saskatchewan artist living in Maple Creek, SK. His works are primarily oil paintings on canvas and they focus on the unique Canadian landscape, people, and wildlife found here. Geoff’s mission is to bring people closer to their environment and foster learning and understanding of species, ecosystems, interconnectivity through art, and unlocking people’s natural aptitudes and inclinations towards God. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Regina, attended the artist residency at the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, worked independently as an artist at Art Central and the Untitled Art Society in Calgary, AB, where he met and married fellow artist Connie (Gibbens) Phillips. While in Alberta Geoff produced two murals for the SAIT campus, and one 17ft feature painting for the Lacombe, AB, Town Hall entry. Geoff and Connie make their home in Maple Creek, SK, where they served as the artist in residence at Cypress Hills Park from 2010-2017. Since then the two have participated in numerous public outreach initiatives in the province including an Arts Smart project in Hazlet, a Main Street Revitalization Heritage Mural project in Maple Creek, and a Culture Days mural project in Gull Lake as well as Climax. Geoff was chosen to represent Canada as one of 15 artists involved in the signature Canada 150 project “Canada C3” that featured a Coast Guard Vessel sailing around the country’s three coasts for 150 days to meet with Canadians to discuss climate change, Reconciliation, and diversity and Inclusion. Most recently, Geoff, along side the S. W. Sask. Oldtimers Museum has been awarded a Heritage Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Community Development for the Living Heritage project in Maple Creek that saw the town’s history come to life with hands on art experiences. His most recent exhibition entitled “Plantscapes of the Prairies” is currently on tour around the province in OSAC affiliated Galleries. For more information or to contact Geoff, you can find him at www.geoffphillips.com

Visual Arts 2026 Contest

Title

Jesus Tempted in the Desert

Medium/Genre

Painting

Artist Statement

For the past number of years I have been seeking to represent the gospel in new ways. First I spent two years painting the book of Matthew chapter for chapter. I made 28 4’x5’ oil on canvas paintings each one representing a different chapter from Matthew - painted with the palette knife. Next I experimented using a laser engraver and light burn to create intricate three dimensional cutouts that tell the story of chapter 2 and 3 from the book of Luke. I began experimenting with AI image generators next for the book of Mark. And I have made watercolour paintings of the book of John in graphic novel format, but I am becoming overwhelmed and need support. Besides working on all these projects I have a young family, two jobs, and my church life. My creative process involves listening to worship music, prayer, and thinking/collaborating with the Holy Spirit. I am looking for sponsors for my Christian art because it gives me purpose and meaning in my life, but I find that I have no market for it and must instead spend my time creating landscapes and portraits for clients and galleries. Thank you for this contest and the opportunity to share my Christian work!

How it fits into contest

From Mark chapter one, verse 12. This artwork was created by collaborating with an image generating AI to examine the scripture describing Jesus being tempted in the desert. I imagine the tempter as a golden snake that encircles Jesus who is somewhat unsettled, maybe hallucinating, due to being deprived of food in the desert for forty days and nights. The painting is oil on board and attempts to show a different angle to the story of His temptation. Jesus was fully God and fully man and therefore would have been challenged by the tempter in the most profound ways imaginable. I believe that with careful consideration artists can help illuminate scripture in new ways and with the powerful tools of AI image generators we can brainstorm and collaborate to mine the depths of the meaning behind the scriptures.