Title of the Artwork: Setting Sail
Acrylic on Canvas
Author: Ruth TANG（CCST Vancouver Non-degree student）
 

This painting is a piece I created for a theology and art course at the seminary. In the last class, we all gathered to share and explain our works. The assignment allowed us to use various artistic forms but required us to express our faith or understanding of life through art.

I chose painting for two reasons: first, I wanted to challenge myself because painting is not my strength; second, I already had some basic painting materials and decided to use them for this project. However, it took me many days to settle on a theme.

One day, during my devotional time, while communicating with God and listening to music, I felt inspired to paint. With my materials ready, I began by painting the sky. I envisioned a soft pink and purple gradient, but the colors turned out darker under my brush. Next, I thought of painting the sea. As I imagined and looked up images of serene seas, I randomly brushed some blue and yellow paint to cover the background.
Then, unexpectedly, inspiration struck. It was a sudden, story-filled insight that I knew would become the theme of this painting.

In life, the ship represents familiarity—our means of journeying through life. At times, we face turbulent waves and must steer our ship and raise its sails to courageously confront life’s challenges. But if we let the Lord direct us—like the cross in my painting, where Jesus stands at the bow rebuking the storm—we’ll remember that in the midst of the storm, Jesus walks with us. He wields the authority given to Him by God to bring true peace amid the chaos.

I imagined Jesus standing at the cross, gazing at the waves. What would He do? No matter His actions, we can trust that with Jesus on our ship, we are safe. The eagle in the sky symbolizes faith soaring high. Spiritual people need spiritual vision—like an eagle that can spot its prey or obstacles from afar. If we develop eagle-like vision, we can see God’s will with eyes of faith. When our vision aligns with God’s perspective, our hearts align with His will.

Sometimes, when the ship is damaged, it needs mending. We must pause, rest, and regain strength to journey further.

When we face life’s storms with courage, God’s glory—His warmth, grace, and majesty—surrounds us. Our eyes should not only focus on the waves but, more importantly, on Jesus’ protection. His light encompasses, leads, and covers us, ensuring our journey is guided by Him and filled with the beauty He wants to give us.

This painting’s inspiration came from God. As I mentioned, I had no idea what to paint until I picked up the brush, and it felt as though God guided the entire process. Though I made several mistakes while painting, God taught me not to fear errors. What He cares about is whether we carry His intentions with faith and submission to His plan.

This course has taught me so much. Each of us possesses artistic potential from God. By observing others and the beauty God places in our hearts, we discover His ultimate purpose: for us to connect with one another. Like pieces of a puzzle, we are small fragments. Only through connection can we see God’s will for this era.