HEARTS OF STONE – Filled with LOVE!

After blocking in the tree on the bank, the small branches are indicated with a fine liner brush. You may click on this, or any other image, to see an enlargement.

Rocks are painted wet-into-wet over the water behind them. Mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White are used.

The uppermost rocks of the outcropping are illuminated by the sun. White is added to the rock mixtures for the highlights.

The bright Bougainvillea, tumbling over the rocks, is painted with Permanent Rose + Magenta + White and Permanent Rose + White.

Sunlight, streaming into the painting from the left, sparkles on the long arms of the Bougainvillea gently dancing in the breeze.

On Pastor Doug’s previous trip to the Holy Land in 2019, the Sea of Galilee was very low. At that time, the six stones were high and dry on the beach in front of the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter at Tabgha.

It is believed this is the spot where Jesus appeared to his disciples for the third time after his Resurrection and cooked for them. Where Jesus called out to his apostles, telling them to cast their net to the right side of the boat, where they caught so many fish, they couldn’t even haul in the net. Upon their return to shore, they saw that Jesus had prepared breakfast for them. The rock on which they ate, known in Latin as “Mensa Christi,” is located inside the Church directly in front of the altar. It was soon after this meal that Jesus questioned Peter and gave him his commissioning as the head of His Church:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17)

The 6 heart-shaped rocks that once made up the bases of second century columns commemorate the spot believed to be where Jesus stood and called out to his disciples while they were fishing. Though they wouldn’t have been around during the time of Christ, these stones hold a beautifully symbolic meaning to the Christians that journey to see them today. They represent the three questions and the three answers that are exchanged between Jesus and Peter, the depth of love that Jesus holds for his people, and the movement of the heart that Peter experienced to shepherd the flock that Jesus left to his care.

On our trip to Israel this past May, the water level was much higher. The stones were so deep that we couldn’t see them. But just hearing Pastor Doug and the others who had also been on that trip talk about them, I knew I wanted to include these awesome stones in my painting of the Sea of Galilee. So I made the water level lower than it was when I was there, but higher than when the previous picture was taken. Therefore, the stones are partially submerged.

I decided to call this painting, “HEARTS OF STONE – Filled with LOVE”. I don’t know about you, but I normally don’t associate Filled with LOVE and HEARTS OF STONE. If any association at all is made…. it’s LACK of Love.

BUT, on the Sea of Galilee, there are Hearts of STONE – Filled with LOVE! I pray that your Heart will be filled with the strength of the LOVE represented by these stones. Thank you for following along!

With Hugs,

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