Paschal Candles Artwork Design

Artist: Sarah F Janavicius

Title: Paschal Candles

The 2018 paschal candle decorations for the Holy Cross and SS Philip and James parishes were designed and painted by myself, Sarah F Janavicius, the Holy Cross Artist in residence.

The artwork design was a challenging, meticulous and time-consuming project to manage, requiring much patience, experimentation and dedication.  The initial prototype was inspired by ‘Resurrection’ also by Sarah F Janavicius, a painting, permanently exhibited at the Holy Cross visitors centre, though modified and elaborated in detail to meet the requirements of the proposed undertaking.

I decided to imbue the final ‘outline’ in full-colour and symbolism representational of the paschal theme, as follows:

• Firstly it was painted in mixed-media and porcelain paints in a modified style inspired by Moorcroft Ceramics and traditional stained glass.

• A semicircle at the foot of the paschal candle depicts the hill of Calvary and is also symbolic of ‘the world’.  It is littered with decoupage spring flowers, representing new life.

• Situated below the hemicycle are 3 wavy bands, in greens and gold, blues and silver and tertiary colours and copper, indicative of the earth, water and vegetation.

2018 Paschal Candles

• The Greek alphabetical symbols Alpha and Omega, also in decoupage represent the title of Christ and God in the Book of Revelation and the beginning and the end, (Revelation 21:6, 22:13).

• The year 2018 reminds us that Jesus is king of all time, and that He is with us always.

• The Cross of Christ, as the symbol of Christianity, signifies that this is the paschal candle, and that it is all about Jesus.

I used a ‘stained glass’ effect with a black outline and portrayed 12 colours, inclusive of the primary, secondary and tertiary colours, to signify wholeness.  The figure of Christ is painted in gold and with a gold outline.  The star radiating out, and joining up at the back of the paschal candle represents the resurrection of Christ.

The 2019 Paschal Candle decorations for the Holy Cross and SS Philip and James parishes are designed by Sarah F. Janavicius, the Holy Cross Artist in Residence.

The design has been initially modelled on a reliquary ‘altar’ cross which contains an authenticated relic (part) of the Holy Cross.  The cross contains twelve surrounding points representative of the twelve Apostles (which we call the Apostolic College) from whom all Catholic Bishops trace their lineage.  The twelve points on the frame thus link us with the twelve apostles who unite us with the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ.

However, the artwork for the paschal candle’s adaptation has been based on a schematic, simplified Christian Mandala, modified to befit the spherical form of the candle.

The circular form of a mandala used in Christianity is depicted in a magnificent cathedral rose window, and in the Roman oculi.  It is portrayed symbolically, for example, in the rosary, and the crown of thorns.

• The 2019 paschal candle design represents the universe divided into twelve geometric segments (the twelve apostles) radiating equidistantly from the central figure of Christ on the Cross, all cut out of wax sheets.

• The Greek alphabetical symbols Alpha and Omega, also cut out of wax sheets. represent the title of Christ and God in the Book of Revelation and the beginning and the end, (Revelation 21:6, 22:13).

• The year 2019 reminds us that Jesus is king of all time, and that He is with us always.

• The Cross of Christ, as the symbol of Christianity, signifies that this is the paschal candle, and that it is all about Jesus.

I used a ‘colour-wheel’ effect in wax sheets to represent 12 colours, inclusive of the primary, secondary and tertiary colours, to signify wholeness.  The figure of Christ is depicted in mirrored gold wax sheeting radiating outward, to portray the resurrection of Christ.

2020 Paschal Candles

The 2020 Paschal Candle decorations for the Holy Cross and SS Philip and James parishes are designed by me, Sarah F. Janavicius, and I am the Holy Cross Artist-in-Residence. This year the decorations for the 2020 Paschal Candles have been modelled on a central theme depicting the Blessed Holy Trinity, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.  By way of representation I have used ‘The God Who Speaks’ motif, 2020 being the Year of the Bible and ‘The Year of the Word’.  This design concept has been placed within the centre of The Holy Cross of Jesus Christ; The Dove symbol representing the Holy Spirit of the New Creation.

• The Greek alphabetical symbols Alpha and Omega have also been cut out of wax sheets.  These symbols represent the title of Christ and God in the Book of Revelation and the beginning and the end, (Revelation 21:6, 22:13).

• The year 2020 reminds us that Jesus is King of all time, and that He is with us always.

• The large Cross of Christ, as the symbol of Christianity, signifies that this is the Paschal Candle, and that it is all about Jesus.

This year I have depicted a more sepulchral slant of Easter, within the 2020 Paschal Candle decorations, using a sombre colour scheme and a simplified design, in comparison to the 2018 and 2019 Paschal Candle, whereby an antonym theme was portrayed in a spectrum-based colouration.