SNOWFLAKES seem to swirl about Red Hill’s St Brigid’s Church in a painting by young Brisbane artist Ingrid Bartkowiak to promote the church’s legendary Christmas carols.
However, as Ingrid explains, all is not as it seems in the painting.
The “snowflakes” are actually stars.
“I wanted the painting to convey the same atmosphere that the carols at St Brigid’s have – also the night sky is particularly something I associate with the time of Christmas,” she said.
Her depiction was particularly apt given the atmosphere created in the annual evening carol event, held last year on Sunday, December 7, in the Red Hill church.
The carols began with the church darkened except for candlelight, then a single voice floated through the darkness with Silent Night.
“I wanted to make the poster to promote this year’s carols a bit more special, because this is such a beautiful event and I wanted everyone to feel welcome,” she said.
Ingrid, who is also a member of the St Brigid’s choir conducted by her parents Roland and Tricia, explained other aspects of the artwork and its link to Christmas.
“I also included the iconic jacaranda and poinciana trees that we see during Christmas and summer time – in a way they create our own version of Christmas snow,” Ingrid said.
The former Stuartholme School student, who topped art in Year 12 in 2014, was asked by the school to create some Christmas cards to be sold to and for the school community.
Last year she was also asked to do artwork for the front cover of the school’s carol booklet.
“So I was very much in the groove when I created the St Brigid’s Christmas painting,” Ingrid said.
She is planning to become a professional painter.
Already she’s made a start, joining with her friend Izzy to start up an Etsy site to sell their Christmas cards and other artwork.
