Adapted from the Office of Public Affairs
Joan Covell’s depiction of the Nativity attracted the most votes in the 2014 Episcopal Church’s Christmas card contest. The first-time contest drew 11,531 votes; 48 artists submitted 70 entries expressing their understanding of God’s incarnation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Covell, a professional artist, lives in Flat Rock, North Carolina, where she and her husband, Mike, attend St. John in the Wilderness Church. Her works have been exhibited in studios and showings and she has recently published a children’s book, The Wren and the Chipmunk.
“The baby Jesus is intentionally at the most important place in the composition,” Covell said. “All the lines of perspective lead to the Christ child.”
Her image included the variety of plants that existed at the time — cypress, pomegranate, olives, figs and date palms. A printable PDF of the card will be available shortly.
