I am the light of the World

by Shannon Zabawa

Lux Benedicta Studio

The Watercolor Story

At a Glance

Artist: Shannon Zabawa

Artwork Title: I am the light of the world

Medium: Original Watercolor

Collection:

Studio: Lux Benedicta Studio

Liturgical Moment: Elevation of the Holy Eucharist during Pentecost

Theme: The descent of the Holy Spirit and the Eucharistic mystery

This watercolor is a contemplative reinterpretation of a Gothic cathedral interior inspired by St. Vitus Cathedral. Rather than serving as a literal architectural study, the piece functions as a visual meditation in which structure, light, and sacred narrative converge.

Soaring Gothic arches dominate the composition, drawing the eye upward in a clear sense of spiritual ascent. The stone interior is rendered in soft, atmospheric washes of warm ochre and muted neutrals, giving the space weight and silence while keeping it open and contemplative.

At the center, a stained-glass window becomes the narrative focus. Christ appears in a red robe with a radiant halo and open arms in a gesture of blessing or ascension, flanked by two angels. Below, a semicircle of disciples anchors the divine scene in human witness. The arrangement forms a layered spiritual hierarchy - earthly observers below, divine revelation at the center, and transcendence above.

Light plays a guiding role throughout, with a distinct beam entering from the side and directing attention toward the stained glass as the conceptual focal point. The contrast between the loose, atmospheric watercolor architecture and the more defined, icon-like figures within the window heightens the separation - and connection - between physical space and sacred vision.

Overall, the work presents the cathedral not just as an interior, but as a vessel of perception, where architecture becomes a framework for encountering the divine.