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AMDG

Aveen Toma

Fine Art /

Sacred Art

Tota Pulchra Es

Saint Cecilia

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A series on the story, meaning, and symbolism behind each piece

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About the Artist

Artist Statement

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If She Had Just Let It Go.jpg

If She Had Just Let It Go.jpg

Hand Lettered Quotes

Follow me on Instagram!

A few things in the works at the moment, but for now, here’s the initial sketch for a current commission… spot St. Thomas Aquinas (happy feast day!) in the drawing 👀
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Similar to a previous commission, this one will also be done in a style reminiscent of the black-and-white lithographs found in the old Roman Missal- and the final piece will actually be done in ink! It includes saints chosen by the client, and- if you caught the title- the overall piece is based on one of their favorite hymns, Ave Maris Stella ⭐️ 🌊
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#avemarisstella #pencildrawing #pencilsketch #graphite #sketchbook
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AMDG

A few things in the works at the moment, but for now, here’s the initial sketch for a current commission… spot St. Thomas Aquinas (happy feast day!) in the drawing 👀
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Similar to a previous commission, this one will also be done in a style reminiscent of the black-and-white lithographs found in the old Roman Missal- and the final piece will actually be done in ink! It includes saints chosen by the client, and- if you caught the title- the overall piece is based on one of their favorite hymns, Ave Maris Stella ⭐️ 🌊
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#avemarisstella #pencildrawing #pencilsketch #graphite #sketchbook
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AMDG

A handmade wedding gift 🤍
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After a bit of calligraphy practice, I hand lettered this St. Michael prayer as a wedding gift for some friends who got married recently- I wrote it in gold ink, added a shadow and some decorative flourishes, and framed it ✨
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#calligraphy #stmichael #stmichaelthearchangel #weddinggift #handlettering
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AMDG

A handmade wedding gift 🤍
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After a bit of calligraphy practice, I hand lettered this St. Michael prayer as a wedding gift for some friends who got married recently- I wrote it in gold ink, added a shadow and some decorative flourishes, and framed it ✨
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#calligraphy #stmichael #stmichaelthearchangel #weddinggift #handlettering
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AMDG

Shiny St. Michael ✍🏻✨
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#calligraphy #goldcalligraphy #goldink #stmichaelthearchangel #stmichael
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AMDG

Shiny St. Michael ✍🏻✨
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#calligraphy #goldcalligraphy #goldink #stmichaelthearchangel #stmichael
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AMDG

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you kindly and
give you peace.
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(Numbers 6:24-26) First Reading from the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God 🤍
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May you have a most blessed & happy New Year! :)
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Tota Pulchra Es
graphite on bristol paper
2025
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#happynewyear #happynewyear2026 #theotokos #marymotherofgod #thelordblessyouandkeepyou
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AMDG

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you kindly and
give you peace.
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(Numbers 6:24-26) First Reading from the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God 🤍
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May you have a most blessed & happy New Year! :)
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Tota Pulchra Es
graphite on bristol paper
2025
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#happynewyear #happynewyear2026 #theotokos #marymotherofgod #thelordblessyouandkeepyou
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AMDG

Merry Christmas to you all! 🎄🌟🕊
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“The Infant Christ is the whole Christ. Christ was not more God, more Christ, more Man, on the Cross than He was in His mother’s womb. His first tear, His first smile, His first breath, His first pulsation in the womb of His mother, could have redeemed the world.” -The Passion of the Infant Christ, Caryll Houselander
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#merrychristmas #handlettering #christmaslettering #christmasart #happychristmas
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AMDG

Merry Christmas to you all! 🎄🌟🕊
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“The Infant Christ is the whole Christ. Christ was not more God, more Christ, more Man, on the Cross than He was in His mother’s womb. His first tear, His first smile, His first breath, His first pulsation in the womb of His mother, could have redeemed the world.” -The Passion of the Infant Christ, Caryll Houselander
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#merrychristmas #handlettering #christmaslettering #christmasart #happychristmas
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AMDG

Two weeks ago, I had the lovely opportunity to give a Sacred Art Presentation and host a Paint & Sip at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish 😊
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Hosted by their marriage ministry, the event was open to all married and engaged couples. As such, I spoke about how the lives of Mary & St. Joseph are commonly depicted in art- from the Betrothal and Annunciation all the way to the Presentaion- how to understand the meaning of the colors they wear or objects associated with them, and what we can learn from their virtue through their artistic depictions. I also included some of my own photos and stories from my trip to Italy that connected with the Holy Family in art 🖼
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The talk was followed by a Paint & Sip activity 🎨 Using what they had learned, all the ladies chose a title of St. Joseph from his litany, and all the men chose a title of Our Lady from her litany, and based their paintings on that. It was lovely to see what they all came up with!
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Thank you so much for inviting me, @stgabrielcavecreek! It was such a beautiful evening and a joy to speak about the Holy Family during this Advent season ⭐️
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#sacredart #sacredartevent #artpresentation #paintandsip #advent
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AMDG

Two weeks ago, I had the lovely opportunity to give a Sacred Art Presentation and host a Paint & Sip at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish 😊
·
Hosted by their marriage ministry, the event was open to all married and engaged couples. As such, I spoke about how the lives of Mary & St. Joseph are commonly depicted in art- from the Betrothal and Annunciation all the way to the Presentaion- how to understand the meaning of the colors they wear or objects associated with them, and what we can learn from their virtue through their artistic depictions. I also included some of my own photos and stories from my trip to Italy that connected with the Holy Family in art 🖼
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The talk was followed by a Paint & Sip activity 🎨 Using what they had learned, all the ladies chose a title of St. Joseph from his litany, and all the men chose a title of Our Lady from her litany, and based their paintings on that. It was lovely to see what they all came up with!
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Thank you so much for inviting me, @stgabrielcavecreek! It was such a beautiful evening and a joy to speak about the Holy Family during this Advent season ⭐️
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#sacredart #sacredartevent #artpresentation #paintandsip #advent
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AMDG

Here she is! This drawing is a sketch for the future painting of this image. It is a depiction of the Virgin Mary inspired by the hymn “Tota Pulchra”- a Marian hymn of a 4th century text, which was itself inspired by the Song of Songs 4:7. The ancient hymn and its corresponding Scripture verse read as follows, with the translations:
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Tota pulchra es, Maria. Et macula originalis non est in Te. Tu gloria Ierusalem. Tu laetitia Israel. Tu honorificentia populi nostri. Tu advocata peccatorum. O Maria, O Maria. Virgo prudentissima. Mater clementissima. Ora pro nobis. Intercede pro nobis. Ad Dominum Iesum Christum.
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You are all beautiful, Mary, and the original stain (of sin) is not in you. You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you give honor to our people. You are the advocate of sinners. O Mary, O Mary, Virgin most prudent, Mother most merciful. Pray for us, Plead for us, To the Lord Jesus Christ.
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“Tota pulchra est amica mea et macula non est in te.” // “Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a stain in thee.” (Sg 4:7)
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This Old Testament verse has unanimously been understood as referring to Mary; and so, throughout history, images of Our Lady have been illustrated under the title, “Tota Pulchra.” Customarily, this title also coincides with her title “The Immaculate Conception.” This drawing, however, not only visibly illustrates this Marian hymn, but simultaneously depicts the Marian Dogmas with it. Like the traditional hymn, this drawing serves as a visual- rather than an audible- means of honoring Our Lady by highlighting her purity and beauty, her role in salvation history, and her intimacy with the Three Persons of the Trinity.
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I’ve actually had this idea and image in mind for 3 years (!!), so it’s so nice to actually have it drawn out on paper now 😅
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Tota Pulchra Es
graphite on paper
11x14in
2025
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Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 🤍
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#immaculateconception #feastoftheimmaculateconception #totapulchra #totapulchraesmaria #graphiteart #graphite #graphitedrawing #pencildrawing #graphitepencil #sketch #pencilsketch #graphitesketch #sacredart #virginmary #ourlady #theotokos #artist #art
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AMDG

Here she is! This drawing is a sketch for the future painting of this image. It is a depiction of the Virgin Mary inspired by the hymn “Tota Pulchra”- a Marian hymn of a 4th century text, which was itself inspired by the Song of Songs 4:7. The ancient hymn and its corresponding Scripture verse read as follows, with the translations:
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Tota pulchra es, Maria. Et macula originalis non est in Te. Tu gloria Ierusalem. Tu laetitia Israel. Tu honorificentia populi nostri. Tu advocata peccatorum. O Maria, O Maria. Virgo prudentissima. Mater clementissima. Ora pro nobis. Intercede pro nobis. Ad Dominum Iesum Christum.
//
You are all beautiful, Mary, and the original stain (of sin) is not in you. You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you give honor to our people. You are the advocate of sinners. O Mary, O Mary, Virgin most prudent, Mother most merciful. Pray for us, Plead for us, To the Lord Jesus Christ.
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“Tota pulchra est amica mea et macula non est in te.” // “Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a stain in thee.” (Sg 4:7)
·
·
This Old Testament verse has unanimously been understood as referring to Mary; and so, throughout history, images of Our Lady have been illustrated under the title, “Tota Pulchra.” Customarily, this title also coincides with her title “The Immaculate Conception.” This drawing, however, not only visibly illustrates this Marian hymn, but simultaneously depicts the Marian Dogmas with it. Like the traditional hymn, this drawing serves as a visual- rather than an audible- means of honoring Our Lady by highlighting her purity and beauty, her role in salvation history, and her intimacy with the Three Persons of the Trinity.
·
I’ve actually had this idea and image in mind for 3 years (!!), so it’s so nice to actually have it drawn out on paper now 😅
·
·
Tota Pulchra Es
graphite on paper
11x14in
2025
·
·
Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 🤍
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#immaculateconception #feastoftheimmaculateconception #totapulchra #totapulchraesmaria #graphiteart #graphite #graphitedrawing #pencildrawing #graphitepencil #sketch #pencilsketch #graphitesketch #sacredart #virginmary #ourlady #theotokos #artist #art
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AMDG

Last week, I had a lovely morning with the Lady’s Guild at Our Lady of Joy (@olojcarefree) as their guest speaker for this month ⭐️ I put up a little art show for them with a few originals as well as some prints 🖼
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It was wonderful getting to speak to the ladies about myself and my sacred art journey from college up until my most recent work, as well as the stories behind several of the pieces I had on display.
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It was also Cecilia’s first public appearance 🙃 haha
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#artshow #artshowcase #artondisplay #fineart #sacredart #artpresentation #oilpaintings #artwork #art #artworks #sacredartist #visualtheology #artist #artistoninstagram #artistic
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AMDG

Last week, I had a lovely morning with the Lady’s Guild at Our Lady of Joy (@olojcarefree) as their guest speaker for this month ⭐️ I put up a little art show for them with a few originals as well as some prints 🖼
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It was wonderful getting to speak to the ladies about myself and my sacred art journey from college up until my most recent work, as well as the stories behind several of the pieces I had on display.
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It was also Cecilia’s first public appearance 🙃 haha
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#artshow #artshowcase #artondisplay #fineart #sacredart #artpresentation #oilpaintings #artwork #art #artworks #sacredartist #visualtheology #artist #artistoninstagram #artistic
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AMDG

With her feast day tomorrow, here is the story of St. Cecilia and the explanation of my painting :)
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She is actually my patron saint! But I didn’t choose her 👀 Make sure to check out the post to read that story. I’d love to know who your patron saint is- leave a comment below!👇🏻
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St. Cecilia, pray for us 💗
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#stcecilia #saintcecilia #sanctacaecilia #sacredart #sacredartist #oilpainting #oilpaintingoncanvas #oilpaint #oilpaintingart #patronsaint #patronsaints #sacredmusic #patronsaintofmusic #trastevere #romanmartyrs #virginandmartyr #martyr #martyrdom #isleofwight #benedictinenuns
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AMDG

With her feast day tomorrow, here is the story of St. Cecilia and the explanation of my painting :)
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She is actually my patron saint! But I didn’t choose her 👀 Make sure to check out the post to read that story. I’d love to know who your patron saint is- leave a comment below!👇🏻
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St. Cecilia, pray for us 💗
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#stcecilia #saintcecilia #sanctacaecilia #sacredart #sacredartist #oilpainting #oilpaintingoncanvas #oilpaint #oilpaintingart #patronsaint #patronsaints #sacredmusic #patronsaintofmusic #trastevere #romanmartyrs #virginandmartyr #martyr #martyrdom #isleofwight #benedictinenuns
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AMDG

Tota pulchra est amica mea et macula non est in te
//
Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a stain in thee.
//
Song of Songs 4:7
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#graphitepencil #graphiteart #graphitesketch #graphite #graphitedrawing #pencil #pencilsketch #pencildrawing #drawing #pencilillustration #graphiteillustration #totapulchra #totapulchraesmaria #thevirginmary #mothermary #blessedmary #maryevervirgin #sacredart #ourlady
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AMDG

Tota pulchra est amica mea et macula non est in te
//
Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a stain in thee.
//
Song of Songs 4:7
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#graphitepencil #graphiteart #graphitesketch #graphite #graphitedrawing #pencil #pencilsketch #pencildrawing #drawing #pencilillustration #graphiteillustration #totapulchra #totapulchraesmaria #thevirginmary #mothermary #blessedmary #maryevervirgin #sacredart #ourlady
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AMDG

Upcoming Sacred Art Talk + Paint & Sip 🎨
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On Friday, Dec 5th, I will be giving a Sacred Art presentation at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Cave Creek (@stgabrielcavecreek)! The event is part of their Marriage Ministry, but is open to all engaged and married couples.
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The presentation will be on Our Lady & St. Joseph in Sacred Art, and will look at what we can learn from them through their depiction in art. The talk will be followed by a Paint & Sip activity where everyone will have the chance to create and take home their own painting! ✨
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You may sign up for the event by scanning the QR code or by visiting the link in my bio!
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Tag someone below who you think would like to attend! ⬇️
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I’m so looking forward to it, and hope to see you there! 🤗
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#sacredart #sacredartist #artevent #artevents #artpresentation #arttalk #marriageministry #eventforcouples #datenight #marriedcouples #engagedcouples #churchevent #dioceseofphoenix #marriageenrichment #paintandsipfun #paintandsip #paintandsipevents #paintingevents #paintingevent
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AMDG

Upcoming Sacred Art Talk + Paint & Sip 🎨
·
On Friday, Dec 5th, I will be giving a Sacred Art presentation at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Cave Creek (@stgabrielcavecreek)! The event is part of their Marriage Ministry, but is open to all engaged and married couples.
·
The presentation will be on Our Lady & St. Joseph in Sacred Art, and will look at what we can learn from them through their depiction in art. The talk will be followed by a Paint & Sip activity where everyone will have the chance to create and take home their own painting! ✨
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You may sign up for the event by scanning the QR code or by visiting the link in my bio!
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Tag someone below who you think would like to attend! ⬇️
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I’m so looking forward to it, and hope to see you there! 🤗
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#sacredart #sacredartist #artevent #artevents #artpresentation #arttalk #marriageministry #eventforcouples #datenight #marriedcouples #engagedcouples #churchevent #dioceseofphoenix #marriageenrichment #paintandsipfun #paintandsip #paintandsipevents #paintingevents #paintingevent
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AMDG

Here she is! 😇🎼 I’m so excited to share my finished painting of St. Cecilia that I completed two months ago! I’ve always wanted to create my own painting for St. Cecilia, as she’s my patron saint, so this piece has been a long one coming 🙃 I will share more of the story and symbolism behind the painting closer to her feast day in November…
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But for now, I will say that the two main pieces of inspiration that this painting is based on is a copper relief plaque of St. Cecilia that I’ve had since I was little, as well as the famous marble sculpture of her by Stefano Maderno (1600) in Rome... Swipe to the end to see a sneak peek ✨
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Saint Cecilia
oil on canvas
30 x 24 in
2025
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#oilpainting #oilpaintingoncanvas #oilpaintings #oilpaint #oilpainter #oiloncanvas #oiloncanvaspainting #oilpaintingsoncanvas #painting #saintcecilia #stcecilia #sanctacaecilia #catholicsaints #patronsaints #patronsaint #sacredart #sacredartist #sacredmusic #martyr #earlychurch #romanchurch #romancatholicchurch
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AMDG

Here she is! 😇🎼 I’m so excited to share my finished painting of St. Cecilia that I completed two months ago! I’ve always wanted to create my own painting for St. Cecilia, as she’s my patron saint, so this piece has been a long one coming 🙃 I will share more of the story and symbolism behind the painting closer to her feast day in November…
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But for now, I will say that the two main pieces of inspiration that this painting is based on is a copper relief plaque of St. Cecilia that I’ve had since I was little, as well as the famous marble sculpture of her by Stefano Maderno (1600) in Rome... Swipe to the end to see a sneak peek ✨
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Saint Cecilia
oil on canvas
30 x 24 in
2025
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#oilpainting #oilpaintingoncanvas #oilpaintings #oilpaint #oilpainter #oiloncanvas #oiloncanvaspainting #oilpaintingsoncanvas #painting #saintcecilia #stcecilia #sanctacaecilia #catholicsaints #patronsaints #patronsaint #sacredart #sacredartist #sacredmusic #martyr #earlychurch #romanchurch #romancatholicchurch
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AMDG

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