"Hidden and Revealed / Versteckt und Enthüllt" // Original painting on canvas, 16"x16"
Title: "Hidden and Revealed / Versteckt und Enthüllt" (2025)
Medium: Acrylic ink, marble dust, acrylic, kozo, gold foil, and copper foil on canvas
Size: 16"x16"x1.5"
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The Leaven / The Kingdom of Heaven is subtle, hidden, and pervasive
The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened. —Matthew 13:33
Alexander MacLaren, one of my favorite romantic era commentators, argues the parable of the leaven deals with “the inward, penetrating, diffusive influence of the kingdom, working as an assimilating and transforming force in the midst of society.”
The science of how yeast works in dough is quite interesting. First, it’s a fairly slow process. By its nature fermentation requires time and patience. The transformation is happening on a microscopic level; it’s hidden from the naked eye, though the later transformation is visible. This must mean that God works in hidden ways, slowly, and in ways that might seem unexpected or subversive.
Another requirement of leaven is contact—for the principle of the parable of the leaven to do its work, we can’t be afraid of sharing ourselves and our stories with others. If we avoid them, if we avoid talking about what we believe or consider faith a private matter only, we miss the opportunity to be leaven, each of us and the details of our lives slowly worked into the whole of the world and the fullness of the body of Christ. And eventually, it is all transformed from a lifeless lump to something that is living, alive, full of transformative potential.
Have you ever noticed a subtle change that seems to have happened overnight, but that actually took a long time to come to pass? For me, noticing dust around my house falls into this category. It often seems to me that it appears overnight! Instead, it has slowly accumulated until it captured my attention. It is tempting to think of Paradise as something that will come suddenly, after we die. It’s a place we go, something to hope in when we are miserable in our current life. You might also wonder, if Jesus says Paradise is available now, why don’t I suddenly feel different? Why isn’t my life suddenly in order, my depression gone, my bank account full, my body healed, my relationships whole? I have found a lot of comfort in this parable, imagining instead that Paradise is something that accumulates slowly, working slowly in hidden ways beneath the surface of my life. Some days, I’m acutely aware of God’s presence, and the beauty and fullness that’s available to me even in the midst of the worst suffering imaginable. Some days, it’s hard to see. Either way, God is at work, and I pray for the attentiveness to see him.
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ARTWORK INFORMATON
Original canvas collage painting in blues, purples, red earth, and gold.
All artwork is signed on the back. Can be signed on the front at collector's request.
Keep in mind that paintings can look slightly different in person. I paint using a lot of texture, so they are even better when you can see them in person - it is hard to capture here!
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COPYRIGHT
Artwork is protected by copyright. All images displayed are property of Kelly Kruse. The sale of original artwork does not include the sale of copyright, including rights to reproduce or license imagery. All rights reserved.
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SHIPPING & HANDLING
Shipping for this listing is for contiguous US States and will be fulfilled via USPS or FedEx ground within the US.
I will gladly reduce prices for combined shipping! Please contact me and let me know which paintings you want shipped together and I can give you a quote and then adjust the shipping amount on the painting listings.
I will ship internationally. Please contact me if you want to make a purchase so that I can let you know how much it will cost you to ship. If you do decide to go ahead and buy, I will then change my listing so that it allows you to do so. International buyers are responsible for any duty relative fees and UPS broker fees. I will not mark your package as 'gift' in order for you to avoid the duty fees.
The shipping price in this listing is for the contiguous US only. ALASKA and HAWAII will cost more. Please contact me first for a shipping quote before you purchase so that I can adjust the cost on the listing. Thank you.