By Caroline Smith
With the growing popularity of adult colouring-in books, which encourage users to relax and reflect through the creative process, it’s not surprising that Christian themes have started to make an appearance.
Meditating the Spectrum of Salvation by Sydney-based illustrator Mervyn Soares is one such example. A one-of-kind, contemplative colouring book, it provides people with a collection of Easter-themed images to give them inspiration and pause for thought during Lent and Holy Week.
The book, which was published by The LMent in 2016 contains 40 individual pictures to colour-in, each with an adjacent page containing either the Bible reading referenced, or space for reflection and prayer.
These include the Stations of the Cross as well as the events preceding Jesus’ crucifixion.
The first picture introduces the reader to the main theme of Easter and Holy Week: Jesus as the ‘lamb of God, on the altar of His sacrifice’. Along with an image of this lamb to colour-in, Soares provides a reflection on the book itself, saying that it offers ‘a personal journey with Christ the lamb’.
It then continues with Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives together with an angel. The following image urges the reader to ‘listen’, with a place for reflection and prayer on the adjacent page.
The book contains ten such ‘word’ images, telling the reader that they are called to listen, be patient, take courage, have faith, love, to show charity, be humble, forgive, show mercy, and to have hope.
Another repeated feature is the Cross which Soares depicts in a variety of creative ways, forming it from a tree, stones, a scourge, the gifts of bread and wine, Jesus’ face and finally, the risen Jesus.
Each picture is drawn with expression and empathy, particularly when it contains the face of Jesus and people he interacts with during his journey through the Passion and towards Resurrection.
Artist, Mervyn Soares and his wife Liz are founders of boutique design studio, The LMent, which produces a wide range of materials for not-for-profit groups, academies and schools and other groups directly and indirectly linked with the Christian faith.
Through their brand 40fied, they have released a number of books and magazines for children and adults, which reflect on Bible teachings and Christian themes.