RL George Studio Religious Art: Get Art and Gifts that lift Heart & Mind

Image of Our Lady of Tihaljina, Medjugorje

The original painting of Our Lady of Tihaljina, Our Lady of Grace (also known as Our Lady of Medjugorje) was painted in 2011 by artist Richard L George.

For many years the dominating images representing Our Lady of Medjugorje were photographs of the

Italian-made statue, Our Lady of Grace located at Immaculate Conception Parish in the village of Tihaljina, near Medjugorje.

Like countless others, I also went there on pilgrimage, and knelt and prayed before the statue. For those who do so, their eyes meet Her eyes as they engage Our Blessed Mother in prayer.

I think the sculptor must have intended this when he made the statue. For when we think of Her and/or are drawing nearer to Her Immaculate Heart in prayer, She is looking right at us, engaging in the very real Mother to child relationship She has been entrusted with.

Our-Lady-of-Tihaljina Statue Medjugorje-photo

I pray this image of Mother Mary will help you better realize Her love for you and be a help for you to remain ever close to Her Immaculate Heart in prayer. – Catholic artist Richard L George

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The Different Stages of the Painting

6 stages of the painting Our Lady of Tihaljina-Medjugorje

Over the years after that experience as a young pilgrim,

I became increasingly disheartened of how most of the photographs don’t represent that personal encounter with Our Blessed Mother.

You see many of the photos display a view of the statue in shadow, and/or depicting a gaze that is looking away from the viewer.

Whereupon, out of love for Our Blessed Mother (with an understanding of the love She has for each of us), I painted this image to be looked upon in the same way as when one kneels before the statue in prayer with the hope that it will encourage the viewer to engage in a deeper, heart to heart encounter with our dearest of Mothers.

At first I painted a quick portrait of the statue engaging the viewer. Later, from time to time, I returned to the painting to refine it in order to make it more beautiful and real for Our Lady who is all beautiful.

Though I had originally painted her with brown eyes, I had several requests for a blue eyed version of the image because both Saint Bernadette of Lourdes and the visionary Mirjana Dragičević Soldo reported seeing Her with blue eyes.