Prayer pictures are used for many purposes and comes in several different styles and mediums. For many, prayer art is a way of connecting with God, in the same way that an altar was used in the past. The painting is an affirmation of their belief in a Creator, much as the painting is a product of creation by the artist.
It also serves as a reflection of their faith and a reminder that they aren't alone during times of spiritual crisis. Prayer posters can be symbolic or literal. Some artists choose to portray communication with God through the act of praying, such as Durer and Jan Van Eyck do in their paintings. But other artists choose to employ different methods through recitations of various christian prayers like the Serenity prayer, the Lord's Prayer, and the Soldier's prayer.
For some artists, only a few words are necessary to bring the viewers mind into the state of reflection, usually in the form of a verse or faith-based inspiration. For people who have belief in a Higher Power, prayer art isn't just a decorative hanging but an act of worship. And like worship, there are many ways to depict that inner faith. Prayer art can be simple or complex, colored or black and white, symbolic or literal. The most important part of this artwork rests in the eye of the beholder and what they find connects them to their spirituality.
