The artwork of Fruit of the Spirit is based on the scripture in Galatians 5:22-23, which describes the nine fruits of the Spirit, and brings them to life in the form of Christian home decor, church display art, children’s room prints, and Sunday school materials in everyday visual presence. The verse, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” has been rendered in many different artistic styles, including typography-based canvas prints, hand-embellished limited edition oil paintings, botanical watercolors, and folk art tree designs. This guide is designed to explain the most popular styles, some of the most renowned artists, where to purchase a piece and what to look for when choosing a piece.
Key Takeaways
- Fruit of the Spirit artwork refers to the Christian visual art based on the following nine qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Most popular visual formats include watercolor illustrations, canvas prints, typography art, metal signs, tree of life designs, and printable digital downloads.
- Mark Lawrence (VerseVisions) is the most well known fine art interpretation, and his work is embellished in ultra-hand with limited editions, signed and numbered, along with a Certificate of Authenticity.
- The most popular marketplace for the artwork of Fruit of the Spirit is Etsy, which offers everything from printable downloads ($3-$10) to original paintings ($150-$500+).
- The most popular visual design for children’s spaces and Sunday school are the watercolour fruit illustrations, one for each spiritual virtue, and a literal fruit (love = strawberry, joy = pineapple, etc.).
- The most common form of tree of life design is to use all nine fruits on branches, for display in the church sanctuary or home living room.
- Canvas printing by retailers such as Christ Follower Life is made-to-order in the USA, printed with UV-resistant HP Latex inks and delivered stretched on wood frames for hanging.
- Printable coloring pages and digital downloads are the best choice for kids’ rooms and Sunday school classrooms.
The Bible verses used for the artwork are Galatians 5:22-23
All the artwork of the Fruit of the Spirit is from the same passage. The New International Version of the Bible (Galatians 5:22-23) says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against these there is no law.
The nine qualities are:
| Quality | Common Visual Symbol |
| Love | Heart, strawberry, red rose |
| Joy | Pineapple, sunflower, bright yellow |
| Peace | Dove, olive branch, still water |
| Patience (Forbearance) | Oak tree, hourglass, fig |
| Kindness | Open hands, peach, soft blue |
| Goodness | Apple, green leaf, grain |
| Faithfulness | Anchor, lamp, pomegranate |
| Gentleness | Butterfly, lamb, pear |
| Self-Control | Bridle, grape, purple |
In Galatians, Paul says what is to be expected when the Holy Spirit leads those in Christ, says Cheerfully Given. These powerful, positive characteristics are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. God’s Spirit helps believers to serve others in a loving way as they follow Him.
The diversity of translations in artwork is itself remarkable. The King James Version translates “longsuffering” as “patience” and “temperance” as “self-control,” which provides the designers with a different choice of words that will impact the visual and typographic qualities of the final product.
The main styles of Fruit of the Spirit Artwork
1. Watercolor Fruit Illustrations
The most popular design style for the Fruit of the Spirit is a combination of a literal fruit with a spiritual quality, in watercolor style. The strawberry or heart-shaped fruit symbolizes love. Lemon or pineapple juice. Peace by an olive branch or soft still-life. The pairing is effective because it offers a visual memory trigger: each fruit is paired with a word and the word is fixed in the child’s or viewer’s mind.
Their bible verse printable poster is a new, playful design of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and each fruit is accompanied by fruit painted in watercolor, according to Joyous Dwelling. This Christian scripture digital print comes to life in a kitchen, kids’ room, classroom or church Sunday school room.
It’s commonly offered as a printable digital download on Etsy and from Christian print shops, often in 5×7, 8×10, 11×14 and 16×20 sizes. Printable format allows the buyer to print the picture locally at any size and frame in a manner consistent with their decor.
2. Typeface and Scripture Art
Typography-inspired Fruit of the Spirit art is all about the lettering, arranged in decorative fonts ranging from contemporary sans serif to hand-lettered calligraphy to vintage serif styles. The visual hierarchy usually has the key noun “fruit” or the list of nine qualities in large print, and the scripture reference in a smaller line, to support the larger text.
Cheerfully Given says that designs from Alimoo Designs Ltd are presented in clean, readable layout using typography to show the spiritual qualities. They come in A4 and A3 unframed prints which can be used for personal or gift items.
This style is good for minimalist and modern interior designs where botanical illustration would not look out of place. The absence of decorative imagery leaves the viewer with no choice but to concentrate on the words and the artwork more resembles scripture than conventional religious imagery.
3. Tree of Life Designs
Tree of life designs are a representation of all nine fruits of the Spirit as literal fruits growing on the branches of a single tree. This format is one of the most common for larger display trees in church sanctuaries, fellowship halls, and living rooms as the tree shape utilizes a large wall space very efficiently and all nine qualities are displayed at once within a single visual metaphor.
Fruit of the Spirit Tree Wall Decals are among the top selling formats on Etsy’s Galatians 5:22 art marketplace, as are the Fruit of the Spirit Tree Metal Wall Art and Galatians 5:22-23 Church Metal Sign formats.
The tree metaphor is inspired by the biblical imagery. Psalm 1 says the righteous person is like a tree planted by streams of water, that produces fruit in the proper season. Theologically coherent and visually resonant is the use of this same metaphor as a representation of the work of the Spirit in the character of a believer.
4. Limited Edition Art Prints
Mark Lawrence’s VerseVisions collection is the most important fine art rendition of the Fruit of the Spirit available today. The Galatians 5:22-23 piece is an ultra-hand embellished canvas with rich brush strokes by the artist, according to Mark Lawrence Gallery. Signed and numbered limited edition print, Certificate of Authenticity signed and indicating edition size and type.
The Mark Lawrence Art website states that VerseVisions is a modern Christian art ministry aimed at sharing the love and message of God to all people, with art and scriptural words of encouragement.
The limited edition format is a market advantage over print-on-demand canvas art, and for those who wish to collect a piece with documented provenance, a numbered edition and an artist signature, the VerseVisions Galatians pieces are the most formally documented fine art piece in this category.
The inclusion of a Certificate of Authenticity is a key feature of a limited edition print of Fruit of the Spirit that will be of interest to collectors and serious art buyers. The guide to certificate of authenticity for artwork provides comprehensive information on the principles of what a COA should contain and why it is important, detailing how edition numbers, artist signatures, and supporting documentation can all contribute to establishing the authenticity and long-term value of a work of art.
5. Nature and Wildlife Designs
A very popular Etsy design is a vintage botanical or floral design with the text of the fruit of the spirit. Etsy’s listing for the KJV Fruit of the Spirit Scripture Wall Art set of 9 states that each print in the collection is done with a different illustration of vintage flowers, the softest pink roses to the most delicate violets, representing the beauty and diversity of spiritual gifts. The printable art has been digitally remastered to retain the original artwork’s charm and authenticity.
This style is especially attractive to those who are interested in purchasing artwork that serves as home decor with a faith component, versus artwork that is primarily used as scripture display. The flowers offer a more decorative frame to the biblical text.
6. Metal Signs
Metal Fruit of the Spirit signs are a popular way to decorate church foyers, hallways and outdoor garden spaces. Some of the top physical product sellers on Etsy’s Galatians 5:22 art marketplace are Fruit of the Spirit Tree Metal Wall Art and Bible Verse Metal Signs.
Powder-coated metal signs are durable and resistant to weather conditions, they can be installed both inside and out, and they have a great impact in larger sizes. The material’s durability and permanence make it ideal for church installations, where it must be able to handle a lot of traffic and exposure to the elements.
Where to Buy Fruit of the Spirit Artwork
Etsy
Etsy is the biggest and most diverse platform for Fruit of the Spirit artwork, offering a wide range of styles, formats and price points. The top-selling items on the Etsy Galatians 5:22 art section are typography prints, watercolor prints of fruits, tree of life designs, metal signs, wood signs, gallery wall sets and digital download prints.
The price ranges on Etsy:
- Printable downloads for the computer: $3 to $15
- Unframed print sets (set of 9): $15 to $50
- Canvas prints: $25 to $120
- Metal signs: $30 to $150
- Original paintings: $100 to $500+
Christ Follower Life
Christ Follower Life has a variety of designs for canvas prints that can be customized to fit your needs. Prints are made with HP Latex inks that are fade-resistant, assembled with 1.25” thick wood frames and glued wood core stretcher bars, and are delivered stretched and ready to hang, according to their product listings. They have printing facilities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, Canada, Australia, UK and Spain.
They have a watercolor canvas of Galatians 5:22-23 with the nine fruits in a botanical style, which is offered in vertical, square and horizontal formats in various sizes. All USA orders ship free.
Christian Walls
They say that they provide for you, Fruit of the Spirit wall art canvas prints, which you can customize with font and layout, with free shipping and a guarantee of your satisfaction of 100%. Designed with elegant typography and faith-filled artistry made in the USA.
Mark Lawrence Gallery
Fruit of the Spirit’s most formally documented fine art is available at marklawrencegallery.com through Mark Lawrence Gallery. They have a piece of Galatians 5:22-23 which is signed, numbered, limited and has a Certificate of Authenticity, which was created at the time of ordering and rolled in a heavy duty shipping tube for framing. Shipments will take 4-6 weeks.
Joyous Dwelling (Printable)
Joyous Dwelling provides a printable watercolor Fruit of the Spirit poster that is available in four sizes: 5×7, 8×10, 11×14 and 16×20, plus custom sizes upon request. The listing is supplied with JPG files at print ready resolution. It’s one of the most useful and budget-friendly home printing and same-day display solutions.
Cheerfully Given
Alimoo Designs is a UK-based company which offers a Fruit of the Spirit art print in A4 and A3 unframed sizes on their cheerfully given website, which is designed typographically. For those in the UK and Europe who do not want to deal with international shipping on physically framed items, this is the option for them.
Fruit of the Spirit Artwork for Children’s Spaces
Fruit of the Spirit artwork for children’s rooms, Sunday school classrooms and Christian school settings has its own conventions of design that are distinct from home display. Children’s formats favor:
- Bright saturated colours, not muted or vintage colours.
- Easy-to-recognize fruit drawings which children can match to words
- Legible and easy to read font that can be read from the back of a classroom
- Children’s active involvement in interactive activities like coloring pages
Their watercolor illustration can fill a children’s room, classroom or church Sunday school room with life, according to their website, Joyous Dwelling. The print format enables teachers to print many copies at a low cost, which can be displayed in the classroom, given to individual students or used as take-home materials.
Fruits of the Spirit Coloring Pages are Sunday school coloring pages for kids to color, and each coloring page depicts a fruit of the Spirit and its corresponding virtue, according to Etsy’s Galatians 5:22 art section. This format falls into a long tradition of children’s craft activities that are grounded in a faith, such as the guide to fully rely on God crafts, which works in tandem with the lesson to help children remember the scripture better than verbal instruction alone.
The interior design trends have also made Danish pastel and preppy versions of Fruit of the Spirit nursery art popular on Etsy. The soft lavender, sage, blush and cream palettes are ideal for modern nursery design; the theological essence of the original text in scripture remains unchanged.
Make your own Fruit of the Spirit Artwork
If you would like to make your own Fruit of the Spirit art instead of buying it, there are a number of simple ways to do this.
Watercolor Fruit Painting
Using watercolor on archival paper, select nine pieces of fruit, representing the spiritual qualities, and paint them. Below each fruit, write the appropriate virtue in hand lettering. Cut out and frame as a set of nine, or cut out all nine and arrange in a grid. The recommended substrate is archival watercolor paper 300 gsm cold press.
Typography Hand Lettering
Write the entire Galatians 5:22-23 verse in a calligraphy or hand lettering style on watercolor paper, cardstock or wood. Brush pens, dip pen and ink or digital lettering on tablet, print on archival paper. The nine qualities are presented in a list that allows for different typographic treatments, such as variations in size, weight, and color.
Embossed or Pressed Flower Art
Roses for love, lavender for peace, daisies for joy are pressed flowers used in a composition with the scripture text on archival paper and framed under UV-protective glass. This method helps to merge the botanical material with the biblical text in one piece, creating an art that is pleasing to the memory as well as to the eye. The method of using pressed botanicals, text and painted accents is explored in detail in the guide on how to memorialize flowers in painting.
Transfer onto Wood
Many Christian home crafters choose to transfer the text of the Fruit of the Spirit onto a reclaimed wood, wooden plaques or barn wood sign using Mod-Podge photo transfer or chalk paint lettering. It is perfect for farmhouse and rustic decor and will create a truly unique item that will not be available from a print-on-demand service.
Fruit of the Spirit Artwork Quick Reference
| Format | Best For | Price Range | Sources |
| Digital printable download | Immediate, affordable home printing | $3 to $15 | Etsy, Joyous Dwelling |
| Canvas print (POD) | Home display, gifts | $25 to $120 | Christ Follower Life, Christian Walls |
| Unframed paper print | Budget home display, Sunday school | $10 to $50 | Cheerfully Given, Etsy |
| Metal sign | Church, outdoor, high-durability | $30 to $150 | Etsy |
| Tree wall decal | Large wall coverage, church | $20 to $80 | Etsy |
| Limited edition fine art | Collectors, serious gift | $200 to $500+ | Mark Lawrence Gallery |
| Original painting | Unique, one-of-a-kind | $150 to $1,000+ | Etsy, commissioned artists |
| Coloring pages (printable) | Children’s rooms, Sunday school | $1 to $8 | Etsy |
Conclusion
Fruit of the Spirit art is one of the most versatile types of Christian art and is one of the most widely available types of art available today. The nine attributes of Galatians 5:22-23 have been explored in fine art limited editions by well-known Christian artists, to cheap printable watercolour that can be printed at home, and everywhere in between.
When choosing a piece, the most crucial aspect is to match the artwork’s format and style with the space it will be displayed in. Fruit drawings in watercolor paint are perfect for kids’ bedrooms and Sunday school classrooms. Typography canvas prints are ideal for modern grown-up life. Church foyes and sanctuaries are ideal for tree of life metal signs. Fine art in limited edition with Certificate of Authenticity is ideal for collectors and serious occasions to gift.
In all scenarios, the art’s function is the same: to make the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control part of the ambient visual language of the space and to be an invitation, a call to live by these qualities every day.
To learn more about Christian art, scripture art, and visual faith traditions, visit the Shani Levni collection of guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fruit of the Spirit Artwork is what?
Fruit of the Spirit artwork is Christian artwork based on Galatians 5:22-23: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It’s on canvas prints, watercolor art, metal signs, printable digital downloads, children’s rooms, Sunday school and church decoration.
What does Galatians 5:22-23 say?
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Paul mentions nine spiritual attributes—those things that are the fruits of a life lived in the Holy Spirit.
What is the most popular artwork style of the Fruit of the Spirit?
The most popular watercolor fruit art is the pairings of each spiritual attribute with a literal fruit, which can be sold on sites such as Etsy or Christian art print retailers. The most popular tree of life designs are those that feature all nine fruits on the branches, making them ideal for larger displays to be placed in church spaces or living rooms.
What is the best place to get the Fruit of the Spirit art?
Fruit of the Spirit artwork is available from: Etsy (wide range, all price points), Christ Follower Life (made to order canvas prints, USA based), Christian Walls (customizable canvas prints), Joyous Dwelling (printable watercolour downloads), Cheerfully Given (UK based typography prints), and Mark Lawrence Gallery (signed, numbered, limited edition fine art, Certificate of Authenticity).
What is the difference between printable and canvas print?
Printable is a file that is downloaded and printed by the user, usually by a local print shop or by the user themselves. Cheaper, ready to use, but will need extra effort and expense to print and frame. A canvas print is delivered ready to print, stretched and hung. Canvas prints are more expensive but do not require printing and framing.
Should the artwork of the fruit of the spirit be found in a church?
Yes. Galatians 5:22-23 is one of the most frequently used scriptures in church foyers, hallways, nurseries, Sunday school rooms and sanctuaries, and is frequently displayed as fruit of the spirit artwork. The most practical formats for church installation are metal signs, large canvas prints, tree of life designs and wall decals. Metal signs are the most lasting option for high traffic zones.
What makes a Fruit of the Spirit artwork suitable to give as a gift?
Christ Follower Life says Fruit of the Spirit artwork is an ideal confirmation, baptism or any spiritual milestone gift for Christians. It is also suggested for children, friends, husbands, wives, moms, dads, men and women. The Galatians 5 passage is universal and can be used for any Christian event and the various formats of the gift, ranging from small printable bookmarks to large canvas prints, can be used on any budget.