Study for "The King in Winter," graphite on paper
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Before I started this art journey which I think of as my "mission from God," I was sick from thyroid disease for several years. I have to admit that they were extremely difficult years. There were times when I thought I might spend the rest of my life unable to walk very far, or unable do simple chores like washing the dishes.
And then suddenly, it was all over.
There really aren't any words for how an experience like that will change you. I had been through the valley of the shadow of death, and for better or worse, I am a different person now.
In that valley I had almost completely lost my faith, and in a paradox, my faith had then become stronger than it ever had before. I learned to lean on God in a whole new way.
So when I picked up my brush to start painting again, the first picture I painted was a small round portrait of Jesus Christ.
I don't remember why I started with the round shape, but I liked it.
And when it was time to start a new series recently, I retvrned to the theme and began sketching more portraits of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns, like the one at the top of this page.
I also created a portrait of King David, who was the ancestor of Jesus and in some ways is His earthly counterpart or forerunner.
Something about this pensive pose resonates for me. Perhaps it's the lingering effects of my former sadness.
Art doesn't have to be only about happiness. It can feel good to look back and contemplate our sorrows, and think about the differences that suffering can make in our lives.
I continued to follow the visual theme with a contemplative little drawing of Lady Liberty lost in thought, wearing the veil of humility - sort of another riff on the same theme as my first large painting of Liberty.
After my success in using a limited color palette with my big Christian landscape painting, I also wanted to experiment with toning down my color schemes.
My first color sketches have been very successful.
I've also been experimenting with different methods of laying the paint down, either with direct brushstrokes or with the slow method of glazing.
Naturally these will all lead up to a larger series, and if you'd like to find out where this is heading, please subscribe to my email list.
You see, this blog is just sort of the public face of my art practice. All of the interesting stuff happens backstage in my free newsletter.
