Commissioned by Pastor Justin Jenkins, Velocity Church, Lawrence Art Center, Kansas
Jesus weeps
Joseph gives
Paul preaches
David dances
Jonah runs...
The illustrated portrait of Christ lamenting for humanity’s inescapable destiny with death personified by his hearing of Lazarus’ is inspired by D. Jeffrey Mims’ 1999 charcoal Self-Portrait found in Juliette Aristides’ book Classical Drawing Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice. Aristides founded the Gage Academy on Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington, upon training under Richard Lack as a place for serious students to study traditional art.
The hieratic scale — size associated with importance utilized by the ancient Egyptians — of a giant Joseph exposing himself to his brothers showering them with gifts of sustenance in a barren land in the spirit of his father who gifted his favored son the coat of many colors is inspired by Maria Kreyn’s 2015 oil painting Rising. “She channels heavy forms and simplicity” says The Figurative Artist’s Handbook author Robert Zeller, “of the Severe Classical Greek sculpture style from 490 - 450 BC.” Kreyn’s images fuse perceptions of spiritual dimensions with reality using symbolic light coming not from a physical light source, but a seemingly spiritual one. The layout of the brothers at the bottom references French sculptor, Antoine Bourdelle’s, Meditation of Apollo and the Nine Muses, 1910-12 Art Deco 12’ x 4.5’ bas-relief.
The portrait of Paul the Apostle references Matthew Grabelsky’s 2004 cast drawing of Orfeo Boselli’s San Benedetto, Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy. “By imitating accomplishments of artists who came before” says Aristides, “you surpass your current skill level and gain particular insight into the master artist’s working method.” Careful and detailed study of a brilliant drawing inspires camaraderie pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Through analyzing, deconstructing and rebuilding a masterwork, experiential knowledge of the master’s working method is found by no other means possible. The Israeli crowd Paul preaches to in Jerusalem is inspired by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes’ mid nineteenth-century, Group of Four Figures — a black and sanguine crayon drawing heightened with white crayon on 29” x 17” beige paper, Louvre, France.
The Jewish king bowing before the Ark in celebration of its return references Juliette Aristides’ 2004 charcoal and white pencil drawing, Sutherland 1: Bowing. The divine spirit rising from the Ark of the Covenant is inspired by Alice Aycock’s 20’ x 15’ x 8’ painted steel, fiberglass and wood sculpture, Tree of Life Fantasy: A Synopsis of the Book of Questions Concerning the World of Order and/or the Order of Worlds, 1990-92. Aycock’s inspiration includes the “double-helix DNA structure” says Mary Stewart, author of Launching the Imagination: A Comprehensive Guide to Basic Design, “and medieval illustration of people entering Paradise through a spinning hole in the sky.” Aycock combines linear structure with a series of circular planes in open space resulting in playful, roller-coaster-like sculpture.
Originally the “great fish” as scripture translates from Hebrew was color penciled over the Jonah chapter as a horrific dragon copied from Kevin Walker’s Drawing and Painting Fantasy Beasts: Bring to Life the Creatures and Monsters of Other Realms. I was inspired by the enormous, ghoulish fanged Xipactinus — “Sword Ray” fossil from the Late Cretaceous period seen at the Bismarck, North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in November, 2019. Also known as the “X-Fish,” like a marlin and tuna today, it’s aerodynamic body and teeth are adapted for catching and eating other fish. Justin requested a more whale-like creature. Upon erasing the dragon, I Googled ‘large sea fish’ and ‘men swimming’ to juxtapose references in Photoshop for final composition. I refrained from black acrylic gouache; instead vying for an aquatic-feel through ultramarine blue, viridian green and violet to achieve the deep-sea darks. “Even in the deepest depths of Sheol” Jonah says in chapter 2:2, “You hear my prayer” is my favorite passage in the Bible.