40minus1

It had to happen eventually, I had to get a blog. I decided to make a blog to display my artwork. I've been wanting to this for awhile now, and have another site where my portfolio is located at, but I figured it'd be easier to post stuff on here.

First a little bit about the main purpose behind this blog.

Shortly after becoming a Christian my desire for art had waned. I used to draw/paint many pictures that were provocative and demonic (for lack of a better term) in nature, stagnant and devoid of any emotions. Though technically good they didn't provide much else to capture or draw the person into the painting.

I couldn't draw anything for nearly 4 years, there just wasn't anything that I desired to do. The only things I knew how to draw neither lifted the heart or put forth any kind of joy, so I was left wondering what to do. After the 4 years were up, God really started to lay on my heart the desire to do something else. At first it was landscapes and old buildings, but then the idea came to start illustrating the Bible and trying to capture the raw emotions and human nature as they really are.

This idea of drawing human emotion was great and all, but it was new territory for me. So I went to study some of the great masters throughout history. Plus with a lot of help from my wife and some wonderful friends critiquing my artwork, they encouraged me to put more meaning and story behind the technique.

Of course no one likes to have their work critiqued and believe me I was hesitant about it. But there is great wisdom in that critiquing is by far the best learning tool, and really helps a person to grow. Growth is what I desired and though some of the critique was difficult to swallow, and at times brutally honest, it had the effect that I believe God was going for - to get me out of the old and pursue this new journey.

Here is the picture that kicked the whole thing off, titled "40minus1."

This is a painting of Christ shortly after getting flogged by the Romans.