Fr. J. Loves it!

It's done! The composition is complete and we both welcomed the late addition to the drawing – Mary Magdalene! Now it's time for the photo shoot. I typically prefer painting my subjects with photo references to ensure the light and shadows are as realistic as possible... less guess work for me. Fr. J. has a few people in mind for the live models and we've got some great costumes to work with too. We're scheduled to shoot for January 23!

Close but not there yet.

In this sketch I've finally incorporated the background composing of God the Father who is welcoming and also offering his son to the world and on either side are the two archangels. Mary is now standing with traditional halo (twelves starts symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel) and a few of the apostles have switched their positions since the last sketch.

If you've ever been to St. Clare you would be familiar with the statue of the cruxified Jesus – this will remain the center of the composition instead of a painted Jesus.

It's getting very close but Fr. J and I decided to keep finessing it. As for the Trinity, The Holy Spirit (the dove) will be repositioned to fly between God the Father and Jesus. And I think God is looking too Santa Clause-ish... we wouldn't want to confuse the children would we?

Stay tuned!

The First

And here's James, brother of John. I call him the first because he was the first be martyred for his faith. The intention is to make him the only one to reach out his hand as Jesus is being lifted to the Father... after all he was the first out of the eleven to join him in Heaven.

Humbled

In Jesus' time you either feared Herod & the Romans or you feared the tax collectors. One would take the shirt off your back so the other could strip the flesh off as well. Matthew (standing) was a tax collector in his previous life. He was probably paid very well and protected and for this he was despised by his fellow Jews. Even after he joined Jesus' circle, he was considered an outcast and a sinner by the Pharisees who criticized Jesus... “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17)

And then there's Simon the Zealot (kneeling). Not much evidence on Simon but the legend describes him as a member of the Zealots which at the time were a political sect set on taking down the Romans by force or even terrorism. They too were considered outcasts for their aggression.

So, for both these two apostles I will paint them in an expression of humility – on their knees and heads bowed in thankfulness.

Inseperable

From what I know, Philip and Nathanael or Bartholomew were always a pair. Philip was known for his part in the event of the five loaves and two fish. I'll paint a basket of loaves and fish by his feet. And Nathanael was this happy-go-lucky character ready to stir things up for the cause. I'll make him the only one in the group to wear a smile. It's also believed these two friends were martyred together.

The Believer

Here's the new believer (formerly doubting Thomas). When I paint him, he'll be looking at the viewers while everyone is fixed on the event at hand. In his mind, he's wondering how many doubters are among us.

Bringer of Men

It was written that Andrew brought Jesus to the first apostles. He knew who to bring before Jesus and he knew where to find them. I call him the Bringer of Men. And for this, even after three years by they're master's side and while they witness the ascension, Andrew is still the bringer of men – lifting two apostles to bare witness. There isn't very much known about these other two apostles. They most likely had their own roles no doubt. On the left is Jude and to the right is James the Lesser (lower rank than James brother to John). They're more fearful than anything which suggests they could have been the youngest of the group.

Peter, Mary and John

Here's a detail. The plan is to make Mary standing between Peter and John – two contrasting personalities. There's Peter who is all nerves and then John the quiet and graceful apostle. Peter already has his next question on the tip of his tongue... he means well but his own impatience is a distraction to himself. (Remember, this is just my opinion) Mary is comforting the both of them and reassuring them that her son's plan is for the good of all and that there's no need to fear the future. "Fisher's of men are what you have become!" could she have said something to that effect? And, John looks to Mary like a son does to his mother.

The Pillar

Another sketch, but not there yet. I always envisioned Mary at the center of the group between Peter and John. I felt they both may have been looking to Mary with sympathetic expressions. After all, she was losing Jesus once again. But wait a minute, she knew this was coming... it should be her looking to the apostles with comforting gestures. It's the apostles who must have been in awe at first, and then confused and fearful... like "now what do we do??" I like the way Fr. J. put it... they were of course in awe but they were also accepting and maybe even rejoicing to finally see Jesus up to Heaven like he always promised them.

Instead of sitting, Mary will be standing to make her the focal point in this story... 'the pillar' at the center of they're continuing faith added Fr. J. – makes sense to me.

A finished portrait

Here's a digital painting of Simon Peter.

I thought it only fitting to include the building plans to the first church – laid in gold mosaic tiles. And what's a fisherman without his net? This was good practice but I think I may even portray the characters to appear even younger for the mural.