Original Piece: Charcoal on Paper, 2022

From the book Garden Song, illustrating Psalm 107 – “His steadfast love endures forever”. This painting is about the power of Christ’s love for us. Notice how Jesus’ hand on the right is drawn with definition, with a pronounced vein running through his arm – full of life with light beaming around it. However, the other hand on the left is fading away, into darkness. His arm comes from high, pressing into the picture, stretching out, moving towards the other hand. In contrast, this hand is being pulled away out of the picture, whilst simultaneously reaching out. This drawing illustrates Jesus’ love for us, reaching out after us in the darkness but also the simultaneous contrast of resistance and longing which we have to receive that love and life. It reminds me of Michelangelo’s Last Judgement painting in the Sistine Chapel, which illustrates the spiritual battle of faith.

Size: 30″ x 20″