Love Forgiveness Reconciliation

Title: Love Forgiveness Reconciliation
Media: watercolor and acrylic on canvas
Size of Original: 22.75 x 28.75 inches
Text: Luke... more

by Judy Dodds

Title

Love Forgiveness Reconciliation

Artist

Judy Dodds

Medium

Painting - Calligraphy

Description

Title: Love Forgiveness Reconciliation
Media: watercolor and acrylic on canvas
Size of Original: 22.75 x 28.75 inches
Text: Luke 15:11-32, Ephesians 6:12-17, Philippians 4:12-13 and CS Lewis' Mere Christianity

This Prodigal Son narrative is a multi-layered piece on primed canvas.
The first step to developing any piece is research � to study the text and experiment with styles and techniques. To delve into the text, I studied several Bible translations and commentaries. I made lists of key verses, adjectives, emotions, themes, synonyms and symbols. I searched our church library and public library for quotes relating to the themes and the landscape, the clothing and architecture of the time.
During the research, I am writing ideas and making sketches for giving visual expression to the text. I am asking myself many questions. What is the focal point, mood, attitude? How can the images (the downcast, repentant son, the welcoming, joyful father and the robe, representative of reconciliation, forgiveness, restoration of heritage) and the quotes be positioned to effectively use balance and scale?
The first marks on the canvas were pencil sketches of the father and son. I covered the canvas with light yellows, golds, greens and blues. Painted rocks, hills, a large tree and a stream with more rocks followed, but were pushed into the background with darker hues of burgundy, purples, and browns. As I work with color, I am evaluating the effect of color and elements blending into or emerging from the background.
I worked on the unstretched canvas. After painting the background, the first lettering to go on was the text that partially surrounds the son.

Uploaded

March 21st, 2012