CCRUCIFIXION

Painting Sessions

The is the photo reference given to me by my nephew in Kansas.  I very much appreciate his kind offer as this gives me my first opportunity to create a new original painting of Christ on the cross.

This is my first session, a  rough sketch of Christ on the cross.  This was drawn on a large 36" X 48" gallery wrap canvas which doesn't require a frame.  This first session was a rough sketch, showing the general proportion.

This was my second session, correcting and detailing the sketch.   I decide to change the cross some by making it appear thicker then the photo reference.

This was my second day,. session 4, whereby I decided to darken the background to better focus on the image of Christ on the cross and my intention to make this as realistic and 3-D as possible.   I've applied three coats of paint, the first coat, black and the next two coats, Dioxazine Purple to create the illusion of  deep space.

This is my third day, session 6, making decisions of colors and values of paint, applying a base coat on the cross.

This is my forth day, session 8, where I research the type of wood the cross was made of which turns out to be olivewood.  I start to apply some wood grain indications and some shadows from  Christ's body.

This is my fifth day, session 10, where I start to paint on some basic values and tones that I refer to as "mapping".  I also start some modeling in the face, crown, and hair.

This is my sixth day, session 12, whereby I start mapping Christ's left arm and hand and begin the modeling of Christ's upper torso and arms.

This is my seventh day, session 14, whereby I continue both mapping and modeling, with Christ's right hand, His legs and feet.

This is my eighth day, session 16, where I finish the mapping of the body, model the feet and map the garments.

This is my ninth day, session 18 and focused on modeling of the head of Christ and the wood grain of the cross.

This is my 10th day, session 20 and I decided that I didn't care for the statue's head model of Christ, perhaps "too traditional" and not realistic enough for my concept.  I painted over the original head of Christ and started with my concept and will continue in this direction to see what happens.

This is my 11th day, session 22 and I created a different crown of thorns for Christ's head.  Additionally, I started adding some blood, cuts, body hair and blood veins.

This is my 12th day, session 24, and I continued the modeling of His garments, skin and blood.

This is my 13th day, session 26 and I finished the modeling phase of the Crucifixion.  This composition is now finished.  However, I've decided to actually create two different compositions of this painting.  I plan to change the background of the crucifixion to a daytime scene, whereas, looking upward at the sky, clouds, and sun rays behind the cross.  Both compositions of the crucifixion will be available for the public and I will post the following sessions for the new composition below this session.

This is my 14th day, session 28 and I began to lay in the basic foundation of the day scene.  This will not be recognized by anyone by the time the painting is finished but does show the process I go through.

This is my 15th day, session 30 and I started blending sky tones and colors into the background colors.

This is my 16th day, session 32 and I started the modeling process of the background.

This my 17th day, session 34 and I continued the modeling process of the background.

This is my eighteenth day, session 36 and I've finished the project.  As you view the painting, you may discover that I've inserted three celestial beings (Angels)  in the clouds above the crucifixion.  Reproductions of both the night scene and the day scene are now available.

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