Armour of God

[DLGardner]

This is inspired both by the book of Ephesians (clothing ourselves with the whole armour of God) and by the Lord of the Rings, which to me is rich with many Spiritual Warfare principals even to the point of prophecy. I'm painting it to remind us all that there is a battle going on out there and if we don't don our armour, we'll be fallen soldiers. This is so in the preliminary stage I probably shouldn't be posting it yet. Hope I don't bore you with these planning stages. Feel free to comment. Its 24 X 36
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/30-Dec-2004/8002-Armour.jpg
oils
Dianne

[Wally's Mom]

Like the figure -- like the connectionyou draw between The Lord of the Rings and fighting our spiritual battles too !

The shape in the foreground -- is that going to be a pile of armor ? I assume that since this is still very preliminary, you haven't worked much on that yet ?

Good Work and Good Luck !

-- Never bored with prelims or WIPs

Thanks for sharing !

Wally's Mom :wave:

[DLGardner]

Like the figure -- like the connectionyou draw between The Lord of the Rings and fighting our spiritual battles too !

The shape in the foreground -- is that going to be a pile of armor ? I assume that since this is still very preliminary, you haven't worked much on that yet ?

Good Work and Good Luck !

-- Never bored with prelims or WIPs

Thanks for sharing !

Wally's Mom :wave:
The shapes in the foreground are a candle and a Bible opened to Ephesians. The candle will not only be the light source, signifying the light of God in dark places, but also I'm thinking of having it the only source of color also, with possibly some color light reflected on my soldier. Right now I'm wondering if I should put his helmet on rather than have him holding it, but then I'd loose the potential for the expression on his face.

any thoughts?

Dianne

[e-bwm123]

The shapes in the foreground are a candle and a Bible opened to Ephesians. The candle will not only be the light source, signifying the light of God in dark places, but also I'm thinking of having it the only source of color also, with possibly some color light reflected on my soldier. Right now I'm wondering if I should put his helmet on rather than have him holding it, but then I'd loose the potential for the expression on his face.

any thoughts?

That is an amazing illustration, you have started here. I'm looking forward to seeing it completed. I think the idea you have of making the candle the only source of light and color is great in that it demonstrates the point that He gives us our significance.. As for the the helmet, leave it the way you have it. It both keeps the potential of the expression on his face and conveys the idea that he must "put on the helmet" daily rather than already have it on all the time. Good work.
Ed.

[Cloud Drifter]

Beautiful Composition! I too think you should leave the helmet at the ready and not put it on. Your flow of light in this composition is wonderful and the subtle light glow in the upper left creates a perfect balance. Am anxious to see more of this work. Facial expression is great! Thanks for posting the work at this step.

[jyvonne]

What a wonderful subject that shall speak volumes to the believers' heart continually!

I am looking forward to seeing this progress. You are doing an excellent job so far! Great expression on the soldier's face- quiet determination and faith, ready at any time for action. Thank you for sharing this.

jyvonne

[DLGardner]

Thank you all for your encouragement and kind comments. I'm letting it dry for a couple of days and want to deepen some of the dark. I should be working on it again Monday.

Actually the light in the top left corner is glare. The painting is going to be dark. I took out the glare in photoshop to show you. Hope it still works! Moved the sword closer to his right hand also and his helmet will be up under his left arm but barely visible. Thanks for your input on the helmet by the way. I tossed and turned all night thinking I needed to put it on, but when I looked at the painting I didn't want to change it. Your comments reinforced that decision.

Happy New Year to you all!

Dianne
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/01-Jan-2005/8002-Armour2.jpg

[LarrySeiler]

very cool Dianne, and one of my favorite movies....um, er naturally! :D

I was reading a quote by Billy Graham recently in his thinking about what artists do in painting, dealing with light and darks to make a painting work.

All the masterpieces of art contain both light and shadow. A happy life is not one filled only with sunshine, but one which uses both light and shadow to produce beauty.

even in spiritual warfare...though the enemy manage to hit us in a vulnerable spot, God uses that to teach us, make us stronger. Funny how darkness helps us to measure how strong a light is.

I will be contemplating a bit on this quote by Graham as concerns some of my painting.

looking forward to seeing how this progresses Dianne!

Larry

[DLGardner]

Thanks Larry.

I'm having a hard time getting a good photo of this painting. Now it looks really dark but there's a little more detail in it than that.

I love what Billy Graham says. Yes! God only allows the devil to do his thing so that we are strengthed by it. Job is a good example of that! Another really important thing is to know that we have to 'fight evil with good'. Our weapons are not the carnal sword, but the Spiritual sword (the Word (Jesus) of God).There is the character building thing. That's hard!

A note on LOTR... "We cannot have victory through strength of arms" as Eomer puts it in the last debate of Return of the King. That's not what won the battle...but it was that last sacrifice. It was the fact that those brave men were willing to risk their lives for their friends so that evil would be destroyed forever. They all had to work as a team. That's what the church has to learn to do. Their love has to be unconditional and absolutely faithful, like Sam picking up his weary friend and carrying Frodo to his final destination. Our love has to look like that. We have to learn to be that loyal, that determined and that persistant in our love. We have a long way to go, but that is what Jesus looks like as He carried the Cross for us.

[DLGardner]

I think I have the darks pretty much stable now. I still need to bring some highlights out on the soldier, but I've worked on the candle and the Book some. Here's an update.

Its extremely hard to take a good photo of a dark painting especially a wet one, because of the glare. What I ended up doing after deleting about 7 images, is taking a shoot of the painting pretty much in the dark with the camera set on the red light mode and then lightening it all up in photoshop.

Hope it works uploading it though because my monitor always shows things a degree or two darker on WC. Yep, had to edit. How does it look on your screen?
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/03-Jan-2005/8002-Armour4.jpg

Dianne

[jimb]

I really like this composition and all of the symbolism here. Just wonderful!!

Just a few thoughts on the armor of God...
Do we have the courage to stand up for our convictions? Can we truly say we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ? Do we live peaceably with our neighbors and avoid gossip and backbiting and spreading unfounded rumors? Do we truly love our neighbors as ourselves?
If we can answer yes to these questions, then we will have on the whole armor of God, which will protect us from harm and preserve us from our enemies. If we must answer no to these questions, then our armor is weak, there is an unshielded place which can be found, a vulnerable area for attack, and we will be subject to injury or destruction by Satan, who will search until he finds our weaknesses.

What is this armor the scriptures talk about?

Loins girt about with truth
Breastplate of righteousness
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
Shield of faith
Helmet of salvation
Sword of God’s Spirit and His word

This is a wonderful, thought provoking painting for those of faith. Thank you for sharing!
Jim

[DLGardner]

Do we have the courage to stand up for our convictions? Can we truly say we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ? Do we live peaceably with our neighbors and avoid gossip and backbiting and spreading unfounded rumors? Do we truly love our neighbors as ourselves?

This is a wonderful, thought provoking painting for those of faith. Thank you for sharing!
Jim
Thanks Jim for your input on the armour of God. The thing that is so very important is that we cannot fight the enemy with the enemy's weapons. We must use the weapons of God. Those who are walking in Truth-are honest in all ways, those who are righteous-integrity comes to my mind here, as well as honor, valor and full of love; those who speak the Gospel of Christ, redemption and hope; Those who wear the helmet of Salvation-belief in Christ; those who carry the shield of faith-"I know that my Redeemer lives and I shall stand with Him on that day" (Job), and those who carry the Sword, the Word of God...His words are a light unto my soul, yes those are the ones who are equipted. May it be me Lord!

Thanks Jim
update
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Jan-2005/8002-Armour6a.jpg

Now for the Bible! Dare I attempt to actually write something in it. O my the choice is mine and whereas I would love to have beautiful script with the passage on it I know my abilities and they are not in the department of calligraphy.

Dianne

[Cloud Drifter]

Now for the Bible! Dare I attempt to actually write something in it. O my the choice is mine and whereas I would love to have beautiful script with the passage on it I know my abilities and they are not in the department of calligraphy.
Dianne

Yes! I know you can do it... With all of the fine detail and feeling you have painted into this work...you have the talent to place text there. Just remember that you are simply drawing with your brush...making marks with a stick with hair on the end of it. Organize those marks into any form you wish including text. In my opinion, the text does not have to be tiny...it is your painting and you can place your message there in any size you wish. Make a simple guideline following the perspective of the book and with a small fine pointed round, you can draw any message you wish to place there.

Here is a simple reference for a drawing exercise of a book with printing on the page...even though it is less complex than your beautiful subject, maybe it might be of help. http://www.williampowell-artist.com/drawingexercise1.html

Beautiful painting!

[DLGardner]

Wow, thank you Cloud Drifter, for those words of encouragement! And for that really cool example.

Well, I may try it after all but I must get me a new brush for it I think. I am so hard on brushes and this would require such intricate work.

Thanks again.

Dianne

[Cyndi L]

I'm so glad that you've posted pictures as you've progressed, Dianne. This is truly a beautiful piece. You have a very fine gift which you have obviously worked hard to develop :)

[Mrs. Gogo]

I am new here and still rather timid about posting much but I just have to say how much I like your painting, especially the fact that it is an illustration of one of my favorite books in the Bible, Ephesians 6. :clap:
It is encouraging to me to encounter other believers in an art forum, not only am I encouraged and challenged artistically here but also get spiritual encouragement and refreshment as well, what a blessing!
I can't wait to see the finished piece.
YSIC, :wave:
Linda <><

[DLGardner]

Cyndi,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'll post it when its done. Right now I'm waiting for the Book to dry so I can paint on it.

Linda,
Welcome to WC! and to the Inspirational Forum. So glad to see you weren't too shy to comment. You are most welcome to come to any of the forums to post and post your work too. Thank you also for your kind words. Ephesian's 6 is one of my favorite books also. It is so encouraging and so stimulating. I hope to do it justice with this piece. It should be a few days before I can work on it anymore but I will certainly keep everyone posted.

Dianne

[Rosic]

Dianne... such a neat concept and execution of it.
I look forward to every step.
Bern

[Mrs. Gogo]

Dianne,
Thank you for your kind words of welcome, I am getting better about actually posting in different forums, I hope eventually to have the courage to post some of my stuff. In the meantime I am really enjoying this site, can't wait to see that finished piece!
Linda <><

[fiannah]

Diane this is gorgeous.. i saw it in oils and because of your post i found this forum which i didnt realized existed! There is so much to this website you can discover new things all the time! I cant wait to see how the bible comes out!

[DLGardner]

Well, its done.

Please let me know what you think.
And thank you all so much for subscribing to this thread! I do appreciate the comments and suggestions.

Dianne
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/07-Jan-2005/8002-Armour7w.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/07-Jan-2005/8002-Armourc.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/07-Jan-2005/8002-Armourc2.jpg

[e-bwm123]

Dianne, this is excellent. You are very gifted at illustrating spiritual concepts. The lettering is just vague enough to add some mystery to it. Perhaps, what Scriptures is the Bible open to. Great work.

Ed

[ponting]

Awesome and moving work Dianne :)

Dianna

[Cyndi L]

Love it! :)

[Squib]

Wonderful painting Dianne, and wonderful reminder to us all.

Thanks for sharing both the painting and your thoughts. :clap: :clap: :clap:

[tommie]

Your painting is awsome!

[Cloud Drifter]

The painting is beautiful and dramatic! I just knew you would do a great job on the lettering and you did! Thanks for sharing this with everyone.

[idahogirl]

Wonderful painting...

Dee

[catherina]

This is a beautiful piece and really speaks to my heart. I love the fearless determination on the man's face. It is wonderful that you can give glory to God in your art. Keep it up! :music:

[Sparkling Star]

Oh! That is wonderful! I love it and I find it really moving. I love the expression you have captured in his eyes. There is a feeling in there that I can relate to.
Beautiful Work! :clap:

[DLGardner]

Thank you so much.

Dianne

[fiannah]

beautiful~!

[Mrs. Gogo]

This is beautiful, thank you so much for sharing it here. I hope to see more like this in the future, very inspiring in both spiritual and artistic sense of the word. :clap:
Linda <><

[vee_209]

Wonderful picture. Nice composition. I really like the symbols you put in it. It does also remind me of The Lord of The Rings. :) Suppose you've achieved your goal! :clap:

[MaryPat]

Great work. I have seen many paintings depicting the Armour of God, and they usually graphically depict each piece of armour. Your painting gives the impression of the mystery of God's protection. I love it!

[zardoz]

very strong image

impressive