After deciding upon an image (see part two) and collecting reference I began the drawing for the final painting. I started with a harmonic armature within which I placed the figure and other elements. An armatures can help to create order amongst the various various elements and to the whole:
After transferring this to the canvas the wash drawing was begun:
The reference came from many different places. I took photos of my friend and student Juan Pablo:
Drew Struzen's Star Wars posters have wonderful renderings of light effects. They really are a modern interpretation of halos. Illustrator Mike Sass uses similar effects on his art for the Star Wars game Knights of the Old Republic:
For sky, drapery and flag I looked to Titian:
I found this image of a lake in Alberta and used it as a source for the rocks at front:
For the clouds, Cagnacci's Assumption of Mary Magdalene:
The broken gates I borrowed from Casper David Friedrich:
The cross comes from San Filipo Neri church in Florence:
And the Hubble space telescope provided the cosmos:
Mix it all up and shake real hard:
Anastasis
The final painting is now in the private collection of His Eminence Mauro Cardinal Piacenza in Vatican City.
