Adonai
As an artist deeply devoted to capturing the essence of Adonai, I am drawn to images that evoke the beauty and glory of the One I love. While none of us can claim to know exactly what Adonai looks like in His entirety, I seek to reflect His divine nature through my art. My creations strive to convey the awe-inspiring qualities of Adonai - His boundless love, unwavering presence, and infinite wisdom. It’s my heart’s desire to offer glimpses of His majesty and grace, inviting others to contemplate the magnificence of the Creator. Each of these pieces is a humble attempt to honor the mystery and splendor of Adonai, inspiring viewers to see beyond the tangible and connect with the spiritual realm where His beauty shines brightest.
In 1985, Playboy magazine did a brief snippet about a piece of art that I’d done that had been rejected from a local art show in the St. Louis area. The image was a painting of Jesus, draped in an American flag, with His arms filled with aborted babies. Of course, the flag was dripping with blood. While reading that article written about the controversy, I saw an image in the magazine of Jesus laughing (below, right) – a very different image from the one that had just gotten me in hot water!
Since then, I’ve always wanted to create a picture of Jesus laughing. This image that I created in 2015, And the Lord Laughs, was held in my heart those 30 years. Since, I have created a whole coloring book of Jesus laughing – the Lord told me that as people colored Him day after day, their view of Him would change and they would be filled with His joy which is their strength.
I don’t know how many favorite images one is allowed to have, but this is another one of mine. Laughing Love captures a divine moment frozen in time, showcasing a delightful little girl filling Jesus's heart with pure laughter that He initially planted in her. In a world where the image of Jesus is often depicted as serious and stern, witnessing Him adorned with joy and light-heartedness in this portrayal is truly refreshing. The artwork not only evokes a sense of joy but also invites the viewer to partake in the warmth of their shared, tender moment.
There’s a notable difference between these two images of Jesus laughing – the first one is a Psalm 2:4 laugh; one where the King triumphant laughs at those who seek to deny His authority. This laughter is innocent and pure. While still the transcendent King in both images, Laughing Love focuses much more on our Lord’s humanity and the childlike joy that we, His children, can elicit in Him.
In this image, Walking on Water, I attempted to capture the dynamic essence of the underwater realm, highlighting the profound truth of the King of the Universe walking just above the aquatic creatures. The image evokes a sense of wonder as one envisions the multitude of fish eagerly attempting to draw near to the Savior's feet. The excitement, joy, and exuberance depicted in this piece convey a powerful message of creation rejoicing in the presence of its Creator. Each fish in the sea symbolizes the overwhelming desire to be as close as possible to the divine, reflecting a harmonious interaction between the spiritual and natural worlds. This artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the sacred connection shared between all living beings and the Source of all life.
I created this image, I Am the Door, in the Hebrew calendar year 5784, the year declared by prophetic voices to be the year of the door of promise. This has always been the case – the Savior is the door to every promise. He says in John 10:10 that the thief comes not but to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly. He also says “I am the door” in that passage of Scripture. It is this door – the way, the truth, and the life – that we are all looking for. Nobody comes to the Father but through this door.
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”.
– Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV)
I created this image in honor of Our Great Intercessor, the One who ever lives to make intercession for all of us. I created Him holding the world based on the old song, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” We are either intercessors for the brethren, or accusers of the brethren. Of which father are we?
I love the atmosphere of this image, and the vintage look of it. It looks like it could have been created in the 1940s. It’s just special to my heart.
This image, Resurrection, was inspired by the end of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This is, to me, one of the most powerful images that I’ve created. My wife says, “No one wants a picture of Jesus like that hanging on a wall,” and she’s probably right.
However, I just had to create this image depicting the light shining through the nail holes in His hands and feet as He begins to rise as the firstborn from among the dead, making way for all of us in the victory of the new day. There is no other god that men worship that has risen from the dead! There is only one – Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The image of the resurrected Christ, bearing the marks of His suffering on His bruised and battered body, carries a profound message of redemption, sacrifice, and victory. Through His wounds, He displays the depth of His love and the price He paid for humanity's salvation. This powerful portrayal captures the essence of resurrection: life emerging from death, hope from despair, and light from darkness. It serves as a reminder of the enduring power of Christ's resurrection and the transformative impact of His sacrifice on the world.
Destined depicts Jesus as a toddler, playing with nails that he found in Joseph’s workshop. At the same time, the image depicts His destiny to be held to a piece of wood by spikes such as these.
It’s a striking image – one that speaks to His prophetic, redemptive destiny on the earth. Jesus has been described by many as the One “born to die,” and this image does a job depicting this sacrifice in a tangible, impactful way. It’s almost painful to look at the innocent toddler and recognize what His destiny is, but that simply portrays how great His love for us was then and remains today.