Stages of "After the Battle of Sisera"

Stage 1

Graphite

11 x 17

One of the most important women in the Bible was Deborah. A judge and general who led the people of Israel with her advice, leadership and guidance. I wanted to portray a strong female, especially in today's society there is such a negative perception of women in roles of leadership. The idea that women cannot or should not take a position in this way, is wrong. She is an example to all women of religious or non-religious backgrounds of what women can and should be a part. She may have lived 3,000 years ago, but her message is as important today as it was then. 

Stage 2

photoshop rendering of the original drawing

After scanning the drawing, I wanted to play around with the idea of blood on her hands. A literal interpretation of ending a battle. While she was not the one who literally drove a peg through the enemy's head, she was still on the battle scene. The blood represented her direct contact with the struggle. 

Stage 3

Oil on Canvas

In the original drawing the graphite allowed me to play with shadow, but oil is not so forgiving. Any time a black and white drawing or pencil drawing has absolute darkness, once transferred to oil one of two things should happen. 1) The black has to have texture of some sort, with another color mixed in. (or) 2) The background cannot be completely black, only the illusion of black, by using purple or blues. 

I chose to keep the background black for the effect. The swirls represent the storm of battle as well as the aftermath as she sits by the campfire. 

Stage 4 and 5

(Not Shown.)

I decided not to take another picture until the end because the middle stages irritated me. 

Stage 6

(

30" x 40"

Oil on Canvas

In the end I decided to change the position of her fingers. Originally they were straight, but after having someone model the position I noticed that fingers should be more relaxed and natural. Also, her sword reflects the firelight as well as the blood from battle. The eyes, reflect the fire of more than her looking upon it, but more of her soul. The eyes were meant to be brown, and looking closely they still remain so. The swirls are silver, and there's gold on her helmet.