This was my first time attempting a diptych. It's an oil on canvas piece. The process to arrive at my final decision was one featuring much planning. I sat doing various sketches of ideas that I conceptualized concerning how I would express the battle. I know I wanted to work with contrasting the flesh vs the spirit, but I went through a few sketches and weeks before arriving at the idea of a diptych . I had never done one before. I had only seen them; diptychs, triptychs and so on and they always looked very nice, and because contrast was my method, I decided to try it out since 2 panels would emphasize contrast very well. I sketched out my idea on the canvas panel and then applied a base layer of acrylic paint to block out the shades and highlights and such. I then applied a layer of oil paint and then some final touch ups.

This piece is a diptych (a 2 painting set) which is inspired from the battles mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-20. It's also a self portrait, which makes me recall my own situations according to the verses. Concerning these 2 battles, on one hand, we often wrestle against flesh and blood and put a lot of time into the treasures of this life. We are often pulled to live according to the flesh, which are the fiery darts Satan throws at us, as shown at the top of the painting to the left. The battle of flesh is signified there as well with the image of myself in a heated physical tussle, symbolizing the wrestling against flesh and blood. On the other hand (the hand in which God wants us to be) in the painting on the right, we can refocus and fight against the devil and his schemes and we must do so by living in the spirit, which is what my prayerful state signifies. Also, the fiery dart of schemes which the devil uses to distract us and tempt us to fight the wrong battles, is broken, and its fire quenched. This right half of the painting also signifies being strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might, and not relying on physical strength as the painting on the left signifies. The fiery dart also serves a secondary purpose- to guide the viewers eye from one painting to the other, as this is the direction that is sought; moving from fighting according to the flesh toward fighting spiritual battles. Other verses also inspire this diptych as the contrast between the 2 paintings highlights the admonition from verses like 2 Corinthians 10:3, Romans 8:6, Galatians 6:8, Galatians 5:16 and Romans 13:14, to walk according to the spirit and not the flesh. The right half of the diptych also pulls inspiration from James 4:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:23, which encourages us to submit to and stand strong in God while not giving place to the devil.

Myself- Kendall Barthelmy
Photographed the images for the 2 paintings
Sketched then mom out and applied subsequent coats of acrylic and then oil paint.

Danic Duplessis and Racquel Preville
- posed with me with their hands wrapped around my head and neck in the photograph for the first half of the diptych.