This piece is a mixed media painting on panel. The panel was first covered with Bible pages from the four gospels as a ground to work on top of. The initial sketch for the central kneeling, worshiping figure was done in charcoal, establishing the figure's basic form. The area surrounding the figure is painted with acrylic; establishing a dark background with a large white circle above the figure. In contrast, the body of the figure is not painted in order to leave the text fully visible. To create value change within the figure, I wrote scriptures relating to Ephesians 6:10-20 with graphite, ink, and acrylic pen. I often do work that has a specific scripture verse as inspiration; this piece pulls inspiration from both those verse based works within my oeuvre, as well as work that I have done that features figures on large, 80x36" panels, including a series that uses bible pages as a background.

The armor of God is not a material thing you put on which lends you it’s strength, but a metaphorical covering of oneself with scripture in order to be strengthened by God. Our strength is in being fully immersed in the Word of God, not in our physical being. In this piece I chose to portray a figure in a posture of supplication and worship, as this is the internal posture in which we are open to being infused with God’s strength. The figure is clothed not in physical armor, but in the Word of God. The entire painting ground is covered with bible pages from the four gospels, which are visible through the translucent layers of paint. A large circle, representing the presence of God, floats above the central, kneeling figure. I left the figure unpainted, the pages of the bible fully visible. To create shading and form within the figure, instead of paint, I wrote scriptures relating to Ephesians 6:10-20, the layering of the written text creating value changes. In this, the figure is fully covered by scripture, which is the source of all the virtues that form the Armor of God. It is not we who fight the battle, but the Holy Spirit within us. We equip the work of the Spirit by humbly laying ourselves down to the Word of God, and using scripture as our source of strength.

Jennie Kimbrough, artist, Nathan Kimbrough, photographed reference photo.

Original work: $3000
80x36" mixed media painting on panel, unframed, wired for hanging
jenniekimbrough@gmail.com
purchase on my website, jenniekimbrough.com, shipping within the U.S. will be calculated at time of purchase.

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