Judges lesson series (6-6)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.

(click on image to enlarge)

Samson bringing down the Philistine temple.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-5)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.

(click on image to enlarge)

The Philistines are gathered in their temple and have Samson brought in.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-4)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Samson placed in shackles and forced to grind grain.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-3)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Delilah tricks Samson.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-2)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Delilah ties Samson up with fresh bowstrings.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-1)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

(6-1) Delilah trying to find out the secret to Samson's strength.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-6)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Samson was tied up and taken to the Philistines.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-4)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)
Samson gives a riddle at the wedding feast.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-2)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Samson goes down to Timnah and meets a Philistine girl.  He returns home and tells his parents to make arrangements for them to be married.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-1)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

The angel appears to Manoah's wife to tell her she would give birth to a son – Samson.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-5)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Samson tied a torch from the tails of 300 foxes and released them in pairs, burning down the Philistine grain fields.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-6)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

The last illustration (4-6) from a lesson on Gideon where Gideon and 300 men surrounded the Midianite camp, stood in place while smashing pots, blowing horns (right hand), waving torches (left hand) and shouting.

I was a bit baffled on this one – trying to figure out the logistics of smashing a pot to expose an already lit torch that's held in the left hand and all done in a way to get enough oxygen for the flame while in the pot ... and then there's the question of how they smashed the pots.  I could have avoided all those minor issues and just have the pots already shattered in the picture ...but I really wanted to include one pot shattering!

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-5)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Illustration (4-5) from the lesson on Gideon.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-4)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Gideon and his servant sneak into the Midianite camp and overhear two soldiers discussing a dream involving a round barley loaf tumbling into camp.

 I finished by inserting a fire ... then removing it, then decided to just show a few sparks and glow at the feet. With 2-3 days for each illustration, it doesn't leave much time to tweak or refine the illustration.  (I just noticed the spear shaft needs to be much thicker).
When working with certain colors in RGB mode (especially saturated oranges, purples, reds, etc.) it becomes very important to do a "soft proof" in Photoshop to see if colors become muted or muddy when printed in CMYK.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-3)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.

(click on image to enlarge)

The remaining 300 men were those who drank from their hands and didn't kneel down.

My favorite part was painting the Mts. where I could use loose brushstrokes and not have to stay within any lines! It felt so therapeutic slapping down those colorful (digital) pigments. ;-)

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-2) – Gideon

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

9,700 of Gideon's men are sent home based on how they drink. 300 remain ...against 135,000.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-3) – Samson

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

I took a break from the Gideon lessons and illustrated the scene with Samson killing the young lion.

For the Samson photo references I used a tall brawny pro ice-hockey player from our church.  Our photo session was immediately before a game and I was concerned I'd injure him with all the contorted poses – killing a lion, grinding grain, and knocking temple pillars down.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-1)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture #1 from the second lesson on Gideon.
Gideon checking out the Midianite camp of 135,000 soldiers.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (3-6)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture #6 from the Gideon lesson.
Judges 6:28-31
Men of the town are angry about the alters being torn down in the night. Confronting Gideon's father, Joash responds, "If Baal really is a god, can't he defend himself?"

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (3-5)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture #5 from the Gideon lesson.
Judges 6:25-27
Gideon went at night with 10 servants to tear down his father's alter to Baal.  He then built an alter to God in it's place and offered a sacrifice to God.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (3-4)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture #4 from the Gideon lesson.
Judges 6:25-26
The Lord spoke to Gideon again that night, instructing him to tear down his father's alter to Baal.  He was then to build an alter to God in it's place and offer a sacrifice to God.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (3-3)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture #3 from the Gideon lesson.
Judges 6:11-24
Gideon prepares the meal and, as instructed, places it on a rock as they met under a terebinth tree.
...And we all know what a terebinth tree looks like, right?
[Google search to the rescue!]


Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (3-2)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture from lesson #3 – Gideon Learns to Be Bold for God.

Hiding out from the raiding Midianites, Gideon is threshing grain in a winepress when he gets an unexpected visitor.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland (July 2013)

I've included a selection of photos from a recent ministry trip to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland – July 1-16, 2013.

The primary purpose of the trip was to photograph the different CEF ministries in this region for use in promoting the work, recruitment, informing prayer partners, raising finances for projects and national workers, etc..  Our daughter Sarah joined me and was responsible for taking video footage that will be used for promotional materials.

click on image to view slide show

Judges lesson series (2-6)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture from lesson #2 on Deborah and Barak delivering Israel.

Excerpts from lesson:
"After the great victory Deborah received praise throughout Israel... 
Deborah was a good example to her people and God used her to deliver them!" 
... "That day Deborah, Barak and the people of Israel sang praises to God.  For 40 years there was peace in the land of Israel because Deborah was a good example for Him."

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (2-5)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture from lesson #2 on Deborah and Barak delivering Israel.
A heavy storm hits, causing the chariots to get stuck in mud.  General Sisera and his remaining army attempt to flee while being pursued by the Israelite army.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (2-4)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Deborah, Barak and the Israelite army see general Sisera's massive army approach in the distance.  The clouds are beginning to form...

It was a challenge trying to suggest a gazillion soldiers and chariots in the distance without actually drawing them.
It feels good to finish a picture right before heading home for the weekend.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (2-3)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture from lesson#2 on Deborah and Barak delivering Israel.  This is where Deborah is instructing Barak on how to defeat General Sisera and his large army.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (2-2)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Picture (2-2) from the lesson on Deborah and Barak delivering Israel.  This part is explaining where God showed His love for the people of Israel by sending Deborah to be a judge.  God gave Deborah special wisdom and understanding to know how to decide fairly when there were disagreements among the people.  She was a good example and helped them know what to do.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (3-1)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge) 

Picture from the lesson on Gideon showing Midianite tribesmen raiding the people of Israel during their harvest time.  I did research on camel racing to get an idea of how a running camel looked.  Awkward looking creatures!

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter X, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (1-2)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge) 

This is the second picture from lesson one, after Joshua died and the people stopped serving God.
The Bible lesson text tells how God sent His angel to talk to the Israelites, reminding them that He had brought them out of Egypt and into the land.  He had warned them not to be close friends with people who did not believe in Him.  God said, "You have not obeyed My voice.  Why have you done this?"  Because the Israelites had disobeyed, God told them He would not send the people out of the land.  They would cause trouble as long as the Israelites lived there.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter X, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (1-1)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.

(click on image to enlarge)

This is a picture from lesson one where Joshua in his old age is gathering the people of Israel together to remind them of all the good things God had done for them.

Print size: 24x34cm. Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter X, Wacom Cintiq 18SX.

Judges lesson series (2-1)

(click on image to enlarge)

Seems like yesterday when I began using our children as model references for illustrations (starting with Heather as baby Jesus in the manger).  Now I'm using Rebecca as an adult reference!

Being vertically challenged, I really need to use someone besides myself as a soldier reference because I kept redrawing General Sisera's raiding army so they didn't resemble a bunch of angry dwarfs and Hobbits.

My original idea was to create this same scene by moonlight with a range of blues and grays.  Then I wondered if a chariot would be crazy enough to fly through a street guided only by moonlight .  Easy to fix – I kept the light/shadows the same but turned the night scene into a morning/late afternoon scene.
Another change I would like to make is replace the spear in the hand of the foreground soldier with a sword ...but there are looming deadlines so on to the next illustration.

Illustrations are for a 6-part Bible lesson series on the book of Judges – Disobedience and Deliverance.  There are 36 total images with accompanying lesson text. Print size: 24x34cm. Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter X, Wacom Cintiq 18SX; preliminary sketches were done using ArtRage app for the iPad.

©2013