JESUS LOOKING AT YOU

“Jesus Looking at You” is my second painting featuring the same cherished family models as in “Jesus Looking to the Future.” This time, I wanted Jesus to gaze directly at the viewer—creating that captivating effect where, no matter where you stand in the room, His eyes seem to follow you with gentle, knowing compassion.

My niece Elisabeth posed once again as Mary, tenderly cradling her own daughter Rachel Rose as the infant Jesus. To give Him an authentically Jewish appearance from first-century Judea, I painted His hair dark and curly instead of Rachel’s straight, light golden locks. The biggest challenge came from Elisabeth’s youngest daughter, Savannah, who refused to let go of her mommy during the photo session—her little arms outstretched, pleading to be picked up! I photographed anyway and later imagined Mary’s flowing robe around where Savannah stood.

Mary’s loving gaze remains fixed on her Son, but the true focus is Jesus Himself: positioned at the Golden Mean for perfect balance, with the brightest highlights drawing the eye straight to Him. Researching first-century infant attire yielded little concrete detail—ancient Jewish babies were typically wrapped in long swaddling bands (strips of cloth, often linen, to secure and comfort them)—so I used artistic imagination to depict a simple, wrapped cloth diaper that feels historically plausible.

This painting is executed on untempered Masonite board covered with fine Belgian linen and prepared with five coats of Renaissance marble gesso. The back is reinforced with oak strips for stability. It begins with a verdaccio (grey-green, ten-value) underpainting.

Sealed with a special oil medium and, after a full year of drying, protected by five coats of damar varnish, this work is crafted to endure for centuries with proper care—kept away from direct sunlight.