Lake Tiberias
I started by having my husband model the stance I had in mind, to get the details for the fabric folds and shadowing, etc.
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Here's my first sketch (11x17 in) working out details I wanted for profile, gaze and expression.
Then I created a larger sketch of the entire figure, emphasizing more detail on the wrist and hand holding the staff.
Acrylic on gessoed Birch Wood panel
5 ft x 3 ft x 2.5 in
After much online research into botanical corona, petals, sepals, tendrils, stamen and styles, I created a "paradise" of flowers and plants behind Him, as He gazes at the fishermen in their sailboat under the moonlight, with a full catch of fish heading their way...
Detail of flowers from the lower left corner.
And detail of flowers from the upper left corner.