Susanna In The Garden

16x24

mixed media on drawing paper

I call it Abstract Tribalism. This image was the first of it’s kind, which sparked the style of painting that I currently indulge in. I began by drawing with pencils and later added the thick bold outlines and color using markers, paint markers and colored pencils. The ink for the braided hair gives it a nice contrast. Emphasizing on the contour of the face was more important than the actual expressions, which I leave to the imagination of the viewers. You can tell a lot about a person based solely on the contour of the face, things like ethnicity, gender and age become pretty apparent. It was more important for me to establish the intricate pattern work and colors then to include realistic shading and rendering. This piece helped me to develop my own personal style, something that I can enjoy along with my audience.

“The History of Susanna”, is a harrowing account of a perfect woman’s faith, in the face of imminent death. Being falsely accused of adultery by two wicked judges consumed in their own lusts; Susanna is nearly publicly executed, until Daniel the Prophet intervenes.

The tale describes Susanna bathing in her husbands private garden, when the two judges see her and conspire with one another to force Susanna into having sex with them. When Susanna doesn’t consent, they attempt to blackmail her by saying that they have witnessed her committing adultery with a young man who has narrowly escaped their grasps. Being elders and judges in the land, the people believe their testimonies and sentence Susanna to death. Susanna then cries out to God vindicating herself in the presence of all the people. Daniel, who at this time is a young man, hears her and cries out to the people saying, “I am clear from the blood of this woman”. When the people hear this, they question Daniel’s intent. He explains to them that the woman is innocent, which commences the interrogation of the two judges.

Daniel separates the two elders and asks them one simple question, “Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, under what tree sawest thou them companying together?”--the first elder answers a mastick tree and the other answers a holm tree. The conflicting answers reveal to the people the lies which the elders have conjured. Ultimately Susanna is cleared of all charges and the two wicked elders are condemned to the very death that they intended for Susanna to undergo. The story is truly a testament of unwavering faith and persistence in the midst of adversity.