The illustration I created is inspired by the concept of Christ as the Suffering King. It is deeply rooted in the powerful imagery found in Isaiah 52-53, often referred to as the "Suffering Servant" prophecies. In these chapters, the Messiah is depicted as one who endures immense suffering, not for His own sake, but to redeem humanity. Key verses such as Isaiah 53:3, "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering," and Isaiah 53:5, "pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities," were central in shaping the emotional depth of the piece. The artwork attempts to encapsulate Christ's sorrow, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph, embodying the paradox of the King who suffers for the salvation of His people.

The medium of oil pastels was a new exploration for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the process. The soft yet vibrant qualities of the pastels allowed me to bring a sense of tenderness and depth to the image, which I feel complements the sorrowful but redemptive theme. While the medium was an experiment for me, the artwork still strongly reflects my personal style, drawing on traditional iconography but with a contemporary twist. The use of complementary colors, particularly red and purple, was intentional to evoke both the suffering and royalty of Christ. Red signifies the blood shed for our sins, while purple is a symbol of both royalty and the suffering of Christ as the King who willingly bore our burdens. This work represents a fusion of tradition and innovation, aiming to communicate both the depth of Christ's sacrifice and His divine kingship.

Included below is a process video of myself making the piece.