Jonah

The “Book of Jonah” is a biblical volume that is full of narrative wonder and to my mind’s eye, one which creates the potential for dramatic and moving visual interpretations. It is a text that relays themes that are essential to the Christian faith and to The Bible. It gives evidence of the power of an almighty God who can summon a fierce storm at will and raise a miraculous “great fish” from the ocean depths. Yet, it is also a tale of God’s mercy and ability to deliver those in peril from the harms and threats that may befall them.

I took inspiration for my Jonah from many sources. From the master painters of the Renaissance to the illustrators of modern day children’s books, there have been many important and delightful artistic renderings of this text and I enjoyed studying them all. In my painting, the leviathan that God summoned attacks a ship while His storm rages around it. Jonah is cast overboard to meet his fate while those aboard honor God and pray for his mercy. While many have interpreted the story as making reference to a whale, I adopted a more literal approach and created the “great fish” that The Bible verses specifically reference. I hope you all enjoy this second addition to my Stories of the Bible Series, and I want to thank you all for sharing my adventure in art.

~Zachary Thomas Kinkade