Genisis - Illuminated
As a personal project, I embarked on illustrating the book of Genesis as an illuminated manuscript. This endeavor has evolved into a cherished pastime, where I periodically revisit the intricate and powerful imagery of the text. The initial concept was to treat the first book of the Bible as a world-building exercise, visualizing the world through the eyes of the Jewish people of that time. The maps and diagrams detailing creation are a testament to this approach. Upon closer examination, it became apparent that the text itself has strong geographical undertones. Furthermore, the compositions I crafted are intended to establish parallels with the text, employing similar framing techniques to highlight various thematic connections such as garden imagery, the narrative echo from the fall in the Noah story, and the depiction of God's spirit as the animating essence throughout. The first and only full color image is that of Abraham, a story very dear to me, the rest are intended to be printed in black and white with gold leaf.