The Meaning
“Out of the Darkness” was done while living on an organic chicken farm right off of Longview Lake, Missouri. I was out in the country, away from the tumultous time I had at the ministry community that I attended for two years. Many of my personal issues were coming out at this time.
I tried to reach out for help, only to find myself rejected and cast out from the community. Despite the lack of friendships, and many vicious attacks from those in the community, I still sought out the truth about the issues that were coming out of me.
The Spirit Reveals
On the bottom left is the spirit coming out of me revealing the truth about issues I’ve had since childhood.
Temptation
Above me is a ghoul tempting me with a poison apple, trying pull me away from dealing with the reality of my issues.
My Family Tree
There is a snake, bat, and demons coming out from the bottom that seems impossible for me to escape from. There is also a tree of death with skulls on it’s branches revealing where I come from in my fallen family tree, along with all the faces of death that I experienced in my life. There is an owl flying at me to remind me of all the darkness I have been in my whole life and is trying to deflect me from the light that I see shining down on me.
Revealing the Way
As I continue to look towards the light, there is an angel throwing a rose at me to express the beauty of a better relationship and future with God. There is a larger smiling angel right above him showing me the direction I am going towards heaven, shown inside a crystal ball.
Infinite Battle
Up above there are demons fighting heavenly angels coming out of a tornado revealing the infinite battle for human souls. There is a prophetess in purple with a cloud of rain revealing the stormy weather of life ahead of me.
Willing to Fight
To the upper right of the prophetess is a firey angel coming out a grave with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Above this angel is another with a flaming sword revealing that God is willing to fight for my soul to the point of death.
Revealing God’s Compassion
Above the warrior angel is a crying eye with fire inside of it revealing God’s compassionate love for me on my journey toward Him.
On the other side of the beam of light, from the upper right hand corner, is the red bloody cross of Christ with living water flowing from it’s center. There is a worship angel behind the clouds looking up in awe at the cross of redemption for humanity.
Eternal Worship
Beneath the angel with the crystal ball, there is a worship band in heaven playing music to usher in the future redeemed of Christ.
This painting is closely related to “Sacred Heart/Beast in the Way” and “Ancient Mystic.”
The Process
Most of this painting was not sketched beforehand. The only part that was, was my character in the bottom left hand corner, the ghoul, and the outline of the beam of light that goes up to the eye of God. The rest of it was painted free-style and most colors were blended in with the black background, which I thought created an interesting effect.
I really began to understand how to contrast primary colors and blend them with a black background. I love how the cadmium yellow hue contrasted the black background and how the blue also added to the contrast of a darker background, which seemed to create a different spiritual effect.