Original Artwork by Glenda Gleave
“You Are My Hands”
After Christ’s resurrection, he remained on earth for 40 days. During this time, he strengthened faith, appeared to many and commissioned His followers to ‘make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” ( Matthew 28:19-20)
Spending a good portion of his time with His disciples, he taught them about the Kingdom of God, preparing them for their future missions. He also reconciled with Peter, reaffirming His love for him after Peter’s denial (John 21).
And finally, He lead His disciples to the Mount of Olives where He ascended to Heaven. This Classical, heart-felt painting of the Savior represents both the mortal and immortal Christ as he ascends, leaving His message, His very Gospel in their hands. Mortals are all He has ever had to do His work. And now, it is our turn……
WE Are His Hands.
CREATION OF THE PAINTING
I admit, to paint the Christ in a manner that exhibited both physical and character strength sufficient to endure the demands of Gethsemane and Calvary, was undaunting. I knew that no single model would fit that role, so I ‘borrowed’ the best characteristics from several. I wanted strong hands and arms, broad shoulders and chest which He would have had as a carpenter (1st century stone masons), muscular, yet lean, legs and feet (from His physical way of life…mostly walking). However, when it came to the face, I ended up replacing it 4 times. I needed it to be strong, yet merciful and forgiving. I needed it to be understanding of the mortal condition and compassionate. I knew the eyes would say a lot. After much prayer and drawing upon my years of scriptural study, this fourth face materialized under my brush. I could see this face raise Lazarus from the dead, interface with a foreign power while maintaining his dignity and clarity of mind. I could see this face heal the blind, bless little children, and calm the sea. I could also see him endure the Garden suffering, the injustices of a mock trial, the tortures and the culminating crucifixion. And I cried a lot while I painted for many reasons. Obviously, I thought of Him constantly ….and … I was recovering from a ski accident and the pain was often overwhelming. This was the only painting I worked on for the entire year I was healing……it felt like my offering…, my sacrifice. I cannot begin to express how my love of Jesus Christ has grown through this experience, along with a greater desire to be like Him.
“The Family of Joseph”
In my study, I am always impressed with the great women of the scriptures who go largely unrecognized. Asenath, the wife of Joseph in Egypt and mother of Ephraim and Manasseh, is one of those. Once converted to the God of Israel, she became a rock in her confiction and raised her boys as believers. Like their father, they were sterling men of God, who lead their tribe of Israel. Their legacy of faith continues to live in the current-day gathering.
Everything in this painting has been carefully authenticated for this time period in history, from the linen hand-made clothing the models wore, to the Abyssinian cats, and the colors in the room. Everything is also symbolic. The 75 hieroglyphs and picture carvings behind the figures tell the story of Pharaoh’s
dream,which Joseph interpreted through revelation. The viewer can also interpret them through the universal key.
The frame design was drawn out by hand then scanned and converted to computer code for CNC carvng before gold leafing and antiqueing. The names of each family member are carved into their cartouches and the bottom carving reads “Genesis 46:20,” which says it all.
Dimensions: 44″ x 54″
“Grandfather’s Legacy”
Most of us are here in this great land today because of the ancestors who came before us. They were people of courage and sacrifice who left all that was familiar to them; their homes, their language, their friends and even their families. Many ventured into the unfamiliar in search of religious freedom.
With them were brought the values and skills to bring purpose and self-reliance to their lives and the lives of their posterity. (depicted by all the tools in the background).
In this depiction of a multi-generational, 19th century family, the grandfather shares what is dearest to him….the Gospel of Christ through the stories of Jesus. He, as well as all grandparents through the ages, hopes that the new generation will begin to understand for what they sacrificed so much and why it is important to pass it on.
Dimensions: 49″ x 58″ oil on linen
“Ancestral Heritage”
The First People of the Americas made an impact on my life even before I was born. My Father, grew up on the frontier when the government first opened Northern Montana for homesteading at $1 an acre in the early 20th Century. Life was rough for these pioneers before WW1 and harder during the flu epidemic and then the Great Depression followed by WW2. Accidents were bound to happen with large families in this wilderness. My father, as an 11-year-old, was accidentally shot through the foot. Being too far from the nearest town, his brother gathered him up and on horseback they rode to the Blackfoot Reservation adjacent to their acreage. There they solicited the skill of the ‘medicine man’ to heal his foot. Fortunately, the bullet went all the way through and with expert knowledge of plants, he applied a poultice and sent home more ingredients with instructions on how to change and care for the wound. It healed perfectly. Another time a few years later, my father had his heels (calcaneus) cut off in a threshing machine. Again, the medicine man was petitioned for assistance and once again, the heels grew back without a stitch. So well was he healed that he passed the physical exam for men enlisting in WW2 a few years later. I feel a debt of gratitude to these proud and knowledgeable people who honor families…. whose ancestors existed for generations on this great land and who shared their skill for survival with my people, the relatively new comers, over 100 years ago to create within our family line an American Heritage.
“When Legends Were New”
Often my paintings are inspired from what I am currently reading. This painting was born after reading the Narnia books to my children. Just a whim to paint a Satyr or Faun, with one of my favorite models, into the world of fantasy. I wanted to compliment it differently with a round frame, almost as if it were a portal that would take the viewer into that realm.