Ezra and Elijah Devotional Illustrations
Illustrations by Brian Weaver
Client: Bible Visuals International
Challenge
Bible Visuals International commissioned me to illustrate a devotional series on the book of Ezra and the story of Elijah. Each of their devotional books is targeted at families with multiple children at different age levels. Each devotional includes a full-page illustration along with a one-page lesson, and the illustration helps younger children stay engaged.
Concept Sketches
Because these are biblical illustrations, research and historical accuracy were important to establish the correct setting and details. Each illustration started with thumbnail sketching. This stage was important to find the best composition to depict each scene in a powerful yet understandable way.
Refined Drawings
The drawing stage is a crucial step which brings the thumbnail from a mere compositional idea to a refined rendering. This is where the small details are figured out so that during the final illustration phase, the focus can be on color, lighting, and rendering.
Final Illustrations
A limited color palette brought consistency to this series of illustrations containing varied subject matter, characters, and environments. Time of day was often a crucial factor in portraying the scene according to what the Bible describes.
