Theotokos

Theotokos
The Greek term for

"Mary: the one who gives birth to God"

watercolor, 8" x 11"

in my hardback art journal.

The paper in this art journal is not

for water media, and so it was 

difficult to get the shading

smooth as I would like.

The paper absorbs the water

and wrinkles. So my next art journal

will have heavier paper for mixed media.

Below, is the photo used as my model.

Color illustration from the book

Early Christian & Byzantine Art

by John Lowden, 1997.

In the illustration in the book, 

Mary's head is about one inch square,

so my version is greatly enlarged.

The actual original artwork is a mosaic in 

the apse of a large church,

St. Sophia in Istanbul, and the figures of the

mosaic are about 16 ft. 4 in. tall!
(Click on the image for enlarged view)

Since they are seen from far below,

however, they seem relatively small

to the viewer.(According to the

author of the book.) I found Mary's 

face and expression quite sweet, 

and was inspired to try creating

my own version.