Biblical Concept Art - Amalekite Soldiers

I haven't forgotten about this blog--I've just been sneaking around working on stuff, not feeling ready to reveal it all just yet.

This time around, I've taken a much slower pace. One reason is I'm not doing this for school, or even for a client, so I can slow down and make sure I do it right.

Outside of the realm of Nebuchadnezzar, you have to do a lot more detailed research. At the same time, I've been growing as an artist, as a Christian, and as a student of the Word, so I'm looking more intently at things I breezed past and missed before.

THE AMALEKITES

Continuing the recent trend, here is some concept art about another Gentile nation: the Amalekites.

The Amalekites are perhaps the most despised group of Canaanites, because they were the first to attack Israel. Every time the Bible mentions an Amalekite, that Amalekite is doing evil.

When God states that He will utterly destroy a nation, finding reference is quite literally impossible! So, you just have to make something up, and that's exactly what I did.

It seems weird depicting a nation that God set Himself so strongly against, but it is necessary to depict the stories they're in. In my mind, this nation, like so many others, serves the purpose of revealing something about the Israelites and about God in His dealing with them. He didn't want these guys left in the Promised Land to reek havoc and destruction on His people.

When think of the Amalekites, I think of my own sin. It is destructive like the Amalekites were, and I am foolish for not always viewing it that way.


However, when I see such a despicable and wicked people group, I also think of God's overpowering mercy. My Bible reads that the blood of Christ will ransom people from every tribe and tongue and nation (Rev. 5:9). "Every" includes the Amalekites.


One Amalekite, perhaps more--perhaps many, many, many more--will stand among the ransomed multitudes and forever worship the Lamb who's blood has secured their pardon...

...And perhaps inform me this design wasn't even close.

Bible Concept Art - Philistine Soldier

Here's a little concept art created from my ongoing Biblical animation project, which is still yet to be revealed. This is my concept for a generic Philistine soldier. Most of my inspiration came from depictions of Philistines on Egyptian reliefs.

I think it would be a lot of fun to animate this soldier. They seem like they would move and fight a lot like a typical Greek soldier. This soldier would also be carrying a spear, which, for whatever reason, wasn't depicted in this particular image (probably to showcase the sword design).

Philistines are an important people group to be familiar with to understand the events in the Old Testament. They were constant enemies, oppressors, and even seducers of Israel, and many men of faith rose up by faith to face them.

According to my research, they were also rather short. Well....most of them, anyway....but that is a story for another time...

Nebuchadnezzar Film Online!

Well, after all this time, you're finally going to get to see Nebuchadnezzar. I added the film to my website today. Check it out here: http://danielanimation.com/animations.html . Many thanks to all the people who helped with this project, and I look forward to whatever future Biblical animation projects the Lord has in mind to bring my way.

Enjoy the film, and check out the other new additions to this website.

New Website Online!

I'm pleased to report that my newly designed website is now online. The new address is the same as the old: http://danielanimation.com/. Check it out, let me know if you have any valuable feedback, and enjoy!

Nebuchadnezzar is not on the new website for its launch, but look for it in the not-to-distant future. The focus of this iteration of the website is to attract clients for freelance work, but I am continuing to work on Biblical animation in my spare time, and I even hope to eventually develop my business progressively more and more towards the place where I can do Biblical animation full time.

Thank you for sticking with this blog during the time when there's not a lot of new Biblical animation work being posted. As I mentioned in the previous post, that is soon to change. Look forward to this upcoming project. It takes my Biblical animation to a whole new level.

Hello, 2012!

It's a new year, and, as most new years go, its entrance is welcomed with promising possibilities of what this year may contain--what God may have in store for it. That makes me excited, are you excited about this upcoming year?

A few exciting things are emminent pertaining to this blog. One is that my personal website is currently undergoing a major overhaul, which will definitely be something you'll want to check out once it's ready to go online.

Another thing to look forward to is the project I've been quietly working on for several months but have yet to reveal one this blog. It is a Bible project, and it takes the experience I had working on my senior film Nebuchadnezzar along with the added proficiencies I've been working hard for since graduating from college. Be excited about this one.

Speaking of the Nebuchadnezzar film, when the newly re-designed website goes online, be sure to look through it--the film very well might be found there, most likely under the "Animation" tab.

Well, I hope that you are greeting this new year with much anticipation for the things that God has had in store for you in this year since the foundation of the world. I hope that you're also anticipating the process of discovering the many, many things He has in store for me through reading this blog.