Luke 02 - The Nativity - Cave

Posted 16 Nov 2009

Here’s my latest cartoon – based on the nativity story found in Luke’s gospel. I was looking at Google Earth & zooming around Bethlehem, Israel, when I came across the Church of the Nativity which is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks the birthplace of Jesus Christ. I remember reading in a commentary that the word which we translate into English as “stable” can mean cave. Based on this I decided to draw a cartoon of the Nativity, with Joseph & Mary sheltering in a hillside cave. I found a suitable vantage point, that would show the Dead Sea & enable me to draw a cave in the hillside. Just up the hill (0.2 miles away, in fact!) from the location I chose, is the church of the Nativity.

I drew the greyscale (tonal) version of the scene first, to make sure I could maximise the impact of the fireside scene. Then I added the warm, firey colours & all the cool, night blues & purples, & the shadows.

Here is the greyscale (tonal) version & the full colour version of the cartoon:

Luke 02 – Nativity SET01 – Scene 02 – Stable (Cave version) – greyscale

Luke 02 – Nativity SET01 – Scene 02 – Stable (Cave version)

Follow this link to see this Bible Cartoon on the BC Gallery page, with download & purchase options:
Bible Cartoon: Luke 02 – Nativity SET01 – Scene 02 – Stable (Cave version)

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