The Ultimate St. Patrick

This was the second doctrinal / devotional image I did with the XP-Pen digitizer, but the first to get stamped with the Draw Near logo. I water-marked this one, but later ones have the logo clearly visible. Artistically, I did a fair amount of shading. I still haven't made up my mind whether or not I like it like this, or more like later ones where the shading is simple 3 tone - base, shade, and highlights - with no blending. 

If you aren't familiar with the story the image is riffing on, it is said that the reason there aren't any snakes in Ireland is that Patrick, the "Apostle to Ireland," drove them all into the sea. St. Patrick is actually a fascinating character. He was born during the early 400's to a Roman family in Britan but was kidnapped as a teen and sold into slavery in Ireland. After six years he escaped, but returned to bring the gospel to the residents of Ireland. 

The reference here is that Christ is the real snake banisher, per Genesis 3:15. His heel is marred from the wounds of the cross, but the serpent's head is being crushed under his foot. 

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