How to Draw the Crucifixion
One of the most recognizable images in Christianity is that of Jesus on the cross. His Crucifixion, as the Christian bible teaches it, was carried out to pay for mankind's sins -- it is therefore regarded as indicative of his unconditional love for man. Though we have no definitive list of who was present at the Crucifixion, the Bible teaches that certain people were indeed there; the gospel of Matthew, for example, names Mary Magdalene. Using this information and looking at other common depictions of Jesus on the cross, you can draw your own version of this tale of sacrifice.
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Instructions
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Draw the cross first, as this is the centerpiece of the drawing and dictates the size. You may draw it large so as to include small details or draw it small so that you capture a larger sense of setting. Draw a simple cross of two crossed perpendicular lines. You do not necessarily need to use a ruler or follow exact measurements -- slight imperfections make the drawing more realistic, as the pieces of wood used for the cross were not likely sanded and polished. Using the lines you drew as center lines, draw two parallel lines on either side of each line. This makes the original line art, which looked like a lower-case "t," into what now looks like a block-letter lower-case "t." It is now thick enough to attach a figure.
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Draw a human figure on the cross before adding details. The figure on the cross has his arms spread out to either side with his hands nailed to the wood, with his feet nailed to the support beam below. The basic proportionate human figure is approximately eight heads tall -- this means that if you draw Jesus with a 1-inch head, the total figure should be 8 in. tall. The figure should be approximately two heads wide at the waist, though for this picture, it can be slightly narrower to reflect Jesus's gaunt frame at the time of the Crucifixion. As Jesus had been imprisoned and flagellated before the Crucifixion, his body should be skinny -- his arms and legs are thin and malnourished, not muscular or beefy looking. You may include ribs that are visible through the skin.
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Add details that are either unique to Jesus and his Crucifixion or otherwise commonly attributed to him. For example, he is typically depicted as naked but for a cloth wrapping around his pelvic area, as well as wearing a crown made of thorns wrapped around his forehead. He is also typically shown with dark, shoulder-length hair, a short beard and wounds on his torso.
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Populate the scene around the crucifix with onlookers. This is optional, as you may wish for Jesus to be the only human figure in this drawing. If you want to create a full scene, however, you may add in some of the people that, according to the Bible, were present, such as Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
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Tips & Warnings
Use reference images of the Crucifixion to see examples of how onlookers like Mary Magdalene may have been dressed.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
