Creation Illustrated
A fully illustrated Bible containing 450 pen-style illustrations drawn exclusively for this Bible during the last 4 years
The Bible concept that we call Creation Illustrated – the visual study Bible, is 2K’s most ambitious Bible concept so far. It is a fully illustrated Bible containing 450 pen-style illustrations. All are drawn exclusively for this Bible during the last 4 years by the creative and talented Latvian artist, Dina Danosa, whose interview is found below.
With Creation Illustrated, we wanted to make a Bible that is both eye-catching and inviting as a coffee table book, while also informative and edifying as a Bible product. We searched out all botanical plants, all non-mythical animals and 150 of the most important biblical characters. The botanical and zoological species native to the biblical regions and times were identified and were passed along to the illustrator, who virtuously drew all these wonders of the world – whether it is a Sycamore-fig, a seagull or a Son of Zebedee – in the same delicate, simple, yet evocative pen style. A custom typeface was also designed for this project to match and complement the pen style illustrations. The concept also contains English captions written for every illustration. Captions include a factual description of the plant, animal or person, while also providing a description of how each relates to the biblical world, as well as any symbolic or spiritual significance it conveys. The captions manuscript amounts to 50.000 words
This Bible is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of God’s creation. Relating the Word of God directly to the World of God as we know and inhabit it, we want to emphasise the connection between the biblical narrative and characters to the life story of its modern-day readers. The biblical stories are stories that have taken place in our world. This Bible allows us to look directly into the eyes of the beautiful Jewish Esther, who became Queen of Persia (see the front cover of this magazine). We might recognize ourself in the proud face of King David. Or in the anxious yet hopeful eyes of the young servant girl in Na’aman’s household. You almost feel the stinging pain from the touch of the leaves of the nettle. You almost hear the wind breeze in the large, majestic Cedar crown. You almost expect the sudden movement of one of the eyes of the otherwise entirely still-standing chameleon. You are almost surprised that the grasshopper has not yet utilized the incredible force of its hind legs and jumped away as you moved closer to its page in the book of Nahum.
The Creation Illustrated is not a study Bible that mainly speaks to the spiritual or conceptual side of things. Rather it is a very physical Bible. A real and realistic Bible. A Bible that speaks about the invisible Creator, by exhibiting and showcasing his very tangible and instantly relatable creation as we experience it today.
It is a great honour that Tyndale House Publishing will be publishing this concept in 2020 with the NLT translation, named “The Art of Life.”
Dina Danosa has been working on this project with us for more than 4 years. We asked her a few questions to get her own perspective on the drawings and the project in general. Her answers were given in Russian, but are presented here below in an English translation.
When did you know that you wanted to become an illustrator?
When I was a child I liked creating my own stories, I liked telling them to my younger sister, and I liked to add my own drawings to my stories. I think this is when my passion for illustration started. But I only started to learn illustration professionally about 5 years ago.
Please describe your education and other essential steps in reaching that goal.
My first Bachelor degree was in advertising design. But towards the end of my studies I understood that this wasn’t what I was passionate about. For several years my job was not artistic at all. But at some point I realized that I only feel in my own place when I draw. And I decided to study drawing and art professionally. First I graduated from Liepaja Art School, Faculty of Painting and Illustration (Liepājas Dizaina un Māklsas skola). It was then that I really began to think I wanted to be an illustrator.Then I enrolled in the Latvian Academy of Art and in 2018 I obtained a Bachelors degree in Graphic arts. Now I have started the first year of my Masters degree, so I’m still on my way.
What drawing techniques and tools did you choose for this task? What are their benefits and challenges?
In this project I used mostly Staedtler 0.1 and 0.5 rapidograph pens and sketching paper, very rarely ink. I like drawing with ink; it allows you to draw an extremely thin line; no rapidograph pen can do the same. But drawing with ink goes slower, as well as the risk of spills and having to start over. Rapidographs in this respect are more convenient and reliable. They are my favorite thing to use for drawing. I do all my sketches using rapidograph. The only drawback they have is that they finish too fast, and if I make a mistake it can’t be undone.
How do you manage to keep a consistent drawing style across 500 drawings – a process spanning several years?
It was hard to control. I learned, I changed, and my style changed with me. Your line changes with time; it’s natural for everyone. Well, at least if you’re not a robot. But I looked through my previous drawings regularly, so that I wouldn’t fall out of style at all.
What has this project meant to you personally? How has it affected your view on the Bible?
It was my first such lengthy project, and it is hard to believe that it is coming to an end. I learned a lot during this time, not only professionally but I also learned many new things along the way. It took me by surprise how many different plants and animals are mentioned in the Bible, and I could not imagine that there would be so many of them. This intrigued me. I was waiting impatiently for each new task to see where they appeared.
