David was abandoned, neglected and rejected as a child and forced to live in the wilderness from little up. He made his own harp from animal skins. He placed the  extra chords on each harp ever after and was not only a gifted musician, he truly did play a secret chord, and through it all he lived to please God, and loved Him from a deeper place, one so intense that there are few then or now that can live at the depth of emotion, that should be the end of the story but as true as that is, history indicates that he was also a blood thirsty murderer and rapist who was known to do whatever it took to satisfy his mission. Given that suffice it to say he was not a "nice" man. God saw that in him and though he loved David, he forbid him to build the first temple...David's consuming dream, because his hands were to blood stained the dream would be given up to his son (Soloman). Along with this the sword would never depart from his house. This does not add up to a hero I know, but it is David's reaction to all of this that deepens not only my respect but also my hope. David sang praise to the Lord, he did so when he lost his wives, children and finally his life long dream. If David is in heaven today,(and I believe he is) it is not anything he did, or didn't do. No it is solely because he was so loved by God, and in turn he so loved th Lord. He knew who and what he was, and understood he was powerless in the face of his sin. That gives me so much hope because though I am not a murderer or a rapist ect, like David I too am laid powerless in the face of my sin and have only one hope of salvation...the Lord.

David physical description is as follows: a comely man, deep and wide set eyes. Strong and angular face and square chin. His most defining feature was his red hair that was described by Nathan as shining copper flowing aflame in the winds of battle. His body bore many a scar with only added depth to his appearance. 

I wanted to capture the moment when he lost his dream, the impact of that moment and the acceptance there of. And certainly wanted to capture a hint of the scarring he carried through his life, scarring of both the body and the spirit. It is with this in mind that I choose to do the portrait in oil and cold wax medium.