Samson and Delilah

Pencil on Paper

In this biblical scene taken from the Old Testament Samson while in an amorous embrace with Delilah discloses that his strength comes from his hair. She betrays his trust by cutting his hair while he is sleeping. He awakens to find his beloved Delilah in the arms of another man and is powerless to stop her from casting her charms on yet another unsuspecting person.

David vs Goliath

In this famous biblical scene David is called upon to fight the giant Philistine Goliath. He does so by relying on his faith to overcome what seemed to be impossible odds. He slays the giant by cutting off his head using the giant’s own sword.

We are reminded by this story that faith can overcome our fear and even when we face the darkest moments of our life we remain hopeful knowing that our God is there to fight our battles and reward us with a place in his heavenly kingdom.

No. 2 Graphite Pencil on Strathmore drawing paper. 18″ x 24″ Unframed

Daniel in the Lion’s Den

Oil on Canvas. 9′ x 40″ Framed

King Darius of Babylon issue a law in which his subjects could only worship the king.

In this classic battle between good and evil Daniel has been forced to decide between praying to his God or face death in the lion’s den. After refusing to give up his faith Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den.

In my interpretation of this dramatic biblical scene Daniel has been stripped of all his earthly possessions and faces the lions arms outstretched in prayer. The expressions on the faces of the lions represent mankind and their response to faith. Some are timmed about their faith. Some simply prefer to stay silent on issues of faith.

The snake and the white flower illustrate the presence of good and evil when we make conscious decisions regarding faith. The rat on the ledge is the devil waiting to devour the bones of those who have made the conscious decision to follow evil.

The Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

The First Luminous Mystery: The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan

The Baptism of the Jesus represents to me the importance Jesus placed on this sacrament and its relevance in the economy of salvation. It should remind us all that our supreme example of sacramental life can be traced to the actions of Jesus Christ, truly the visible sign of the invisible presence of the Holy Sprit working in our life.

The Second Luminous Mystery: The Wedding at Cana

The Wedding at Cana is mentioned in the Bible as the first recorded miracle of Jesus. Most likely Jesus chose the setting of a wedding to illustrate the importance of that sacrament. Mary would have seen her son grow in the wisdom and knowledge of his divine nature and would have probably used this moment to gently encourage his ministry.

The Third Luminous Mystery: The Proclamation of the Kingdom

The Proclamation of the Kingdom illustrates for me the importance of professing our faith and evangelization. As members of the Body of Christ we are called like Jesus to proclaim the kingdom of God to everyone we encounter on our journey. We are specifically called to use the gifts and talents we have been given for that purpose.

The Fourth Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration

The Transfiguration symbolized to me the power and presence of the divine nature of Jesus. In an instant Jesus is transformed from his human appearance to that of his divine appearance. This wonderful acknowledgement of the divine nature of Jesus helps us to contemplate the immortality of our divine nature in relationship to our human existence.

The Fifth Luminous Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist

The Institution of the Eucharist for me remains us of the most significant moments in the ministry of Jesus. We now have the real presence of the Lord as we celebrate the memorial of his life and death. We wait for the glorious resurrection where we will be united with the entire communion of saints and come face to face with Jesus at the table the Lord has set for those who love him.

(Unframed/Part of one contiguous drawing of all 5 Luminus Mysteries of the Rosary)

Cain and Abel

The first children of Adam and Eve, born after the Fall of Man. Once, when they were grown men, both Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God. When Cain saw that Abel’s pleased God whereas his did not, Cain murdered his brother out of jealousy.

In this story we see the result of sin and judgement. God confronts Cain about murdering his brother. Cain lies about it. And God exiles him to the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Adoration of the Maji

Pencil on Strathmore Drawing Paper

The Adoration of the Maji represents for me the importance of always giving thanks to the Lord for the gifts we have been given. It inspires me to maximize my talents as I bring the gift of my artistic ability to the Lord.

This is the moment that forever changed the world and our understanding of what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God.

May you be inspired by this holy moment in time as well.

Deacon Louis<><

The Elevation of the Cross

  • Pencil sketch on Canvas

I was inspired to paint this painting of The Elevation of the Cross because this moment in the New Testament illustrated for me what our final minutes of life will be like. Like Christ we will be attended by many people that will have a hand in, or simply be witness to our death. They may never have known us during our life or even had encounters with us until that very moment.

This painting is rich in many areas of symbolism that offer great insight into the impending death of Christ. The dog at the foot of Jesus, the Roman soldiers, the friends of Jesus, the laborers all have their place at this moment in time.

May you be inspired by this moving moment in time.

The Good Samaritan: Pencil Sketch and Final Painting

This painting of the Good Samaritan represents for me that we are all called to be a good Samaritans to everyone we meet. While the Good Samaritan found this victim in the desert we are challenged to find the person in need that is in our midst so they too may drink from the cup of living water.

This painting has been donated to the San Jose Clinic of Houston and was auctioned at the Heart for Art Gala on March 05, 2011 to provide medical resources to the uninsured of our city. I was honored to be the featured artist.

For a print of this original design please contact Louis Provenzano at proagency@gmail.com or call me at 713.478-9421.

56″ x 68″  (Framed)

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary

The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Agony in the Garden

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:36-46)

The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar

Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again, and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find no crime in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God.” (John 19:1-7)

The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:27-31)

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross

And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.  As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. (Matthew 27:31-33)

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion and Death

There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ”  Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfil the scripture,

“They parted my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:18-30).