The Creation of Man and Woman
The Project
Most consider the Bible to either be an ancient literary tome or an informational how-to guide. The reality is both and neither of these things. For children brought up in religious settings, the confusion can be even more profound. But it doesn’t need to be. Children are easily taught various cultural mythologies as methodology by which humans made sense of the world and its processes. But this understanding of genre and poetics is often either overemphasized or not engaged at all. Presenting the biblical text in a balance of visual and literary genre forms, pulls on the high media literacy our young adults have, while bolstering their reading comprehension. Within our highly image-driven culture, we have come to take on small changes in illustration and format subconsciously, using them to determine the mode and manner in which we approach the content. By drawing on the material culture of the text, readers better retain the message and original intent.
Beginning with Genesis provides a solid base for future volumes and enters the tradition of Biblical art where there is a rich history for contrast and comparison. Finally, Genesis contains many elements of Christian metaphor, teaching, and illustration which have become foundational to much of Western culture, making it a point of interest for the religious and secular spheres.
Genesis 2:4 – 25
The Vision
Ultimately, my goal is to present the text in a way that inspires creative inquiry and ensures that a young person never needs to relearn or unlearn the text later in life. To do this effectively, we must first stop condescending to our young people. They are highly intelligent and more intellectually flexible than most of their adult counterparts. To respect this, we need to bring them up to the text and not “condense” the text for them.
Artistically, this means doing the social and anthropological historical research to match visual style to that of the text. For Origins, this translates to the highly stylized and symbolic reliefs of the ancient near east. Foundational artifacts like the Code of Hammurabi Stele, the Standard of Ur mosaic panels, and imposing Lamassu vestibule sculptures are key to setting the tone and setting for the illustrations.
Works in Progress
As any artist will tell you, you don’t show until the concept is fully realized. So I provide this gallery with much hesitation and many asterisks. These are the sketches, prints, and concept works that have begun the process of making this project a reality but should not be assumed to be the final work as I firmly believe in the process of the spiritual and artistic journey.
The Second Creation Story
Genesis 2:4 – 25
The Creation of Man and Woman
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.
Now no shrub of the field was yet on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person. The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God caused every tree to grow that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there as well. The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” And out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.
The man gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. Then the man said,
“At last this is bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called ‘woman,’
Because she was taken out of man.”
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.
The Roadmap
By pre-selling the artworks and books, patrons provide the resources needed to create the art with the scholarly, theological, and artistic care it warrants. Funding goes directly to art creation, materials, printing, research, and studio time.
Fall 2026 — Original paintings and fine art prints sale launch. Pre-orders open for CANON: Origins, Volume One.
Winter 2026 — Part II sale. Pre-orders for Special Edition and First Edition. Existing pre-orders may upgrade.
Spring 2027 — Final call for pre-orders. Print merch and bookmarks. BESPOKE gallery and release event.
Late 2027 — Final printing and patron fulfillment. Books and art shipped.
A Note of Gratitude
I recognize the faith being placed in me and this project with your support and cannot express my gratitude adequately. I feel strongly this is something that will encourage the education and spiritual formation of many and would be unable to make this a physical reality without your support.
— Kathleen