Kenton J. Kutney

Also see slideshow progress:  Making 'The Empty Tomb' I spent the last part of Lent home alone, pensively working away at this watercolour painting of the empty tomb of Jesus, getting it ready for the dawn of Easter Sunday to be able to say with millions of believers around the world: He is Risen!   ...What an engaging, enriching experience. I had to force myself to stop and eat. Shaping each crevice of stone was a slow, deliberative meditation on the marvelous implications of Christ’s death and resurrection. In this process, I almost heard the echo of Jesus telling the religious leaders that if his followers were to silence their praises, the very stones would cry out (Luke 19:37-40). Then something quite strange happened. As I tilted the wet paper, the watercolours slowly ran down the rock layers like tear-stains and I felt a profound re-connection to the scripture about creation groaning with us in eager anticipation of all things being made new (Romans 8:22-23)

One of the inescapable things that haunts me at Easter is the question: If I were part of Jesus’ inner circle, could I have been Judas?  ...At Easter I have loved re-reading the book by author and playwright, Dorothy Sayers, ‘The Man Born To Be King’. (This is the perfect script for a movie!) One of the things she does is cast Judas as intelligent, the brightest in the group. Jesus did choose him as one of the 12, so there is good in him. He’s in charge of the finances. He’s calculating, a step ahead. This makes his betrayal even more of a heightened contrast.  If I was in the place of Judas, would I have so misunderstood what Jesus meant with his talk of the Kingdom that I’d betray him and turn over an innocent man -- perhaps to get the revolt against Roman oppression going?  How close am I really to Jesus? Do I try to force his hand? Do I assume too much? What will my true legacy be?  In the end, it turns out ALL of Jesus’ disciples scattered and fled. We all need the grace of God. P

I worked on two acrylic experiments with rich fall colours, inspired by a monochrome photo I saw somewhere online. I don’t know who took it, but it is an incredible perspective! To me it shows the brevity of our time on this earth, and the need for humility in our role as (good, hopefully!) stewards of creation. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;  the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.  But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—  with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.  ~ Psalm 103:15-18 'Portal' progress video clip

See below for the progress work done on my first tattoo commissioned by Tom Harbor. There are 7 symbols (Fish, Dove, Scripture, Pulpit, Chalice, Cross, Refining Fire)... make that 8 if you triangulate the Flames (Trinity)! Tom's New Tatoo