Tuesday, March 31, 2015

THIS IS JESUS....book review

J. Kirk Richards
1 Nephi 11:21 And the angel said unto me: "Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!"

So lately I have been searching for and collecting books about Jesus, especially books with pictures featuring the Nativity and the life, and death and resurrection of the Savior (typically called Easter) I checked out Amazon.com to see just how many books were available that featured the "truth" of the mission of Jesus and his Atoning sacrifice and gift to us. So far the scriptures give the most accurate reading. Most of the books I found feature an Easter Bunny, and other cartoon characters "offering" their own rendition of the "Easter" story, and sometimes if we are lucky, Jesus may make an appearance. 

 I am not condemning these books because they do serve their purpose. But are you looking for a really good book that will help you to define the "real meaning" of Easter or Resurrection Sunday? Here is a  simple but powerful book that shares the life and mission of Jesus Christ. "THIS IS JESUS" is a beautiful book that is composed of original art by the artist J. Kirk Richards and is narrated by scriptural accounts from the Bible. The cover of the book is a beautiful Gold and it is padded so that you can really enjoy the physical feel of this book. There are about 40 pages, with each art piece depicting defining moments in the life of the Savior, particularly in the final weeks and days before his crucifixion. The mood of the paintings are subdued  and emotional and somewhat  faded. But the message is the central focus and it comes out clear. I would recommend this for families as a family heirloom and also a  teaching aid, to help bring in the "Spirit of Easter"  You can find this book on Amazon.com and also Deseret Books.   
"The life of the Savior is portrayed in stunning fine art pieces by award-winning artist J. Kirk Richards. These striking new images were created by the artist exclusively for this book. Accompanied by a harmonized account of the Savior's ministry, Atonement, and Resurrection, these exquisite paintings reflect a deep reverence for Christs mission and sacrifice. Each page is beautifully designed to complement the unique style of the artist. A perfect reminder of the true reason we celebrate the Easter season, this handsome volume will be treasured by the entire family for years to come."

J. Kirk Richards
the artist
BIOGRAPHY
J. Kirk Richards is a favorite among admirers of contemporary spiritual artwork. His love of the textural, the poetic, and the mysterious has translated into a unique take on traditional Judeo-Christian themes.

Richards attributes much of his love for the arts to an early emphasis on musical training in his parents’ home. Turning then from music to visual arts, Kirk studied with painters Clayton Williams, Bruce Hixson Smith, Patrick Devonas, Hagen Haltern, Gary and Jennifer Barton, James Christensen, Wulf Barsch, Joe Ostraff, and others.

Two years in Rome influenced Richards’ palette, which often consists of subdued browns and rusts.
Kirk is best known for his contributions to the BYU Museum of Art exhibit Beholding Salvation: The Life of Christ in Word and Image; for his contributions to Helen Whitney's PBS Frontline Documentary entitled The Mormons: An American Experience; for the cover image of Jeffrey R. Holland’s book, Broken Things to Mend; and for his imagery on the cover of BYU Studies Magazine and in the Ensign, Liahona and Upper Room publications.

Kirk and his wife, Amy Tolk Richards, have four creative children. They split their time between their home in Woodland Hills and their country studio in the small town of Redmond, Utah.
Richards’ work is mostly found in private collections throughout the country.



In Reverence-David Tolk   featuring art by J. Kirk Richards

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