The Kings Radiant Return

The King's Radiant Return captures a moment charged with motion, purpose, and profound significance. At 48 by 48 inches, this oil and gold leaf painting brings to life the powerful image of Jesus's second coming—not as a distant myth, but as a vivid presence moving forward with clarity and strength. Number 100 of The 100 Faces of Jesus.

In this work, Jesus is depicted riding a white horse, mid-leap, muscles taut and hooves suspended above the ground. The horse’s dynamic posture speaks to unstoppable momentum, while Jesus’s calm, focused gaze anchors the scene in determined resolve. His flowing white robes do more than clothe him; they intertwine with the shimmering gold leaf background, blending flesh with light in a way that suggests both vulnerability and divine authority. The gold is not merely decorative but integral to the composition, wrapping the figure in an ethereal glow that vibrates with spiritual energy.

The backdrop merges warm golden hues with soft, smoky clouds, a contrast that evokes both the radiance of hope and the weight of impending transformation. This blend creates a space where the temporal and the eternal meet, bringing a sense of immediacy and reverence to the subject. It’s a depiction filled with tension and grace—motion and stillness balanced in a scene that is as much about the undeterred will to return as it is about the promise and care embedded in that return.

My intention with The King's Radiant Return was to move beyond literal representation and instead convey the emotional and spiritual weight of this pivotal moment. The choice to integrate gold leaf alongside oil paint was deliberate—a fusion that lends the image both richness and a sense of sacred dimension. This technique allowed me to explore the fluidity between physical reality and transcendent presence, emphasizing how light and form can carry meaning beyond the visible.

In creating this piece, I was drawn to the imagery not as a symbol of judgment or awe alone, but as an expression of care, protection, and principled conviction. The figure of Jesus here is both heroic and tender—commanding yet connected—embodying a leadership that moves with assurance and an enduring commitment to those he comes for. The horse’s leap is not just motion but an assertion of forward movement toward renewal and restoration.

The King’s Radiant Return invites viewers to hold space for this powerful intersection of authority and compassion, strength and gentle resolve. It serves as a visual reminder that true leadership embraces both grandeur and grace, that presence is as much about intention as it is about impact. Through this moment caught mid-flight, the artwork speaks quietly yet insistently about the profound care at the heart of coming home.