Biblical and symbolic paintings require different procedures than impressionist paintings. Impressionist paintings are seen in their entirety in nature, and artists attempt to accurately portray what they see before them. Biblical, symbolic paintings cannot be seen or set up in their entirety in nature. The first task is to jot down the conception. This search for a suitable pictorial expression is usually done on a small scale, without the use of models. Once the idea has been conceptualized the artist must make separate studies from nature to accumulate enough information to proceed to the full scale planning stage of the painting.

It is important to understand that this work needs to be realized in very concrete terms. It is not simply done from imagination. A great deal of specialized and highly skilled effort goes into this realization. The gesture of each figure must be established in relation to its own action and the action or reaction of those around it. Once the gestures have been decided upon, finished studies of the figures are executed. Such figure studies are often done nude to better understand the anatomy and construction of the form. Separate studies are sometimes necessary for heads and hands. Clothing is generally added later, from nature or from additional studies.

If necessary, studies for the environment such as landscape or architecture must be made. Often props need to be gathered or manufactured. Finally, the studies are assembled and combined into a cartoon or full-scale drawing of the entire work. Color studies of the whole or of individual parts can then be made and the artist proceeds with the actual painting. Some of the artist’s preparatory drawings, studies and cartoons are reproduced with the works below.

	Stephen Gjertson, Peace, Be Still, 1996 Oil on canvas, 32 x 56 Collection of the Newington-Cropsey Foundation		Stephen Gjertson, Peace, Be Still, 1997 Oil on canvas, 59 x 103 Collection of Saint John’s Lutheran Church Mound, Minnesota
	Stephen Gjertson, The Hem of His Garment, 2001 Oil on canvas, 44 x 50 Collection of James and Claire Totten		Stephen Gjertson, The Hem of His Garment, 2001 Oil on panel, 28 5/8 x 20 1/2 Collection of Robert and Roseann Pistella
	Stephen Gjertson, So He Drove the Man Out, 1982 Oil on paper mounted to board, 47 x 28 Collection of Lynn and Jill Marx		Stephen Gjertson, Maranatha!, 1987. Christ reworked in 2002 Oil on paper mounted to board, 40 x 67 Collection of Galen and Connie Carlson
	Stephen Gjertson, The Prayer of Daniel the Prophet, 1998 Oil on canvas, 28 3/4 x 59 3/8 Collection of the artist		Stephen Gjertson, Separation, Reconciliation, Adoration, 1985-86 Oil on canvas mounted to panel, 13′ x 13′ Collection of Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN
	Stephen Gjertson, Rachel Weeping for Her Children, 1991 Oil on canvas, 65 x 36		Stephen Gjertson, Behold the Lamb of God, 1993 Oil on canvas, 54 x 36
	Stephen Gjertson, Prayer, 2001 Oil on canvas, 48 x 38 Collection of John and Mary Connerton		Stephen Gjertson, Metanoia, 1994 Oil on canvas, 84 x 50
	Stephen Gjertson, The Lost Parable, 2000 Oil on canvas, 56 x 44 Collection of Susan and Eugene O’Brien		Stephen Gjertson, Sancta Puella (The Young Saint), 2001 Oil on canvas, 36 x 26 Collection of Steve and Gail Armes
	Stephen Gjertson, The Folly of Samson, 2005 Oil on canvas, 46 x 66