Happy Easter

Posted in: Illustration, Latest News and Art |

Happy Easter everyone.

Happy Easter Jesus with Easter Bunny

Click the image to enlarge.

UPDATE: 3/22/08-
Well, I guess this post is ranking pretty well in Google since it’s really the only post of mine that has garnered any real response from the blogoshpere. Thank all of you for commenting below. As an artist, it is highly gratifying to know that I’ve made people think, or feel emotion, or be moved one way or another. Some of you like this piece, some of you hate it, but everyone who’s commented has been moved somehow. That is what every artist strives to do with their work.

Thank you, and again, Happy Easter.
~C. Dowd

UPDATE 2: 3/22/08-
BTW, while you’re here, please take a moment to check out some of my other art on this blog, or in my official online portfolio. Thanks!

25 Responses to “Happy Easter”

  1. Sarah Says:

    The sad part is that the right half of the painting is the truth!!!….but our society wants to cover up the fact that Jesus died (FOR US!!!)Society wants to cover up something so real with fake, fluffy images of bunny rabbits to make us “feel better” because today, its all about us!!!….all about what makes US more comfortable. But I dont think Jesus was very comfortable on the cross, giving up his life in pain and agony to pay for the sins of you and I. Even if you don’t believe….the LEAST LEAST LEAST we can do as good people is to show Him the respect He deserves for what He went through!!!!!!!!

  2. C. Dowd Says:

    OMG somebody actually read my blog! Haha. Thanks Sarah.

    I am an atheist, but your point is valid, and it’s what I was going for in this piece. There is most definitely a hypocrisy behind the Easter Bunny, and Santa too for that matter.

    I have nothing against anyone personally who believes/worships Jesus, that’s fine. I have a problem with hypocrisy. If I was Jesus, I’d be pissed.

  3. lamar howell Says:

    My first impression was negative. Then I looked further. Simple but powerful point made
    Check out http://www.lamarhowell.wordpress.com
    leave a comment friend

  4. C. Dowd Says:

    Thanks Lamar. I’ve always found that it’s impossible to do a religious piece without offending someone.

    My family never went to church on Easter, or very much at all for that matter. As an adult, I’ve realized that without the religious angle, the “corporate Easter” is truly a worthless holiday. Just another excuse for Wal-Mart and Target to sell more chocolate.

  5. charlotte Says:

    Sarah,
    the easter bunny, and easter eggs are defiantly *not* a symbol of our selfishness. in fact, if we were to take an occasion and look at it that way, it would be the image of Jesus on the cross which would show how selfish we are.

    there is no proof of Jesus rising on the day we all know as easter Sunday. not a bit.
    the actual birth of easter to the date we all know and love was originally the pagan holiday celebrating the goddess Oestre (pronounced like easter, hence the name). when Christians were starting their conversion-campaign, they had trouble moving the pagans from their own set of holidays and beliefs. they figured that instead of having to get on a new schedule, it was easier to just stay in their own beliefs. the Christians realized that if they changed their own Christian holidays to the dates of major pagan holidays, then it would be easier to convert. (Christmas is actually the celebration of yule{yule log!!}}, its actually really cool.)
    not trying to start up an argument… just thought you’d ought to know that bit of information.

  6. C. Dowd Says:

    Hey charlotte. Thanks for the comment.

    You’re absolutely correct in your post, but to be fair to Sarah, I was referring to the Christian Easter, and not the pagan celebration of Oester.

    Either way, I have no idea why marshmallow peeps have anything to do with either holiday.

  7. Dave Says:

    I Like the drawing. Was just looking for some inspiration for artwork relating to easter. Shame there’s so much ‘religious’ stuff out there (tee hee).
    If I said I was the ‘second coming’ I think I would be certified as totally insane! I wander how long the ‘believers’ are prepared to wait for ‘him’ to show up again? Anyway, sorry for not being able to help myself on this matter but all I can say to the christians (I think no capital is required) is “Read something more interesting and factually based and your life could be enhanced. Science is so much more exciting and fulfilling!”
    Happy Easter
    Another atheist!

  8. C. Dowd Says:

    Thanks Dave. Glad to help inspire you. I’d love to see what you come up with. Stop back and drop a link if you’d like.

  9. Potionmaniac Says:

    Cool painting. :mrgreen:

  10. A. Caffee Says:

    I just couldn’t help but reply on the comment that Dave made on Jan.8th, I just ran into this site. Dave I would like to tell you that the Holy Bible has spoken of people like you that in the last days scoffers would ask? Where is the promise of His Coming back? So thank for helping fullfill prophesy, Your unbelief will usher in the Glory of his return sooner than You think.
    Since your into science, do some homework on Noah and the great flood.
    Noah kept telling people, and warning them, that God was going to flood the earth, well that generation of people kept right on scoffing at Noah and his family for obeying the Lord, He kept on building the ark in faith, telling people as He went along, until the day came when God said ok Noah its time to close the door, with his family inside along with the animals(to re-plenish the earth),the flood waters came,then the people who ridiculed and made fun, and chose not to believe began to beg noah to let them in, it was too late for that generation. So just ask yourself (sounds like you’re an intelligent person), ask yourself what if i’m wrong about notion there is no God,or about His Son Jesus Christ.

    Your friend in Christ, Alice

  11. Noemi Says:

    Wow! C Dowd.
    You most certainly made your point, my question is where do you draw your inspiration from? wait, don’t justify your answer I already Know! As a fellow believer in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; I was a bit appalled when I came across this image but it doesn’t surprise me at all. In fact I wish that this image along with the comments be posted to an even wider audience!(especially believers) Charlotte is absolutely correct! The Easter we have known is nothing more than a pagan selfish so called holiday that celebrates Oester not the rising of our Lord Jesus Christ, its not even the correct date! I pray more Christians would open their eyes and see that! Hipocrisy is the right word, than againg ignorance would be too! In the book of Hoseas, God told his own people “they perish because of the lack of knoledge” There is those who don’t know or chose not to know. Either way It is God and only He who reveals truth to them you don’t need to understand him, He IS! and yes Jesus second comming is that much closer thanks to people like Dave. Then dear atheis I commemorate your work in revealing this even to those who may chose not to accept truth. You have removed a veil from their eyes and while your at it go on and reveal what is so called Christmas & Halloween! Who knows perhaps you have helped a certain lagging christian to get serious, and even converted somebody to God!

  12. C. Dowd Says:

    Thanks Potionmaniac.

    A. Caffee, thanks for your comment! I wonder if Noah’s flood was caused by global warming…

    Noemi, thanks for the comment! I enjoy being able to draw pictures and make people feel something emotional.

    Those of you who like this piece, thanks. Those of you who hate it, well thanks to you too! The point of art is to cause you to feel emotion. Looks like I’ve done that with this piece.

  13. Cindy Says:

    You are a master at your craft, both in your writing and your art. I think you greatly accomplished your personal goal for this piece.

  14. gabby Says:

    this is an insulting picure. If you want to draw jesus that’s find but next to a bunny saying happy easter is wrong. you are obviously talented @ art and insults.

  15. C. Dowd Says:

    Gabby, thanks for the compliment. My intention with this piece is not to insult Jesus, but to point out the hypocrisy and commercialism of mainstream American culture.

    Chocolate bunnies and peeps have nothing to do with a man dieing on a crucifix, and then coming back from the dead. How eggs got involved is beyond me.

    I think that chocolate crucifixes are much more insulting, and prove my point exactly. Here’s an article about it- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7293926/
    Enjoy. :-)

  16. Wendy Says:

    This picture has great meaning. To many people, an yes adults not only childern don’t know the true meaning of why we celebrate Easter. Now I have noting againist the Easter Bunny, but the bunny wouldn’t be here if the man you also saw in the picture hadn’t done what he did. I wish everyone a Happy Easter and my God richly Bless You.

  17. Tim Says:

    I wasn’t insulted at the Easter rendering. In fact, it was what drew me to this blog. After hearing what the artist was trying to achieve, I left it at that. We “Christian” are so easily insulted and over the most ridiculous things. The Apostle Paul withstood many insults but through it all, he found joy in the knowledge that the message of Jesus was being proclaimed regardless of their motive.

    Since I’m here, I may as well address some issues that were brought up. The Old Testament is full of factual history. Year after year more and more discoveries are being made concerning the truths found it the Bible.

    Now, not everything in the Bible makes perfect sense. Not everything is explained. But God revealed just what He wanted us to know to help us along our journey upon this earth. There are some things we have to believe simply because it’s written in God’s Word. Since we know God is not a liar, His Word is truth. This is where faith comes in, because without faith it is impossible to please God.

    God chose the foolish things to confound the wise. He picked those that were rejected or forgotten. So do not feel bad if you don’t understand. Our ways are not His ways and our thoughts aren’t His thoughts. There’s only one way to understand God’s Word and that’s with the help of the Holy Spirit.

    There are facts concerning the rising of our Lord Jesus. The empty tomb is the first bit of proof. The second is that Jesus spent 40 days appearing, eating and drinking, as well as teaching His disciples before ascending to His Father. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit on and after the day of Pentecost is another proof. For if Jesus didn’t leave.. then the Holy Spirit couldn’t come.

    As each day passes we draw ever closer to the day when Christ returns. The disciples asked repeatedly what the signs of His coming would be and if you care to know the answers then read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. God is not slack as we consider slackness, but He is patient, caring that none should perish but all have eternal life.

    Yes, there is much hypocrisy in the world today but, even though I am a believer, I too have my own brand of hypocrisy to deal with. For each time I don’t honor God with all my heart, mind, body, and soul… I am guilty of it. However, it is because of God’s Grace that I am saved through the blood of the man you have depicted in your art. Jesus paid the price for me.. and for you, so that we might have eternal life. If you merely look at religion, it will let you down. It’s not about that, but rather it’s about having a relationship with the Living God and discovering who He is and how much He loves us.

    I thank you for this thread, even now God gets praise and glory as those who love Him testify of Him in this thread.

  18. ERIKA Says:

    THANKYOU FOR MAKEKING THAT POINT IS SO TRUTH IS NOT ABOUT THE BUNNY ITS ABOUT JESUS OUR SAVIOR LORD.

  19. Earl Says:

    Very Nice!
    Parents don’t set good examples today for their children by going to church.

  20. Harry Says:

    Yeshua and Easter has nothing to do with each other. Yeshua gave his life on Passover and not Easter.
    Therefore it is blasphemy to have Yeshua with an Easter bunny.
    So some respect.

  21. Joeyanna Says:

    “He was despised and rejected by all…a man of sorrows, a man of pain. …But he was wounded for our transgressions, and he was tortured for our inquities, and his chastisement has brought us healing, and by his scourging..we are made whole.

    May the Risen Lord touch you and heal your woundedness, Dowd.
    God bless you

  22. Jim Says:

    Thought I’d better leave a few notes in thanks, just dropped by to get a look at the awesome pic possibly post a link on my blog, but what really caught my eye were the sermons that you have received!

    I esp. like the one about Noah on February 26th, 2008! This story hits the nail on the head for the whole Christian way of life, simply put the story goes “believe in god, or suffer greatly” whether by floods in this instance or the promise of eternal damnation in the fires of hell!
    Persuasion tactics at their finest!

    Which brings me nicely on to the matter at hand ‘Easter’ well the original calibration of the resurrection of Christ (if we ignore it pagan roots as the church has done) is not really a cheery thing to celebrate, and well get the punters in to the kneeling holes, but the promise of a fury bunny bringing you CHOCOLET egg shaped treats now there you go lead on!

    Now I don’t have a problem with religious people or the beliefs I think everyone should be free to chose for themselves (as most Atheists do) I do however become angered when you get the whole sales pitch of ‘if you don’t follow the path then you will be smite’d form existence’ for saying no thanks I don’t believe in fairy tales!

    And it doesn’t stop there, they are TEACHING in schools that the bible as fact, milking it with tales of santa bringing gifts fluffy bunnies and rewards, but then telling the kids that evolution happed and dinosaurs roamed the earth billions of years ago?

    Lol sorry went off on one there; anyway as I said, thanks for the provoking keep up the good work!

  23. Jim Says:

    P.S forgot to say to all the god squad hitting this page, Bar (bah) Baaaar (bah) Sheep you call yourself and sheep you are!

  24. Pillage Idiot Says:

    Carnival of Maryland — 29th edition…

    Welcome to the biweekly Carnival of Maryland, which is a production of the Maryland Blogger Alliance, an eclectic group of Maryland bloggers. If you’re interested in joining us, check our FAQs at that link….

  25. Jamie Tobler Says:

    Great art! You can show emotion very well…and the rabbit looks pissed off:) I love it.
    Happy Easter

    -Sheep (bah)
    udecidetoday.wordpress.com

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