Studies for Easter Painting

This set of drawings is a brainstorm of studies for a painting I am going to be doing for my church's Easter morning service. I will be painting while our minister gives the message (he likes to call our sessions "Paint with the Preacher"). This is something that we have been doing for the past few years, not just for Easter, but for other occasions as well. The painting will be done on a approximately 4' x 6' canvas which I will probably stretch tomorrow. To prepare for Sunday I will do a few color studies on smaller canvases and work out any major design and painting technique problems. Our minister's sermons last from 20 - 30 minutes so that means I can waste no time with major problems (or even a lot of minor ones).
The painting will be based on the story of the road to Emmaus found in the Gospel of Luke.
















































































































The second to last design is pretty much the way the painting will be composed. The last drawing was done so I could better envision the painting in its true dimensions.
These drawings complete my 288 page sketchbook that I started in June 2009. I limited the book for only ink drawings. My next sketchbook I will limit to only drawing with pencil.