Dante's Inferno: 5 Paintings Down, 35 to Go

As some of you may already know, I’ve chosen to paint 40 panels at 4ft x 5ft with the intent of displaying them together in the most comprehensive and realistic depiction of Dante's Inferno to date. I want these images to take on an almost life-sized presence to draw us in body and soul to the world Dante Alighieri created in his Divine Comedy almost 700 years ago. Because this tremendous undertaking requires vast knowledge on the subject of the Divine Comedy to render accurately, I began immediately searching for the most well-known expert. I was thrilled when Professor Christopher Kleinhenz, a world-renowned Dante scholar agreed to assist me in the creation of this series. For the next few years, we will be working together in the pursuit to create the most accurate visual depiction of the poem. You can see the progress on my blog at this link. The completion of these paintings will then culminate in a traveling museum exhibition and a large, full-color painting book on the subject narrated by Professor Kleinhenz. The goal for the projects is set for 2021 – the 700th Anniversary of Dante’s death.

TWO WAYS TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR

1. Since I began working on this epic Dante's Inferno series, I have been approached by several private collectors who have made large contributions to the project. This has not only helped me to get the project off to a good start but it has helped to offset the expenses of materials, model fees, and most importantly the time I need to create this project and sustain my family during the process.  If you would like to make a financial contribution to the project, click here for more information. Thank you.
2. Patreon - The most challenging dilemma for me is how do I engage in a project this large without it disrupting my life. Sadly, the answer is that there is no way for it not to. In the last year, I was forced to take on a lot of commission work in order to keep my family supported while I was also working on this project. The result? I was only able to complete less than 5 of my projected total of 12 each year. If I do not find other ways to support this project, it may not be completed in time for the 700the anniversary in 2021. This is why I've decided to start a Patreon account. Your monthly support, no matter what level, will enable me to see this project to the end, and grow a larger audience, which will only secure the success of the published book and the notoriety of the series.