Drawing Phanuel from Enoch
Imagining Phanuel from the Book of Enoch
I’d love to share with you all the illustration I completed of the angel Phanuel as described in ancient literature in the book of Enoch, which was said to have been written around the 2nd century BC. Although I have no idea how Phanuel may have appeared, I took some creative freedom to imagine just that. In Enoch Chapter 40, verse 9, the angel is described as “presiding over repentance and the hope of those who will inherit eternal life.” Although the book is often not considered a canonical text in the majority of Christian and Jewish groups, it’s intriguing that it seems in line with the Bible’s view on angels, as quoted in Hebrews 1:4: “Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” I find it plausible that there could be such an angel who has this type of ministerial charge.
The illustration
This illustration was completed with charcoal and graphite pencils on archival cotton paper. The open, inviting left hand portrays a sense of tenderness, which is contrasted with the sword in his right hand, which represents the authority given to him. The single light source for this drawing is coming from the top-left-hand side, which illuminates his highly reflective breastplate.
The foundational figure sketch was completed with a HB mechanical pencils. The darkest tones where achieved with dark, medium, and light charcoal pencils, and the softness and roundess of the musuclature was created using a gradation of 5H to 2B graphite pencils.
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