Painting St. Moses The Black:
The Holy Man With Attitude
by Kevin Pawlowski, Paradise Found Studio
When I first decided to paint Saint Moses the Black, I was captivated by the richness of his story—a narrative of redemption, strength, and spiritual transformation.
His life resonates deeply with themes of personal growth, the struggle against one's past, and the embracing of a higher calling. As I put brush to canvas, I aimed to capture the essence of this journey, and in doing so, I made deliberate artistic choices to mirror the man behind the legend.
From Outlaw to Saint: The Life of St. Moses
Saint Moses, also known as Moses the Ethiopian, was born in Egypt around 330 AD. His early life, however, was anything but saintly. He was a notorious gang leader, feared for his physical strength and aggressive ways. Moses had a towering presence, and his life as a criminal was marked by violence, theft, and intimidation.
One time, a barking dog stopped Moses from pulling off a robbery, so he swore he'd get revenge on the owner. On his second try, he swam across the Nile with a sword in his mouth, heading for the owner's hut. But the dog barked again, and the owner managed to hide. Frustrated, Moses stole four sheep, slaughtered them, and sold their fleece for wine. Later, while trying to escape the authorities, he ended up hiding with some monks in a desert colony near Alexandria called Scetis (now Wadi El Natrun).
But something remarkable happened—his life took a dramatic turn after seeking refuge at a monastery. It was there that Moses encountered a group of monks who would ultimately influence his transformation. Over time, he repented for his violent ways and embraced a life of humility, peace, and deep spirituality, becoming a monk himself and later, a priest.
It is this arc—from a life of sin to sainthood—that I wanted to bring to life in my painting. The arid landscape in the background represents both the wilderness where Moses spent much of his life and the spiritual dryness of his early years. But there’s also a setting sun—an indication that the darkness of his past is behind him, and a new day of enlightenment is dawning.
Saint Moses The Black oil painting portrait by Kevin Pawlowski
Icon of St. Moses The Black by By Fundación La Buena Noticia
Bringing St. Moses The Black’s Story to Canvas
In the painting, I chose to depict Saint Moses in simple brown robes, symbolic of the humility he embraced after his conversion.
His powerful form is unmistakable—his broad shoulders and large hands hint at the strength he once used for violence, now channeled into a force for good. I imagined this moment, this posture, as a testament to how Moses' inner transformation did not erase his physical might but rather redefined it.
The large clay jar in his hands, with water slowly leaking from a cracked hole, is central to the piece. This is not just an aesthetic element—it symbolizes the idea of human imperfection. One of my favorite stories about him involves a leaking jar. When fellow monks wanted to judge a brother who had sinned, Moses showed up carrying a jar full of holes, water streaming out. He said, "My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and today I come to judge the errors of another?"
Even as we strive for goodness, we are all vessels that leak, imperfect, yet still capable of holding and giving. For Moses, his past remained a part of him, but it didn’t prevent him from becoming a channel for God's grace. The water signifies that even broken vessels can serve a purpose, and our imperfections do not negate our ability to be transformed.
While painting, I aimed for a contemporary realism style, where the scene looks almost photographic from a distance but reveals a painterly texture when viewed up close. The heavy brushstrokes in the landscape and the figure’s robes allow for an interpretation that isn’t rigid, giving the viewer space to engage emotionally rather than just visually. Yet, I focused on details in the face, jar, and flowing water, which ground the painting in realism.
The stern expression on Saint Moses’ face reflects the seriousness with which he took his new life. He wasn’t a saint who smiled gently; he was a man who fought his demons with the same strength he once used in battle. I hoped to convey an expression that says, "I've seen some things."
In this painting, I wanted to bring forth the duality of Saint Moses the Black: a man of immense physical power who found even greater spiritual strength. His story speaks to the possibility of change, of becoming something new without erasing who we were. And just like the cracked jar he holds, he reminds us that our brokenness does not prevent us from being vessels of grace.
Underpainting
Addition of hair & robes
Background landscape
Completed painting
Details from my St. Moses The Black portrait.
The Man, The Myth, The Attitude
For many years, Moses lived in peace with his fellow monks. But his past caught up with him when a band of thieves—much like the ones he used to lead—descended upon the monastery. It was a moment that tested everything he had become.
Moses was warned in advance about the impending attack. The monks urged him to flee, knowing he was once a formidable fighter and could easily defend himself or escape. But Moses refused. He had made a vow of non-violence and was unwilling to abandon his commitment, even in the face of certain death.
Instead, he told his brothers to leave, saying, "Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. As for me, I have lived by peace, and by peace I will die."
Moses stood his ground. He did not fight back when the bandits arrived. They attacked and killed him, but in his final moments, he demonstrated the ultimate act of forgiveness and peace—values he had come to embody.
In dying as he lived, Moses showed that true transformation is not about who we were in the past, but about the choices we make every day. His death was not a tragedy but a powerful reflection of the life he chose to lead. It was a final testament to his strength of character, faith, and the belief that peace and forgiveness could overcome even the darkest parts of human nature.
St. Moses The Black is a testament to the power of redemption and the idea that no one is beyond change. Painting him wasn't just about depicting a saint; it was about celebrating a man who owned his past and used it to inspire others. He's a holy man with attitude, and that's exactly how I wanted him to come across on the canvas.
I hope this piece invites you to reflect on your own journey, on the cracks that may leak but also hold something valuable.
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