Scripture
Isaiah 53:5–7 (ESV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
AI Prompt
Modify the second image to add a crown of thorns to the sheep's head. The crown should be delicately placed, adding a significant symbolic element to the scene. The sheep, still calm and unresisting, now has this crown, creating a poignant and powerful contrast against the dark, dramatic background of the barn. The shadows and lighting remain the same, emphasizing the solemnity and depth of the moment. This addition should enhance the overall atmosphere of solemnity, anticipation, and profound symbolism within the rustic environment.
Process/Reflection
To get this image, I began by asking AI to generate an image of a sheep standing alone in the middle of a dark wood. While this aptly captured the isolation of the sheep, I wanted to try to bring in more of the context of Isaiah's vision of a sheep standing before its shearers. That led to a series of images of a sheep standing in the middle of a barn like environment with figures in overalls in the background. Not quite what I was going for. Then I began to think of how I might visually indicate the same idea without depicting literal sheep shearers. That's what led me to ask AI to place a crown of thorns on the head of the sheep. Not only did it give me that, but it gave me the above profile portrait (which I love). The earlier images had been more straight on and full body.
I'm finding that, from time to time, AI will sometimes give me these weird light blue color patches on certain image elements. When that happens (as it did here along one of the edges of the crown of thorns), I will take the image into Photoshop and fix it so that those don't appear.