More on the new comic I'm making

In order to give the comic a more religious vibe, I've decided to study the forms and linework of Eastern Orthodox icons which have a certain ethereal quality to them as well as a distinct artistic style unique to them.

An icon I've culled from the shallow waters of Google Images

The first (crappy) sketch.You can see some of my notes in the picture, it's pertaining to how the facial structure is off compared to the original.

Hatching is annoying. So... maximalist and perfect. It clashes very much with my impressionist influences.

I traced this over another drawing of Orthodox Jesus I made earlier (which I can't post cus I can't find it). Someone pointed out I drew the hair too big and it kinda looked like a turban.

Drew this with my fancy new brush, an Escoda if you can no doubt see. This too I traced from that lost sketch.

Starting by sketching Icon renditions of Jesus Christ feels appropriate before tackling Saul/Paul.

Not aping a painting here. All imagination. I've been reading about how Saul looks like and this is how my interpretation turned out.

I've also been thinking of offering the comic some fussy decorations much like the ones you'd find in illuminated manuscripts and other classical text. In modern times, you can point to Jean Giraud's illustrations/comics and some of Mike Mignola's earlier work for having similar design elements on the pages. 

See the little bumps on the near top of the page? There are better, more obvious examples of this in Arzach but I can't find them online.