Long hot Walk to Calvary

"Long Walk to Calvary" is more a watercolor sketch than a "painting," I guess. The goal of this exercise was a limited palette (the colors used) and working quickly. After finishing my initial sketch, I began by suggesting the wall behind and the steps up and out of the city to Calvary.
Moving then to the Roman soldier, I first "masked" (using drawing gum to block paint from reaching paper) the rivets of his armor. I then began rendering this soldier using quick, suggestive strokes and then coming back after it was dry to add shadows and detail. I then removed the masking and detailed the shadows of the rivets and reflections in his shoulder armor. As an afterthought, I added the "cat-of-nine-tails" of leather with metal barbs used in the scourging.
In rendering Jesus, I attempted to show Christ bearing His wounds (from scourging and the "crown of thorns") and the burden of His cross as He mounted the stairs on His long walk to Calvary.
"Long Walk to Calvary" is an 8 x 10" image on hot 9 x 12" Arches fine grain, cold pressed, 140 lb watercolor paper.