A scene from an assembly at Missionsfest 2015, held at the Shaw Conference Centre, during a time of worship.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Missionsfest Alberta 2015
A scene from an assembly at Missionsfest 2015, held at the Shaw Conference Centre, during a time of worship.
Monday, February 16, 2015
a creative morning
It's Family Day in Alberta, and the kids create some collages with images from their current favourite "worlds"... those of Star Wars and My Little Pony. All I did was collect digital pictures and print them off. Unlike my own tendency to endlessly ruminate and deliberate and plan and agonize, the kids knew exactly what they wanted to do with the images and simply ran with their visions to create their spaceship story book and an Equestria Girls journal. I can't help but wonder how I can recover this uncluttered creative process again as an adult... Sunday, February 15, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
A weekend at Break Forth 2015
This year's Break Forth Conference took place at a new venue: the Northlands Expo Centre. This also meant a new format, in which there were no break-out classes, and all sessions took place in the same large hall, presenting plenty of opportunities for soaking in the worshipful atmosphere by sketching the crowds (and on a different level, to take on the challenge of drawing in dim lighting conditions).
Thursday, January 29, 2015
excavation: week 2
The second week of sketches of the excavation/construction site at MacEwan University...
Friday, January 23, 2015
excavation
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
fly forms
It's an unseasonably warm week... warm enough to entice me to sketch during the lunch hour. A short walk takes me to a new construction site (and potentially regular, ever-changing subject matter) at MacEwan University -- the new Centre for the Arts. Some sketches of fly forms stored at staging areas at the edge of the giant site in preparation for some concrete slabs begin what I hope is a series this week.
Monday, January 12, 2015
views from some windows
Monday, January 5, 2015
persimmons
I have been sick, confined to resting at home.
Drawing fruit is particularly soothing at such times, and I especially like sketching persimmons. These ones we bought recently do not have the glowing orange colours that make them especially appealing to paint, but the simplicity of the combination of a round smooth mass and a large, brittle remnant around the stalk make them great subject matter for a quick exercise to stay on one's toes. Friday, January 2, 2015
the hospital stay: part 4
During my daughter's stay at the hospital, I received a hand crafted Christmas card from a relative, a writer. Accompanying her beautiful lino-cut print was a note, part of which read: "What I do know about art, though, is that its practice is a form of devotion. And this act of devotion is deeply restorative. When I make these cards, I think of God..." I've had the privilege of experiencing just that this Christmas, and I am grateful.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
the hospital stay: part 3
By this time, the nauseousness had subsided but my daughter's appetite had not recovered, and some more IV lines were attached to the pump. Her pain still persisted. In fact, the most memorable moment of Christmas would be the experience of witnessing my daughter, usually stoic in the face of pain, writhing in agony for 3 hours after midnight in the dark hospital bed. The morphine had not helped. Tears streamed down her cheeks, legs kicked about, her body contorted as she repeated the words, "it hurts... it hurts... owe-ee! owe-ee!" And I will never forget the feeling of utter helplessness as my eyes met hers, her gaze desperately begging me to take the pain away. Without hesitation I would have, but all I could do was hold her hand and cry with her. Yet at the height of her misery she would plead, "daddy, pray for me!" She would be the one reminding me of the One who was journeying with us... and whose presence we were to be celebrating on Christmas day.
the hospital stay: part 2
Some of the sketches from our time leading up to Christmas day at the hospital... mostly a time of sleeping (thanks to morphine) interrupted by bouts of pain and nausea...
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
the hospital stay: part 1
The hospital allowed a parent to stay with their child, and
I ended up sleeping on a cot beside my daughter for nine nights (my wife took mainly
the day shifts with my son). I sketched my daughter regularly, as a way to fill
the hours, deal with my own anxiety, attempt to connect with my somewhat stoic daughter in some fashion, and (I think, in hindsight) pray for
healing and offer thanks… I ended up with over 60 drawings of her, in addition
to other miscellaneous scenes from the hospital.
Despite the circumstances of a child in agony, Christmas (and
most of the holidays) spent in a hospital room, lack of sleep, and general
stresses placed upon us, as parents we have come out of the situation with a
deep sense of gratitude… for my daughter’s bravery, resilience, and the chance to witness her strength
of character in a new light; for the nursing care and medical attention we received;
for the wonderful, warm support lavished upon us by friends, family, and
community of faith; for the many anonymous donors and volunteers that helped
put a smile on our children’s faces through their philanthropic work; for the
opportunity for our family to be united in prayer and slow down at a busy time;
for the memory of a unique Christmas to be remembered by us for decades to come; and the opportunity given to me by my daughter to share with her so intimately this journey of pain and healing. Rather than missing out on something this Christmas, we were enriched in ways not possible in any other way.
Friday, December 26, 2014
son
Twelve views of my son, watching videos... these were drawn over 2 nights just over a week ago, each not entirely capturing his full resemblance. A series of sketches of my daughter would follow immediately after under rather unexpected circumstances... to be posted soon!
Friday, December 12, 2014
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