Sunnyside Camp 2015: part 2

Some notes/sketches from the ten sessions throughout the week at our yearly Bible camp. This year's speaker, a guest from Ontario (and coincidentally, a family acquaintance from close to 25 years ago), spoke on the beatitudes, taking us through a contemplative, encouraging, and revealing journey through each of the verses session by session, framing the familiar words around the notion that the beatitudes act as our guide towards becoming transformed into the likeness of Christ.

a trip to BC: part 2

 Some sketches from 2 days in Nanaimo, BC:

1. a view from the hotel in downtown Nanaimo;

2. during the short boat ride to Newcastle Island, where we hiked along the rocky shoreline, exploring tidal pools and disturbed lots of small crabs lurking beneath the stones;

3/4. two sketches of a great eatery, "2 Chefs Affair" (We ended up eating there 3 times, making a point to visit on the journey back... the best eggs Benedict and French toast we've ever had!);

5. a wonderful fish and chips lunch on the docks.

Sunnyside Camp 2015: part 1

Our summer vacation consisted of two parts: the first week, a drive to Vancouver Island; the second week, our annual participation at a family Bible camp closer to home.

Once again this year, I had the great privilege of running a 3 day (3 hour) series of sessions on outdoor sketching, and enjoyed the opportunity to engage with a variety of people through what I believe is a wonderful way to "meet with" God.

These sketches are from the first full day at the camp, during some free time, scouting out and "testing" subject matter found at the retreat centre grounds, in preparation for the sessions. The first of these I used as a poster to entice campers to sign up...

a trip to BC: part 1

Our summer vacation consisted of two parts: the first week, a drive to Vancouver Island; the second week, our annual participation at a family Bible camp closer to home. I've decided to post sketches from both weeks in tandem, one day after the other... today is part one of the first week, from the journey across the Georgia Strait to Nanaimo: the 1 hour wait to board the ferry with our vehicle at Horseshoe Bay, and some (impossible) sketches on the very windy deck on a beautiful, mid-summer afternoon. 

As I have mentioned elsewhere, although it took a good ten years, after living a few years in British Columbia I have come to love Alberta . But I must say the smell of the ocean breeze and the sight of rugged mountains reaching the coastline awakens something in my Japanese soul... 

firewood bark

 Two sketches on bark from some firewood, while gathered around a campfire singing...

construction cranes

 Two construction cranes... it's rare to get this vantage point from so close.

in the woods

A series of sketches in the woods from a weekend group camp-out at Wabamun Lake Provincial Park. 

Canada Day

 Two quick sketches while waiting for coffee, at the Canada Day festivities at Churchill Square.

Every Day in June: part 3

Last of the month of June... 

23. Rain

24. In the can  (done last week)

25. Sweet

26. Night lights

27. Something you collect

28. Spit shine

29. Vacation

30. Religious icons/imagery

a rainy morning... downtown university and arena construction view

sweet dreams...

night lights... 11pm

collecting memories... summer market and FIFA match

planning vacations...

The bread, broken for us; the blood, shed for us.  A forged iron cross.

Every Day in June: part 2

Part 2 of Every Day in June... 

(I've skipped a few days this month... it's been a busy month. )

12. Gated/shuttered

13. Tools

14. Dinnertime

15. Like Van Gogh

16. Help!

17. Transportation

18. Sanctuary

19. Fashion

20. Nursery rhyme

21. Animal(s)/pet(s)

22. Sporting

23. Rain

24. In the can

irises... like Van Gogh

transportation...

home as sanctuary

fashion (?)

"in the can"... broken glass

horses at an acreage

sporting... baseball gloves

Every Day in June: part 1

As it turns out, there's another Facebook group called "Every Day in June". There is a subject each day, much in the same way as Every Day in May, but this month's topics generally seem more playful. I haven't managed to post every day, but here's the first eleven (really nine).

1. a selfie
2. shell games
3. music
4. be seated
5. in the garden
(6. clean sweep)
(7. dance)
8. leave it alone!
9. blue
10. wash
11. shoes

a solemn self sketch

shells from Cornwall

my daughter at the piano

stay seated... a Brooks saddle

strawberries in the garden

big bag of potato chips... best left alone when alone

blue motorcycle

washed trays and bowls and cups

shoes at a school

third floor slab/concrete pour

 Back to the nearby construction site during lunch break... the third floor has been poured, lots of concrete trucks in and out of the site this past week.