Lenten Art Reflections

Hello again to everyone and thank you for taking a moment to stop by my page and allowing me to share these particular pieces of art with you. As I write this we are right in the middle of our Lenten season, and I hope that it has been a time of reflection for all of us as we contemplate the Cross and what our Lord suffered for our redemption.

Personally, I appreciate this time in our liturgical calendar as it allows me to “take a breath” and really spend time in prayer during these weeks; going to an extra daily mass or stations of the Cross on Friday evenings, these times allow me to focus on what is truly important even in the busy moments of our daily activities.

The drawing of Jesus on the Crucifix was actually the first major piece I did back in 1998. This is actually based on the crucifix that is at my parish, St. Patrick’s in Merced. I would go there a few times a week and just stand in front and start sketching it out for an hour at a time. Later I took some photos and finished out the details at home. I really took time with this and finished it over the course of about a month. I was initially thinking of doing it in color, but the more I progressed in pencil, it seemed to result in a more dramatic effect just as it was.

The same with my other drawing of Mary holding Jesus after coming down from the Cross. This piece is actually based on a pieta statue that I saw in St. Patrick’s Church in New York when I was visiting years ago. I took a photo of that statue and had to draw an image as it was such a thought-provoking piece. To try to imagine the thoughts and feelings of our Blessed Mother at that moment….these images help to focus my prayer, and I share them with you for the same reason.

The Lord tells us to pick up our Cross daily and follow Him, and I’d like to share with you my “daily Cross.” Back in 2007 I was riding my bicycle to work one evening, and was hit head-on by a young man driving his car. By the grace of God I was allright, although looking at me those few days afterward you might have thought otherwise.I have had an impact just above my eye and my left eye was particularly swollen. Well, it took a while for the swelling to go down, and when all was said and done, I probably pinched an eye muscle that gives me some double vision when I look down. It's not huge, but just enough to do some things very frustrating when I do visual things that involve looking down (like reading and eating, two of my favorite things!).

American book publishing record

Righteous Living - CTL - 2009

Pray and Celebrate - CTL - 2009

A companion to medieval English literature and culture, c.1350-c.1500

Daily Prayer 2008