Springtime in the Dead Courtyard

Took a bunch of pictures of the courtyard where I live and then drew from one of the pictures. Here are a couple of the pictures I didn't draw...

Minerva Traveling

Just Discovered New Toy

My first drawing using Sketchbook Express on my iPad. I had no idea this was possible. This is a potential tool for making LAMP scripture card designs.

In Honor of Margaret Nordstog

Study of Byzantine Decorative Motif

The motif is from a mosaic in the church of San Vitale in Ravenna. I am brainstorming ways to design little scripture cards for LAMP Ministries where I am currently serving as a missionary.

Sketches: Continuous Line and Tracts

This is a sketch using only a single, continuous line. The idea occurred to me while journaling.


Here are the brainstorming sketches for some little cards that have bible verses on them.

Drawing of St Joseph Statue, Pencil, 11"x14" (or Stop Worrying and Make Something)

Drawing practice today. A book I recently checked out at the library made the distinction between drawing and sketching. This is a drawing.
I hope St Joseph will forgive me for giving him a disproportionately large head.
One thing which I have learned recently is that it is worth it to keep practicing a skill even if I don't have an application in mind. An example is from the realm of music: I recently got asked to help out with playing guitar for some prayer services. For quite awhile, I have been learning to play guitar just for fun. I'm really glad that I practiced as much as I did because now that skill is ready to be used.
So, as far as visual art goes, I think it's worth it to practice drawing or sketching or whatever visual art skill even if you don't have an immediate application. I find that when I start worrying about the applications, I get all tied up in knots; whereas, when I just sit down and MAKE SOMETHING, I feel at peace. Someone said to me recently that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. I am hoping that a corollary of that applies to visual art: When the skill is ready, the application appears.