I sat down in the studio the other day, with no specific image in my head, other than the desire to create a figure. I started working from a life drawing I drew recently, and the pose with the tilted head began to emerge. As I refined the figure, I saw her, tilting her head […]
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7 When I created this piece, I wasn’t thinking about the context of Christmas. However, it struck me on […]
I have spent a great deal of time pondering the process of attaching a title to a piece. I wrote a post some time ago, bemoaning the title of “Untitled” which people sometimes use, and talking about the significance of a title as it becomes an integral part of the work, giving us a window […]
As I returned from this OM Arts trip to Prague and the Czech Republic, it was interesting to take a step back and think about how God has been working in this country, and in the people we have had the privilege to work along side of. This was my third trip back to Prague. […]
There is something very ancient, even primal, about working with ceramics and the process of earth and fire. As much as I appreciate the advent of computerized controls on modern electric kilns and the ability to precisely control the firing profile, with the resulting high degree of predictability in the outcome of one’s work, I […]
I created this piece, “The Dance Warrior”, several months ago, but it was just brought back to mind because of a visit from a very special friend… I spent three months at the beginning of 2016 at the Incarnate program in Italy, working intensely with more than 25 other artists from 11 different nations all […]
I have been fascinated by the image of the sheltering hands, and the different circumstances and postures which we bring to our position in those hands. From the figure huddled in a heap, to the child asleep without a care, to the one with the courage and hope to be able to stand up and […]
terracotta clay, 6″ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 There are times when you hear […]
Well, I made it. Sixty. Not surprisingly, my Facebook page filled pretty quickly with birthday wishes from around the world. Most were short, but some reflected people’s memories and wishes. Sara Ying was one of the fellow artists who left me a photo: What particularly moved me about this image, aside from the fact that […]
What is there in a piece of broken clay, a simple sculpture, shattered on the floor? On Wednesday, around 3:30AM local time, another devastating earthquake hit the area around the Gran Sasso mountain in central Italy. Early counts put the death toll around 159 and rising. The region is no stranger to earthquakes. In 2009, […]
One experience from my time in Italy which I will never forget was the depth of the community, and freedom to open ourselves to each other to hear people’s stories through their art. The vulnerability, honesty and truth which flowed through each person’s unique artistic expression, like a clear stream out of the broken stones of our […]
On the suggestion of one of my respected artist friends, I found a copy of The Creative Call, and I have started working my way through it. I’m already finding some really helpful content in the first few chapters (such as, the discipline of the “artist’s daybook” or journal). However there is an underlying thread which is bothering me… […]