THE SUMMIT: A WORK OF FICTION WITH FRIENDS

This little illustration is for my funny, weird, and somewhat disturbed group of friends who are all collaborating together to write ongoing chapters of a spontaneous, pointless, rambling, silly, and thoroughly entertaining story that we have all either been written into or written parts of. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing chapters and I always enjoy reading what others have written. This is one funny group, folks. The story is "The Summit," and it follows the exploits of a despotic King, his minions, and the small group of revolutionaries (or criminals, depending on your point of view) that are out to bring it all crashing down. As you can see from the illustration, everybody has a gun or guns, and the story does get violent from time to time, and its not a kids book per se. Also, if you don't like vulgar language and liberal use of such words not all chapters will set well with your literary palate. However, I should say that so far the only people to die have been a large group of gang members and a couple of White House Interns. I laugh out loud and its just plain fun to be creative. I've enjoyed it so much I wanted to do an illustration of each of the characters in the story for my fellow writers.

I have to say this is the most fun I have had drawing since I was in High School. My old pal Chris Jefferies will remember as I did while drawing the many times that we would sit around a draw comic book characters and the like. I don't do this kind of free flowing work enough, and it was a world of fun. I just quickly found photos to work from and put pencil to paper. I love it when a creative work organically comes together. This drawing and "The Summit"are like that. Look for more comic-style art in the future!

THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST: 3RD POSTER

This drawing is of my very dear friend, Father Gregory Plow, T.O.R. and is intended for use in my newest "Year of the Priest" poster. Father Gregory and I have been best friends since my Sophomore year of college, when we met each other at a time when both of us were experiencing a conversion back to the faiths in which we were raised. Father Gregory was raised a Catholic, and I was raised in the Southern Baptist tradition. What endeared Father Gregory to me, then, as now, was his absolute genuineness, generosity, and contagious enthusiasm. When I met him, I could easily have said "Here is an Israelite in whom there is no guile." He is a man, now a Priest, who is alive with the Joy of the Holy Spirit. He has been that way as long as I have known him.

There were many roads which carried me towards the Catholic faith: Art, History, Scripture, Tradition, etc... But of all the things that God used to give me this precious gift, our friendship and spiritual brotherhood were the most vital. Years later, when I finally made the decision to come into the Church, I was also diagnosed with cancer. Father Gregory and his mother Jean were my co-sponsors, and were present when I was confirmed in my hospital bed by a local Priest. Over the next nine months, they came to the hospital and brought communion whenever I was inpatient, and took turns taking me to daily Mass when I was at home. This is only one of the examples of why I am so indebted to the generosity and friendship that Father Gregory extends to everyone he meets. He is a Priest's Priest, and he was meant to be a Priest. I chose to use his image in this new poster because Father Gregory is the perfect "poster boy" for the Priesthood.

Frank Bua took the photo that this drawing was rendered from. Frank caught this shot of Father Gregory at his "Mass of Thanksgiving," that is, his first Mass as a Priest. The image portrays Father incensing the Gospel before proclaiming its message to the People of God. I was immediately struck by the grace and symmetry of the image. Frank has a great eye, and Father Gregory's manner of offering Mass (with the order and precision of a mathematician - he is one) lends itself to this type of image. It is interesting that the poster focuses on the mandate by Christ to "preach the Gospel to every creature," because Father Gregory is a Franciscan of the Third Order Regular, and Saint Francis is famous, among other things, for preaching to creatures (birds) when humans wouldn't listen, and for his oft quoted line "preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."

The image can be seen as an icon of the intense relationship which exists between the Priest and the Gospels. The Priest is commissioned by Christ to embrace the Gospels, and to open Christ's words to us in their proclamation and also in his preaching. The Proclamation of the Gospel is so sacred that incense is used. I found an excerpt from a website authored by the Abbot of a Monastery. His description of this rite is very beautiful, and explains well the significance of incense in the context of the Mass, especially with reference to the Gospels:

"What are we expressing with this incensing of the Gospel Book? It is a sign of devotion toward these holy words of and about our Savior, which have been preserved for nearly 2000 years, in reverence and love. As the sweet smoke (always first blessed by the priest) rises toward and surrounds the holy book, we are acknowledging: these are the words that God spoke when He became man and walked on this earth; this is the story of our salvation; here is the promise of everlasting life; here is the testimony of God’s love for us."

You can find the entire article at:

http://wordincarnate.wordpress.com/2009/

01/08/incense/

God send us Holy Priests!

SECOND DRAWING OF BLESSED MIGUEL PRO, MARTYR

Finally finally finally! My first drawing in MONTHS :(

This drawing is a companion to an earlier drawing of the same subject. Blessed Miguel Pro (seen in this image kneeling in prayer before his execution by firing squad) was a martyr for the Catholic Faith in Mexico during the early 1900's. He died in 1927 after very successfully helping faithful Catholics to practice their faith in secret.

At that time in Mexico the government was militantly anti-Catholic, and this anti-Catholicism, which began when Mexico declared independence from Spain, had reached a fever pitch. Father Pro was extremely clever and even humorous in the creative ways that he eluded the authorities and made his way around the towns to say Mass. Apparently he took great enjoyment from sketching new disguises and characters he might play. (dressing like a Priest would get you jail time or worse) When an attempt was made on the life of the Mexican President, the government used this as a pretext to arrest Blessed Miguel Pro and his brother, accusing them of being involved in the plot. This was done despite the fact that the actual perpetrator, who was also captured, vehemently denied their involvement.

Blessed Miguel Pro was executed by firing squad, and his execution was meticulously photographed, including a point blank gunshot by an officer when the firing squad failed to kill this faithful priest. It was thought that the distribution of these photographs would stir up fear and weaken the Catholic rebellion. They had quite the opposite effect. In this image Blessed Miguel is shown at prayer, clutching a crucifix in one hand and a Rosary in the other. When he stood to be executed, he lifted his arms in the shape of a cross (see earlier drawing) and prayed "May God forgive you, as I do. Viva Christo Rey!" (Long Live Christ the King)

FOR THE BEST OF FATHER IN LAWS

This drawing is a gift for my Father-in-law, in gratitude for his constant generosity to Emily and I in every way possible. I have a deep respect for Ron. He's a man who seems to have the tools for just about any problem you might come across, and he has been a moral compass for my wife throughout her life, and has by extension become an example to me of what it means to live a life that is committed to doing what is right. I would put him in the same category as my grandfather in that regard. When Ron shakes your hand and tells you what he is going to do, you don't have to guess whether or not he'll do what he says. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever known personally, and his daughter is second only to him in that regard. What I love most about my father-in-law though is the same quality that I admire most in my sister Karen: He's as tough as iron, but there are certain subjects (his daughter being one) that he keeps a very soft place in his heart for. I've never seen a man so stoic, who at the same time can be so quickly brought to tears by a conversation about his daughter, or other members of his family. I am very blessed to have Ron as a friend and as a father-in-law, and will always be indebted to him for his generosity and his desire to help anyone who is experiencing any kind of difficulty. I have come to learn that this is a guiding principle of Ron's life, and hope that I can one day live the way he does.

When I was trying to think of what Ron would enjoy seeing in a drawing, I thought of the usual things, NASCAR, Oklahoma, Chevy Trucks, hunting, etc. but then remembered that the one thing most precious to Ron is his family, both immediate and extended, and I remembered this little photo on the mantle in his home. It shows a very young Ron Nimmo (on the left) standing with his baby sister Cathy and his brother Joe. Joe is and was a tank. From what I have heard, "Ron would start fights.... Joe finished them." To be fair, Ron usually didn't need the back up, but Joe was apparently always ready to assist at need. :) I love the picture and hope the drawing will be special for Ron, for his folks, and for his brother and sister.

A GIFT FOR MY SISTER ON THE OCCASION OF HER WEDDING TO CAPTAIN BLAKE SMITH

This drawing was done in honor of (one of) my beautiful sister's wedding Memorial Day weekend. She is pictured with her husband, Capt. Blake Smith. It was truly a blessed weekend, and I told my Brother-in-law that his faithfulness as a Christian, and the way his faith informed his decision to marry my sister, was evident in all of the pomp and ceremony surrounding the event, and their example made me want to be a better husband and a better man. God bless them both with a wonderful life together, and GOD BLESS ME WITH LOTS OF LITTLE BLOND HAIRED NIECES AND NEPHEWS! :)

You can see images from the wedding at http://www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=64442&photographerID=10703

In Progress: DRAWING OF THE RESURRECTION

Ever since I began the Stations of the Cross which were completed last year, I have been wanting to do a drawing representing the Resurrection of Christ. As you can see, this drawing is also inspired by The Passion of the Christ, specifically the awesome Resurrection scene at the end of the movie - It made me wish that the movie kept going after that point, or at least that a sequel could be made. I am drawing Christ's face in a much larger format than I usually work in, so his face is able to contain much more detail than other works that I have done. I am very happy with the way this drawing is going.

In Progress: PORTRAITS OF ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN AND SAINT JOHN VIANNEY

These two drawings, both in their beginning stages, are intended for The Year of the Priest - my vision is to have the full image of these great priests of the Church, Archbishop Fulton Sheen (his cause for beatification is underway) and Saint John Vianney (Patron Saint of all priests) in the lower corner of two larger posters, with a quote (on the priesthood) from the person depicted taking up a larger part of the poster.

Archbishop Sheen

This is the very beginning of a drawing I am doing of Archbishop Fulton Sheen for the Year of the Priest. My plan is to draw portraits of great Catholic Priests, not necessarily all confirmed saints, but Priest's Priests. Archbishop Sheen is such a figure. Frankly, he is the definition of the saying "They don't make 'em like that anymore."

Archbishop Sheen is the total package - his writings are beautiful, filled with meditations on the Christian life and Christ Himself that reveal a life spent in prayer. His writings and his teachings, shared by radio and television, are still profound and illuminating insights into Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, Poetry, Art, Music, Politics, and all aspects of human culture. Most significant to me are his insights into the Gospel, revealed in his masterpiece, "The Life of Christ." The Church cherishes his memory for these reasons as well as the example of Priestly heroism that his life constantly bore witness to. His cause for canonization is underway and I for one pray for it, if for no other reason than that more people might be exposed to his wisdom, humor, and desire to help each of us live lives of true goodness.

Archbishop Sheen is famous in the world and the Church for his celebrated Television Series "Life is Worth Living." Ed Sullivan, when he came to the halfway mark of his show, would always welcome the viewers who had just finished watching Bishop Sheen's program. Imagine! A Bishop of the Catholic Church with a television show so popular it rivaled "The Late Show" of its time. I hope you will take a moment to experience a sample of Archbishop Sheen's show. He is a very rare example of a man whose speech is as brilliant and gripping as his writing, and/or vice versa. A true orator. Here is a great clip from a 1957 episode of "Life is Worth Living." It is a good example of how seamless Bishop Sheen's transitions were as he moved from tenderness and humor to serious discourse and even righteous anger when appropriate. Profundity like this is rare today.

He tells a good story at the beginning of the show about a letter from the mother of one of his younger viewers:




Saint John Vianney

This is very early (and highly edited) progress on a drawing of Saint John Vianney that I decided to do as part of a series for "The Year of the Priest."

I wanted to do this drawing in part because I LOVE Saint John Vianney, but also because there really aren't that many representations of the Saint, and the best ones are not in paint or even naturalistic images, but stained glass. The paintings that probably hit closest to the mark portray this Patron Saint of Priests as very somber and grim, but his words, recorded in most cases by others, paint a picture of a man caught up in the Joy of God. This is what I wanted to portray in my work - I hope that it will be well received, but I confess it has frustrated me more than a little while working on it - let me know what you think - sometimes the artist is too close to really see the work.

Given the shortage of (good) images of Saint John Vianney, I searched for photos and/or persons who seem to resemble existing depictions of the Cure of Ars, but who also have expressions of joy and or mirth. Saint John Vianney was famous for saying "If we knew how much God loves us, we would die from sheer joy."

I found, I think the perfect countenance to work from. I used an actor in this case, as I did with my recent drawing of Saint Michael. David Kelly was in the great Irish Comedy, "Waking Ned Devine," and there is a beautiful scene where his character, Michael O'Sullivan, is hearing his dearest friend express his great regard for him. He looks up at him with a beautiful expression of calm joy, tears just welling in his eyes. Its a wonderful scene. I wanted to capture some of the Joy of Saint John Vianney in the way that Michael O'Sullivan's joy was captured by the director and actors of Waking Ned Devine. Hopefully, it is an expression of joy inspired by the knowledge of how much one is loved.

SAINT AUSTIN REVIEW MAY/JUNE 2009: ARTICLE FEATURING MY WORK

I am so excited to be able to share with you a great opportunity that I recently had to have my work featured in the cultural magazine “Saint Austin Review,” which is published by Ave Maria University and edited by Joseph Pearce. I was able to meet Professor Pearce at the Ignited By Truth Catholic Conference this year, and shared a portrait of him that I completed for the conference. He was EXTREMELY gracious and complimentary of my work and asked if he might contact me to do an interview with me for this magazine. Above are the first two pages. (The third follows) Below is the interview.

Joseph Pearce: We met at this year's Ignited by Truth conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, at which 2,500 enthusiastic Catholics heard a number of talks centred on the need to evangelize today's secular culture. What are your views on the evangelizing power of beauty?

David Myers: As you noted in your wonderful talk on this subject, beauty pierces the hearts of people rather than their thought, and is therefore very important if the culture we live in is to be drawn to the truth. This is especially true now when the arguments of those who oppose Gospel values are founded so often on emotional arguments that are not arguments at all. The emotive impact of audio and/or visual art that is at once beautiful, well informed by the Gospels, and tailored to the attention span of our culture, can be a spark or a catalyst that leads towards conversion. The most powerful recent example of such art's power to turn the heart and mind of a debased culture to the Lord has to be Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." The Gospels, like their Author, are deeply beautiful. Saint John's Gospel is perhaps the most beautiful and certainly the most poetic. "We saw His glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." The beauty of Christ, of His teaching, and especially of His Love, drew the world to Him.

JP: As an artist, how do you see the role of the visual arts in evangelizing today's culture?

DM: As (I think) Saint Therese says of the prayers she made to God, artists of every discipline have the ability to "shoot little arrows of beauty" into the hearts of people, hopefully ones that will remind them of all that they may have believed to be lost. In a world bombarded by grotesque images, perverted images, and meaningless images, it is the artist's calling to communicate in his art the true, the good, and the beautiful. When he does this, casting his pearls out into the darkness, prodigal sons unknown to him may leave the husks and the swine, and turn towards this new "epiphany of beauty" that they have either forgotten, ignored, or been robbed of. 80% of the Billboards you will see on your drive home are the darkness. True Christian art, in paint, stone, glass, film and song, is the light.

JP: What is the role of the Catholic artist in today's culture? What do you perceive your own vocation to be? What is the nature of your relationship with God in connection to your creative work?

DM: I have come to believe that to be an artist means to be a servant of all, and especially of God. "Art for art's sake" is a blasphemous term in my opinion. This servanthood is true in all aspects of the artists work from the earliest days of his development to the maturity of his skill, for in order to communicate (which all true art must) to an audience, the artist must be obedient to what he sees, for it is in the created world that the artist will find his vocabulary for communicating inspiration to a hungry world. I love the words that are put into Raphael's mouth when he speaks to Michelangelo in the film "The Agony and the Ecstacy:" "But what are we artists but harlots, peddling beauty at the doorsteps of the mighty?" Those who would put the word "elite" next to art have lost the true meaning and purpose of art. This is why my site has as its address "artisservant.blogspot.com “artisservant.blogspot.com." Because art IS servant.
I firmly believe that art is meant to serve others, especially in lifting the hearts of people, through "ephiphanies of beauty," (John Paul II's letter to artists) to the contemplation and the glory of God. The artist participates in a unique way in the inspiration of the Creator of all things, and knows something of His joy in the act of creation, for "the act of creation is an act of love."(The Agony and the Ecstacy) This act is essentially bound up with the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus, in which what had been invisible was made visible in His person, His life and work, and finally in His death and resurrection. The artist is exhorted by the very perception of his gift to its service. Art is not merely, nor should it ever be, a vehicle for selfish ends or cheap shock and awe, but it must seek to give joy to the lives of others. The artist is then in the end merely a servant of truth, beauty, and goodness, and his work must serve to convey these to a wider audience. "Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 15-16)I believe that the artist finds in the lives of Jesus, and of His foster father Joseph, essential role models, especially in their hidden life at Nazareth. Though very little is handed down to us in the Gospels or in tradition illuminating this period in Jesus' life, I believe that this hidden, simple, carpenter's life of "working quietly" (2 Thessalonians 3:11) can be a model for all artists, in which delight is daily sought in the manifestation of beauty in wood, paint, charcoal, dance, the stage, and music. This is a life of humility, where the artist freely accepts that this world, including his own work, "will pass away," (Matt. 24:35) but what it points to never will. Obedience to inspiration, especially as it is inspired by God's Word (itself the revelatory self-expression of God) is the artist's highest calling.

JP: Who has been particularly influential in your own development as an artist?

DM: There are so many people, both the heroes that I have never met but studied, and those that I have had the blessing to call my friends. Of the latter group, I would place my Art History professors at the front of the lineup. Dr. Kemille Moore, Dr. John Myers, and in a special way, Dr. Anthony F. Janson (of Janson's History of Art) each helped me to experience more richly than I could in any studio the highest ideals of art, as well as its greatest achievements. Their love for art was communicated to me, along with my own growing awareness of what moved me most in art. It is this that I aspire to communicate in my work. I am indebted also to Leslie, my babysitter, who, when I was in first grade, inspired me to pick up my pencil and draw. My favorite artist of all history is Michelangelo, but I must qualify this answer. For the "Michelangelo" I refer to are actually two Michelangelos, one being the most famous, the other being Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. I believe that both artists have deeply influenced my own work and my made me aware of the subtleties that make for meaningful, compelling art, as well as the more verbose elements that give it fire, passion, and the ability to expand the horizons of others. I am most recently indebted to the work and the advice of Cameron Smith, a great Catholic artist, who, in one conversation, completely revolutionized my drawing technique. It is as "clear as the summer sun" to anyone who looks that my work owes as much to Cameron as the work of Raphael did to that of Michelangelo. Last, but certainly not least, I owe so much to my good wife, who puts up with the ungodly hours of the artist, the all nighters, and the hours stolen from her to contribute to my growing body of work. She teaches me daily what it means to sacrifice for those we love, and to make their dreams our own.

JP: Your excellent website (www.artisservant.blogspot.com) highlights a cross-section of your work, including portraits of contemporary Catholics and portraits of the saints. Why were you inspired to work in portraiture in particular?

DM: Unfortunately, being an art history major and being lazy combined in my college years to prevent me from developing very much in the areas of painting and sculpture. However, I did develop and gain some mastery in life drawing. Professor Donald Furst taught me how to draw from life and to be obedient to what my eye saw before me. He also gave me the very best advice I have ever received in the area of art. I was blessed to receive a scholarship to study in Rome for a summer, and Professor Furst told me: "Take a sketchbook with you. Resist the temptation to snap photos and move on. Each day pick something, a statue or other work of art, that you will commit to sit down in front of and draw. You will forget so much about the photographs, but you will remember everything you experienced when you were drawing." He was so right about this, and this experience of drawing for a full month in Italy taught me more about drawing and what was possible for this medium than any of the classes I had attended. Ultimately, I work in portraiture and life drawing because it is the skill I have been able (I believe) to master to an extent that makes me capable of producing "fine art" in charcoal and graphite. It is very important for the artist to be able to convey the good and the true in the most beautiful way possible. This is why I choose the most suitable way my skill and my training currently affords me.

JP: I was particularly struck by your artistic representation of the Stations of the Cross. Could you explain your relationship, as an artist, with such monumental spiritual themes? Is there something truly spiritual, or even prayerful, in the creative process when working on such themes?

DM: Without a doubt. I began working on the Stations of the Cross over four years ago at the beginning of Lent. You will remember that this was wen the Passion of the Christ came to the theaters. I was so moved by this MASTERPIECE, that I felt compelled to make the drawing of the stations part of my Lenten journey, directly inspired by the film. I got pretty far that first Lent, but did not complete the stations. Those first stations and those that followed opened my awareness to the power of art to move the heart of the artist who makes it as well as his audience. Each station became a desert in which I could walk and think about the subject I was illustrating, and it was always a contemplative experience. Each Lent the wave came closer to the shore, until in this past year I was able to complete the project. The final series is somewhat motley, as it draws from several different sources, including some works by Tissot and Caravaggio. It also serves as a visual biography of the development of my style as I have slowly over the last four years left charcoal behind to focus almost exclusively on works in graphite. It is profoundly humbling to undertake the illustration of Christ's life or any given aspect of it, and I find that I get so much more out of the beautiful experience of drawing such themes than my audience does, or seems to. "We saw His Glory, the Glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth."

LATEST DRAWING OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

This is my latest drawing of Saint Michael the Archangel. As is evident to most, the image owes a great deal to the movie Troy, especially Brad Pitt's character, Achilles. Whenever I've pictured the Archangel in my mind I see him with the same long hair and fierce countenance, so I thought it would be cool to use an image from that movie to portray a more virile representation of the Prince of the Heavenly Hosts. This is my third drawing of Saint Michael, whom I feel gets a bad rep from the many works of art that portray him with a less than threatening effeminate character, tip-toeing on the devil's head. The goal in those images was to portray the beauty of a perfect being that has never denied God anything, and this I accept and understand. However, the goal of my drawings of the Archangel is to show the other dimension of his character, i.e. that of a dude who won't hesitate to split the devil's skull with the business end of a flaming sword. "Michael" means "Who is like God?" Which I imagine is what he asked Lucifer before sending him down to the hot place. Among other groups, Saint Michael is the patron saint of soldiers and police.

Included is a jpeg showing how the drawing developed as it progressed.

A HEROIC CONVERT: THE LATE CARDINAL LUSTIGER, ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS

This drawing is a gift for the Papal Nuncio in Washington that was commissioned by a friend of mine. I included with the image a version of the recently completed 2nd "Year of the Priest" drawing (posted below) which I translated into Italian using the Pope's address where the special year was announced. (www.vatican.va has most of the Pope's messages and writings in all the major languages of the world, and I believe it was presented in Italian) I am hopeful that the Nuncio, if he feels it is appropriate, might share that image with the Pope! (I can dream can't I?) I also sent some prayer cards made from drawings I have done in the past.

The late Cardinal Lustiger, who is here portrayed, was a very dear friend of the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi. Lustiger was a Jewish convert to Christianity and became the only Jewish convert in modern times to become a bishop in the Catholic Church. He was archbishop of Paris for many years before retiring in the early 1980s and was made a Cardinal by John Paul II in 1983. When I say he is known as the only Jewish convert in modern times to have become a bishop I believe what is actually meant is that not since Peter and the other Apostles has there been a Jewish convert to Catholicism who has been consecrated Bishop. I may be wrong - you Catholic P.I.'s out there can correct me ;)

What IS certain is that for his faith in Christ Cardinal Lustiger sacrificed much, being disowned by his family and many of the Jewish people. On top of this he experienced distrust from many of his Christian brethren because of his Jewish origins. He isn't shown carrying the cross because of this, but his life certainly fulfilled Jesus' words ''he who would my disciple be, let him take up his cross and follow Me.'' Indeed, by suffering through these things, the Cardinal became a great force of ecumenism between the Jewish and Catholic faiths.

He is carrying the cross in the drawing because the photograph I worked from shows the Cardinal taking part in a ''way of the cross'' procession in which several different people take turns carrying the cross from station to station in a meditation on Christ's sacrifice for all of us. In the original photo you can see others helping him with the burden. This image was chosen to work from because it was one of the Papal Nuncio's favorite images of his old friend, whom it is clear he loved very much. Pray that God will bless this image to be a reminder to the Archbishop of his great friend. Theirs seems to have been a shining example of Christian fraternity and charity.

THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST: 2ND DRAWING

I am VERY happy with the way that this drawing has turned out! I hope that you will be too. I found a STUNNING photo by my friend, Paul Tomas, of a Priest who is a very dear friend and Pastor. I thought it was a great image of my friend, but I was even more profoundly moved by the universal qualities of the image. It seemed almost an icon of the priesthood, or a view into the heart of the priest. A Priest who is truly heroic in his vocation is first and foremost a man of prayer, who seeks friendship and conversation with Christ before all others. It is there that he is made ready to help all of us who thirst for "living water." One of the reasons that this image speaks to me so eloquently of this aspect of the priestly vocation is that the priest depicted is one of the most successful and dynamic pastors I know, but it is always evident that this flows from his life of prayer. Thank you to all our priests for your great vocation! Never feel guilty to spend time in prayer "when there are so many other things to do!"

This image will also be used for a friend's Ordination this Spring, and I hope it may be of some use to our local Diocese or parishes. Please contact me at davemyers1977@gmail.com for more info.

I am especially proud of the seal you see that anchors the image - the phrase in latin is "You are a Priest Forever," and is shown in the Latin Vulgate translation of that verse. The symbol in the middle is a traditional one for the "Holy Name of Jesus," and the nails and the Cross represent Christ's Sacrifice, which Priests and all Christians are called to share in. The seal took a long time to put together, but it was worth it!

STATIONS OF THE CROSS USED BY LOCAL CONGREGATION FOR GOOD FRIDAY MEDITATIONS

God continues to richly bless my poor work, and I want to take this moment of Holy Week to express my profound gratitude to the congregation of Crosspoint Church in Cary, North Carolina for their use of the Stations of the Cross I finally completed last year. This series represents about four years of work. I began the work as a private meditation that I continued with each passing Lent, but I have hoped that it might one day be placed in a setting where it might benefit the prayer of fellow Christians. I am deeply grateful to the leadership of Crosspoint for their valuation of my work and their desire to place it in a truly beautiful setting.

The work was enlarged to a size of about 2 x 3 feet and I was very excited to see how well the originals transferred to this much larger format. It fit the space perfectly!

As you can see in the video and the photos I have posted, the lighting and the music were perfectly suited to the subject matter, and combined to create a wonderful space for meditation on the suffering of Christ. The decision to loop music from the soundtrack of “The Passion of the Christ” was especially ingenious I thought, and set the tone immediately as you approached the space. I was humbled and honored to see my work in this setting, as it was so greatly inspired by Mel Gibson’s masterpiece of faith. You will see that I also drew from great works of art that have illustrated the Passion through the centuries, particularly the work of Caravaggio, whose paintings obviously contributed to Mel Gibson’s vision of the Passion.

Above all, I was moved almost to tears to see this work so thoughtfully considered by faithful souls devoted to Christ and His Cross. I cannot express my gratitude sufficiently for this amazing opportunity. Jesus, Son of God and Savior of the World, have mercy on me a sinner. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, for by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world.

THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST

"The centrality of Christ leads to a correct valuation of ordained ministry." - Pope Benedict XVI.

The Holy Father has decided to name the coming year "The Year of the Priest," and is asking all Catholics, especially the Church's Priests, seminarians, and priestly candidates to focus their attention on the unique importance of our ordained ministers and the continuation of Christ's ministry on earth through them. The Pope said in his remarks on this decision that without priestly ministry, there would be no Eucharist, no mission and even no church. I was blessed to have been asked by a very good friend of mine, a priest I have known for many years, to complete this drawing as an emblem of the year for use in publications of his own (and hopefully of our Diocese) drawing attention to the intention of this upcoming year of reflection. I have included both the original composition and one that I added text to. I hope you are as pleased with the result as I am!

A TRIBUTE TO SAINT THOMAS MORE AND SAINT JOHN FISHER OF ENGLAND

This is a somewhat lesser version of a video I posted to my facebook profile. Unfortunately the "embed video" option no longer seems to work. Hopefully I will be able to post a better version soon. I put together this tribute to Saint Thomas More and Saint John Fisher from inspiring scenes taken from the incredible show "The Tudors." I intend no copyright infringement, I have simply been so taken with the series and especially with its portrayal of these heroes of the faith that I hope that everyone will get the chance to watch the whole series themselves. If you love history, you will LOVE it. Catholics and other Christians will not be disappointed, as all the players in the English Reformation are treated fairly. I have had a great love for Saint Thomas More ever since seeing Paul Scofield in "A Man for All Seasons," and since then have read about his life and asked his intercession, especially when I had to make difficult decisions. Although I would still choose "A Man for All Seasons" in the scenes which are identical or nearly so, I am still very grateful that "The Tudors" has given an even more thorough cinematic portrayal of these great men. I shudder when I see how unlike them I am. May their example, as it has now for centuries, inspire all of us to become, like them, people who do what is right, no matter the cost.

SAINT MARK COMPLETED

This drawing was commissioned by the Pastor of Saint Mark's Catholic Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, a church that holds special significance for me, as it was there that I went through the process of becoming Catholic. There are MANY good and faithful souls there who have done me great good. The drawing is done after the famous statue of Saint Mark in Florence, carved by Donatello. I have always loved this sculpture, and thought it would be appropriate to depict Saint Mark with his traditional symbol, the Lion. Saint Mark wrote one of the four Gospels, and although not an apostle himself, is said to have been the companion of Saint Peter during the latter's Apostolic journeys to spread the faith. Scholarship suggests that Saint Mark's Gospel was the first to be written. Hopefully my good friend, the pastor, will be pleased, and will forgive the time it has taken me to complete this work. Saint Mark, pray for us, and help us by your prayers to seek Christ's Face in His Holy Gospels and in all of Sacred Scripture. O Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, have mercy on us poor sinners.

PREVIEW: CHRIST IN THE DESERT

This is only a very little progress on a much larger drawing I am undertaking as a Lenten meditation of my own for this year, but may not complete before Easter. The scene is Christ seated on a rock alone in the wilderness, surrounded by stillness, silence, and the harshness of the wild. The drawing is a copy of the very best painting I have ever seen of this subject, by the great Russian painter of the 19th Century, Ivan Kramskoy. You can see in Christ's eyes the fatigue of the fast and the grim understanding of all that his mission to redeem the world will cost. Christ has his battle face on, because that is why he went out into the desert: "To be tempted by the Devil." He went into the desert to face down every kind of evil the world has known through the weakness and sinfulness of man. Kramskoy's painting captures the seriousness of this moment, and also the paradoxical beauty of the lonely deserted places where we can be quiet, and hear the "still, small voice" of God. I love the ruggedness of the Christ Kramskoy envisions in his masterpiece. Move over Bear Grylls. Hopefully I will be able to complete this work before Lent is over.

PORTRAIT OF BLESSED MIGUEL PRO

This is the final piece for a request I was very happy to receive from a family who found this website and enjoyed some of my portraits of beloved saints. This family has a deep devotion to two Saintly figures in very recent Church memory: Saint Gianna Beretta Molla and Blessed Miguel Pro. You can read my own words about these two holy people at the links attached to their names in the previous sentence. One thing I might not have mentioned about Blessed Miguel is that he apparently also liked to sketch! He would sketch disguises that he would subsequently use to elude the authorities while visiting Catholic families in secret. The portrait is taken from a mug shot of the Priest shortly before he was executed by the corrupt government of the time. I have taken the liberty of removing the Martyr from the tie and cardigan he was forced to wear as an outlaw Priest, and have placed him in the Jesuit clerics he would have worn before going underground in his ministry. The second image is a proposed gathering together of the three drawings I have done to illustrate this family's devotion to Saint Gianna and Blessed Miguel. In the latter's words on the day of his death: "VIVA CHRISTO REY!!" ("Long live Christ the King!")

STATUE OF SAINT MATTHEW: BASCILICA OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN, ROME

This is a very large drawing I got started on just this weekend. Amazingly, the entire figure is done after just two days. I think it was a combination of my love for this particular sculpture and my awareness that if I didn't finish most of it now I might not get back to it.

This statue of Saint Matthew stands in one of the huge niches dedicated to the Apostles in the Pilgrim Church of Saint John Lateran in Rome. When I visited Rome in the summer of 2001, I was immediately drawn to it, and spent hours sketching it there in the bascilica. Matthew is pictured resolutely gripping the Gospel of Christ with his strong arms, while simultaneously triumphing over his former life (and the love of money) by trodding it under foot. It is truly a stunning image, especially when you are able to see it in person. It is several times larger than life.

This image is not finished, as I will be adding a backdrop of sorts, mostly darker hues to bring out the image of Matthew, much as I did in the image of Saint Paul that I completed last year. The original of this drawing is on a 14'' x 18'' piece of paper. Once it is completed, I am hopeful that I will be able to have it matted, framed, and placed in the gallery at Bull City Art and Frame.

MY GOOD FRIEND (BEGINNING OF A LARGER DRAWING)

This is the very beginning of a much larger drawing of my dearest friend, Father Gregory Plow, T.O.R.

Father Gregory is a Franciscan of the Third Order Regular, and we came to know each other in college. His faith had a huge impact in my life and was the catalyst to my eventual conversion to the Catholic Faith. He is the most genuine person I have ever had the pleasure to call my friend. He is truly "an Israelite in whom there is no guile." Father Gregory was ordained last year and has spent this first year of priesthood ministering to college students at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

I hope to use this drawing of Father Gregory (which is of him incensing the Gospel - note the lighter areas on the left of his face from the smoke passing in front of him) as part of a poster that I hope to put together highlighting Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life for our Diocese. I am very pleased with this likeness of Father Gregory, and hope that those who know him will be too!

BLESSED MIGUEL PRO: FIRST DRAWING

This drawing depicts the final moments of Blessed Miguel Pro, a Jesuit Priest who was martyred in Mexico during the early twentieth century. The Mexican government of the time had become vehemently anti-Catholic, and began imprisoning priests who spoke out against the government. Blessed Miguel Pro utilized disguises to make his way through the city, and in this way continued to care for the Catholics he found. He was finally arrested and was sentenced to execution on the trumped up charge that he had helped devise a plot to assassinate the Mexican President of the time. A photographer snapped photographs of the execution, including this image and another portraying Pro's final prayer on his knees before his death by firing squad. This was lucky for the Church, but not so lucky for the government. Miguel Pro's death led to a massive revitalization of the Church and the encouragement of the people's opposition to the corrupt regime. Blessed Miguel Pro is reported to have put his arms up in the shape of a cross, and (I believe) holding a Rosary. Before the soldiers fired, he cried out "Viva Christo Rey!" (Long Live Christ the King!)

IGNTITED BY TRUTH 2009

This weekend was a great opportunity to showcase some of my newest work at the 7th annual Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center. My table did well, but my favorite part of the conference was the interaction I was able to enjoy with old and new friends, and it is always wonderful to get feedback from my "target market." A VERY big thank you to all those who have given so much support to my work! I hope you like the finished poster I put together for the conference from portraits I drew of the main speakers.

JOSEPH PEARCE & TIM STAPLES : FASCINATING STORIES OF CONVERSION

These latest drawings are the last of the portraits I have been assembling of the principal speakers who will be presenting this February at the Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference in Raleigh, NC. Joseph Pearce and Tim Staples are very interesting individuals, especially with regard to their conversion stories. I hope you will have a moment to read a little about them below:

JOSEPH PEARCE

Joseph Pearce is a celebrated and prolific author, having written biographies of literary figures such as G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, Oscar Wilde, and C.S. Lewis. Pearce is a professor of literature at Ave Maria University, and his conversion story is remarkable. Pearce confesses that when he was younger he was a “fanatical” neo-fascist, and even edited literature for a group promoting this agenda. Pearce attributes his conversion to Christianity to the works of G.K. Chesterton, and he writes that his “racism stemmed from hatred, and that his conversion to Christian belief completely changed his outlook.” Eventually Pearce became a Catholic, and now continues to add to his already impressive body of written works.
To me, the most interesting of the titles he has produced is one of his latest books, and I cannot wait to read it. The Quest for Shakespeare: The Bard of Avon and the Church of Rome has as its theme something I have been tempted to believe since becoming Catholic and subsequently re-experiencing the plays of Shakespeare. It seems clear that plays such as “Henry V,” “Hamlet,” and others have embedded within them a very rich and unmistakably Catholic understanding of the world. Whether this was a post-protestant hangover from the post-Anglican reform, or Shakespeare was secretly Catholic is the question posed by Pearce’s latest book.

“O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts;
Possess them not with fear; take from them now
The sense of reckoning, if the opposed numbers
Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord,
O, not to-day, think not upon the fault
My father made in compassing the crown!
I Richard's body have interred anew;
And on it have bestow'd more contrite tears
Than from it issued forced drops of blood:
Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay,
Who twice a-day their wither'd hands hold up
Toward heaven, to pardon blood; and I have built
Two chantries, where the sad and solemn priests
Sing still for Richard's soul. More will I do;
Though all that I can do is nothing worth,
Since that my penitence comes after all,
Imploring pardon.”

- From Henry V

Some of the many books the author has written:

• The Quest for Shakespeare: The Bard of Avon and the Church of Rome
• Flowers of Heaven: One Thousand Years of Christian Verse (editor)
• Literary Giants, Literary Catholics
• Tolkien: Man and Myth
• Old Thunder: A Life of Hilaire Belloc
• Literary Converts
• Tolkien: A Celebration
• C.S. Lewis and the Catholic Church
• Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G. K. Chesterton
• The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde

TIM STAPLES

Tim Staples is a dynamic speaker and a convert to Catholicism. If he looks like a tough guy, its probably because he’s a former Marine. It was in the Marines that Staples experienced his conversion through the friendship of a fellow soldier who was deeply devoted to his own faith. You can read more about Tim and his work as a Catholic Apologist at Catholic Answers, an excellent resource for anyone who has questions regarding what things Catholics believe and why they believe them. I have enjoyed the talks that I have heard Mr. Staples give, and look forward to seeing him this year at Ignited by Truth.

CELEBRATING FAMILY

I put this movie together for my family, and it is made up of some silent movies that my mother had and a lot of old photos from childhood. The song is a new favorite by Trace Adkins, "You're gonna miss this." For me this is a celebration of the beauty of family life and of those that I love. I hope that you will like it!

SURVIVOR OF GENOCIDE, CHAMPION OF FORGIVENESS: IMMACULEE ILIBAGIZA

This drawing is the latest in a series of portraits I am completing of the keynote speakers who will be presenting at the Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference in Raleigh this February. This drawing, I can safely say, is of a beautiful survivor of an abhorrent atrocity. It is also a portrait of a hero of forgiveness.

Immaculee Ilibagiza is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. She and several other women were saved by a Protestant pastor who hid the girls in a small bathroom that they shared for four months. Immaculee's father and mother, friends, and many other family members were all killed. When hidden in the cramped little bathroom, she kept her sanity, her hope, and her faith by praying the Rosary over and over again, meditating on the life of Christ and of his Mother Mary. One day a man came with a group of thugs looking for more members of Immaculee's tribe. This happened often, but somehow the bathroom was always overlooked. The man who came that day explained (in earshot of the hidden women) that he was looking for Immaculee Ilibagiza, and had killed 399 people and his intention was that she should be number 400. Immaculee recognized the voice. It was a young man she had gone to primary school with growing up. Can any of us imagine the evil that she and her fellow survivors witnessed, endured, and still endure?

Immaculee chose in the course of her ordeal, amid thoughts of hatred and anger and vengeance, (naturally given the unspeakable trauma she was experiencing) that she would forgive those who killed her family and her friends. She found the grace to do this in her continual prayers, especially her meditations on the suffering of Christ and His Mother when the Savior was crucified. She says that she thought of how Mary and Jesus responded during the atrocity that was perpetrated on Christ himself : "Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do." She knew that the men killing her family and friends could not have a full awareness of the depth of evil they had given themselves over to. In fact, she faced her family's killer in prison, and told him to his face that she forgave him. She stated that when she saw him, he seemed "so confused" and misled. Compassion for a serial killer? Coming from the heart of a victim of his crimes? Truly she is a glowing witness to the Forgiveness of God.

I hope that you will watch this short clip featuring testimony from Immaculee herself:

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI : THE MAN OF THE BEATITUDES

I hope that you will like this portrait of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a personal hero of mine and of countless others. I was first introduced to Blessed Pier Giorgio by my good friend Brad Watkins, who founded a Frassati Society at the local Catholic High School in Raleigh, Cardinal Gibbons. What struck Brad and many others about this young man who died at the age of 24, is that he proves, as John Paul II said of him, that "holiness is possible for everyone."

Blessed Pier Giorgio was, as you might expect, a radically prayerful and devoted Christian soul. But he doesn't fit the profiles of the great saints across the ages. He wasn't poor. He was wealthy. He wasn't weak or underfed. He was an athlete who was full of strength. He was not a drag. He was a practical joker and a rascal. He was different from his friends. However they did not hold this against him. On the contrary they loved him for it. He was not brought up in a home that encouraged his Christian aspirations. Yet he fought with valor in order to live them out. Although he was rich, he found his home among the poor. Indeed, he cared for them in ways that no one else knew until his death.

Pier Giorgio died suddenly, due to polio contracted during his frequent visits to the families he cared for. Pier Giorgio gave food, he (a rich son of an aristocratic family) begged for money, he bought medicine, and he sacrificed unceasingly to give to those who had nothing, but also to bring them to Christ. Blessed Pier Giorgio came to a home where a woman lived whose husband had been sent to prison. He saw her baby and asked if the child had been baptized. The mother said that the baby had not been, because she did not have the money for the baptismal garment. Blessed Pier Giorgio paid for the garment, attended the baptism, and became the Godfather of the child. When the husband was released from prison, Blessed Pier Giorgio was waiting for him at the gates, and immediately took the man to a factory where he knew he could be hired and begin work.

This was a great, holy, loving man. He was also handsome, athletic, and virile. He was all that our society glories in, yet he counted it, with his favorite Saint, the Apostle Paul, "so much rubbish, that [he might] gain Christ." (Phillipians 3:8) Imagine a cross between Brad Pitt, Bear Grylls, and Saint Francis of Assisi, and you've just imagined Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. When he died people his family did not even know he had been ministering to filled the streets by the hundreds. On his deathbed Pier Giorgio gave to his sister lists of the people he needed to follow up with, to supply medicine, food, and the like. John Paul II called Blessed Pier Giorgio "The Man of the Beatitudes," and championed him as a great beacon for Christian youth. I hope that you will enjoy the following short film about his life:

FATHER LARRY RICHARDS

This is Father Larry Richards, a great priest of the Diocese of Eerie, Pennsylvania, who will be speaking in our Diocese of Raleigh in the coming month. It is the second portrait in a series I am putting together for the "Ignited by Truth" Catholic Conference this February in Raleigh, NC. Father Larry is best known for his preaching style, which is at once funny, engaging, and somewhat rough around the edges. He's not a man who minces words. Father Larry epitomizes the phrase which defines the duty of every preacher of the Gospel: "To comfort the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable." Father Larry's sometimes harsh directness and his very challenging message are always salted with a wonderful sense of humor. A friend of mine, who was once a seminarian assigned to Father Larry's parish, said that every time Father Larry would see him coming, whether others were present or not, would always yell out to him "Hey Pagan Baby! Need to go to confession? I'll be right there!" His homilies are filled with this same playfulness, but he never swerves from the serious message that is being delivered. You can visit "The Reason for our Hope," an apostolate of Father Larry's, at this website:

http://www.thereasonforourhope.org/meet_father/index.html

I hope that you will enjoy a very moving example of Father Larry's preaching style:

SAINT GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA : A WITNESS TO THE PRECIOUS GIFTS OF LIFE AND FAMILY

This is a drawing of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a Wife, a Mother, a Physician, and a Martyr to the Sanctity of Life. Saint Gianna is one of only a handful of married men and women who have been Canonized Saints by the Church. She is also one of the only (if not the only person) saints whose canonization was attended by her husband and her children. She is a remarkably beautiful witness to the beauty of the vocation of matrimony, and also to the sacred love of a mother.

A Saint, in the Catholic tradition, is understood to be a person who lived their Christian faith with true heroism and radical charity. Saints are canonized by the Church and the Holy Spirit, in a process that has developed across thousands of years. However, the cause of sainthood always begins with the "Sensum Fidei," which is translated "Sense of the Faithful." This is why it was so significant, at John Paul II's funeral, that the people where chanting "Santo Subito! Santo Subito!" in unison at the end of the Mass. Translated this means "Sainthood now!" This, according to the commentators, used to be enough to Canonize someone. In any case, the sensum fidei was very strong at the time of Saint Gianna's death. It cannot be denied that she is a much needed witness for our times, and this in some part explains why she is so universally loved by all who get to know about her life and her death.

Saint Gianna is remembered especially for the way in which she died, and the reason she died. When pregnant with the latest of many children, Saint Gianna was found to have a large tumor, which threatened both her life and that of her unborn child. She had these choices for treatment: 1) The doctors could do a radical hysterectomy, one side effect of which would be an abortion 2)The tumor could be removed surgically in a relatively safe procedure that would also have among its results an abortion, or 3) The doctors could, in a very risky procedure, remove the tumor but suture the wound in such a way as to protect the baby. Saint Gianna chose the third option, and the procedure was done, against the objections of friends and family. It is reported that Saint Gianna told her husband before going into surgery: "If the choice is between me or the baby, you must choose the baby. I demand it." To a friend who protested that her other children needed her, Saint Gianna replied "For my children who have already been born, it is true that I am necessary to them. But to this child, I am ESSENTIAL." Saint Gianna's tumor was removed, but she died shortly after the birth of her baby, due to complications. She was able to hold the child before she went to her eternal award. If this were the only story of her life, it would certainly be remarkable and heroic, but not enough for a cause for canonization. Blessed we are indeed that Saint Gianna was not merely the doer of a heroic deed, she was a hero of faith and prayer throughout her life. If you have made it through this treatise (my apologies) I hope you will also read the following short biography from the Vatican's website. I am also embedding a couple videos about Saint Gianna's life that may be less time consuming.

Saint Gianna is a witness in our times to the responsibility of fathers and mothers to their children and to each other, as she is to the Sanctity of Life. All who come to know her, and who necessarily come to benefit from her courage and charity, fall immediately in love with her. I learned this today as I read about her life. Thank you for your time. During this week, on the eve of the March for Life, we ask Saint Gianna's prayers for us all, that we may find within ourselves the courage and the charity of Christ, to stand against the evils of our times.


Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962)

Gianna Beretta was born in Magenta (Milan) October 4, 1922. Already as a youth she willingly accepted the gift of faith and the clearly Christian education that she received from her excellent parents. As a result, she experienced life as a marvellous gift from God, had a strong faith in Providence and was convinced of the necessity and effectiveness of prayer.

She diligently dedicated herself to studies during the years of her secondary and university education, while, at the same time, applying her faith through generous apostolic service among the youth of Catholic Action and charitable work among the elderly and needy as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. After earning degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949, she opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950. She specialized in Pediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952 and there after gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and poor.

While working in the field of medicine-which she considered a “mission” and practiced as such-she increased her generous service to Catholic Action, especially among the “very young” and, at the same time, expressed her joie de vivre and love of creation through skiing and mountaineering. Through her prayers and those of others, she reflected upon her vocation, which she also considered a gift from God. Having chosen the vocation of marriage, she embraced it with complete enthusiasm and wholly dedicated herself “to forming a truly Christian family”.

She became engaged to Pietro Molla and was radiant with joy and happiness during the time of their engagement, for which she thanked and praised the Lord. They were married on September 24, 1955, in the Basilica of St. Martin in Magenta, and she became a happy wife. In November 1956, to her great joy, she became the mother of Pierluigi, in December 1957 of Mariolina; in July 1959 of Laura. With simplicity and equilibrium she harmonized the demands of mother, wife, doctor and her passion for life.

In September 1961 towards the end of the second month of pregnancy, she was touched by suffering and the mystery of pain; she had developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the required surgical operation, and conscious of the risk that her continued pregnancy brought, she pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child she was carrying, and entrusted herself to prayer and Providence. The life was saved, for which she thanked the Lord. She spent the seven months remaining until the birth of the child in incomparable strength of spirit and unrelenting dedication to her tasks as mother and doctor. She worried that the baby in her womb might be born in pain, and she asked God to prevent that.

A few days before the child was due, although trusting as always in Providence, she was ready to give her life in order to save that of her child: “If you must decided between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child - I insist on it. Save him”. On the morning of April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you», the mother died. She was 39 years old. Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. The Servant of God lies in the cemetery of Mesero (4 km from Magenta).

“Conscious immolation», was the phrase used by Pope Paul VI to define the act of Blessed Gianna, remembering her at the Sunday Angelus of September 23, 1973, as: “A young mother from the diocese of Milan, who, to give life to her daughter, sacrificed her own, with conscious immolation”. The Holy Father in these words clearly refers to Christ on Calvary and in the Eucharist.

Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the international Year of the Family.

"APOSTLE" : BISHOP MICHAEL BURBIDGE, BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH

I hope that you like my latest portrait of a man that I admire deeply. Bishop Burbidge came to our Diocese from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia a little more than two years ago, but his zeal for the Gospel and his love for the people he shepherds has endeared him to us all. When he speaks, I can feel myself getting stronger. Stronger in my faith, stronger as a man, and stronger as a husband. This is the mark of a great leader and a great pastor. This is why I chose to draw him speaking. The drawing is from an excellent photograph by my friend Paul Tomas. I hope he likes it!

This drawing is the first in a series I have on a fast track to prepare for Ignited by Truth, the Catholic Conference to be held in Raleigh the week of February 13th. I am going to be drawing portraits of the keynote speakers, to be assembled into an IBT 2009 poster. Thank you for following this blog and for your patience with the infrequency of new posts! It takes a while to put this stuff together!

To see an example of the great gift of preaching that Bishop Burbidge has been blessed with, please enjoy the following video. In this video Bishop Burbidge is delivering a homily, or sermon, to a large group of married couples celebrating their anniversaries.

CHRISTMAS WITH OUR FAMILIES

These are two drawings I did for my family and my wife's family. The first portrays my father with my grandmother, who passed away this past August, and also with my nephew Max. It is meant to portray the passing of love and goodness from one generation to the next. All that is good in each of us we owe to someone else.

The drawing for my wife's family includes portraits of my father and mother in law, me and Emily, and her brother, doing what he does best.

A VERY PEACEFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU

I hope that you enjoy this little drawing of the Savior. It is taken from a beautiful painting by Simon Dewey.

THE MAGI ARE COMING (under construction)

This year I thought that instead of jumping the gun with a drawing of the Blessed Mother and her Son, I would do something specific to the Advent Season. This drawing of the three "wise men," or "magi" is taken from the movie "The Nativity Story" with a few alterations. As you can see it is unfinished, but I wanted to get it out here before its completion just in case I get slowed down. I have tried to re-focus their gazes to suggest they are looking at the Star that is guiding them to the Savior, or staring purposefully into the West, from which their salvation will spring. Perhaps they are resting in their journey. As they rest, their anticipation is so high that they cannot bring themselves to lay down. So they stand, watching. In the light of the brightest star that anyone has ever seen, they stare into the deep blue distance and wonder: "What will we find when we come at last to the end of our journey? Surely it will be something wonderful and amazing. An event that will change our lives... and the very world." Nothing could prepare them or us for the overflowing generosity of God which comes to us in Christ Jesus. May each of us experience some small share of their longing to "seek and to find" the Christ. Happy Advent!

GIVING THANKS FOR NEW LIFE AND FAMILY

This drawing was completed as a thank you to my wife's very dear friends, Jason and Bethany, who welcomed us into their home this Thanksgiving in Jacksonville. While there I saw an awesome photo of Jason and Bethany holding their baby boy, Anderson, and took a snap shot of it in order to do the drawing you see. It was a joy to watch my wife play with her fat little "nephew" and to spend time with great friends. We are very grateful for their hospitality, and I am particularly thankful for their lasting friendship with my wife.

SACRED HEART OF JESUS DESIGN COMPLETED

I hope that you are as pleased with the results of this project as I am. I usually stay away from color, but its use was especially blessed in this project I think. Almost makes me consider getting another tattoo. (ALMOST!)

NEW MOVIE: THE GLORY

In this short movie I have set the illustrations of Christ's Passion, which I have completed over the past 4-5 years, to the music of Avalon. The song is one of my favorites, "The Glory." I hope that you will enjoy the result.

TWO PEN AND INK PROJECTS

These pen and ink drawings were requested by two different sources, but as the media is the same, I thought I would post them both together. The first drawing, of Christ crowned with thorns and displaying His Sacred Heart, is a design for a friend's tattoo that he plans to get on his shoulder. I am currently adding color to it per my friend's request.

The second drawing is a logo for Duke's Club Diving team, mostly made up, I believe, of young kids middle - highschool age. A friend of mine is assisting to coach that team and approached me about designing a logo. After all Duke Medical Center has done for me, not only as a staff member but also as a patient, Duke Athletics still continues to receive from me only competitive rage and Tarheel disdain. So I guess he must be a pretty good friend.

MISERERE

This drawing is taken from a great painting by Harry Anderson. The image beautifully depicts Christ comforting a man bent over in prayer. Although it is not explicit in the original painting, the image is to me a profound expression of the moment in which the sinner is reconciled to God. The pose of the figures recalls the physical posture we Catholics might take when approaching the confessional. There is something altogether beautiful in approaching that sacred place in which we return to the Lord. It is especially wonderful, after we have expressed our guilt and our shame, to be greeted not by silence, but by words of forgiveness, counsel, and comfort through the lips of Christ's representative. I am deeply thankful for the transformations that I have experienced and will yet experience in that holy place. Above the image is set below the beautiful words of Psalm 51, "Miserere mei, Deus...."

FATHER THOMAS FREDERICK PRICE AND "THE STAR OF THE SEA" : Another Story from the Life of the Tarheel Apostle

This drawing is the latest in my ongoing project honoring the life and work of Father Thomas Frederick Price, North Carolina's first native born Priest, whose cause for sainthood is ongoing. The drawing illustrates an event that occurred when young "Freddie" Price was on his way to begin Minor Seminary studies in Baltimore. The drawing, while not historically accurate with regards to the type of vessel involved, hopefully captures the essence of Father Price's experience in some small way. Price travelled aboard the Rebecca Clyde, a steam ship, in the fall of 1876. The ship wrecked in high winds and treacherous waters just off of Ocracoke Inlet. You can read a great article about the wreck, in which Price's name is mentioned along with other survivors, at this site for the New York Times.

By a miracle, Fred (who could not swim) was saved. Later he confided to a friend that the Virgin had appeared to him, helping to ensure his rescue from a watery death. The event is described beautifully in the book Father Price of Maryknoll: The book tells of Price’s inability to swim and of his prayers for the Blessed Virgin’s intercession. The text continues: “At once he seemed lifted up, and as he rose to the surface he grasped a spar that floated near. Another survivor grasped the other end of it and began to curse most horribly. He was ordered [by the young Fred Price] to stop and to thank God for the chance to escape. Clinging to the plank, the two drifted for several hours. Then, when almost overcome with exhaustion, they were picked up. Young Price was believed to be dead, but restoratives brought him to, and he was able the next day to return to Wilmington and his family. The Star of the Sea, so fervently addressed in that hour of anguish, had come to the rescue of her loving son.”

The drawing depicts the young Price gratefully gazing heavenward, to his Heavenly Mother and intercessor. (As a rule, Father Price very rarely – if at all – spoke of this incident in his life, but he did confide to a friend in another account of the tale that he in fact saw the Blessed Mother, or at the very least believed that he did) This work is especially dedicated to my friend, Philip Gerard Johnson, whose devotion to Father Price has been strong from his youth. My prayer for him and for all who face dark times is that, as they are cast about in the violent sea of life, they may be able to gaze heavenward, and find that same providential care (and peace!) that young Freddie Price experienced on that fateful day in September of 1876.

I LOVE TO DRAW....

I really do. However, recent events have made it clear to me that now is the right time to make significant adjustments in this area of my life. Specifically, I have determined to no longer accept commissions of any kind, and instead intend to only work on projects that I am led or inspired to undertake. I believe that my work can be a ministry, for example when it is used to honor the dearly departed, or to illustrate some aspect of Christ's Life and Gospel. I originally accepted and encouraged commissioned work because I dreamt of one day pursuing art as a career and not just as a part time pursuit. I have decided, in light of my medical history, that to pursue this possibility would be irresponsible, especially given my commitments to my family. The need to have a secure job with good health benefits is simply too vital to my family and myself for me to entertain this dream any longer. More than this, working full time in another occupation gives me the opportunity that all artists long for: To create according to my own inspiration. All work displayed on this website will continue to be available to all in the forms of prints and cards according to client requests by email. I am especially grateful to all those who have commissioned work that at this time remains unfinished. You have been exceedingly generous in understanding and patience.

FOR MY GOOD GODDAUGHTER

Although I don't consider this drawing finished just yet, I had to share it after a call from my dear friend today. One of his little girls, Therese, is my Goddaughter. Therese is named for Saint Therese of Lisieux, "The Little Flower." Saint Therese is one of my very favorite saints, and she has, I know, interceded for me so often in my life. Reading her "Story of a Soul" was a huge moment for me in my spiritual journey as a Christian and a Catholic, and I hope that all of you will check out "I Believe in Love," a spiritual retreat based on Saint Therese's spirituality. That book changed my life.

At any rate, I see so much of this great Saint in my little Goddaughter. The brown curly hair, the sweet disposition, the innocence and the beauty of Saint Therese can be seen in this wonderful little girl. More than any of these, however, I would say that little Therese is most like Saint Therese in her prayerfulness and her concern for others. That little girl prays for me every night, and it shows in her excitement when she sees me and in the love that she has for a Godfather who does not make the time that he should to see her more often.

Her father told me today that when praying for me, given my current health situation, Therese became very upset and wept. I haven't cried during any of this, but that made me tear up. When confronted with the loving regard of this little girl who hardly ever sees me, but keeps me in her heart and in her prayers at all times, I ask myself - "What did I do to deserve such love from one who is so good?" It is remarkable to me and I give thanks to God for this sign of His Love. This drawing then is a gift to Therese, who I will see tonight when I visit her family. I am so grateful to be so undeservedly and so magnanimously loved. God love her, and may Saint Therese ever bless her by her prayers and her watchful care. "I shall spend my heaven doing good upon earth." - Saint Therese

I think you will enjoy some of these photos - I am including two images of Saint Therese and Therese (with her Godmother, Jean) so that you can see how I assembled the drawing, and you will also find that Therese's daddy gets pretty serious about costumes for All Saints Day. (Therese is dressed as her patron, and her sister and brother are "The Lilly of the Mohawks" and "Isaac Jogues" - awesome costumes) Also, a beautiful image of my wife and Therese at our wedding, where she was an awesome flower girl.

For UPDATES ON TREATMENT, HEALTH AND FAMILY

I want to thank all of those who have poured out generous prayers and good wishes for our family during a difficult journey that we hope will be relatively short. There are moments in life when God grabs you, and shakes you violently, as if to say "LISTEN!! I LOVE YOU!!!" He does this especially when you find yourself bruised and bloody in the battlefield of life, and he rouses the troops around you - family, friends, spiritual leaders and mentors... for these, and especially for the most vivid way that God reveals his love to me, through the sacrament of marriage - I am profoundly grateful. I love you Emily.

Please check out the new blog that my wife has put together for our family, not only to track the progress of our (hopefully short) fight with this current issue, but also to journal the progress of our family life. If you have any doubt in your mind, know from one who is experiencing it currently in the raw: GOD IS GOOD, AND HE IS LOVE.

Our thanks to you all. Please also pray for a dear friend of ours who is beginning his own battle with brain cancer. A Navy man, this kid is tough as the Ocean, and just as deep.

My new blogger baby's site:

www.mightyteammyers.blogspot.com

PERSONAL NEWS ABOUT MY HEALTH (LIMITATIONS ON WORK)

I learned this past week that I have been diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma, that is, Cancer of the Kidney. Some of you are aware that I survived Testicular Cancer in 2000 after 6 rounds of chemotherapy and 2 surgeries at Duke. It is exceedingly rare that someone like myself should in less than a decade have two completely unique cancers that have nothing to do with each other, but here it is nonetheless. I only have one kidney (the other being removed in 2000 with my abdominal tumor) so this limits our options somewhat. We are cautiously optimistic however, as we have caught the cancer very early and whatever treatment we pursue, I should have plenty of kidney left to function as I have without dialysis or transplant. I am hopeful and gratefully aware of how incredibly precious life is, and I am so thankful to God for His manifold gifts, especially that of my wife and our family.

WITH REGARDS TO COMMISSIONED WORK: I will still be trying to complete work, but may have to indefinitely postpone and/or cancel many pieces, and I trust to your patience. Should you wish to withdraw a commission please do not be embarrassed or afraid to do so, as I may very soon be moving completely into drawing only things that I am inspired to do. I am sorry that the circumstances make this necessary for the present, but please know that I would be grateful to have less on my plate and you should not feel bound to continue with a commission that may not be finished in a timely way. 

Most of all, I elicit your prayers and thank you from the bottom of my heart for them. Please pray for Emily and I as we travel this road together. The Divine Physician uses very good instruments for his work, especially the physicians that I have the honor to work with at Duke. Thank you for your prayers!

IN MEMORY

This drawing is a portrait of Mr. Louis Tedder, a Duke Employee who passed away about three months ago. I did not have the opportunity to get to know Louis, but his reputation, as remembered by his friends and coworkers, is truly edifying. Louis worked many years at Duke, and was for many years the Hospital Concierge, responsible for serving all of Duke's Special Constituency patients. However, Louis was a servant to ALL patients at Duke, and made himself available to anyone who required his services. One of my favorite stories that I have heard about Louis told of his efforts to fulfill the wishes of a patient who was dying. The patient, on the rare occasion that he was able to eat, had a strong desire to eat pinto beans. Pinto beans were the one thing the hospital could not provide that day. When the patient's request was made known to Louis, he drove from store to store until he found pinto beans, and he and a fellow coworker prepared them for the patient, to his lasting gratitude. I felt the need to honor Louis' great memory with this portrait.

CATHOLIC VOTE VIDEO

Hello - I hope that you will enjoy as much as I do this video from Catholic Vote. As I told a loved one just the other day, I am not a one-issue voter, but some issues deserve priority. Especially the one right which all others flow out of, and without which there is no future. God Bless America, and I pray that all Christians and all people of good will may vote their conscience this November. 

A MARRIAGE MADE MORE BEAUTIFUL BY THE CROSS

This drawing is a gift for two friends of mine, recently married, who in the first year of their marriage have had to face the terrible trial of cancer. The young husband, pictured with his lovely wife in the drawing, has the same cancer that I was treated for in 2000. My cancer, stage IV when diagnosed, had spread to my abdomen. This young man has metastasis in many other places, but he and his family are truly remarkable for their enduring faith, hope, and love in the midst of their difficult struggle against his disease.

I have been able to keep up with their story through a website that hosts his mother's journal of the family's experience of the "good fight" her son is waging. Being deeply impressed with the beauty of the family's faith, and praying with them for his complete and total healing, I felt led to complete this drawing as a tribute to a young love purified "as through fire." I can tell that his wife has truly been a rock for this young man, and I know that my own experience of this trial would have been less awful, and more sweet, if I had travelled through it with the love of my life. Love is at its best and shines clearest when it triumphs in the face of suffering, fear, and doubt. I included, as you can see, two scripture verses, one to honor the vocation of this young wife, and a second which always gave me comfort when I was sick with cancer. May they too very soon "reap with cries of joy."

HOLY MATRIMONY

I am extremely thankful for the patience and long-suffering of the client who commissioned this drawing. The image is taken from the couple's wedding day, I believe. This same couple commissioned a "Jesus with the Children" drawing I completed a few months ago. Lovely couple!

A DRAWING TO HONOR THE FAMILY OF STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, IN MEMORY OF MARIA

I began this drawing when I learned of the tragic death of 5 year old Maria Sue Chapman, adopted daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth. If you do not know of his work, Steven Curtis Chapman is a Christian singer and songwriter, arguably the very best. He is, and has been since I was a little kid, my very favorite Christian musician. His music taught me at a very early age how good it is to Love God and to live a good life that is inspired by that love. Every song is filled with wisdom from Sacred Scripture and Prayer, and Steven has never disappointed me. I find his songs to be as sustaining and nurturing to my faith today as I did at the age of 14 when I first saw him perform at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

Steven and his family have inspired me in new ways as I have enjoyed and shared this first year and a half of marriage with my wife. As we have planned for the future and have discussed the possibility of adopting children, the Chapmans have been a shining example to me of the courageous love that risks so much in the way of potential heartbreak, disappointment, or other complications, to offer a family to a child who might otherwise be alone in this world. Steven and Mary Beth have three children and were inspired to adopt three girls from China. The youngest of these was Maria, who tragically was killed in a driveway accident at the family's home.

After hearing the news and having spent a great deal of time researching Steven and Mary Beth's adoption foundation, "Shaohannah’s Hope," I felt the need to reach out to a family and father who have meant so much to me in my life as a Christian and now as a married man. I chose this image from a photo I found of Steven and one of his little girls, whom I assumed was Maria. I was not aware of the significance of the photo before I began working on it, but the image was apparently taken when Steven was visiting China and he kissed this little girl (Maria) and a photo of the kiss was sent to the Chapmans when they returned home. Steven explained in a recent interview that when he saw that photo he knew that it was an image "of a daddy kissing his little girl," and he and his wife proceeded to pull out all the stops in order to adopt Maria.

I will be sending this drawing to the Chapmans along with a short letter explaining how deeply indebted I am to them and their example, especially in the courageous faith and endurance they are presently showing as a family. Please pray that it may be a comfort to them in their grief. I apologize for the length of this post, but some things are worth taking more time to say - Below are four videos - 1) An interview with the Chapmans on Good Morning America following the tragedy (this one is very moving and if you watch nothing else please watch this) 2) A music video for Steven's song "Cinderella," a song about his daughters which has become so much more poignant in the passing of his youngest little girl. 3) Steven's explanation of the theme of the song "Cinderella" (recorded before the accident - also extremely moving) and 4) A concert performance of possibly my very favorite song by Steven - "Speechless"

TRULY : Steven Curtis Chapman embodies the statement of Saint Augustine: 

"WHEN WE SING TO GOD.... WE PRAY TWICE."

NEW PORTRAIT OF CHRIST

It felt like it was time to do a drawing of the Lord. This latest portrait of the Savior (obvious homage to the artistry of Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel) is I think the best that I have done so far. I thought that it would be nice to compare it to some of my earlier attempts. The drawings below are rendered from the same material as this new portrait. (The Passion of the Christ)

A NEW PORTRAIT OF DEITRICH BONHOEFFER

This drawing, inspired by another drawing I did of the subject, is for the Provincial of the Order of Franciscans T.O.R. (Third Order Regular) He apparently did his doctoral thesis on the works of Bonhoeffer, and was kind enough to commission this piece after seeing the first portrait of the great Theologian that I did. Bonhoeffer is truly a shining hero of the Gospel for Christians of all denominations. "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God." (Gospel of Matthew 5:9)

A LITTLE FAMILY IN TRAINING

This drawing, a gift for my wife on her birthday, depicts the two of us at the top center and our two puppies, Newman and Nelly, below. Newman is the true puppy of the pair at just a little over 15 weeks or so, and is a Pom-a-Poo. (I know, I know - its a cross between a Pomeranian and a Poodle - as cute as he is its still humiliating to walk him) Nelly is our Beagle-Bassett mix, and is a lot more Beagle than Bassett. I'm convinced that Nelly's idol is Elmer Fudd. She'd hunt all day if I let her. Newman has been a happy addition to our family and is always greeted with the traditional (from Seinfeld) "Hello, NEWMAN." (with a good strong tone of disdain if he's made a mess!) Hope you like it!

BIG FAMILY

This drawing is one of my last works in portraiture, executed for a friend of mine and her family. It was definitely one of the most challenging drawings that I have done to date. I hope you are as happy with the result as I am!

MICHAEL PHELPS - ICON OF SWIMMING & THE GREATEST OLYMPIAN OF ALL TIME

WOW. That's really all I have to say. WOW.

MICHAEL PHELPS IS THE BEST SWIMMER IN THE WORLD. GO USA!

So I think this quick sketch says it all. If you didn't see the U.S. run down the French relay team last night for gold in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle (after the French said they would "crush the Americans") you need to stop what you are doing and go to www.nbcolympics.com - That was far and away the best swimming that I have ever seen in my life. Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak must have landed here from the planet Krypton. Go USA!

What can I say? Swimming gets me worked up.

DRAWING FOR THE YEAR OF SAINT PAUL: JUNE 28TH 2008 - JUNE 29TH 2009

I feel very honored to have been commissioned to draw this image of Saint Paul in honor of the Jubilee year of his birth. During this Year of Jubilee, Pope Benedict XVI has asked all Catholics to concentrate on the life, mission, and works of Saint Paul and to seek his intercession for the Church's needs. The statue I worked from is in Rome, and I was drawn to it because it seems to evoke Michelangelo's "Moses" in its forcefulness and temperament. I love that it captures Saint Paul's intensity and his fierce devotion to the Lord and the Gospel. Saint Paul is portrayed holding a sword because he was martyred, by beheading, in Rome during the persecutions of Nero. Saint Paul, pray for us!!

With Many Thanks: No longer able to accept commissions for private subject matter (DEVOTIONAL WORKS STILL ACCEPTED)

As of July 3rd, 2008, I will unfortunately no longer be able to accept commissions for private portraiture. As interest in my work has increased (thank you!!) and I have received more requests, it has become increasingly difficult to complete projects. As of this day, the focus of my work will be towards specifically religious and devotional works, for which I will still accept commissions, and also works of my own inspiration. All work requested prior to July 3rd, 2008 will be completed and delivered, and prints of work viewable on my website will still be available as prints.

As my work in art is my passion but is at the same time a part time pursuit, this is at present a necessary adjustment. I am deeply grateful to all of you who have encouraged me by your support and your requests for work. I may perhaps in the future be able to offer this service again should I ever become (God willing!) a full-time artist. If this changes, it will be noted on this website in the "About the Artist" section of this page. To all who have commissioned me for portraiture in the past: You have helped me to become a better artist, and it has been my joy to participate in your family life in this special way. God bless you!

A VERY BELATED FATHER'S DAY GIFT

This drawing honors my father and his parents, and was commissioned for Dad by my sister Katie. Dad is the "Dennis the Menace" looking one in the middle. My Grandparents raised my father to be a very good man. He has done the same for his children, and I am proud to have come from such "mighty stock." We love you dad!

NEW SERVICE FOR ORDERING PRINTS OF MY FAVORITE PIECES

Dear friends, I hope you will take the time to browse my online gallery at "Imagekind," an online gallery that provides prints and framed pieces for artists and their clients! The gallery available has some of my favorite work displayed and through Imagekind I am able to offer you a quality of print and service that I could not before. Imagekind has a limitless array of paper types, print options, mats and frames to choose from. I think that you will find it to be a great source for prints. Please email me at davemyers1977@gmail.com if there are any images here that you do not find on Imagekind. I can update the gallery as needed and would be happy to make the work available there. Thank you all for your interest!

TWO VERY SPECIAL PORTRAITS

These two drawings are portraits of two children that I have never met, but I am very very grateful to have had the chance to draw them. These two beautiful kids belong to THE FIRST PERSON WHO EVER INSPIRED ME TO LEARN TO DRAW. Their mother, Leslie, was a huge inspiration to me when I was about 6 years old. Her father was an accomplished artist, and Leslie could draw anything that I put in front of her. I can remember her copying images of Lady and the Tramp and other characters exactly as they looked in the books I had as a child, and I was mesmerized. At some point, Leslie got me some tracing paper and we would draw together. This eventually led me to be able to do more difficult things, and you can see where it has led. Thank you Leslie for such a wonderful gift!!

SAINT MICHAEL, REVISITED: PART ONE

I was recently given the opportunity to draw two more images of Saint Michael! (You may remember my original drawing of the Archangel with my self portrait on the Devil and also on St. Michael) This is the first of two versions commissioned by a retired Navy Chief who wants to get a tatoo of Saint Michael across his back. I was recently approached by a Police Lieutenant in another part of the country for the same purpose, and he ordered prints of my original drawing.

I have tried to do this image to the specifications of what my client asked for, and am happy with the result. I hope that you like it.

NEW PROJECT TO PROMOTE VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD: "SHEPHERDS" (BISHOPS OF RALEIGH AND CHARLOTTE,NC): DRAWING FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY PAUL TOMAS

I am very excited about this new project, one that I have been thinking about ever since I first saw the incredible photography of Paul Tomas. Paul is a professional photographer who specializes in the types of things you would expect a photographer to: Weddings, Portraits, special events, etc. and his work, as you can see, is stunning. Paul is unique in the extra category of work on his website entitled "Liturgical." Here Paul has available a gallery of wonderful photographs taken at big Catholic events in the life of our Diocese. (the March for Life, Corpus Christi, Priestly Ordination, etc.) I was especially drawn to Paul's striking portraits of Priests that I know and love. These intimate portraits capture I think the unique character of each of these men of God, and each image seems to speak of the Joy of a Priestly life that is lived well.

From this inspiration I had the idea to propose a collaborative project to Paul for the purpose of promoting vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life in our Diocese. My proposal was to assemble drawings rendered from Paul's photographs of our Priests, and to produce a poster that highlights the joy of the Priesthood rightly lived. I am delighted that Paul agreed. This drawing of Bishop Michael F. Burbidge (Diocese of Raleigh) and of Bishop Peter J. Jugis (Diocese of Charlotte) is the first of many images that I hope to complete from Paul's work. The photograph was taken at the NC March for Life this past year, and it is simply the best photograph of these two "Shepherds" that I have seen. Below is a very rough prototype of the theme that I have in mind for this project. Many thanks to Paul for his gracious willingness to allow me to benefit from his work in this way. Please visit http://www.paultomas.com/

TWO GOOD FRIENDS ORDAINED PRIESTS

This drawing was done by commission for two friends who were this past weekend ordained to the Priesthood. These two friends of mine I came to know as a seminarian, when the three of us began our formal discernment of the Vocation which they have now fully embraced, with the help of God and the prayers of His people. I know them both, and each of them have great strengths that will suit them well to the life of a Pastor, and both of them have a great love for God and His People.

Father Michael Spurr is depicted proclaiming the Gospel, and Father Romen Acero is portrayed assisting Bishop Michael Burbidge at Mass. Many thanks to Mr. Frank Morock of the Diocese of Raleigh Media office, who took the photos I worked from. Separate images of their portraits are shown with appropriate scripture verses. Father Acero is Colombian, so his passage is shown in Spanish. May God give many blessed years to their ministry!

NEW DRAWING OF JESUS AND THE CHILDREN

This work was commissioned by a young woman in Kansas who came across my website, and the details are really interesting. First, I must give credit where it is due: this work owes its composition and most of its content to the incredible painting "In His Light" by Greg Olsen. At the risk of letting you see how poor an artist I really am, here is a link to Greg Olsen's work. I hope that you like my interpretation in graphite of a masterpiece of Contemporary Christian Art.
The really cool part of this drawing is that the young lady who commissioned it asked that the children depicted be her and her husband as children. I think it is a beautiful statement of the child like trust that each of us should have in the Lord.

Sneak Peek : BEAR GRYLLS OF "MAN VS. WILD" (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)

This is the progress in one small corner of an 8x10 I am doing as tribute to my new favorite show: "Man vs. Wild" with Bear Grylls. If you haven't seen this guy in action, you should definitely catch his show Friday nights on the Discovery Channel. He's done some crazy stuff. I think he's the youngest dude to climb Everest, he's a former Military Survival Instructor for the United Kingdom special forces, and his show basically goes like this: Fly a guy in by helicopter or plane, and drop him into really deadly places (sahara desert, everglades, padagonian wilderness, etc) with NOTHING but a knife and his wits, and then watch him show you how to survive. This is caveman hunter/gatherer stuff. Here are some good videos: One is of Grylls in action and the other is the Discovery Channel's awesome "I love the whole world" commercial - includes cameos by some of my favorite stars. (Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs, Future Weapons, Man v. Wild, etc) - Special thanks to my buddy Nick Hardesty of Catholic Apologetics for the latter vid!

A Drawing Commemorating the Reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation

This drawing, for a young woman who received the Sacrament of Confirmation this past weekend, was actually completed some weeks ago, but saved until after the gift could be given by the person who commissioned it. Each of the two scenes to the left of the image come from this young lady's baptism and her first communion. The First Communion image was especially well suited to be at the center of the composition, given the beautiful statue of Mary that overshadows the communicant. The Holy Spirit's Light shines over the whole scene. This is fitting, given the fact that the Holy Spirit is invoked in a special way in this sacrament, and is also dispenser of all other sacraments. The texts included in this image are taken from each of the Masses/Ceremonies in which these Sacraments are conferred.

"Come Holy Spirit, Fill the Hearts of Thy Faithful. Kindle in them the Fire of Your Love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall Renew the Face of the Earth..."

SEAN CLIVE, CATHOLIC MUSICIAN

I hope that you have had a chance to enjoy the slideshow of my past work, and apologize for my tardiness in posting new work. I have it seems a hundred projects and no time.

I was honored to receive an email from a great singer and musician last night. There are many Catholic Christians out there like myself, who have listened with joy to the works of great Christian artists like Caedmon's Call, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Casting Crowns. As we have listened, we have all the while longed for someone with their talent to express in song the beauty of the ever ancient and ever new Catholic Faith. Sean Clive is what we have been waiting for. I was honored to receive a commission from him, but was even more honored and humbled that he included some of my drawings in the short music video below. The music is from Sean's song, "Amazed." My wife and I immediately loved it. I hope you will visit Sean's site and hear the music that proclaims his great love for the Lord and for the Catholic Faith that God has given to us.

Amazed

BEAUTIFUL KIDS AND A GREAT CAUSE

This drawing was commissioned by my sister for her friends, a couple that does a mission work in Haiti. The photographs were taken by Mandy Busby, who sells prints to raise money for the orphanage where the children portayed live. I found this little boy's gaze to be the most striking, and although my sister asked specifically for the hands to be the main drawing, I had to find a way to incorporate him into the image. Hopefully, Mandy and her family will be able to use prints of this drawing to raise money for the children they assist. Please visit Mandy's site!

GANDHI BONHOEFFER PROJECT COMPLETE

The completed work above was commissioned by a friend that I work with, and it pays tribute to the high esteem that Diettrich Bonhoeffer had for Gandhi, especially his movement of non-violent resistance. It is interesting to note that Bonhoeffer apparently wanted to travel to India and study with Gandhi in person. There is a debate over whether or not Bonhoeffer would have held to a completely pacifist resistance against the Nazis had he not been prevented from taking this journey. Bonhoeffer was a member of the German resistance movement and took part in a failed plot to assassinate Hitler later during the War. It is a debate that we will always have, I think - is there such a thing as a "Just War," particularly in the Light of Christ? Follow this link to read the Catholic understanding. Below I have included two quotes, one from Martin Luther King Jr on Gandhi and Bonhoeffer, and the second an excerpt from a letter Bonhoeffer wrote regarding his desire to study with Gandhi. I have thoroughly enjoyed this project.

"If your opponent has a conscience, then follow Gandhi and nonviolence. But if your enemy has no conscience like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer." - Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"[N]ow the time has come when the Sermon on the Mount must be brought to mind again…Incidentally I plan to go to India very soon to see what Gandhi knows about these things and to see what is to be learned there." - Excerpt from a letter written by Bonhoeffer, 1934

BROTHER AND SISTER

These two punkins were drawn for a friend that I work with at Duke. It looks to me like he is saying "You mess with my sister, you messin' with me..."

GANDHI

"I found in the nonviolent resistance philosophy of Gandhi... the only morally and practically sound method open to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This portrait of Gandhi is a companion to my previous drawing of Dietterich Bonhoeffer, and is part of a larger piece commissioned by a friend. Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance to the abuses of the occupying government in his country would inspire great leaders like Bonhoeffer and Dr. Martin Luther King in their efforts to remove oppression and misery by nonviolence. What follows is an excerpt from an article available on Wikipedia:

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (2 October 1869–30 January 1948), also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. He was the pioneer of Satyagraha—a philosophy that is largely concerned with truth and 'resistance to evil through active, non-violent resistance'—which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is commonly known in India and across the world as the Mahatma ("Great Soul" - an epithet given by Tagore) and as Bapu ("Father"). In India, he is officially accorded the honour of Father of the Nation. 2 October, his birthday, is commemorated each year as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday. On 15 June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution declaring 2 October to be the "International Day of Non-Violence."

Gandhi first employed peaceful civil disobedience in the Indian community's struggle for civil rights in South Africa. Upon his return to India from Africa, he organized poor farmers and labourers to protest against oppressive taxation and widespread discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for the alleviation of poverty, for the liberation of women, for brotherhood amongst different religious and ethnic groups, for an end to untouchability and caste discrimination, and for the economic self-sufficiency of the nation, but above all for Swaraj—the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led his nation in the disobedience of the British salt tax imposed in India with the 400 kilometre (250 miles) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and in an open call for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years on numerous occasions in both South Africa and India.

Gandhi practised and advocated non-violence and truth in all situations. He lived simply, organizing an ashram that was self-sufficient in its needs. Making his own clothes—the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with the handspun yarn he spun on a charkha—he lived on a simple vegetarian and, later, fruitarian diet. He underwent long (at times over a month) fasts, for both self-purification and protest.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: A BEAUTIFUL MAN OF GOD

This drawing is in honor of Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Visit to the United States this past week, and was rendered from a photo taken in St. Peter's Square by a good friend. I am very grateful to the Holy Father for his presence and his words, which, as always, were full of beauty, goodness, and hope. I was especially proud of our country and our President for so graciously receiving our Pastor. It was wonderful to see outwardly in his gentle smile the beauty of the Holy Father’s love for Christ and His People. In the past I grieved that the once Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was so maligned and misunderstood. His writing, to me, always revealed a man deeply in love with God. I remember very well the first time that I read a book he wrote named Called to Communion. It was like drinking clear, cold water, the kind that refreshes and brings you to life. A passage from that book follows, in which then Cardinal Ratzinger reflects on the tension between the Office of the Pope and the sinfulness and weakness of the men who have filled that office throughout history.

Prints of this work are available on Imagekind, and may be ordered by following the link below. Imagekind has a huge array of paper choices, and if you so choose, Imagekind will even frame the work for you according to your specifications. Large prints of my work are usually possible, up to or exceeding 16x20! Please have a look!

“If in the course of history the attribution of such authority to men could repeatedly engender the not entirely unfounded suspicion of human arrogation of power… The men in question are so glaringly, so blatantly unequal to this function that the very empowerment of man to be the rock makes evident how little it is they who sustain the Church but God alone who does so, who does so more in spite of men than through them. …When the Church adheres to these words in faith, she is not being triumphalistic but humbly recognizing in wonder and thanksgiving the victory of God over and through human weakness. Whoever deprives these words of their force for fear of triumphalism or of human usurpation of authority does not proclaim that God is greater but diminishes him, since God demonstrates the power of his love, and thus remains faithful to the law of the history of salvation, precisely in the paradox of human impotence. For with the same realism with which we declare today the sins of the popes and their disproportion to the magnitude of their commission, we must also acknowledge that Peter has repeatedly stood as the rock against ideologies, against the dissolution of the word into the plausibilities of a given time, against subjection to the powers of this world.When we see this in the facts of history, we are not celebrating men but praising the Lord, who does not abandon the Church and who desired to manifest that he is the rock through Peter, the little stumbling stone: "flesh and blood" do not save, but the Lord saves through those who are of flesh and blood. To deny this truth is not a plus of faith, not a plus of humility, but is to shrink from the humility that recognizes God as he is. Therefore the Petrine promise and its historical embodiment in Rome remain at the deepest level an ever-renewed motive for joy: the powers of hell will not prevail against it . . .”

– From Called to Communion by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

Pope Benedict Visits the United States: WHO THE POPE IS FOR ME

“I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31-32)

On the occasion of his 81st birthday, and reflecting on his words and his presence here with us in the United States, I thought it would be appropriate to again post this drawing of Pope Benedict XVI. Like President Bush, I am deeply moved that Pope Benedict, a pastor to me and also to billions of Catholics around the world, would choose to spend his birthday here with us. For me, the Pope, or the “Holy Father” as we Catholics affectionately know him, is a welcome voice of clarity in a sea of voices that contradict and mislead. He continues Saint Peter’s mission, given him by Christ, to “strengthen his brethren.” The office of Pope is often misunderstood, but for me and for billions more, it is absolutely essential. The Lord did not leave us orphans, nor did he leave us to our own varied and countless interpretations of what He taught us. No, He promised that His Spirit “will lead you into all truth.” He told Peter “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.” For 2,000 years Peter and his successors have protected the unity of the faith by executing this office of strengthening and uniting. The Popes throughout history, like St. Peter, have by no means been perfect, sinless men. Yet, again in the footsteps of Peter, when they have shone with the Light and the Wisdom of Christ, they have not been “a stumbling block” but a Rock and a Beacon of truth and goodness. Pope John Paul the Great is such an example. I am deeply grateful for the ministry that Pope Benedict performs for me and for all Catholics, and will be in prayer for him during his time with us. Happy Birthday, Holy Father!

For My Wife on Our First Anniversary

This video I put together as a gift for my wife on the occasion of our first anniversary. I am more in love today than I was a year ago, and I am so thankful to be able to face life every day with someone who is my best friend. To everyone who has supported and encouraged us during this first year: You know who you are! We love you!

DIETTRICH BONHOEFFER AND THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

This portrait is part of a larger project, but I am displaying it now because it stands on its own as a memorial to a man that I would not hesitate to call a great theologian and saint. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran Pastor and Theologian at the time of the rise of Nazism in Germany. As a very good article in Wikipedia recalls: “During World War II, Bonhoeffer played a key leadership role in the Confessing Church, which opposed the anti-semitic policies of Adolf Hitler. He was among those who called for wider church resistance to Hitler's treatment of the Jews. While the Confessing Church was not large, it represented a major source of Christian opposition to the Nazi government in Germany. After the unsuccessful July 20 Plot in 1944, Bonhoeffer's connections with the conspirators were discovered. He was moved to a series of prisons and concentration camps ending at Flossenbürg,” where he was killed by hanging** at Hitler’s command, very near to the time of the Allies’ entry into the area where he was held prisoner.

My favorite work by Bonhoeffer is admired deeply by Christians of every denomination, and it is called The Cost of Discipleship. In this book, Bonhoeffer famously makes a distinction between what he calls “cheap” vs. “costly” grace. More from Wikipedia follows:

“But what is "cheap" grace? In Bonhoeffer's words: "cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ." Or, to put it even more clearly, it is to hear the gospel preached as follows: "Of course you have sinned, but now everything is forgiven, so you can stay as you are and enjoy the consolations of forgiveness." The main defect of such a proclamation is that it contains no demand for discipleship.

In contrast to this is costly grace: "costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."”

You can read more about Bonhoeffer’s life and work at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer

(**Please note that this is a correction to an earlier edition of this post - I mistakenly wrote that the subject died by firing squad. Thank you for your patience and for the correction sent to me by an interested person**)

AN ANNIVERSARY GIFT

This drawing was commissioned by a very dear friend to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his parent's marriage!! It is truly edifying to know such faithful people and to be able to honor their love in this way. I hope that you are as happy with the result as I am. If you scroll down on this page you can view photos of me drawing this piece, which were taken by my friend Garry Boyce, of Modern Metal Studios.

DURHAM ART WALK 2008 AT NEW "BULL CITY ART AND FRAMING COMPANY" IN BRIGHTLEAF SQUARE

This weekend was very exciting for me. I was given a great opportunity to take part in the grand opening of a truly extraordinary Art Gallery in downtown Durham at Bright Leaf Square. I was approached a few months ago by the gallery owners with a wonderful chance to hang my work with many other extremely gifted artists from the area. I hope that you will get an opportunity to visit this venue, as it is truly beautiful. Their framing shop is STATE OF THE ART!! Bull City Art and Frame has the only visual imagery system for project design in the area. (This means that you can see EXACTLY what your piece will look like matted and framed before ever a single cut is made!) I have found Lewis and Tiffany, the owners of the gallery, to be the most down-to-earth and thoroughly professional couple. They gave me a great opportunity to sketch in the gallery over the weekend during the Durham Art Walk.


The images of me and Emily with my work were taken with our camera. All of the matting and framing were done by Bull City Art and Framing Company. The images here of me drawing were taken by my new friend Garry Boyce, who is a great artist, metal sculptor, and, as you can see, photographer! His metal working studio has a fantastic website at http://www.modernmetalstudios.com/


You can visit Bull City Art and Frame Company's website at http://www.bullcityartandframecompany.com/

New Gallery where my work is being shown!!

If you have time today, please join us at the Durham Art Walk in Downtown Durham. I will be drawing at "Bull City Art and Frame" a new gallery where my work is being shown and offered for sale. I hope that you will come by and see it, as it is a great location and a beautiful gallery. The gallery is located in Brightleaf Square right next to Niko's Restaurant. You can see more info on the art walk at this site: http://www.durhamartwalk.com/

Our Lady Health of the Sick, Comforter of the Afflicted

This drawing was drawn as a gift for a very dear friend of mine who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. I have had the idea for this image for a much longer time, and have always loved these three titles of Mary (taken from the Litany of Loretto): "Health of the Sick, Comforter of the Afflicted, and Refuge of Sinners." The image illustrates my experience of faith during my own bout with cancer in the year 2000. My regard for the Blessed Virgin, what we Catholics would call "Devotion," grew as I passed through chemotherapy and surgery towards health. The person who suffers is never alone, and a mother cannot but try to console her children in their pain. I believe that just as Mary stood near the Cross of her son, ever in prayer, so too she stands near our own bed of pain, whatever it may be. "The prayers of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16) How much more do the entreaties of a mother move the heart of her son? My prayer for my friend, and for all who experience suffering, is that they may find the strength that comes from the intercession of all those, like the Blessed Mother, who love and cherish them.

A NEW VIDEO FOR EASTER

Some may remember that last year I made a video that was posted on Good Friday. I just finished one that I have had in mind for some time now, and seemed appropriate for the Octave of Easter. Truly He is Risen, as He said! In this video you will find some of the most stunning and beautiful paintings of Christ that have been done by contemporary masters like Thomas Blackshear II, Nathan Greene, and many others. I have boldly included bits of my poor efforts. The song is one of my favorite renditions of "Fairest Lord Jesus" sung by Christy Nockels for the album "Passion: Hymns Ancient and New." I think that you will find the music inspiring, and hope that the compilation of images set to this great hymn will turn your mind towards the Lord during this season of hope. I have also included the Good Friday music video that I put together last year. Enjoy, and may the Resurrection of the Lord give you Peace as you face your own way of the cross day by day.

REMAINING STATIONS OF THE CROSS

V: SIMON HELPS JESUS

VI: VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

VII: JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

VIII: JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

IX: JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME

X: JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

XI: JESUS IS CRUCIFIED

XII:JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

XIII: PIETA

XIII: JESUS IS ENTOMBED

HOLY THURSDAY 2008

"Brothers and sisters:I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,took bread, and, after he had given thanks,broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you.Do this in remembrance of me.”In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes." - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
"Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father.He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his powerand that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist.Then he poured water into a basinand began to wash the disciples’ feetand dry them with the towel around his waist.He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?”Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now,but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,for he is clean all over;so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him;for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feetand put his garments back on and reclined at table again,he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.I have given you a model to follow,so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”
- John 13:1-15

IN MEMORY OF EVE CARSON

This drawing is in honor of Eve Carson, whose life was celebrated by her friends today at the University of North Carolina. The more that I learned about this young woman after her death, the more I prayed for her school, her friends, and especially her family. I cannot imagine their sorrow at losing so suddenly such a bright and shining light. I can only reverence it. But I felt compelled to offer this small memorial, for it seems that she was truly someone who spent herself in service to others. "May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest." Eternal Rest give unto her O Lord, and may Perpetual Light shine upon her."

"I love UNC. I love the quad in spring and the arboretum in the fall. I love the pit on a sunny day and graham memorial lounge on a rainy one. I love Roy all the time. But what makes UNC truly special is not our beautiful campus, our distinguished reputation or even our basketball team. It's us - the student body - who make UNC what it is." - Eve Carson

STATIONS OF THE CROSS IV: JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER

Here is a moment and a mystery too deep to approach without reverence: A mother's love for her dying child confronted with the Love both of her Son and of her God, a collision of love and beauty in the midst of darkness and violence. Amidst a crowd of hearts filled only with hate or apathy, the fullest and most beautiful hearts that have ever been come together again as at their first meeting in Nazareth. Then, as in this moment: "Behold, the Handmaiden of the Lord. Be it done to me according to Thy Word." (Luke 1:38) And so, when we feel helpless to help those we love in their pain, may we learn the soothing balm which your loving gaze must have been for Your Son in the dreadful hour of His Passion. Pray for us, Our Lady of Sorrows, that we may be filled with the compassion of Christ.
We adore You O Christ, and we praise You, for by Your Holy Cross, You have Redeemed the World. Amen.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS III: JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

As this drawing suggests, when You fell for the first time beneath the burden of our sin, Lord, it was no friendly or neutral hand that helped You up. Rather kicks, whips and malicious voices spurred You on from without. From within, Your Love burned on, and You were able to trust through the pain, "for the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore HAVE I SET MY FACE LIKE FLINT." (Isaiah 50:7) Although it seemed impossible, You struggled to Your feet to press on towards other fallings and risings, trusting that You would reach the goal. When the collected failures of my past (and even those that are happening now) seem gathered together to laugh at my present efforts, give me a share of the Spirit in which You rose after this fall. May every failure and accomplishment be in the end, by Your transformative power, for our repentance and salvation. We adore You O Christ and We Praise You. For by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the World. Amen.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS II - JESUS RECEIVES HIS CROSS

The Lord did not avoid His Cross or all the manifold difficulties it presented to His weary and abused Body in those final hours of His Life. Here, in this image taken from The Passion of the Christ, Jesus embraces, even caresses the gritty, splintered wood that He would transform into "The Tree of Life." For from this tree He would pour out our salvation, and its fruit would "be for food, and [its] leaves for healing." (Ezekiel 47:12) How often in my earthly pilgrimage I have despised not the shame of the cross, but the cross itself. How often I have known the good that needed to be done, but despaired of its fulfillment because the task would cause me difficulty, humiliation, or pain. Jesus saw past immediate (excruciating!) pain to the fruit of His sacrifice. I can recall many times that I have come home after a long day, burdened with regret for things left undone which should have been done, if not for my own trepidation. I can also recall the times that I have embraced difficulty for the sake of a greater purpose, a greater good, and come to my place of rest with a happy conscience. Teach us Lord to "earnestly desire the higher gifts. And [show us] a still more excellent way." (1 Cor 12:31) Then will we, living in a time that shuns painful sacrifice, learn the meaning of this "scandalous" embrace. Thank You for embracing Your Cross for us poor sinners, and "despising its shame."

We adore You O Christ, and we praise You, for by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the World. Amen.

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS: I - JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

In the following days of Holy Week, I am going to try to post all of the Stations of the Cross, images I have produced over the past four years. As you will see, inspirations were drawn from "The Passion of the Christ" (Mel Gibson, 2004) and from other art inspired by the Way of the Cross. I will share what I can remember of the thoughts that made their way into the prayer of drawing these images, and offer prayers they inspire to accompany each post.
Pilate tried so hard to defer responsibility for his terrible decision to others. He washed his hands vigorously, trying so hard to forget and suppress the cries of his conscience. He ran down the byways of his mind, running from his vague fear of the "what if" of God, and from the profound certainty that he had condemned a man that he knew was innocent. "It is not my fault! I will not be blamed!" My soul so often cries out, finding little and big ways to justify my bad decisions, my small turnings away from the Truth that so puzzled Pilate. Lord Jesus, Savior, so often I switch "truths" according to my own convenience and self protection, and not according to the "still small voice" within which points out the proper way to pray, to think, to decide. Please help us to not fail, as Pilate did, to "redress the wronged" and defend the innocent. "We adore You O Christ, and We praise You, for by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the World." Amen.

A PERSONAL LENTEN TRADITION NEARS COMPLETION

For about four years now, ever since my days as a Seminary Intern, it has been my practice during Lent to illustrate certain Stations of the Cross. Originally, I had intended to illustrate them the first Lent I began them. Well, at last, it seems that I will finally have finished this project.

The subject of this drawing is the 10th Station of the Cross, "Jesus is stripped of His garments." The work is a copy of one of many incredible paintings by James Tissot, the great 19th Century painter. The last station, "The Entombment of Jesus," will be a copy from the monumental "Entombment" of Caravaggio. Once complete, my intention is to post each of the stations I have drawn in order during Holy Week.

Please take time to read about the traditional Stations of the Cross, a profound and very worthwhile devotion. In this station, the Christian is called to meditate on the worldly poverty of Jesus, His nakedness and His willingness to endure the most terrible humiliations so that we might be reconciled to God. In His absolute poverty, Our Lord revealed to us the Riches of His Love. The prayer for this station below is from my favorite Stations of the Cross, "Everyman's Way of the Cross" by Clarence Enzler:

My Lord, I offer You my all - whatever I possess, and more, my self. Detach me from the craving for prestige, position, wealth. Root out of me all trace of envy of my neighbor who has more than I. Release me from the vice of pride, my longing to exalt myself, and lead me to the lowest place. May I be poor in spirit Lord, so that I may be rich in You.

WORKS IN PROCESS

I know that the website has languished for the past few weeks without any posts, and want to thank the faithful who check it every few days. As you can see in these images, I have been busy, but was slowed down for a time by life's little obstacles. Some exciting things are happening. Stay tuned! From the top and left to right - "Bishops James Gibbons and Leo Haid" (For the ongoing 'Tarheel Apostle' project), "Coach Allen and Matt Allen" (for the ongoing UNCW Retrospective project) and "A Special gift for my Goddaughter." (This last one you will love)

THE PELICAN

As you can see, the final version of this Ordination Illustration was much more elaborate than the first post of the drawing's progress. As with many other fine details in other drawings I have done, the designs around the image were tedious, but the result is worth it in the end. I hope you will read the first post of this work's progress for the image's meaning. All the best to the Deacon who commissioned this work, who will soon be ordained to the Priesthood.

Work in Progress: The Pelican, Symbol of Christ

I am very honored to be working to complete the image you see above for another Priestly Ordination. I am very happy to have been contacted and commissioned by so many men studying for the Priesthood. I feel that this is an opportunity for my work to be a true Apostolate, and am overjoyed to have the chance to compose purely religious imagery for such holy occasions. If you have friends who are approaching ordination, please encourage them to visit my site and to see if they would like to have original work done for this solemn day in their life and the life of the Church.

If you are unfamiliar with the image, it is especially dear to the Deacon who commissioned the work, and it will appear on his chasuble at his first Mass of Thanksgiving. It is a traditional image meant to symbolize Christ which dates back to the Middle Ages. It is taken from an erroneous belief that Pelican mothers nursing their young, when stranded in the wilderness, would pierce their own breasts to feed the chicks with their own blood. An explanation of the iconography taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia follows below:

The Pelican is a symbol of the atonement and the Redeemer. It was supposed to wound itself in order to feed its young with its blood and to bring to life those who were dead -- the "pelicane who stricketh blood out of its owne bodye to do others good" (Lyly, Euphues). Allusion is made to this belief in "Hamlet" (act iv): --
To his good friend thus wide I'll ope my arms And, like the kind, life-rendering pelican, Repast them with my blood.Therefore it was deemed a fitting symbol of the Saviour, the nostro pelicano of Dante, Who shed His blood in order to give eternal life to the children of men. Skelton in his "Armorie of Birds" says: --
Then sayd the Pellycan: When my Byrdts be slayne With my bloude I them revyve. Scripture doth record The same dyd our Lord And rose from deth to lyve.

Our Kneeler in its New Home

I thought that you might like to see our new kneeler in its place of honor in our home. Our hope is that it will enrich our lives as married persons and as Catholics. I think that it looks especially good with all of our books.

A Special Project Just in time for Lent

Long before Christmas, I wanted to build a kneeler for our home. After searching online for a kneeler that both my wife and I could use, I found that they were all too expensive, and finally came to the conclusion: "Why buy one when I can build one that's not only cheaper but better?" The only problem then became the money and the tools and the talent. Luckily, my wife was very good to me, and got me a $100 gift card for Lowe's, and convinced her father to help me put together my designs for the kneeler you see above. To say that my father-in-law helped is probably a bit too much of a stretch. Yep, as the photos suggest - he built the thing. He had the tools and the talent.
Check the HUGE book space! You're just not going to find another kneeler anywhere that can fit every season of the Liturgy of the Hours, along with the entire Catholic Encyclopedia on its shelves. Thanks to Ron and to my wife for helping me to make this a reality!

SAINT THOMAS MORE

Here finally is my completed drawing (a copy from a painting by Hans Holbein) of one of my favorite saints, Saint Thomas More: Husband, Father, Lawyer, Knight, Lord Chancellor of England, and Martyr. When I have been wisest, I have turned to Saint Thomas More when I have had a difficult matter to discern, or a difficult decision to make. I think he is most remarkable for his prudence and for putting into practice the Lord's admonition to "be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves." (Mt 10:16) All Christian men should look to him as an example of how to be a good man in a culture that is decaying. I hope that you will enjoy this clip from "A Man for All Seasons," Paul Scofield's masterful portrayal of Saint Thomas More, after the play by Robert Bolt:

A PRIEST'S HANDS: TWO DRAWINGS

These drawings were completed as illustrations for prayer cards that will commemorate the ordination of two men to the Priesthood this coming Spring/Summer. One of these men is a very dear friend, and for his holy card he requested an old drawing that I did entitled "Priest's Hands." I was happy to provide the image, but as he is very dear to me, I wanted to do something special for him on this occasion. The drawing above of "Priest's Hands" is a new version of the original, and you can see the old and the new compared below. It was fun to see what I could do with a favorite image from the past given a couple years experience and development. I think that the new version is the best - crisper, more vivid.

The image of the Priest holding the chalice was commissioned by another man who contacted me through the website after viewing "Priest's Hands." The chalice illustrated is the one that he will use at his Thanksgiving Mass on the day after his ordination. It was great to get the chance to work on two devotional images that compliment each other so well. I hope you are as pleased with the result as I am! You can buy prints of these drawings by following either of the two links below:

Mountain Getaway

Hey everyone! I know it has been a long time since I have posted anything - chalk it up to a new job and working on too many projects at once. This drawing is actually for my new boss, who commissioned it for a friend who built this cabin. Building details are time consuming, but in the end, rewarding. At the end I felt like I cut all that firewood underneath the porch! Hope you like it!

A SINGLE WHITE ROSE

This little drawing was executed as a gift for my wife, Emily. It was the best way to do something special for her and to give her a flower without simultaneously upsetting her by spending too much money on an expensive floral arrangement! I love you E -
Note the new format for my pics - I will now be appending watermarks to all my posts.

HONORING A GREAT MAN: Dr. Albert Leroy Myers, My Grandfather

This drawing is a tribute to the memory and legacy of my grandfather, Albert Myers, a man whose greatest achievement was the virtuous life he lived. "Pa pa," as he was affectionately known by us, his grandchildren, was a true patriarch(in the best sense of the word) to his family, a great teacher to his students, and a passionate churchman. As a boy, I once wrote a short paper (in 6th grade) entitled "The smartest man I've ever known" about my Pa Pa. I hope you will enjoy this new testimony to his greatness.

At his funeral, there was not one sermon, but two, and the line leading to the visitation was four wide and out the door. He was truly revered. Look to this post again to listen to one of the sermons about my grandfather - I am in the midst of editing a short movie of pictures set to it.

As you can see, the image illustrates my grandfather at different stages of his life, and shows his wife, my "Pa Ma" next to him, with his boys, one being my father, below as children and as the men he was so proud to see them become. As he approached his failing years, their care for him was truly edifying. I was led to think of my Grandfather and his boys when I heared the following scripture on Holy Family Sunday:

"God sets a father in honor over his children;a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.Whoever honors his father atones for sins,and preserves himself from them.When he prays, he is heard;he stores up riches who reveres his mother.Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,and, when he prays, is heard.Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.My son, take care of your father when he is old;grieve him not as long as he lives.Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;revile him not all the days of his life;kindness to a father will not be forgotten,firmly planted against the debt of your sins—a house raised in justice to you." -Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14

COACH DAVE ALLEN, UNCW SWIMMING

This is Coach Allen, my swim coach for four years at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and one of the most driven people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Coach Allen has now been coaching the men's and women's swimming programs at UNCW for over 30 years. In recent years his men's and women's teams have won 9 Conference Championships, and the men now have a dynasty of 6 conference titles in a row. Coach is portrayed with his championship rings like he's holding candy just out of the reach of jealous coaches. This work is the first in a series to be placed in a final print entitled "UNCW Swimming & Diving Retrospective."

On a personal level, I owe a great deal to Coach, both as a swimmer and as a human being. I wasn't the greatest of swimmers, but when I was introduced to Coach Allen (a mere coincidence during my Senior year of high school) he treated me like a top recruit, brought me into his office and spoke with me at length about the program. That same day we set up a recruiting trip and he pulled my application to UNCW and expedited it through the Athletic program's office. When I became a UNCW swimmer, I learned what real training was. In fact, while I was drawing this piece, I had to fight off terrible flashbacks of thousands upon thousands of yards of swimming, up to 18,000 yards a day during Christmas training! Aaah! But truly, Coach always was able to inspire you, just at the moment of total exhaustion, to give even more in the water and in life.


I am deeply thankful to Coach Allen for the discipline that he communicated to us, and am even more thankful for the way that he and his family supported my own during my bout with Cancer in 2000. As I told Coach's son Matt when he asked me how hard Chemotherapy was: "It's got nothin' on Christmas training with Coach Allen!" Thanks for everything Coach!

Father Thomas Frederick Price: "Tarheel Apostle" and Servant of God

These drawings, taken from different points in the life of Father Thomas Frederick Price, are the first in a series of drawings honoring the life of a great North Carolinian Priest and possible saint. I intend to eventually include scenes illustrating important points in his life (A Mass said atop Mt Mitchell, a shipwreck during his youth-see text post below) and including portraits of people who figured prominently in his own vocation journey (James Cardinal Gibbons, his mother and father, Bishop Leo Haid, OSB). Father Price is a great personal hero of mine whom I have studied, written about, and drawn much inspiration from. I hope that you will enjoy learning a little bit about his life with me as I continue this work during the coming weeks. Father Price's cause for canonization is under way, and is being pursued by the Catholic Foreign Missionary Society of America, which he co-founded. Father Price was the first native North Carolinian to be ordained a priest, and was tireless in his service to people of all faiths, both in our state and in the far east. The following are texts from a book about Father Price, which I included on the back of holy cards made from two of the images above.

A Gift to Our Family

This Drawing was my gift to my wife's side of the family this year. All of the images come from the day of our wedding. From the top, left to right: Emily's Grandmothers, her "Gwannad" as she lovingly refers to him, Emily dancing with her daddy, Emily and I with her mother, and my father-in-law and Emily's brother in a comical moment. I especially enjoyed drawing the image of my wife with her father - it was easily one of the most moving moments of that great day. I love you Emily! I love our family!

Christmas Work

Many thanks to all my clients who ordered the work you see above! It definitely kept me busy, but it was a very rewarding time! From top to bottom, left to right: Grandkids, Matthews Horses, Tiny Dancer, Prom, Views of Home, Jamaican Vacation, and Three Kids. To all those whose faith in my work has helped me to grow as an artist, thank you for a wonderful year! Many happy returns and God bless you all!

A Special Christmas Remembrance

This portrait was completed for a friend in remembrance of her grandfather, who lost his battle with Prostate Cancer in the past year. The young lady is his daughter, my patron's mother. Thank you for the opportunity to capture such a special memory.

There will be many such Christmas Commission posts to follow - gotta wait till people get their loot!