PLEASE VISIT MY NEW ART SHOP

 Just opened a new art shop via Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/theartofdavidmyers/

Procreate studies

Working on these two charcoal studies using Procreate.

Memorial Portrait

Just completed this memorial portrait for a friend and his wife.

Work in Progress: Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

Slow and delicate, but satisfying work on Archbishop Sheen’s regalia.

Work in Progress: Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Work in Progress: Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

While I await more reading materials for the study of Father Price’s life to arrive in the mail, I am returning to an abandoned drawing from many years ago of the great Archbishop Fulton Sheen while I read his “Life of Christ.” Before today only his head was drawn.

Work in Progress: Father Price and Bishop Leo Haid

More work on this illustration of a scene from Father Price’s life. He’s here pictured with Bishop Leo Haid of Belmont Abbey. #drawingexistedfirst #drawforever #theartistsway #thewarofart #fatherthomasfrederickprice #thetarheelapostle #maryknoll #tarheelapostle #leohaid #bishopleohaid #belmontabbey 

Complete: Father Price, The Tarheel Apostle, at prayer.

I am very happy with this portrait of Father Price. In the midst of all his vigorous tasks and plans, he always managed to find time to “go away by [himself]” for prayer. He would often be caught in his room, after a cheerful “come in” to a knock at the door, scrambling up from his knees where he had been in prayer late at night. The greatest saints, who did marvelous works of God, who dreamed and dared most, spent at least as much time in prayer as at work. “From his rising in the morning until his retiring at night, Father Price's life seemed to be one of uninterrupted union with God. Even in his busiest hours he lived in an atmosphere of heaven, and whenever the opportunity offered he would be on his knees before the little shrine of Our Lady in his room, or in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. In his absent-mindedness he forgot things,. but never the presence of God. He always found time for spiritual reading and recollection, and this without neglecting the demands of an intensely active apostolate. In all seasons, the late hours of the night and the early dawn found him wrapped in prayer. At Maryknoll the sacristan often found in the chapel the stump of a candle that had been burned during the night; yet at the first sound of the bell Father Price would rise again for morning prayer and meditation... While he talked, or listened, or walked, or rode, his rosary was present, twined about his fingers during conversation, or slipping between them as he told the decades. A man of prayer, he found real companionship and genuine spiritual pleasure in the mere feel of his rosary. He must have said it a dozen times a day. If a visitor opened the door of his room too quickly after the cheery, Come in! he was likely to surprise Father Price scrambling from his knees before the little shrine, rosary in hand, and looking embarrassed at being caught...”

Work in Progress: Father Price and the Shipwreck of the Rebecca Clyde, 1876

More work on this illustration of Father Price’s experience of the shipwreck of the Rebecca Clyde in 1876. After his vision of the Blessed Mother and finding a board to hoist himself onto, the biographies reference a metal ring, presumably intended for rigging, that Freddie Price and his fellow survivor clung to in the midst of the gale. In re-reading the 3 versions of the story that I have, as well as the news story and history of the shipwreck, I don’t think I had appreciated before now how terrifying this must have been. This was the deep sea in a hurricane. Imagine the movie “the Perfect Storm” if you’ve seen it. The ring became their axis mundi, their tether to life in the violence of the hurricane. I’ve often thought of prayers, particularly the Rosary and the Divine Office, along with spontaneous intercession and petition, as tethers in the storm of life. “Lord, save us or we perish.” Even in the fury and confusion of the moment, these tethers diffuse peace, order, patience, endurance, and hope into the chaos of life. Cling to your tether. #tarheelapostle #thetarheelapostle #drawingexistedfirst #drawforever #thomasfrederickprice #maryknoll #theartistsway #thewarofart 

Work in Progress: Father Price at Prayer

More work on this portrait of Father Price at prayer.

“Father Price was intensely active about the country, gathering the people together in farmhouses where he taught Christian doctrine, fortifying the faith of believers and correcting the misapprehensions of non-believers. No one was ever neglected. If a farmer was too busy to come to instructions, the priest would follow him out into the fields, walking up and down plow furrows, or standing by as rows of tobacco or corn were chopped down. Whatever leisure the missioner might have would be devoted to the sick, the afflicted, the aged, and no distance was too great for him to carry the consolation of God's word to the very poor.”

This passage reminds me of Bishop Ned Schlesinger. When I knew him as Father Ned and he was ministering in Newton Grove, an old haunt of Father Price’s, I was able to accompany him once or twice as he went out to check on his lambs who had not been to mass recently. I walked out into a field with him and watched him wave down a farmer on a plow and scold him in Father Ned’s kind and quiet way, that he was missed at church, and wanted there. The spirit of the Tarheel Apostle is alive and well in priests like Father (Bishop) Ned.

Work in Progress: Father Price and the Shipwreck of the Rebecca Clyde

Working on another illustration of Father Price’s experience of the shipwreck of The Rebecca Clyde during hurricane Felipe in 1876. It is said that when he was able to locate with the Blessed Mother’s help a large “board” to hoist himself upon, another passenger sought refuge with him, and came out of the furious waves spluttering and cursing. Freddie Price immediately chastised the man and reminded him that he should be using what energy he had to give thanks to God for his life. It occurs to me that I am the man in the story, full of cursing and ugliness, raised to a better way by the contemplation of a saint. 

Work in Progress: Father Price, The Tarheel Apostle, at prayer

I was able to get a good start on this new drawing of Father Price. Unfortunately Fr Price was very resistant to being photographed and did not want attention drawn to himself, so I was amazed when I found this image of him praying the divine office on a country road. This captures so much of his spirit. Very excited about this one.

In his biographies, whenever his love for the Old North State is referenced, it is always by recalling the serene pine forests of our home. And of course, for his home of Wilmington, a second home to me from my younger years, is almost completely dominated by these tall and whispering sentinels. It is fitting therefore that pines oversee the Tarheel Apostle’s prayers in this portrait. 

 #drawingexistedfirst #thetarheelapostle #fatherthomasfrederickprice #maryknoll #divineoffice #breviary #liturgyofthehours 

Father Price and the Shipwreck of the Rebecca Clyde in 1876

I had to come to a stopping point because the iPad was at 5% but feeling great about the potential for these illustrations of Father Price’s life. I played around with some blurring too here. At about 16 years of age Father Price was leaving for college seminary in Baltimore on board a steamer, the Rebecca Clyde, from his hometown of Wilmington, NC. Unbeknownst to all onboard, Hurricane Felipe was headed their way. The hurricane caught the vessel off of Ocracoke Inlet and tore it to pieces. Young Freddie Price was praying in his cabin so long that no life preservers were available when he got to the deck. He clung to the rail and then to the mast with other passengers, until the ship finally broke apart and flung him into the sea. Freddie never learned to swim, and was sinking. He cried out “save me Lord or I perish!” After Father Price’s death, a Bishop and former classmate of the Tarheel Apostle shared that he had been able to hear the story directly from Freddie while they were both in seminary at Saint Charles: "Keeping his head as best he could, with all his physical strength, above the furious waters, he cried again, ‘Lord Jesus, save me or I perish.' Like a flash the sky seemed to open, and out of a speck of blue came the clearest vision, as clear as he saw the howling waves about him, Mary, the Mother of Christ, appeared before his eyes. Upon her face was a smile, and, gently stretching forth her hand she pointed to a great floating plank, which had been washed overboard from the sinking ship. Strengthened superhumanly by the perfect confidence of safety, he gained the plank, pulled himself upon it, threw himself face forward upon it and grasping a great ring on its upper surface, he swung, now up, now down, in the great waves about him, feeling nothing and now and then of the vision, which would always remain indelibly imprinted on his soul. He began the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, and as he said, 'In my joy I almost sang

it.' "  #fatherprice #thetarheelapostle #drawingexistedfirst #maryknoll #starofthesea 

Current Project: Father Thomas Frederick Price, The Tarheel Apostle

It’s been a long time since I have posted, and I hope to remedy that. Much of my work of the past several years is available for review on my instagram dmyers1977 for those who are interested.

I am spending my Lent this year re-familiarizing myself with The Tarheel Apostle, Father Thomas Frederick Price, the first native-borne North Carolinian to be ordained a Catholic priest, and co-founder of the first Catholic foreign missionary society, Maryknoll. God willing, he will one day be recognized as a saint. In any case, his story yields inspiration and edification with every reading. 

This is the rough draft of the first of what I hope will be many illustrations of scenes from the life of Father Price. I’m making these to go with some reflections on the virtues of the Tarheel Apostle. This illustration is from a reported exchange between Bishop Leo Haid and Father Price. The reflection is on the reckless generosity of Father Price. He came to Raleigh to found a school for Catholic missionaries, but immediately found that Raleigh had many children living in the streets. He is said to have told a fellow priest “I will have an orphanage.” He repeated that refrain to every pragmatic objection raised by his fellow priest. Bishop Haid is said to have often asked Fr Price where he would find the funds for his various ambitious projects, and Father Price’s reply was always the same. He trusted that if it was the work of God it could not fail. From this aspect of his character, I am reminded that there are good things we are called to say yes to on impulse, with reckless generosity, because they are good, without overmuch concern for the practical means by which they will be carried out over time. I am pursuing this work because I have always wanted other NC Catholics to know more about Fr Price, and whether he is eventually canonized a Saint or not, his story is worth knowing and gaining from. The story of a good person, a heroic person, encourages those who read it to “go and do likewise.” #drawingexistedfirst #thetarheelapostle #fatherthomasfrederickprice #maryknoll 

Recently completed

I just recently completed these pieces that I am very proud of. The "Resurrection" piece was an old drawing that I finally committed to completing and I am so glad that I did. The other homage to Mel Gibson's masterpiece, which I call "Beautiful Savior," was a revisited theme that I had formerly drawn in charcoal (available in the archives of this blog) and the Sedes Sapiaente (Our Lady Seat of Wisdom) was also a much loved and revisited theme from several years ago, also available on this website. 

Mary and Jesus: Revisiting an old and beloved theme

This is a revisiting of an old and beloved theme I drew a few years ago, probably 2007. Salve Regina. 
#herjoy #salveregina#ourladyofgoodhope#comforteroftheafflicted #theholyfamily#jesusandmary #jesuslivinginmary#thepassionofthechrist ##drawing#drawforever #draw #thewarofart#theartistsway #sketch #faith#motherofgod #catholicart#powerinthenameofjesus#neverstopdrawing

General George Washington, Battle of Trenton

Finished my drawing of His Excellency, General George Washington, mounted on his white charger at the Battle of Trenton. Very proud of this one. 9 hours total drawing. 
#battleoftrenton #draweveryday#theartistsway #thewarofart #draw#drawingexistedfirst #drawing #drawforever#sketch #theamericanrevolution#therevolutionarywar #turnwashingtonsspies#therevolutionneverends #unitedstates#georgewashington #mountvernon #potus1

Rose Hill Methodist Church Memorial Drawing

Finished this gift for a friend. Drawing buildings takes a long time. I think this took me close to 10 hours all said and done. The Methodist Church of Rose Hill burned down a few weeks ago and was the faith community my friend was born into. His kids commissioned this piece as a gift for their father on his 60th birthday. He is a great man that I admire deeply, so I was thrilled. God bless Nash Johnson and the people of Rose Hill Methodist Church. 
#theartistsway#thewarofart #drawforever#neverstopdrawing #draweveryday#drawing #draw #sketch #faith #family#rosehillnc #methodist #morningpages

Duke Life Flight Memorial

Duke Health was rocked last month when three Life Flight crew members and a patient died in a helicopter crash en route to Duke University Hospital. I was inspired to put together this memorial for the fallen Life Flight members because I was able to witness internally the incredible response to this tragedy that came from our executive leadership, our providers, our nurses, and our staff members. From the top down there was an outpouring of compassion and love, and a sense of unity that is a hallmark of the Duke character. Pilot Jeff Burke and nurses Kris Harrison and Crystal Sollinger are heroes of the first order, as are all the team members of Duke Life Flight. May flights of angels sing them to their rest. I am so proud and grateful to work here at Duke. #dukestrong #dukelifeflight #draweveryday #inmemory #gonebutnotforgotten #heroes #drawingexistedfirst #drawforever #sketch #remember #draw #theartistsway #thewarofart #dukeuniversityhospital #duke #dukenursing 

GIANNA, MEMORIAL PIECE

Going to be posting random works here that I've neglected to post over the past several years to my blog or my art facebook site, along with my original descriptions of the works for facebook. If you would like work please contact me at artisservant@gmail.com. Here is my original post that went with this very memorial piece: Gianna. Maybe some things are too beautiful for this world. "Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again." (Irish Funeral Prayer) #inmemory #theartistsway #restinpeace #creativerecovery #drawingexistedfirst #drawingmakesmehappy #morningpages #draweveryday

IN MEMORY: WRIGHT

Going to be posting random works here that I've neglected to post over the past several years, along with my original descriptions of the works for facebook. If you would like work please contact me at artisservant@gmail.com. Here is my original post that went with this very special memorial piece:

I wanted to add this photo to this album in memory of this brave little warrior who went home to God last week. Wright Lanier is someone I never had the honor to meet, but stories of his short life and the way he lived it amaze and humble me. He has a truly amazing family who mourn and celebrate him. Here is my original post with this drawing: There are a couple drawings that were commissioned as gifts that I completed a while ago but was waiting for them to be received before posting. This is one of those drawings and I'm very very proud of this one. This is a drawing of a much beloved boy, Wright Lanier, with his daddy. The drawing was commissioned by my dear friend Pam Teachey as a homecoming gift for Wright and his family. Wright has been being treated in Cincinnati for quite a long time now and has been unable to return to his home in NC. As I understand it, his mother stayed with him there while his father was home in NC with his brother, but they made frequent trips to and from Cincinnati as well.

Yesterday, this family, which has been through so much, was able to return home. Wright received a hero's welcome and was escorted by police and fire trucks to his home, as crowds of people from his home town lined the highway with banners and smiles to welcome him. I felt this drawing very deeply. As a father myself, I know what it is like to have that sweet feeling of your son resting his head against your shoulder. In fact, I have some photos of Evan sitting in my lap while I was working on this image, and I couldn't help but pray for this family. I can't imagine what their journey has been like. I hope that this image has brought them some comfort, and will continue to pray for Wright and the Laniers.

Many thanks to Pam Teachey for this commission!

Getting back to my blog

I'm going to start trying to post more to the blog. I've been working and working, so I'm going to try to post something new (to the blog) every week. Hope you like my stuff!

This commission I just completed this evening of a beautiful paint horse and his owner....

"O Captain, My Captain!": My Tribute to Robin Williams

You had such a kind face Robin. I think that the reason that the kindness in your characters was so real was due to the pain you had experienced. We should try to remember, especially when we are suffering from deep sorrow or loneliness, that these feelings can also bring us deep empathy for others. That is a quality that you had an embarrassment of riches in. God bless you, Robin.

A Great Man and a Great Physician

This is one of my heroes, Dr. Jay Arena, whom I was able to learn about thanks to my good friends, his Granddaughter Megan Smith and his daughter Jeannie Arena-Smith. I am very grateful that they shared their deep reverence and love for Dr. Arena with me. He is truly a heroic figure who has left a shining legacy for Duke Medicine to live up to. I am going to be using this drawing of Dr. Arena for a poster, and probably some trainings here at Duke related to our "Living Our Values" campaign. Dr. Arena, a "relentless advocate for children," was an absolute dynamo of patient safety as a Pediatrician, and his work led to many advances in safety for patients in general, the most notable of these being the establishment of the first poison control centers in our country, and the development of the child proof safety cap. I am pasting a great write up about one of Dr. Arena's many crusades on behalf of pediatric patients. Of note, Dr. Arena was a devout Catholic and a Daily Mass attendee. The image I thought was perfect, because it captures Dr. Arena's love for his patients. ----- In May 1948 two children were admitted to Duke Hospital within two days, one two and the other four years old. Each had eaten a full bottle of the newly developed St. Joseph’s flavored aspirin for children as if the pills were candy. Both died from aspirin poisoning, as did more than 400 children across the nation in two years. Jay M. Arena, MD, professor of pediatrics at Duke and a relentless advocate for children, called Abe Plough, the president of Plough, Inc., makers of St. Joseph’s aspirin, to talk with him about the deaths he had just witnessed. When Plough said that he had heard rumors that children had died from their product, Arena exploded into the phone that it wasn’t a rumor but a sad fact. Their flavored aspirin was a wonderful product, but it caused problems everywhere, and the answer might be as simple as developing safety closures for aspirin bottles. Plough ordered his company to develop safety caps, which Arena tested with the families of his young patients in Durham. He recommended the one cap he believed was best, and Plough followed his advice. Children’s deaths from aspirin poisoning fell immediately. Later Arena convinced Plough to lower the number of tablets in each bottle from 100 to 35 and to reduce the dose in each tablet down to 1 1/2 grains, making an entire bottle non-lethal for a child of two. Their work led to Congress enacting laws in 1972 requiring that all medications be put in bottles with safety closures unless a consumer requested otherwise. The law also mandated that all household products be sold in containers with safety closures and proper labeling. Arena considered the legislation his most satisfying accomplishment.

FOR THE FAMILY OF A FALLEN OFFICER

 

                     

This drawing is for a student I met when I came to speak at a local middle school about my art. He asked me my prices at the time, and I told him. It hadn't dawned on me that he was asking because he wanted to buy a drawing. Later, his art teacher explained that he wanted a drawing of his father that he could give to his mother on Mother's Day. His father, a police officer, had died in the line of duty. I told the art teacher that I would be doing this drawing for free and that I would get it done in time for Mother's day. In true me fashion, I did the entire drawing last night in one sitting. This is the result. I pray that this drawing of this great husband and father will be a comfort to his wife on Mother's day, and that his boys will be happy with the work. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Pray for all of our service men and women. Please enjoy this time lapse of the work. 5 & 1/2 hours total time spent, condensed to 26 seconds:

P.S. - The family now has the drawing and my wife was there to present the finished work to the young man who requested it. He immediately had Emily take him to his brother's class so that he would be able to show it to his brother. My wife said he grinned from ear to ear and kept saying how much it looked like his dad. Please pray for this family. I am honored and grateful to have the opportunity to give this to him and also to his mother and his brother, and to know that he was happy with it. It makes my heart sing. Ultimately, here was a good hearted kid whose father taught him a lot in the short time he had with him, and he probably walks around every day wondering how he can comfort his mother. The idea for the drawing was his. I just was lucky enough to be the instrument.

3 HOURS OF DRAWING IN 1 MINUTE 23 SECONDS (TIME LAPSE)

Hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed learning how to do it!

MY 5TH PORTRAIT OF FATHER THOMAS FREDERICK PRICE, THE TARHEEL APOSTLE

This portrait of Father Thomas Frederick Price, "The Tarheel Apostle," is my 5th portrait of this servant of God. The photo I rendered this from was shared with me by Father Michael Walsh, MM, who is involved in efforts to have him recognized as a Saint in the Catholic Church. The photo was the last known photo taken of Father Price, and was for a travel document he needed during his missionary work in China.

Father Price's cause for Beatification and Canonization is now underway in its "Diocesan" stage here in the Diocese of Raleigh. North Carolina is where Father Price grew up, was ordained, and where he spent the first stages of his remarkable priestly life. If Father Price's achievements were limited to his time in his home state, they would be sufficient to mark him as a Priest of singular, heroic virtue. He was a dynamo of charitable and apostolic work, and deeply loved the people of North Carolina, Catholic and non-Catholics alike. It was his love for his home and her people that so charmed the men and women of the Old North State. I believe that his work here, especially his evangelical spirit and his charity, should be more widely known by the people of our Diocese, and I hope that his cause will achieve this if nothing else. His life still inspires and speaks to the missionary nature of the Church in North Carolina. Indeed, I believe that his labors here testify to his Sainthood, just as his later achievements would on a global scale.

Here is a Saintly Priest worth knowing and befriending. I hope that you will consider ordering his biography, "The Tarheel Apostle" which is available in reprint from Amazon. If you are from the State of North Carolina, or if you have spent any time here, you will be charmed by the familiar places and history recounted in its pages. You will especially be charmed by the simplicity of this man, who had little regard for his clothes, his appearance, or the limitations that keep most people from achieving great things. He loved all, especially those who misunderstood and persecuted him, and he patiently, persistently, and irresistibly convinced them of his goodness, and also of the love he carried for the people of North Carolina. My prayer is that all of us will come to know him better as his cause proceeds here in our local Church.

QUICK SKETCHES / WARM UPS

QUICK SKETCH #1: "THE HP" - (Hillbilly Philosopher) This is a quick warm up sketch I did of one of my best friends and favorite characters in the world. I've decided I'd like to start doing some of these fun thumbnail sketches before my long "big drawing" sessions to at least feel at the end like I've produced a finished image. Did this one in 30 minutes, and its about a 5x7.

             

Quick Sketch #4 - Self Portrait. I was jealous of my buddy Kyle Robert Willis who's awesome self portrait is on his website! Man, a person can really tell how much older he is than the last time he drew himself! I drew my face. I let my beard draw itself. 2 Versions.

                   

LEFT TO RIGHT:

Quick Sketch #3: Jax Teller. (unfinished) If I got the likeness on this one the ladies are sure to swoon. Charlie Hunnam's character on Sons of Anarchy is a favorite among those of the fairer sex. And he's pretty bad ass too. Still need to draw his cut. Did what you see during lunch. Another 5x7. Enjoying these more spontaneous exercises.

Quick Sketch #5 - Probably my favorite so far! Walton Goggins has made Boyd Crowder (JUSTIFIED on FX) one of my favorite TV characters of all time, and he's a tie with the lead character for my favorite character on Justified. The thick Kentucky accent, the sinister, humorous, religious, criminal, and ultimately confusing path of this character - these are the things that give this show its charm. Hope you like this sketch as much as I do! Its definitely more gestural than most of my work, and I did it in a little under an hour. Lots of fun for a warm up.

Quick Sketch #2: Raylan Givens - I'll let my fellow JUSTIFIED fans decide if I got the likeness. Put the final touches on while listening to "Simple Man" by Charlie Daniels. Thought that was appropriate. Love this character brought to life by Timothy Olyphant and the writing of Elmore Leonard.

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO.....

These are drawings of my son Evan, who, since his adoption in July of 2010, has overwhelmed our lives with love and joy and happiness. His entry into our lives has prevented any posting here until very recently. I hope that you will consider ordering some original work and viewing some of the portraiture I have been doing in the interim, and I am sure you will understand why I haven't posted here for a while. We are so grateful for our beautiful son!

THE GLORY OF THE MASS : A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR A RECENTLY ORDAINED FRIEND, A FITTING SUBJECT FOR THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST

This is a pretty ambitious project that I am working on for a friend who was recently ordained. He commissioned it some time ago and I confess that I had been avoiding it because I knew it was going to be difficult to do well. This album is a thank you to him for his patience, and to let him know that he doesn't have to despair of this project getting underway.

The image is meant to be an exposition of the experience of the Priest and the very great responsibility that is his to minister to all of God's Children, facilitating their lives in Christ through the Ancient Tradition and Faith of the Church. The Priest does this especially by first cultivating a profound friendship with Christ, especially through personal prayer and frequenting of the Scriptures. He learns from the great saints who have gone before us in faith, many of whom he has developed a special veneration for. They are literally his heroes, and the example and experience of their faith informs his own. He speaks to them and asks for their prayers, as he reads their writings and the stories of their lives. He communicates the insights he gains from his own prayer, the Gospels, and the tradition of the Church to the People of God.

The Saints have been especially important to my recently ordained friend, and they have enriched his life greatly. He has also obviously been enriched by his varied experiences of ministry to many different groups and individuals during the course of his formation. He wanted the image to include an image of a Priest offering Mass to a congregation made up of several different types of persons, many of whom he reverences (such as law enforcement or firemen) or has learned from in a special way during the course of his formation in the Priesthood. In the upper portion of the drawing is a small "who's who" of saints, many specifically requested by my friend, who has learned from each of these great men and women of the Church.

The Communion of Saints is complete! I will have more updates soon.