Inktober 2023

 

My kids and I did an ink drawing each day in October for Inktober.  We filmed the whole process in the YouTube video below.  Check it out!

Drawing - "Serpent and Dove"

It seems to me in recent years, there has been an increase in hostility toward Christianity.  The view that Christians are judgemental and hypocritical is shared by many in the area we live.  It is true that these negative traits can apply to people who worship Jesus and to people in general.  One thing I've been trying to work on is to live like Jesus instructs His disciples when He tells them to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."  He himself was totally innocent, but also very wise and cunning in His actions.  Though He was "gentle and humble in spirit" (Matt 11:29) He also turned over tables with whip in hand to cleanse the temple of money changers (John 2:15).  If we as Christians don't live pure lives, how will our message be credible?  On the other hand, if we don't share Jesus in a way that is purposeful, even crafty, then how will people ever come to know about His great love?

One of the ways that our church is acting this out currently is through our low cost medical clinic.  During the week, we meet the needs of people in our community freely.  They come and get their needs met.  Nothing is asked in return.  Some of these people end up becoming members of the church through the connections they make with people at the clinic.  This is no accident or coincidence.  Our preacher told of a man from the community that figured it out one day.  He said, "Hey, I see what you Christians are up to!  You just do these things because you want to get people to become Christians!" 

Sneaky snakes... 

There is no greater need than the need to be saved.  The ultimate motivations of our actions should be love.  Sometimes that means we go "fishing" to hook people in.  Sometimes we might have to be like slimy salesmen.  We might have to be subtle or we might have to be aggressive or we might have to be gentle. 

"Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

Anyone who has ever attempted to draw in a photo-realistic style knows how tedious the process can be.  Every little detail of the image must be exact.  Especially with portraits of people.  If one line is in the wrong spot or one shape is too dark or too light, the drawing will not resemble the person.  The most painstaking part of these portraits is the hair.  All the lines don't follow in perfect pattern.  They are haphazard and random, with stray hairs going across the other strands making the work very slow.

As I struggle to create each individual line and shape, it forces me to notice the unique parts that make up a face.   You never really appreciate these details until you're forced to see, analyze and copy each one in an artwork.  It reminds me of the incredible amount of detail there is in every single person, animal, plant and living thing in this world... and God created it all.

Jesus said,

"And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."  - Matt 10:30


He knows every single detail about every part of us, and far more than we could ever see or understand.  How important and valuable we must be!  How caring and loving is the Great Artist?


"Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit."  - Psalm 147:5

Art Lesson - Pattern Design Creatures

Grade: 3rd-8th
Time: 2-4 class periods
Materials: Pencil, paper, marker/pen


In this project students follow along with the teacher and draw the outline of a creature or animal.  Then we draw lines inside the animal to create different shapes.  Within each shape students use a pen or marker to create a unique pattern that fills that specific shape.  Once all the shapes within the animals are filled in with unique patterns, we use graphite to add the shadows in/around the creature to give them a little 3D effect. 


Here's a timelapse video of the process from the teacher example:

The process is very simple and easy, but also requires patience and some thought and creativity to invent new patters.  The animals/creatures turn out well and each one looks different from the others.  I did the projet with 4th graders but, it could definitely be appropriate for higher grades as well.


Student Examples: