Pantocrator

In the traditional icon Christ speaks a blessing over his people. In this new woodcut I recently finished a man seems to ignore the blessing in order to seek his own.

Finally finished the print and framed it for our home. I think it looks absolutely fabulous hanging over the couch!

Woodcut an Stacked

Another recent woodcut. This one measures 8"x10". I created this one for a print trade with my printmaking students. You can see and purchase it on my Etsy store.

A Pause in the Forest

I recently finished this large (24"x37") woodcut of a forest. You can see it and purchase it from my Etsy store.

Texting

Just finished this print for the Olivet print trade coming up March 30th

Grace: A Prayer

Lord,
Help me to remember grace,
May I be all grace for my neighbor.
May I not concern myself with only myself.
May I only walk in your grace
Doling out that grace to others, not in fear
Rather in faith; not putting my expectations in others,
But in expectation of you and of your great love for me,
Living a surrendered life. 

May I be done with looking for people
To fulfill my needs; may my needs be fulfilled in you,
Alone.

Lord, help me to do my job well;
that is, my work as a husband and father and teacher
and brother; as son and friend.

Oh Lord, make me fit to lead others into your Kingdom of Grace.
Amen

Pentecost

Just finished a new 'cut based on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples after Jesus ascension. These three disciples (Peter, James and John) are in the process of discussing and praying about the Gospel of Jesus Christ when "suddenly" the Holy Spirit came and tongues of fire appeared over their head. This is a woodcut print on mulberry paper, 8"x10" it is available at my Etsy store

Preperatory sketch for a new woodcut

Here is a sketch I just completed for a brand-spankin-new woodcut print I am going to do. I am pretty excited about this one. Pentecost is coming soon and I want to celebrate with this print of three disciples receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Abundant Life

Realizing who you truly are; becoming who you were meant to be can be daunting because this realization brings with it certain responsibilities. Now you are accountable for what you know; who you have become. Some people, frankly do not want to enter into the fullness of life because it is hard; it is difficult; it is the narrow way that Jesus spoke about. Most folks are happy in their mediocre existence that demands nothing from them and gives them an excuse to make demands on everyone else.

New woodcut print... finally!

I finally broke my one month (at least) of artistic inactivity. Here is a new woodcut print of people eating breakfast at Blue's Cafe in Kankakee. I was riding my bicycle to work one morning, saw this and was inspired to create a print of it. Another new thing for me is that now I am using standard sizes. This print is 5"x7" and matted in an 8"x10" mat. You can purchase it from Etsy if you are interested.

A Prayer for Love; a Poem of Confession

From mouth to ear
From head to heart,
The distance is vast,
The connections torn apart.

Lord could you bridge the gap,
Could You repair the breach
Between the things I do, and
The things I preach?

It was for love you came
It was for love you gave,
Your love has rescued me;
Brought me up out of death's grave.

I want to share the love
I have so freely received.
Teach me, O Lord,
I have not truly loved since I first believed.