Artful Lent Drawing: Ash Wednesday

Last couple Lenten seasons I have done Twisted Line drawings from journaling props from another artist, Tamara Peterson of Artful Story. This year, I'm going to attempt to find inspiration on my own. I'm excited to see where I am led. These little Zentangled inspired drawings are relaxing and I can reflect and think about the verse as I draw.

 

Not even sure where to begin, I though how about where lent begins, with Ash Wednesday. Questioning where this originates, where in Bible it might be referenced...so my research began. Courious why ashes on for head? What I found was it is not all that old of an observation and seems bases on one verse. 

In an article from Time magazine I found it said Ash Wendsday has been observed since about the 11th centry. In the 1970's , YES, 1970's when trends were going toward contecting the physical body with the spiritual body, as well as to open up conversations about faith.

In the article from Time,  Lauren F. Winner, a priest and assistant professor at Duke Divinity School. “You see that in the book Daniel in the nine chapter there’s a line about associating fasting with ashes, so ashes are associated with penance, which is the dominant theme of Lent.”

I often need a little back story to help me take in a verse. So my prompt starts with verse 2 of Danial 9 and goes to Danial 9:4

 

"In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments."  Daniel 9:2-4.NIV
 

Now on to the Drawing! I use simple materials to be able to do the prompt with in my lifestyle as a mom of four,wife,artist/self employed, bus driver etc. I recomend picking materials that you too can manage ans set yourself up for success. 

 

 

Again this year  I'm working on a 3.5" x 3.5" card weight paper. ( a smooth bristal works nicely), dollar store type machanical pencil, no sharpening needed, Sakura Prisma markers. Sizes .03,.01,.005. All in black. I LOVE these pens and have ok..many many. If your just getting started, the .01 will get the job done nicely. ( or any fine tip marker you have) Maybe toss in a litlle white eraser. Again can be found at dollar store.  I keep all of this and pre-cut paper in a 4"x6" plastic container.

 

I like a little boarder. It helps frame in the design. So I reflected and thought about the verses and tried to portray how it would be applied and interpreted for myself. I begin with a pencil sketch of some of the basic shapes and fill in as I go directly with ink/marker.

 

Looking into what a sakcloth is I learned it was from goats. Their coat is bulky and known to be VERY uncomfortable. My figue is kneeling head bowed in repentance. I feel like when lm brought to my knees, it is serious business.

As I added ashes, the challenge for me was to keep them light looking in weight, but grey/dirty looking as well as interesting. I included images of my sins. That of my tongue, clock: worried about time, not spending proper time with God/Bible/listening/ reflection  and my thoughts.

Image of Bible as  I should go to the Bible to draw closer to God, pray, confess and repent. Cross there for a number of reasons but a reminder that Jesus died for my sins.

 

I would love to have you join me each week and see where we go together. Even if you do not draw, take in the verse and share what you experience in the comments below.

 

blessings, Susan

FOCUS on HIM-NO DRAMA NEEDED

Lent Week 2 Tamara sent us to Mark 9:2-10 And what Captured my attention was verse 7,8.

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud:“This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

How dramatic the scene set up is. This I think is often what happens to get our attention before we see God. Before we take our needs to him. Dramatic and earth moving things in our lives.

I tried to create Jesus as my focus too in my Artful Lent Piece this week. Whirling clouds above and everything else  leading the eye to Jesus.

Remembering to see Jesus in everything I do. If I do, I hope to avoid the drama God needs to get my attention. LOL

Temptations that Draw Me Away from Priorites

Temptations are all around us. How come so many of them come wrapped in chocolate! Now in the big picture I don't think this is one of the serious temptations. Though one I fall to to often....;)
This weeks Artful lent verse is  and asks us what keeps us from a relationship with God. This is were temptation comes in for me. Its in the for of the word  "priorities".

Week 2 for the Artful Lent Journal, Cherry Ashen Fargo  suggest that we prepare ourselves early on.To be armed with scripture verses that will protect us from the lies of the enemy and remind us of your purpose for following the leading of the Spirit to this place.     

"Go forward knowing that God will be there for you during this time. He will allow you to be tested but as you look to Him, He will strengthen you and provide you with a way of escape from your temptations. It may be challenging but it will be worth it! " Peter 5:10

I found myself thinking about the temptations that keep me from growing closer to God. Most of which have to do with time. In my artful lent piece I drew the path to God . All HIS natural beauty.Rays drawing the eye to the Holy Spirit. whom I need to listen for better. Along the way are what the devil tells me are my priorities. Time,my chores and responsibilities.Working with my kids on more homework than I can remember ever doing in my school years.Work and making money,chores like getting the yard work done. A bit of chocolate temptation and the all needed sleep so I can do it all over again.



All these things take me away from spending time in the word, in church and praying. I know if I spent the time doing these things all the rest would be better. So this week I am focusing on just that. God first. The rest will follow.

How will you put God first?

Drawing Nearer to God with Artful Lent

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalms 145:18

2015 Lent is upon us. I am following and using Tamara Peterson's Artful Lent Journal prompts for my Twisted Line drawings (zentangle inspired) again this year.I found her a little over a week into lent last year and never did catch up. :(. I am determined and inspired to draw closer to the Lord through lent, through art. 
 Beginning our journey with ASH WEDNESDAY.

Ash Wednesday is the name given to the first day of the season of Lent, in which the Pastor applies ashes to the foreheads of Christians to signify an inner repentance. Anglo-Saxon abbot Aelfric (955-1020). In his Lives of the Saints, he writes, 

"We read in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast."

And Tamara had this to say to get us thinking:"Today take some time to remember who created you and what you were created to do. Slow down and be in his presence, listen to what your creator has for you today and for this journey through Lent. Then dip your hand in the "ashes" and join Jesus on this journey to renew your love and commitment to follow what he has in store for you."

Verse inspiration: Ephesians 2:10

HIS hands of ashes here with LEAVES & SUN representing for me NEW LIFE and a NEW DAY  which HE offers us FREELY. This helps free me knowing I get another chance,another day to do it better with God's love for me.

May you be free to feel God's love though all you do.