“A peaceful place, a pencil and paper, and inspiration are the only things necessary for an artistic soul.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Thursday, I went over to St. Gabriel for Adoration and a little more sketching in the empty Sanctuary. I usually spend a couple of hours sketching, then I’ll either finish the sketch at my next visit or at home.
I’ve been working on the simple arched windows way above the altar area. It’s difficult to make out to many details, as they are so far up. But, these don’t have a lot of detail to begin with, making it easier to sketch, leaving a little leeway for artistic expression.
I was sketching the last one, symbolizing the Resurrection into heaven. I already did the first one a while back, about The Lord being the shepherd. The second I’ve just barely started, but I finished the last, and most simple of the three.See, it’s pretty far away. and up high. I do take photos and try to zoom in on my phone, but it’s still tricky. I just use a pencil, a sheet of watercolor paper, my handy pink pearl eraser and a Kleenex for blending. I’m one of those no frills artists. Then, I put the photo into my Artisto app on my iPhone, and the magic begins. I do have to do some manipulations with size and colors, but I love the results.Just a few of my favorites.
“Do what you love and love what you do, and keep doing it.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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It had been a while since I did some sketching at St. Gabriel after Adoration. It was nice to get back at it. It wasn’t really quiet and peaceful, as they were having a rehearsal for the Deacon Ordination. But, the hustle and bustle was not a factor.
I chose one of the recently installed windows behind the altar. I was kind of happy there were no faces to try and master. I still have trouble with faces.My finished pencil sketch… now for the cool Artisto App renderings. My favorite part.I love them all. I can’t decide which ones I like best.
“ A pencil and a blank sheet of paper can be intimidating or exhilarating. The choice is yours.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I haven’t done any Sanctuary sketching in several weeks. I have two or three that I started, but never finished. I spend much more time sitting at home busying myself with a pink pearl eraser and drawing and erasing and drawing than one might think. Sometimes the eyes or hands have been changed a dozen times before I’m almost satisfied. I’m never completely happy, and often times go back months later with an eraser and an unsettled eye.
This particular stained glass window at St. Gabriel was perplexing. The eyes were the most troubling. When drawing tiny features on a paper of a huge window way above the doorway, the proportions and details are difficult. But then again, I’m not a seasoned portrait artist. I just dabble and hope to improve along with time. Like fine wine, I get better with age and then leave a little residue in the dregs. 🤦♀️My finished pencil sketch. Then, the fun part of adding the Artisto app renderings,This style always reminds me of a woodcut or linoleum cut print.This style softens all the edges. The mosaic is always one of my favorites.Well, a few of my favorites. Which one do you like best. I can never decide.
“Passion can be found in something as simple as a pencil and paper.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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More meditative and quiet time sketching in the Sanctuary At St. Gabriel the Archangel. The preliminary basic sketch takes a couple of hours. I’ll take a photo of the stained glass window or the statue, then finish it at home. Many hours go into a final sketch. I don’t think they’d let me sit at church into the wee hours of the night. Well, maybe they wouldn’t mind.
Here’s a good one. Turning water into wine. Jesus’s first miracle. Plus, He listened to His momma. Preliminary sketch. A lot of erasing and sketching and erasing.Finished sketch, many days and hours later.
Now for the fun part. My Artisto phone app makes the magic happen.
I think I’m partial to this soft pencil app. Do you have a favorite? There are a few other app renderings, but these are my favorites. I’m sure you can see why I love my sketching time.
“Your life is a beautiful blank canvas. You have the choice of splashing it with the most gorgeous and spectacular colors, by doing what you love.” ― Hiral Nagda
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My life has been a beautiful blank canvas. My drawing, painting, writing, singing, dancing, and other creative endeavors are all amazing gifts and blessings. One thing that keeps me grounded and appreciative has been my quiet time sketching stained glass windows or statues at St. Gabriel the Archangel. The empty Sanctuary is an inspirational source for meditation and creativity.
I am doing what I love in a place that I love. That makes it so special.
My finished pencil sketch. Now to add my Artisto applications.These are just a few of my favorites. I can’t decide which one I like the best. I do love splashing it with spectacular colors.
Your life is a beautiful blank canvas. You have the choice of splashing it with the most gorgeous and spectacular colors, by doing what you love.” ― Hiral Nagda
A gloomy drizzly Sunday morning, with a 7:30 alarm. I popped out of bed, brushed my teeth, did 100 old lady crunches while listening to an interesting podcast from Dr. Joe Dispenza on mind/body connection. Then, got dressed and out the door, in the car, and on the way to church by 8:20. Win-win.
What a great surprise to find Bishop Kelly was visiting and celebrating the Mass this morning. Bishop Kelly was the original Pastor of St. Gabriel way back when it was first established in 1996. Cool!
Today’s Gospel was the story of John the Baptist and how he had the honor of baptizing Jesus…
From the Gospel according to Luke Lk 3:15-16, 21-22
The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
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My take on it… John the Baptist was highly regarded by many, but he knew that he was just a lowly servant who would proclaim and prepare others for the coming of Jesus. Baptism with water is just a symbol of your faith. But, the actual proof is in the way you perform your faith throughout each day of your life.
Today was the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. I was eager to scroll through some of my previous Sanctuary Sketches On my phone to find my pencil sketch of that stained glass window.
My original sketchA few of the awesome renderings from my Artisto app.
“All sorrows are less with bread. ” ― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
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With the holidays, traveling, and trying to get back into the swing of things, it’s been good to get back to church to do some quiet meditative sketching.
Sharing bread.A simple sketch. It looks simple, but about five or six or seven hours later, erasing, frowning, smudging, with a dose of total dissatisfaction…Done… now the fun part, playing with my Artisto app…Just a few of my favorites. Which do you like best?
“A new baby is like the beginning of all things: wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.”
~Eda J. LeShan
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This morning was VERY cold outside. Instead of walking to church, my son decided we could drive. St. Norbert’s is a very lovely church, with simple lines and quaint touches.
Today’s Gospel was the story of the Visitation and the long journey that Mary takes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, both with child…
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1,39-45. Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
My take on it…motherhood is such a blessing, to be shared, honored, and rejoiced in, just as Mary and Elizabeth celebrated together.
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Another reason I loved this Gospel and homily today was because “The Visitation“ is one of the Sanctuary Sketches that I did earlier this year at my church, St. Gabriel the Archangel. This is one of my favorites because of the elated smiles of the cousins rejoicing in each others babies in their wombs.
(Pencil sketch) So joyful. Some of my Artisto renderings.
“ God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them.”
James H. Aughey
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My meditative sketches at St. Gabriel have now become a tradition and a personal challenge. Their are only three ways to get better at anything, and that is to practice, practice, practice.
The Baptism Of The Lord.
Because I’m still having trouble drawing faces, and features, and fingers, I try to pick a subject with not too much detail. But, that’s kind of hard to find. So, I sit there for a couple hours to just try and get the preliminary shapes and proportions. All the details take many hours, so I take a picture, and finish the rest at home. (I just finished a few minutes ago.)
I just do a pencil sketch so my Artisto app can create the interesting color schemes for me.My finished pencil sketch.A few of my favorites.
Happy Saturday my friends. I hope you are doing the things you love.
“They say practice makes perfect, but sometimes it just means you need more practice.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Thursday, I spent a couple of hours sketching in the Sanctuary at St. Gabriel. I just spent a few hours trying g to finish it up. I discovered that I still need a LOT MORE practice with faces. Thank goodness for the cool Artisto app on my phone, because this one needed a lot of help.
Toni Andrukaitis 