“They say practice makes perfect, and I keep practicing. I’m a long way off from perfect, but I’m still enjoying the journey.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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As you may or may not remember, I enjoy my quiet sketching hours at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church. I’m usually the only person in the entire sanctuary as I sit and sketch. It’s a perfect meditative activity. Here’s the latest venture.
This window is way up high, but I take a photo and enlarge it the best I can on my phone.My simple finished pencil sketch is perfect for the magic that my Artisto app on my phone will create. I also added a few rays of light in the open gate with my pink pear eraser. It wasn’t in the actual window, but I added a little touch of my own magic. Artistic license. Now, for a few of my favorite renderings…I love this mosaic look.
I can’t decide which is my favorite. I guess I like them all. 👩🏻🎨
“Life is a celebration. Consider everything that makes you happy as a gift from God and say, ‘Thank you.”
Francis Lucille
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Normally, I attend Sunday morning Mass, but today I went to Saturday evening Mass because right afterwards was our church picnic. St. Gabriel the Archangel parish has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past 20 years. It is so wonderful to see the diversity of ages and people attending. There are always crying babies, fidgety toddlers, teenagers, singles, big families, older folks, (like me) and walkers and wheel chairs.
Helene met me up at church and we enjoyed the picnic afterwards. A few photos…
We had a selfie with Father Cristian , and Bishop Kelly, the original Pastor, came back for a visit to commemorate the 20th anniversary. My firefighter friends from Station 5 were there for the festivities. There were all kinds of games and activities for young and old. (They had beer and wine, too.) Did I mention everything was free? So many sponsors, donations, and volunteers made it all possible.The children had a great time.They had a DJ that played great dancin’ tunes. Not many dancers, but I did a little prancin’ around.The sun had set as we walked back to our cars. You can’t help it be in awe of the majestic statue of St. Gabriel guarding his beautiful church and his beloved parishioners. Happy Feast Day.
“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.
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.”
~John Lennon
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A lovely Sunday morning. But, I woke with a nagging headache, more like a lingering migraine that I had since yesterday, but I took yet another Tylenol and got ready for church. Distraction and fresh air always helps. Greeting at the door before 9 o’clock Mass always brightens my day.
Father Cristian has a very charismatic charm about him, with his distinctive Spanish accent combined with a pleasant sense of humor.
Today’s Gospel was the parable about how a guest being invited to a wedding should not choose a place of honor…
Gospel, Luke 14:1, 7-14
1 Now it happened that on a Sabbath day he had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely.7He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this,8 ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited,9 and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you willhave to go and take the lowest place.10 No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” Then, everyone with you at the table willsee you honoured.11 For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.’12 Then he said to his host, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbours, in case they invite you back and so repay you.13 No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;14 then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you and so you will be repaid when the upright rise again.’
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My take on it… always be humble and considerate instead of arrogant and boastful. Your reward is knowing your own worth, and others will see that too.
After Mass, I stopped for coffee at McD with Patricia. Rich joined us later. When I was standing in line, a familiar face walked in the door. She said hello, recognizing me from greeting at church. I introduced myself. Her name is JoAnn. That’s my sister’s name, so I won’t forget. You can see someone a hundred times, but if you don’t introduce yourself, you are just passing ships in the proverbial night. After she placed her order, I slipped my credit card into the little machine and paid for her breakfast. She was pleasantly surprised and grateful. She said she would pay it forward. Nice.
Miss JoAnn. Sweet smile.
I spent some time visiting and chatting with friends until noon, when I was going back to church for a Connection-Orientation meeting. Father Don and Connection Ministry wanted to welcome new parishioners and talk to those interested in different ministries after 11 o’clock Mass. There was a quick lunch, slide presentation, question-answer session and guided tour of the sanctuary. Helene joined me there. She went to 11 o’clock.
I chatted with some new parishioners at lunch, extolling the praises of St. Gabriel and the ministries available. One couple had young children, and they were interested in the children’s programs. They were originally from Mexico, so I got to practice my rusty Spanish. Hopefully that didn’t dissuade them. Father Don escorted us outside, and told us about all the statues, gardens, and architecture. Then, he walked us through the sanctuary, pointing out the meaning of each stained glass window, etc. We see these walls and windows every Sunday, but when you know the meaning behind each piece of artful architecture, it’s so much more meaningful. I was especially impressed and inspired, seeing as I have sketched and drawn many of these windows and statues. There are still many more to draw.
It was a fine Sunday, ending with a nice FaceTime call with the granddaughters.
“Rejoice in small things and they will continue to grow.” – Slaven Vuji
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This morning, I woke up at 7am after tossing around till after 1. When I looked at the time, instead of rolling over and going back to sleep, I said… “Get your lazy butt out of bed and go for your walk before it gets too hot!” I also convinced myself that I could always take a nap later… but that never happens.
After a couple of miles, I sat and rested on the bench by the pond, checking emails and texts and watching the dragonflies flutter around.
My plan was to get over to church for Adoration and Sanctuary Sketches early, so I could get home before my 1pm podcast with Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi. So, after my walk, instead of resting a while, I changed, grabbed my s,etching supplies and scooted over to St. Gabriel. Gosh! We have the most beautiful church.
I sat in the small chapel for a bit and worked on the crucifix that used to be in the old church. There were a handful of people in there, so it wasn’t that private. I had sketched this crucifix a long time ago, and it was my first sketch. I wasn’t that pleased with it, so I thought I’d try again. This is as far as I got because I wanted to go into the main Sanctuary and sketch some stained glass windows and be all alone. I grabbed by bag and walked into the gorgeous main church. I lit my candle and stopped at the poor box.Preliminary sketchAnother start. These will all take a lot of time to complete. I just wanted to get back into the swing after being absent for a while.
Because I didn’t sit and sketch for hours like I usually do, I had time to run over to Lowe’s to pick up a few more replacement sprinkler heads. I only have one extra left and it seems like they get run over and broken way too often. I want to be prepared.
I got home in time for Day 3 of my Time to Thrive 5 Day Challenge. I’m gonna be so smart, ready, and capable in no time. I’m already AMAZING. Now, to learn how to share it with the entire world.
I am very thankful for my many blessings, challenges, talents, and…
I am thankful for organic, gluten free sweet potato corn tortilla chips. They really are good.
“People who want you in their lives, respect you whether you are grapes or fine wine.” ― Sanita Belgrave
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Thursday afternoon, I stopped over at St. Gabriel for Adoration in the chapel, followed by some sketching in the main sanctuary,
There are three arched windows on either side of the altar, way up high where you can barely see the detail. I always take a picture so I can zoom in and see a little more detail.I chose the more detailed one of the three. Hmm? Maybe the cloud grouping would have been easier. 🤦♀️👩🏻🎨
I usually sketch for a couple of hours, then I finish the rest at home on Saturday.
There were a lot of little grapes that had to be drawn in several times because I use a tiny bit of Kleenex to shade and soften, which requires redrawing each line. Then… for the fun part… my Artisto app on my phone transforms the simple sketch into a burst of color. Cool!The mosaic is usually my favorite.Well, these are most of my favorites. It’s always exciting to see what turns up.
“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.
“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
Toni Andrukaitis 