Drawing Challenge

Daily Drawing #220, Kicking Back With A Cup Of Joe

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I don’t know about you but I love my coffee. Kicking back in the morning with a good cup of coffee is one of my favorite things of the day. A cup of java seems to clear the fog from my mind and give me a little boost to get my body moving. I know it’s probably the caffeine but to me that is just an added bonus. Some I know don’t like the taste of coffee just like there are those who don’t like the taste of the Gospel. Still the Gospel of God like a cup of coffee takes the fog out of your life and gets your body moving in the right direction. 

Daily Drawing #207, Dipping Your Toes in the Water

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I delved once again into the fantasy realm for today’s drawing, “Feel Fair-ly Safe to Get Your Toes Wet.” I know a long title for such a simple drawing but there is a reason. In life and in faith we hold ourselves back many times because we are afraid to dip our toes into the water or put another way, “Start something we are unsure we are qualified or able to do.” Remember God however has different plans for our lives. He wants us to jump headfirst into water by putting our faith and trust in Him to help us succeed. Proverbs 3:6 says, “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” If God is capable of straightening out our meandering walk then He is also most capable of helping us accomplish what we deem to be improbable. Pray for God to help you get your toes wet in something new today.

Daily Drawing #191, Dancin’ Among the Waters

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Back in the day, in the prehistoric past we didn’t have water parks or splash parks to frolic in we had garden hoses to spray each other with or took a dip in the local swimming holes. Of course my neighbor had a pool but my friends and I always ended up wading in the local creek. The creek held many fascinations. There were bugs like water striders. On most days you could find minnows or tad poles swimming around in the small ponds during low tide.  In the small streams leading which fed the creek you could find crayfish like critters living under the rocks. I miss those summer days. While splash parks and pools serve their purpose it is too bad many children today will never experience the joy of going out and discovering the wonders of God’s creation.

Daily Drawing  #189, When in Doubt, Take A Hike

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The prompt for today was the word, “solitude.” You wouldn’t know it if you saw me but I am a very introverted person so at times I enjoy my solitude and what better way to get alone but to take a hike. A short walk along a trail, a quiet road, along the beach or any place in nature is a reminder of the Creator as His creation unfolds before you. Just gazing at His workmanship helps my doubts slip away so  mind can be free of the worries of the day. Alone time, on a hike, can also give you time to converse with God. Yes I said converse, not in just prayer but also by talking to God who the Bible tells us is, “close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalms 23:4 NLT.)

Daily Drawing #187, Watch Your Reflection

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The title of today’s drawing is, “Little Things Can Have A Big Reflection.” The way we live is a reflection of what we believe. As an artist my drawings are a reflection of how much time I put into my craft. The more I practice and draw the better my drawings will be a reflection of my abilities. The same is true of life the more we spend time studying and learning about God and serving Him in big and small ways the more our lives will be a reflection of his love. The challenge for today was to illustrate a famous quote. I chose the one under the lady bug drawing. It is my quote and a reminder to myself about how I need to live each day as a good reflection.

Daily Drawing #183, Playin’ the Game of Four Square

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Remember the game of Four Square we used to play in gym class and on the playgrounds. The game was played with four people and the object was to pass a playground ball back and forth until you made a mistake and were out. My drawing today is entitled, “I Love 2 Draw,” and is an homage to the playground version of the game where the squares you drew had lines that were not perfectly square but still you persevered and played the game.

I can’t believe I am halfway through this years drawing challenge. I have drawn 183 illustrations. There are quite a few I am going to be offering soon as art prints. Some still need work and a few are going by the wayside. Some of things I’ve learned over the last six months is that in order to be a better artist you must try new things and attempt to draw those things which in your mind you would never be able to draw. Also I have found a style of art which is to my liking. You will see what I mean because in future drawings that style will show up more and more.

I am also contemplating changing my art group name to Whitty Arts. If you read this let me know about the name.

I started this blog for two purposes, one was to use my talents to honor God and further His message. The second was to develop my talents as an artist. I think I have so far done what I set out to do on the outset. I pray I can finish out the year with many more whimsical and colorful drawing. Check back each day to see what comes your way.

Daily Drawing #182, Livin’ the Fantasy Life

| Whitt’s End Art

One thing I like about being an artist is when my pencil goes to paper what was one a fantasy in my mind suddenly takes shape. Truthfully it almost never comes out as I envision the piece. Another thing I like about art is the ability to create something out of this world in the true fantasy realm like today’s drawing. “Little Fairy in the Woods.” This is not a finished piece because I am just now working out the details of turning something I can see in my mind into a real image. I have cartooned before but creating a more detailed image is harder. Well I have a half a year to go.

While on on the subject of fantasy. I hear from many about the fantasy world of Heaven. When I hear people speak that way I am saddened. Heaven is not a fantasy. It is a reality and some day when I face to face with Jesus I will be both awe struck, a little fearful but filled with joy when I hear the words, “Welcome good and faithful servant.”  So look to fantasy and whim to create your art but remember Heaven is for real and hopefully someday I will meet up with other artist and we can have a wonderful time creating and worshiping together.

Daily Drawing #181, Feeling Like A Man In The Wilderness

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The drawing prompt for today was the word, “wilderness.” The prompt made my mind wander back to one of the songs by my favorite groups of my youth, Styx and one of my favorite songs, “Man in the Wilderness.”  The lyrics are:

‘Cause I can’t seem to find the light alone
Sometimes I feel like a man in the wilderness
I’m a lonely soldier off to war
Sent away to die, never quite knowing why
Sometimes it makes no sense at all

While the song appears to be about life on the road as a rock star. it also had meaning for me back then as well as now. I will not bore you with the details of how the song related to me back in the day . Today however, there are times as a follower of Jesus where I feel like I am wandering in a wilderness. A man all alone. I have the light in my heart but it doesn’t seem to pervade the darkness. Still I persevere, knowing God is near, and will never leave me to be truly alone.

Daily Drawing #178, Blowing Bubbles in the Wind

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As a kid blowing bubbles was one of my favorite activities. I remember going to the store getting those bottles of glorified soap. Inside was a little wand with a circle on one end. The circle of course was used to created the bubbles. Who would have thought such a little device could create hours of joy. Sadly the bubbles we blew did not last. Either they landed on the ground and popped or we chased them down and popped them ourselves.

Then along came Super Elastic Bubble Plastic. This material took the bubble blowing world by storm. Here was a bubble you could play with for longer periods of time. They did not pop. You could hold them in your hand, pass them back and forth or just watch them blow along in the wind.  Sadly Super Elastic Bubble Plastic went the way of most fads. After the novelty wore off and sales went down the product became part of American lore.

Super Elastic  is still around but it is not as popular as before .There is a lesson to learned about our faith from this fad.  We can’t let our lives as followers of Jesus go the same as Super Elastic Bubble Plastic.  Start out as an exciting novelty that when the newness wears off it is put on the back burner becoming part of our life lore. The life of a follower of Jesus is meant to be as dynamic in twenty, thirty, or forty years as it was on the first day. Let us keep our hearts focused on Jesus and life will always feel new.