nathan jara

After a few late nights this past week, I finished my Lenten series of drawings. I’m really pleased with how they all turned out. I’ve titled the entire series “I AM” and created an eighth piece in calligraphy to add the title and the scriptures to go along with each week’s drawing. I decided to donate the work to my church and presented it in the Easter morning service today. This was a different Lenten discipline for me. One that allowed for reflection through artistic expression.  The series can hopefully provide for those who see it, a different perspective of the Lenten journey.

Not sure what brought it up, but I was chatting about favorite commercials the other day and remembered one of my favorites. It’s from a few years ago called The Human Element by the Dow Chemical Company. I just think it’s a really well done advertisement and the message is really cool. Check out the link or the video below.

Here’s number five and six in the Lenten series. One more to go : )

I’ve completed the next two pieces in my Lenten series. You can see them below. I had a difficult time with the drawing on the left called “The Gate.” I’m fairly pleased with how it turned out. Though I’m much happier with the “Good Shepherd” drawing. Three more to go. I’m getting anxious to see them all together.

The Gate

John 10:1-10

Every year during the season of Lent, I like to try to do something to better myself or help me prepare for the culmination of the season, which is Easter Sunday. This time, I didn’t have to search for that something, but was given a challenge for Lent instead. My church pastor has developed a Lenten sermon series for each Sunday leading up to Easter this year. The series discusses the “I Am” sayings of Jesus and how we can apply and live these teachings in our own lives. For my Lenten devotion, I decided to create seven art pieces to visualize each week’s “I Am” saying. Each piece is done using charcoal pencil on 9 by 12 inch paper and depicts how I think each saying can be seen. I plan on combining all the pieces together at the end of Lent for a final series piece. Below you can see the first two of the series. Under each, I’ve listed the corresponding scripture if you’d like to dig deeper. Stay tuned for the rest of the series….and let me know what you think :)

The Bread of Life

John 6: 35-51

The Light of the World

John 8: 12-20