44 weeks of drawing 44 Bible stories
LiveCreated during Sunday's gathering of believers at 417 Connell Road, Valdosta, Georgia.
Drawings created between 2/7/2016 - 4/2/2017 |
DrawingsAll drawings are charcoal on paper approximately
36 x 42 inches with a time constraint of 45 minutes. |
Limited edition prints of these drawings are available.
Collaborating for more than a year...
The Emmaus Road series is a long term collaboration between Ken Webb, the pastor of Christ's Fellowship Church (Valdosta, Georgia), me, and the one in whom we place our faith and hope, the God of all creation. Through the act of drawing, one drawing per week for forty-four weeks, I have sought to bring a form of visual communication that would buttress the pastors heart felt intentions as he delivers a sermon every Sunday morning. I am invited to give a quick artist statement for each piece at the conclusion of each Sunday morning service to summarize my thoughts and intentions for each creation. Each drawing is created live in tandem with the delivery of the sermon, approximately 45 minutes.
I find myself so much more connected and in tune with each Sunday morning gathering because of the amount of study and preparation that goes into each drawing per week. It gives me the honest opportunity to ponder the story and scripture for each sermon, picture what it may have been like, and pray about what I'm to do with the resulting opportunity to edify the body of Christ. We live in an increasingly visual culture full of signs and symbols encouraging quick assumptions that simplify and deliver decontextualized instruction for living. Ravi Zacharias would describe this as giving rational thought to a subject without a predicate. As a culture we may not truly know how to see due to our expectation for immediate gratification. The appreciation of life through the creation of a simple drawing can slow us down giving more time to recognize what we see. The appreciation of art and its process can help us truly live or experience more of what it means to be human. I feel more connected to God after these drawings are finished. Concerning our perceptions and understanding of the world, G. K. Chesterton explains that, "God is like the sun; you cannot look at it, but without it you cannot look at anything else." Because of this series of work I feel like I can see better both physically and spiritually. I definitely see all 66 books of the Bible as intimately connected.
PROCESS
I receive a rough draft of Pastor Ken's sermon on Tuesday or Wednesday of each week. I read the sermon, the children's Bible lesson according to the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones, and the scripture passages that both of these are based upon. Next, I begin to ponder, listen, and imagine the authors' thoughts, the commentary, the story, and seek the heart of how this all applies to me, to us who believe, to the human condition/To what it means to be human. Usually a picture or phrase begins to resonate in my heart and mind. I follow that reverberation, share it with my wife and close friends. The idea clarifies itself and solidifies with a short written statement for each drawing. I seek approval of that statement with the pastor before each service. Finally, I get absorbed in the process of drawing during the Sunday gathering at my church. As Ken preaches, I draw. Together we seek to present our hearts and scripture to the glory of God.
Craig Hawkins
I find myself so much more connected and in tune with each Sunday morning gathering because of the amount of study and preparation that goes into each drawing per week. It gives me the honest opportunity to ponder the story and scripture for each sermon, picture what it may have been like, and pray about what I'm to do with the resulting opportunity to edify the body of Christ. We live in an increasingly visual culture full of signs and symbols encouraging quick assumptions that simplify and deliver decontextualized instruction for living. Ravi Zacharias would describe this as giving rational thought to a subject without a predicate. As a culture we may not truly know how to see due to our expectation for immediate gratification. The appreciation of life through the creation of a simple drawing can slow us down giving more time to recognize what we see. The appreciation of art and its process can help us truly live or experience more of what it means to be human. I feel more connected to God after these drawings are finished. Concerning our perceptions and understanding of the world, G. K. Chesterton explains that, "God is like the sun; you cannot look at it, but without it you cannot look at anything else." Because of this series of work I feel like I can see better both physically and spiritually. I definitely see all 66 books of the Bible as intimately connected.
PROCESS
I receive a rough draft of Pastor Ken's sermon on Tuesday or Wednesday of each week. I read the sermon, the children's Bible lesson according to the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones, and the scripture passages that both of these are based upon. Next, I begin to ponder, listen, and imagine the authors' thoughts, the commentary, the story, and seek the heart of how this all applies to me, to us who believe, to the human condition/To what it means to be human. Usually a picture or phrase begins to resonate in my heart and mind. I follow that reverberation, share it with my wife and close friends. The idea clarifies itself and solidifies with a short written statement for each drawing. I seek approval of that statement with the pastor before each service. Finally, I get absorbed in the process of drawing during the Sunday gathering at my church. As Ken preaches, I draw. Together we seek to present our hearts and scripture to the glory of God.
Craig Hawkins
