Rampart Reservoir Sketch

Sandee and I went on a hike part way around the Rampart Reservoir today. It's northwest of Colorado Springs and about 9000 feet above sea level. Wow. Beautiful place. This was another sunny, cloudless day.

God, the most creative of all, most have had some fun placing each and every rock in a unique way. It's crazy cool.

A Saturday morning sketch

Sandee and I went for coffee about 3 miles from our home here in Colorado Springs. This particular shop has an incredible view of Pikes Peak and the "Front Range". Good thing the views are free!

I enjoyed sketching again. I find it incredibly relaxing.

Some people left after started sketching them.

Wow! The coffee tastes even better with views like these. We find ourselves saying "Wow" and "Thank you Lord!" a lot these days.

It's been a while

"The Land Between"

I made this sketch during a lecture at the Willowcreek Global Leadership Summit. Mr. Manion spoke to us about his new book on the same topic. Good stuff.

Psalm 91:13

If you've been around me, you know how much I love the Basel Muenster. I was there again the other day. There are so many meaningful messages to be found in and around this cathedral. Here is one of my favorites.

In the King James Bible Psalm 91:13 says, "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet."

Inside this cathedral there is a way you can fulfill this very scripture....check it out.

(I didn't take this first photo.)

Notice the glass plate in the floor there? It is located very near the front area of the church - near the raised pulpit. Let's take a closer look.

Under the glass is a very old stone (part of the original cathedral floor) with a "dragon" painted on it. It is here in the floor to serve as an illustration of Psalm 91:13 - that Christ followers would indeed trample dragons under their feet. That's my foot in the photo trampling on the dragon. I think this is really cool. Everytime I go there I try and trample on the dragon before leaving the church.

Rhein River - Basel Switzerland

It was a very hot day in July 2010 when I made this sketch.

The best part was seeing the Harrop family go swimming by while I sketched. They all waved and yelled at me from the river.

Sermon Sketch 27 June 2010

The speaker at church (Crossroads Basel) today spoke from John 2 where Jesus performs his first miracle - turning water into wine. As I listened I got to thinking about how that miracle happened and made a little sketch. Of course, I'm pretty sure there were no glass cups on that day, but still...

I like the quote from Michael Card "Our faith was conceived at a party by one who loved parties." Check it out - the disciples come to faith at this event!! John 2:11.

Our speaker also recommended the movie"Babette's Feast" as an example of this kind of extravagant love. I've never seen it but it looks good.

My sketch is trying to show how the miracle may have happened...

Sketching in the hospital

Keeping my bad arm elevated

the view of my bed and out my window

the view out the window

Sketch in Kayserberg, France

A fine day for a sketch.

Klingentor at Rothenberg ob der Tauber

The entire town of Rothenberg is sketcheable. I chose this tower because it was less tourist-y than the other usual locations. It was a beautiful day - chilly - but bright and sunny. We enjoyed walking along the ancient wall that begins at this tower.

This street was one of the more quieter streets. Cars actually do drive pass and go through the tower gate.

I like the reflection of the sun on the house across the street in this picture.

A sketch at the coffee shop

Sandee and I went to a coffee shop (a well known coffee shop that starts with "Star...") in Basel after church. We had a nice time sipping our drinks, talking, and reading books. I finally got out my sketchbook and drew the two friends talking to each other across the room.

Sketch at the Stuecki Mall, Basel

What a nice start to the day: a double tall late with Sandee, followed by a quick sketch from the overflow seating area at Starbucks.

Making a sketch is a perfect way to unstring the bow. Very much needed right now.

Freiburg Martinstor

Drew this sketch yesterday in Freiburg, Germany. It's fun to draw on the street. It's so interesting to observe individuals trying to sneak a peek at what I'm doing.

I love this tower "Martinstor", but I don't like the McDonalds to the right of its base. Still it's a very beautiful piece of architecture.

I loved including all of the overhead cables in this sketch. It acts as a kinds of ceiling.

Sketch of Loerrach City Center

Drew this standing out in the cold today. Nearly froze my hands off. First in pencil - about 30 minutes, and then later I darkened it with pen back at the house. Sorry about that "doubletake" watermark. I guess I have to purchase that stitching program to remove that mark. It was sure nice to draw again.

Sermon Sketch Dec 27 09

I had never quite heard the Simeon story quite this way before. It's a perfect a message for the Sunday after Christmas - a sort of "rest of the story". The baby Jesus is brought to the temple 8 days after his birth and when Simeon sees the child he has a vision of what will be. He prays aloud, "I have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations and he is the glory of your people Isreal!" Luke 2:30-32.

Speaker: Roger Ridley. Crossroads International Church of Basel.

Waiting at the airport - again

Had a few minutes early this morning at the Frankfurt airport while waiting for a flight to Basel. I just got in from Lagos, Nigeria - so I was tired. Not too tired to draw. You can see pictures of that trip at Sandee's blog. Click here.

Herbst Messe 09 sketch

I enjoyed doing this sketch on site. It's a challenge to draw when it's so chilly, but it was fun to visit with friends who came up to see what I was doing.

That's the bumper car ride on the left. It was very crowded with students and staff of Black Forest Academy. All of us had a blast. I took a break from sketching to go take a ride myself. It's so funny to see the pleasure students find in hunting me down with their bumper cars.

Meeting Doodles

Had to sit in some important meetings this week. As usual I found myself doodling as a way of focusing my attention. And once again, I am surprised at what comes out of my pen. These sketches were unplanned. I started with the number 1 and then one thing lead to another...

My sketchbook - just the Rome sketches

Concert in Venice Sketch 09

This was a fun sketch to do. I liked the fact that the musicians are off to the side making in this drawing given it an unusual perspective. The concert itself was simply amazing.

This is a shot of the hall just before the musicians came out.

Ostia Antica Sketch 09

We visited Ostia Antica, the ancient port city for Rome. Ostia Antica was basically abandoned due to disease and the fact that the silt filled the harbor.

Because this drawing is a two-pager I couldn't scan the full length. Here's a picture of it.

Sitting here and drawing this scene was pure pleasure. The day was very warm, but the breeze made up for it.

Here's the right side of the drawing.

Here's the left side of the sketch.