The (Really) Last Battle

So I've modified my earlier watercolor illustration for The Last Battle. Here is the original post. I added a tree. I think it's an improvement.

The Last Battle

"The Last Battle" Watercolor

(Note: There's a slightly newer version of this watercolor here.)

It took me a really long time to get this one done. Seriously. I’m ashamed. I’m using the fact that rocks are really hard to paint as my excuse. And I’m afraid this isn’t a great scan, but you get the idea.

The Last Battle

If you’re familiar with the book, this is the scene when Farsight the Eagle arrives to tell the heroes that the Calormenes have invaded and Narnia is, more or less, dead. It’s very sad.

Theologically, though, it’s also a good illustration of the arrival of a prophetic/apocalyptic word, a shocking pronouncement of the truth that is intended to spur the recipient into some sort of action. Farsight’s message is what allows the heroes of the story to make a decision that eventually leads them to the last battle.

I suppose I should have warned you of spoilers, but it really shouldn't be a surprise that a book titled "The Last Battle" has a last battle in it.

"Dawn Treader" watercolor

In keeping with a previous post, I recently completed a watercolor based (somewhat loosely) on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

The Dawn Treader

I can't say I'm completely satisfied with it, but the image above was my sixth attempt at getting it right, so at this point I'm ready to move on to something else.

Darkness to Light

This is a graphic I made for use on the invitation we'll be giving out for our Christmas services. It's based on one of the lectionary texts for Christmas Eve.

Isaiah 9:2

More of Puddleglum

For the benefit of my mother and anyone else who cares, here is the full image from which I made the banner graphic for this blog:

Puddleglum Stomping

It's an original watercolor, thus explaining why I placed an obnoxious stamp of the site's address on the bottom corner of the image. Higher quality images are available for those who ask nicely, though.

Because Carey is awesome, that's why.

Carey and I took a few days' vacation at the beginning of August, partly for our anniversary and partly just to get a break. We went up to a bed and breakfast in Montour Falls, New York, not far from Watkin's Glen State Park, and while we were there we spent a day kayaking on Seneca Lake. Carey had never kayaked before, but, out of sheer awesomeness, she was paddling around the lake like a pro in no time.

Carey on Seneca Lake

Mixing Things Up

It's been a few weeks since I've gotten around to updating anything on here, so I've posted my latest sermon below and I thought I'd add a couple of photographs as well. First up is a shot from a guest photographer -- namely, Carey -- taken on a recent trip out to Boulder Field at Hickory Run State Park. The temptation is to post lots of pictures of my dog doing the odd things he does, but in the interest of quality I'll post only the cream of the crop.

Calvin on a Rock (courtesy of Carey Richards)

And next up, here's a shot of a yellow lily I took last night. And lest I be accused of just posting another stupid close-up of a flower, this one has a bug in it:

Green and Yellow

Introducing...

I've attached the first blurry photographs of Calvin, our new dog. He is completely puppy, so much so that he somehow made his lunch explode all over my kitchen floor, then sat grinning in the midst of the rubble like a madman. But -- how shall I put it? -- an excess of energy must be expected in any healthy puppy, and so we'll be patient with him and keep training him. At a little over four months old, he certainly has some growing and learning to do, but he's already far better behaved than many grown-up dogs I've met.

Calvin

A dog, not a baby

Cow at Shaker Village

I lack the finesse it takes to turn a cow into high art, but I still can't help liking this picture. This shot comes from Shaker Village near Harrodsburg, Kentucky, taken sometime last year when I was studying at Asbury.

Cow at Shaker Village

Technically a hippeastrum, not an amaryllis

My mom loaned us one of her amaryllis bulbs to take care of for a few months, and shortly after she brought it to us, the thing took off like a beast unleashed. It almost immediately threw forth a flower stalk so fast that I could just about watch it grow. Fortunately, it was in fact a flower stalk, not a poison-tipped tentacle, and it recently started blooming:

Amaryllis

I'm sure it's considered very amateur in photography circles to keep taking close-ups of flowers, but a) I don't run in any photography circles, b) calling me an amateur would be a compliment considering my level of commitment to photography, and c) flowers are, by and large, pretty, so they're nice for taking pictures.

Spring Flowers

Spring seems to be giving serious thought to visiting the Poconos, so the crocuses are beginning to bloom...

Purple Crocuses

I've been quite pleased with some of the shots I've gotten with my little off-the-shelf Sony Cyber-Shot. It's definitely no D200, but it usually does what I need it to.

Wet ice

We seem to be having a warm spell in the Poconos, which resulted in some melting of the snow we've accumulated so far. I decided to play with the camera for a few minutes today, then, and this is the result:


Apparently I just like taking pictures of icicles. You've got to have a hobby, I guess.

In the middle of the earth in the land of Shire...

I've had enough family members demand photos of where we live that I've finally gotten around to it. The picture quality is far from spectacular since it was snowing at the time, but I thought snow would be as picturesque as anything, at least until the leaves come back.

And so, I present to you the parsonage...

Front view

Another front view

Rear view

And yes, the building right beside us is the church building. It's nice to be able to walk to work without even having to put on a coat, but it also means there isn't much point in opening the blinds on that side of the house...