"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi

   This statement has impacted me for years. Throughout my 12 year struggle to reconcile my sexuality with my faith, one thing I kept close to my heart was the hope that one day I could contribute to positive change. Positive change in how the gay community views Christians... And in how Christians view gay people. What a huge priviledge - and responsibility - to have one foot in each camp.

    Not only that - although for obvious reasons this is a large focus in my life - but I have always prayed to be a catalyst for positive-ness. That is why I love this statement. That is why I got this tattoo.
 

   Be - it is a verb. It implies action. Don't just wish it was better. Make it better.

   The - implies singular. I  do believe one person can make a huge change.

   Change - another verb. This world can be pretty messed up - but the change starts with you. And it can start today.

    What sort of legacy do I want to leave? Some paintings and drawings, sure. But more than that - I want to pour into peoples lives. Our lives are so incredibly short, and we only get one try. I want to be an ambassador of hope. Of grace. Of compassion. Of joy. Of gratefulness. Of love. As cheesy as that sounds.

    I have been treated poorly, I have been hurt deeply, I have been accused of a lot of horrible things because I choose to live my life in total honesty - embracing being gay as a Christian. People I love have written me off, and assumed a lot of things about me because of this. This tattoo, wrapped around my right wrist, reminds me every day - no matter what - to respond in love. To extend that grace that has been extended to me, even when (especially when) it doesn't make sense.

    To be - the - change I so deeply wish to see around me.

    What an honor that is.

 

There is beauty everywhere.

I walk through Gastown on my way to the studio here in downtown Vancouver twice a day, Monday to Friday. Many of those days, I see people who are just wandering through the streets, wearing the same worn outfit every day. They all tug at my heart, as I become more and more painfully aware that I am fortunate enough to wear a clean, dry and almost new outfit every day, under a warm jacket, carrying a backpack with a lunch, on my way to a job which pays me quite well in the scheme of things.

There is one man in particular who has captured my heart. I usually see him either sitting in Starbucks to warm up as I walk by the window, or slowly making his way up the street, just to keep moving. I believe God is opening my eyes to see true and simple beauty, in that there is such beauty in all of these wandering souls that we so easily pass by and try not to make eye contact.

This morning I walked by him once again, always attempting to look him right in the eyes so I can at least give him a smile. At least acknowledge that he is a beautiful soul, perfectly made by God, and not forgotten like he may feel. I couldn't get him out of my head, so I drew him when I got to work.

I am thankful for him, for walking by him everyday to remind me of my own humanity, and to redefine my definition of beauty.

I will be drawing more often.

"You'll shoot yer eye out!" SNEAKPEEK

I love Christmas. And I love to draw. Soooooo why not combine them, you say??? Exaaaaaaactly. This morning I put on "A Christmas Story" and was inspired immediately. The clever dialog, the retro-ish outfits, and the Christmas appeal - 3 for 3.

I ended up doing a caricature of most of the cast, but I just finished inking them, and won't finish them complete with colour tonight.... so I am putting up a sneak peek. Here's Ralphie, roughly inked, sans colour.

Stay tuned for the final with the rest of the cast!
Happy Christmas!

Doodling in Dallas.

Last weekend during my trek back and forth to Frederick, Maryland from Vancouver, I had stopovers in the Dallas airport. For, like, 4 hours. So...... what a perfect time to sketch unsuspecting travellers!

Tattoo-pallooza!

A friend of mine asked if I would draw up a few sketches for a foot tattoo she has always wanted. She only knew that she wanted her kids names in a neat design. So here's what I came up with, and the final inked design. Such fun it was!

This is the winning sketch she liked best:

This is the final inked version:

Paintings for the kidlets!

Further to a post a while ago, about designing some paintings for kidlets.... here are how the finals turned out! What fun; I'd love to do more like these. And the best part - the kids loved 'em! That's means the most to moi :)

12" x 24"; acrylic on canvas.

16" x 16"; acrylic on canvas.

11" x 14"; acrylic on canvas.

Git the beads - Mardi Gras caricatures!

Here are the highlights from two days of caricatures I did at the Convention Centre here in Winnipeg for their Mardi Gras celebration - what a fun time!













]