This Fig Tree

Difference

Erica Elan Nelson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:48:52 +0000

Bic pen sketch.

James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Barriers

Erica Elan Nelson — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:46:07 +0000

While in India, I lived with seven Swedes, nine Indians, one Congolese, three US citizens, and one Mexican. This is Sachin, one of the Indian students, drawn in bic pen on sketch paper. It was at Sachin’s church, Kondowa, that my group spent two months. We worshiped, listened, preached, shared testimony and were overwhelmingly loved by their churches hospitality to us.

My group: Warmly referred to as the Purple Beaver Companionship Club inside of Kondowa church. From left to right: Ashish (the pastors son), Allen (India), Rosan (Congo), Filip (Sweden), Frida (Sweden), me, and the Sachin’s pastor.

Thanks for bearing with my India reminiscing. If you would like to read about some of my experiences there, here is my blog from that time.

War Protester

Erica Elan Nelson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:40:50 +0000

I took a photo two years ago at one of the Chicago peace marches of a women I met holding a sign protesting the FBI raids on war protesters. This sketch is inspired by the artist Mark Powell, who uses only bic pen to draw mainly intricate, weathered faces. It was a lesson in patience of the hand for me.

And We Will Continue To Build II

Erica Elan Nelson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:40:58 +0000

This paintings creation covered a larger time span than the previous few paintings. The most interesting part of making this particular piece was the people I spent time with or met in the process. Beginning in a coffee-house in Elmhurst, traveling to Peoria and painting with a really wonderful family, sitting in my house in Chicago, on the el, outside of Macys and finally sitting with one of the kindest people I’ve met in the city; Kevin from Hawaii, in the all too busy coffee shop at Belmont. Jeramiah 23:24

Was

Erica Elan Nelson — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:21:29 +0000

(8.5X11 Charcoal on sketchbook paper drawing)

Transitions

Erica Elan Nelson — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:15:07 +0000

Renunciation—is a piercing Virtue—
The letting go
A Presence—for an Expectation—
Not now—
The putting out of Eyes—
Just Sunrise—
Lest Day—
Day’s Great Progenitor—
Outvie
Renunciation—is the Choosing
Against itself—
Itself to justify
Unto itself—
When larger function—
Make that appear—
Smaller—that Covered Vision—Here—

~Emily Dickinson (Renunciation – is a piercing virtue)

Surely Goodness

Erica Elan Nelson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:07:48 +0000

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

-Psalm 23:6

And We Will Continue To Build

Erica Elan Nelson — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:28:31 +0000

The verses that continue to run through my mind in the making of these pieces:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Matthew 18:12
The book of 1 John

Painting is something I fail to understand at all, but it’s been an interesting process seeing what is created. I’m not sure what I’m doing at all. I doubt I ever will be.

Building Blocks

Erica Elan Nelson — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:32:49 +0000

What I hope is that these are the beginning of numerous woodblock faces. Kellie and Laura. Triangles to come…

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.” Matthew 18:12-13

Home Towns, Our Metropolis

Erica Elan Nelson — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:54:36 +0000

Maria: ’We shall build a tower that will reach to the stars!’ Having conceived Babel, yet unable to build it themselves, they had thousands to build it for them. But those who toiled knew nothing of the dreams of those who planned. And the minds that planned the Tower of Babel cared nothing for the workers who built it. The hymns of praise of the few became the curses of the many – BABEL! BABEL! BABEL! – Between the mind that plans and the hands that build there must be a Mediator, and this must be the hear.

-Metropolis