Gesture drawing of a running deer by Jacqueline Perry, charcoal on newsprint, 2013

I didn’t intend to take the winter off, but I’m happy to be back blogging on nature and faith, and how art seems to bridge these for me.

The Pastors on Parade event scheduled for January was cancelled due to an ice storm.  Last Sunday afternoon, local clergy gathered to entertain the community and raise money for Churches United of the Quad City Area. The church was full and we all had a good time.

We missed our friend and former CU Director, Ron Quay, but went on with the show. Thanks Jane for inviting me to draw on stage – a first for me and a stretch. I drew this four-minute drawing to Bobby McFerrin’s “Common Threads” from Medicine Music.

I just don’t pull an image like this out of my head. In January, I practiced drawing the running deer from a photograph about seven times to music. Last week, on the day of the event , I pulled out my January practice drawings and remembered the form and the feeling of drawing quickly. I didn’t sense a need to actually  practice drawing one more time.

I like the physical character of drawing briskly–it feels good to draw fast. Once I’ve worked out the plan and design of a drawing (the head), then my body and spirit are able to fly.