Thursday 25 July 2019

July:Saint Macrina the Younger

July 19 we remember Saint Macrina, oldest child of nine children, 324-379 A.D.
Two of her brothers are Saint Bishop's, Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nissa.
Her brother Gregory wrote down her 'counsels' and she also had a great influence in Basil's conversion,turning his intellectual gifts to the service of the Church.
I am working out a modern Icon, statement, about Macrina's presence with us today, what would she say to our Church?
I think she would be in shock that women continue to be kept out of the 'voice' and contributing to the Synods etc.
In this icon, I have Macrina ripping a document, because, right up to now, most writings coming out of Rome are written by men, ignoring the Feminine contribution. A friend of mine has suggested that we are only 'half' a Church, as women's gifts, contributions are so under represented.
Macrina is flanked by her two brother's, Gregory and Basil, deliberately cut in half as their writings, though substantial, and inspiring, are not complete without the contribution of the feminine. Imagine if Macrina had also been a Bishop? In her time, she founded one of the earliest Monastic communities of contemplative women.                  Saint Macrina pray for us.

Thursday 27 June 2019

Children's Icon Pattern Book from the life of Jesus



https://www.blurb.ca/b/9563839-icon-patterns-from-the-life-of-jesus?fbclid=IwAR2shwWHgtN6wEsIDPB64NuXwRzq5kINC-HUseeo36s2pK5r8N7T9skEAT0

Available for purchase: Preview my NEW icon pattern book for children from the life of Jesus, click the blurb.ca link above.

Tuesday 9 April 2019

Some finished Icons with watercolor pencils, from the children

                                             
                                          "I lay down my life for my sheep"  Jesus, John 10

Tuesday 12 March 2019

Children's Icons using Watercolor pencils: The True Vine

The next Icon:                                              The True Vine

There are two parables that are  'the two pillars' of this particular approach to being with children in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, CGS. 
"The Good Shepherd", which I showed in the previous post, and  "The True Vine".

I am working on an Icon Pattern Book for children.
Uncluttered, 'just the essential' as we like to say in CGS.
Self publishing, hope to get 'my proof' copy soon, get it edited, then out to YOU. Stay tuned.....

Wednesday 30 January 2019

The children want to create...from 5 yrs to 10 years...

In our retreat room for the youngest child at church,(3+),our subject/theme at this time of the year is The Good Shepherd.
Emmanuel Cusnaider, The Good Shepherd  icon is the inspiration/cartoon.
It is perfect, just the essential lines for the child.
We decided to spare ourselves the paint brush clean up as our time is short, and a lot of children.
So water colour pencils are the choice, for now.
Here are the steps, worked out by myself today.
After Sunday, I will post the child's work, creations.