St. Brigid of Ireland Icon--Working On It

Working on an icon of St. Brigid of Ireland, whose feast day is in February. When I finish it, I will have icons for saints of every month of the year. Lots of Celtic details in the picture--even some shamrocks--why not? A Celtic pattern with leaves and buds from the hops plant, because Brigid was a fan of beer. Etc. Brigid is a very popular and interesting saint, tho perennially overshadowed by her countryman Patrick--one of those powerful women in the earlier centuries of the Church in Ireland and England. I'm open to suggestions for my next picture (this one came from a suggestion). Soon I'll be starting on the figure and landscape for this one.

Any and all input is welcome, on this picture or any other subject.

Please note, as always, there's a link for donations on this blog.  If you like my work and think it is important, you could support it.  Like many artists, amateur or pro, with a "day job," I have issues with the time and resources necessary to get this thing going in a bigger way.   All help is appreciated, definitely including all comments, criticism and critiques.  Also, don't forget, I sell the icons myself in forms not available at redbubble or elsewhere--so please inquire.  A selection of my icons, mounted on boards, is also available at the Rosary Gift Shop in Lansing and at the St. Francis Retreat Center shop in Dewitt (tho they may not have the display up as yet).

Completed John Paul II Icon

Finally finished this one.  This is just a snapshot--scan for prints not made as yet.

Lots of meaningful detail in this picture--for example, Polish wildflowers around the border plus roses for John Paul's Marian devotion; and flanking the figure, depictions of a view of St. Peter's in Rome and the cathedral in the saint's hometown in Poland. The saint stands above a globe, indicating the worldwide reach of this pope's ministry.

Prints, cards and other items will soon be available at redbubble.com and FineArtAmerica.com.  For prints mounted on boards and multiple prints, contact me at raberdavid@yahoo.com or 989-834-2783.

As always, donations in support of my work may be made at this blog via Paypal.

St. John Paul II, pray for us.

John Paul II Progress, Part 2

Getting close to completing my icon of John Paul  II.  A few details to complete and maybe some modifications.

The border features roses (for John Paul's Marian devotion) and other flowers native to Poland.  After I finished the border, I thought it might be too flowery for a manly guy like JP2.  But that may be superficial thinking.  Garlands and picture-borders of flowers have always been associated with the saints, and there is a reason behind that impulse: the beauty of the natural world and blossoming flowers are entirely appropriate in connection with the spiritual beauty shown forth in the life of a saint.  So I let it be and went ahead with the original plan, and let the chips fall where they may.

Pope Saint John Paul II, pray for us.

John Paul II Icon Progress

Possibly the border is too flowery!  I've got roses in there for the Pope's devotion to Mary, and also four types of flowers native to Poland, including red poppies, the national flower of Poland.   Maybe the original concept won't work out here--not sure.  Right now I plan on pressing forward--see how things turn out as the figure steps in.

Hermano Pedro Icon

This picture was a commission for a married couple with ties to Guatemala, the home country of Hermano Pedro ("Brother Pedro"), a Franciscan friar of the 17th century.  The floral border includes poinsettia blooms native to the country, and the white flowers are called the Flower of Brother Pedro. There's a story that goes with the bell and walking staff, as you might have guessed.  You can look it up.

Every nation and almost every local region in the world has its saints of the Universal Church, Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican.

While we honor these people as the heroes of our religion, followers of Jesus Christ to a degree and intensity that most of us have not achieved--as a select few, in other words, the fact is there are not few, but so many!  As someone who looks for subjects to portray in icons, I really don't have to look at all, there are so many on offer worthy to be held up for recognition and imitation.  And of course there are also those, countless more people alive and dead, whose holy lives have not come to the attention of anyone but the few who have known them personally.

So while true sainthood may be relatively rare, in absolute numbers it is not rare at all.  God has given us a wealth of examples of all races and times and places, showing us how the saints' level of commitment to living the life Jesus showed u is open not just to a select few but to many, and to us ourselves, by the grace of God, which is literally available to all people.

Prints of this icon are available athttp://fineartamerica.com/profiles/david-raber.html

Contact me directly at raberdavid@yahoo.com for special orders or prints with handmade frames--this icon or others.  I am always open to special commissions from parishes or individuals.