My name is Vicki Sheridan.
Thank you for letting me join this group.
Whenever I read a psalm that says something like, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord," or, "Play loudly with all your skill," I believe that--because I am not very musical--I am being called to draw or paint with all my skill. That realization has come late. I am a mother and grandmother who has some God-given talents which I did not adequately nurture. I thought they were MINE, to use for my interests. It didn't occur to me until about 2005, when I saw the film Andre Rublev, that my talents were given to me to use for God. In the movie, someone says to Rublev, "God has given you a talent; it is a sin not to use it." That struck me.
Then, the following year I was struck again. My son Seth Fisher was a comic book artist. He had art skill also, but unlike me, he worked and worked it, making it better and better, and did truly beautiful work. Then in January of 2006 he was killed in an accidental fall.
After that, somehow it seemed to me that I needed to take up art in a serious way, to work at it and make it into something that I can truly use to make a joyful noise to the Lord. My interest has always been illustration. I would dearly love to illustrate children's books. But it's only recently that I have started doing work in color. So I have a lot to learn about using color. I have drawn a book of the Nativity story, and had it rejected once. I haven't given up, but I have some other projects in mind, and with limited time, I have shelved the Nativity book for a little while. I am posting a couple of pictures from it here.
I have a long way to go, but I am willing to keep working at it.
12 comments:
Welcome Vicki. These pieces show definite talent and I'm glad you're pursuing your art further. That is such a tragedy about your son. Both of you will be in my prayers, particularly this Holy Week.
Thank you for sharing your "back story" and your beautiful illustrations with us! God bless you as you seek to serve Him with the talents He has given you.
Thank you both for your comments. Encouragement makes the world go round.
Nice work Vicki! Keep it up. For more support in children's book illustration you might want to check out the Society for Children's Book Wrters and Illustrators--scbwi.org
A blessed Holy Week to you.
Thank you for the advice Sophie. I went ahead and did it; I joined the SCBWI.
May you--and all the others--be blessed as well this Holy Week.
Hi Vicki,
Welcome, I'm glad you found your way here.
We were very excited at having chanced upon these glimpses of your lovely Nativity illuminations. Please explore our website: www.ccwatershed.org, listen to the music, view the videos, and decide whether you might wish to consider participating in some of our future publishing ventures. It is there that you can meet and befriend Dr. Ronda Chervin, whose books you may have read or whose appearances on EWTN you may have watched, whose daily blogs you can now enjoy: www.ccwatershed.org/blog/2011/feb/21/you-will-find-him-my-sacred-heart/
Thank you so much James. I looked all through the Watershed website, listened to some of the music, and was moved to know that people are composing beautiful liturgical music in the 21st century.
And I could see why you noted the particular blog entry. Dr. Chervin and I have something in common, don't we?
However, I am not sure how what I do can fit into the work of Watershed, which appears to me to be all about music, rather than visual art...
This is a little late, but welcome Vicki! I too hope to get into childrens' book illustration and comics as well so both your and your son's work is inspiring.
Thank you for visiting us. Watershed has published and has plans to publish books featuring the works of Catholic visual artists. All our CD's and DVD's and music books are illustrated by Catholic artists. We have produced documentaries introducing artists who demonstrate a desire to offer their creative gifts in holy service to Christ and His Bride. Here's a brief sample from the website: www.ccwatershed.org/blog/2010/jul/23/maronite-iconographer/
To sanctify all the arts in the service of contemplation in the spirit of St. Philip Neri was the motivating force behind the founding of our ministry. It is true, as you have observed, that most of the artists who have so far responded to our invitations have been musicians.
I think your illustration of the shepherds is wonderful! It's one of the best I've ever seen, and I have studied hundreds of shepherds in the past year!
Vicki, I love your style! Do you have a website or email where you can be reached? I'm looking for an illustrator for three of my children's saint storybooks.
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