Happy Birthday Hobbits!

First, thanks to the Catholic Illustrator's Guild for my acceptance! That quite made my morning.

My name is Mary Sullivan, I am an artist/illustrator in the making (hopefully), and here is my blog. 

Yesterday, Sept. 22nd, was Mr. Bilbo and Frodo's birthday! A bit of celebration is called for. I myself found a bit of time to watch the Fellowship of the Ring, and draw a little before work. 

'You mean to go on with your plan then?
'I do. I made up my mind months ago, and I haven't changed it.'

It is based on this:

Inside Bag End, Bilbo and Gandalf were sitting at the open window of a small room  looking out west on to the garden. The late afternoon was bright and peaceful. The flowers glowed red and golden: snapdragons and sunflowers, and nasturtians trailing  over the turf walls and peeping in at the round windows.
    'How bright your garden looks!' said Gandalf.
    'Yes," said Bilbo. 'I am very fond indeed of it, and of all the dear old Shire; but I think I need a holiday."
     'You mean to go on with your plan then?'
     'I do. I made up my mind months ago, and I haven't changed it.'
     'Very well. It is no good saying any more. Stick to you plan-- your whole plan, mind -- and I hope it will turn out for the best, for you, and for all of us.
    'I hope so. Anyway I mean to enjoy myself on Thursday, and have my little joke.'
    'Who will laugh, I wonder?' said Gandalf, shaking his head.  
    'We shall see,' said Bilbo.

Happy Belated Hobbit Day everyone!

St. Francis by Caravaggio sketch

Quick sketch copying The Stigmatization of St. Francis by Caravaggio.

Queen of Heaven - sketch page

Update (3/22/11):  Here is a small painted head study done from the sketch.  To speed up the process, I painted my first layers in acrylic and then came back over it in oils for the final coat.  I've heard this is not wise since over time (hundreds of years) the oil may flake off, being too thin.


I pulled out the ole 9B pencil for this sketch.  Kinda scary at first when you see those dark pencil marks being put on the page, but I needed the contrast for the skin tones.

Before the Mass

In olden times, very ornate and beautiful vestments were worn by Priests and Deacons for liturgical celebriations. In my opinion, most modern vestment styles are drab and have a lack of the sense of  the 'Sacredness' for the Mass. Here is a sketch I did thinking on these things.

Another St. Peter

In my last post of an image of St. Peter I was reminded by a member of this blog of the necessity of staying true to tradition as to the 'iconography' of the saints. St. Peter is traditionally shown as having a roundish (white) beard and curly hair so I did this one.  

for the upcoming feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on the 29th of June.

Here is a sketch of St. Peter. Maybe someone can submit their version of St. Paul.

St. John the Apostle

Forgive me for posting so much. There seems to be such fire alive for the arts in our Faith! This evening I was sitting out on the deck and thinking about my name (John) when I felt a need to do a sketch of young St. John the Apostle. For better or worse, here it is.

Month of Mary

After living in Italy for some years in the 1970's I got used to seeing devotion in churches. It wasn't uncommon to see pilgrims like this, prostrate and praying by an altar dedicated to Our Lady. Usually at shrines and places of pilgrimage. It's not often in the USA to see such outward acts. Since it is May the month of Mary, I wanted to post something in her honor. I found this 20 year old oil sketch I had done on canvas paper. It is not the best composition and I'll be the first to admit that.

Pen and ink drawing of friars

Hello. I Just recently I joined the Catholic Illustrator's Guild

Blog. I am inspired by all the the artists I see posting here.

Thank you for letting me be a part of this great community. 

Here are a few pen and ink studies I did of some Capuchin 

Franciscan Friars.