Being Stretched

I am sorry it has taken me so long to get to the August Challenge. I want you to know it will get done this week/weekend. I am working on finishing some projects before school begins back. Some of which have been really stretching me out of my comfort zone.

I think it is important to say yes to things you want to be doing, even before you are ready to do them. Things that you want to be doing but feel unqualified for. God knows our qualifications and I believe He is opening doors, I have to say yes and at least attempt them no matter how unprepared I feel.

This image above is from an illustration I did in an hour on a 8 foot x 4 foot panel this past Sunday at church. About a month ago my pastor, Jeremy asked me to draw during church (2 services, 2 separate pieces, same subject). I would love to be an illustrator but definitely don’t feel qualified. Then about 10 days before I was to do the live drawing (1 hour for each panel, 1 in each service) he said they are changing the sermon, that meant I had to change the idea I was working on. I accepted that, as I often have clients who change their minds at a late notice. I am flexible, I can handle this.

He asked for a whimsical, Dr. Seuss style, so I borrowed from Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who pretty heavily. Then added my own whimsy from my sketchbooks.

I felt exposed, and pressured to do well. My name, my business name, and my university had been printed in the bulletin I was worried I would make a bad impression if I didn’t perform well. I didn’t even finish the piece in the 9:15 service, shown as the featured image on this post). I worked smarter and limited my color palette and tools during the second service and got much further. It was a good experience. I will do it again if they ask.

I am going to lean on the fact that God doesn’t give me anything I can’t handle.