The Advent Storybook – Completed!

I finished illustrating The Advent Storybook this week! It has been a crazy challenging (but enjoyable) few months! At the start of this year I was overwhelmed with the workload from multiple overlapping projects and tight deadlines, and it definitely got worse before it got better. Endless thanks to God for carrying me through to the end, for providing endurance and patience, and teaching me to remain faithful to my range of responsibilities even when it's hardest. The path to success was there from the beginning, but He was the only one who could see it clearly.

The Advent Storybook will be available October 1 from David C Cook as the publishing partner. You can find and preorder the book on Amazon.

In the meantime we'll get to work on the rewards for our 120 gracious Kickstarter supporters! A huge thank you to all those who backed the project!! 💟 Because of your support, the author Laura Richie and I were able to have an unusual amount of creative freedom on the book. Here's hoping that was a good thing. 😊

The Advent Storybook - Kickstarter Goal Reached!

The Advent Storybook reached its funding goal, thanks to over 120 extremely generous supporters! God willing, the book will be available Fall 2018 through our publishing partner. But first... lots of work ahead!

Learn more about the upcoming children's book at AdventStorybook.com or on our Kickstarter showcase.

The Advent Storybook - Now on Kickstarter!

The Advent Storybook is a beautifully illustrated children's book with 25 daily readings for the month of December. The book traces, throughout history, God’s recurring promise to send our Rescuer. Families can have an opportunity to connect each day and reflect on what matters most during the Christmas season.

The book is written by Laura Richie​ and she is planning to have me illustrate it. But first, she is running a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter to make it all possible.

You can help bring this project to life by pre-ordering a copy on Kickstarter, or sharing it with someone who might be interested.

Find out more about The Advent Storybook

The Advent Storybook -- Coming soon to Kickstarter!

Introducing The Advent Storybook, a new project coming soon to Kickstarter​!

The Advent Storybook is a beautifully illustrated children's book with 25 daily readings for the month of December. The book traces, throughout history, God’s recurring promise to send our Rescuer. Families can have an opportunity to connect each day and reflect on what matters most during the Christmas season.

The book is written by Laura Richie​ and she is planning to have me illustrate it--but first, she will be launching a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter to make it all possible.

If you'd like to pre-order one or more copies of the book (releasing Fall 2018), or otherwise support the project in some way, please check out the Kickstarter campaign in about two weeks! You can learn more about the Kickstarter compaign on the author's blog.

Here's a preview of my illustrations for the book:

Tick Tock

Our days are numbered... what will they count for? This illustration accompanied a series of talks about the wisdom in learning to "number our days" correctly. A man contemplates the urgency of his time on earth, overshadowed by a giant clock tower.

Our time in life is precious and limited, how can we make the most of it to fulfill the opportunities God gives us?

See more of my illustrations for churches and ministries.

If you'd like to use this artwork for teaching or publishing purposes, please feel free to contact me about licensing options.

Aftermath

Illustration for a new teaching series launching on Easter Sunday. The theme is about learning to see our problems differently—through the resurrection of Jesus, hope is never lost.

A shipwrecked man perseveres, looking outward for help instead of despair. In the aftermath of our struggles we can do the same. If we adopt the right perspective, our problems can become the starting point for growth and change.

See more of my illustrations for churches and ministries.

If you'd like to use this artwork for teaching or publishing purposes, please feel free to contact me about licensing options.

#GivingTuesday Client Spotlight

Today is #GivingTuesday and I’d like to highlight some of the inspiring non-profits I’ve worked with and the great work they’re doing in the world. If you’re seeking an opportunity to give this season, these might be worth a look!

World Vision

www.worldvision.org

World Vision is a global Christian humanitarian organization that partners with children, families, and their communities to reach their potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. For 65 years they have worked to empower people and serve today in nearly 100 countries! In addition to meeting short-term and emergency needs, World Vision offers a child sponsorship program allowing long-term involvement with a specific child. Sponsorship, in partnership with a child’s family and community, is one of the most effective ways to meet a child's specific needs and prepare children for self-sufficiency in the future.

Today, for #GivingTuesday, any gift given to World Vision will be matched with a product donation from Thirty-One Gifts. Find out more at www.worldvision.org/lp/giving-tuesday-2016

There are many more ways to get involved at www.worldvision.org/get-involved

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Trauma Healing Institute

thi.americanbible.org

The Trauma Healing Institute is a recent offshoot of the 200-year-old American Bible Society. The Trauma Healing Institute equips people, churches, and NGOs around the world to care for the more than one in seven people worldwide who suffer severe wounds of the heart and spirit in the aftermath of conflict, disaster or abuse. Their proven model combines biblical and mental health resources into an effective intervention that fosters healing and restores relationships with God and others.

Donations help traumatized adults and children in 100 countries gain a foundation for healing and restoration. Give at donate.americanbible.org.

Watch an excellent documentary about their work at www.americanbible.org/hope-rising

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OneHope

onehope.net

OneHope is an international ministry that presents a biblical message of purpose and hope to children and youth around the world. In collaboration with churches and ministries – and working with local governments, schools and non-governmental organizations – OneHope has reached more than a billion young people in over 125 countries with the Gospel message.

You can help support their innovative work through The Bible App for Kids by texting $8.32 to 954.440.7440. Your gift will reach 1 child per week this year with the hope of God's Word!

See other ways to donate at onehope.net/donate

Major Updates to the Bible App for Kids

The Bible App for Kids v2.0 launches today, with a number of new features. Several stories now include a followup game, "Story Mixup", which allows kids to test what they're learning by unscrambling a Bible story into the proper sequence of events. Story Mixup is the first of four new games that will be revealed in future updates. A new interactive & animated map also replaces the previous story navigation system, allowing for quicker navigation as well as fun engagement for kids.

I've been working with OneHope, YouVersion, and Ovenbits to develop many of the graphics and provide input on interface design for these new updates. Now that the library of 40 Bible stories is complete, our attention can turn to supplemental features like these.

OneHope and YouVersion are also hard at work making the Bible App for Kids available to kids around the world—with 19 languages now in the app!

You can download the Bible App for Kids update here.

Now in Print!

Several print-based products are also available, including the Storybook Bible for families, and Book of Hope booklets that churches can order as a customizable gift for guests. I designed new artwork for the covers and helped adapt the app artwork to the interior layouts.

The Bible App for Kids Storybook Bible

The Bible App for Kids Book of Hope

Epic Story - Bible Illustrations

Made a series of illustrations recently that depict the overall "Epic Story" of the Bible. 66 books, 40 authors, written over 1500 years time, and remarkably there is a consistent narrative that is foreshadowed, developed and fulfilled from beginning to end.

Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees, though, so I was happy for the chance to create this series of 9 illustrations that help navigate the major points of the story.

See the full series of Bible story illustrations on Behance.

If you'd like to use this series for teaching or publishing purposes, please feel free to contact me about licensing options.

World Vision Easter Storybook Card

Each Easter, World Vision sends out illustrated storybook greeting cards to hundreds of thousands of children in their child sponsorship program. Working with World Vision and their marketing agency Russ Reid, I had the opportunity to illustrate the artwork for this year's Easter card, sharing a message of God's love with children around the world.

The storybook cards are part of World Vision's "bounceback" initiative. Cards are first sent to each child's sponsor, who can sign it and add a personal message, before sending it back to World Vision, who sends it onward to the child. At the end of the story, a keepsake item is attached which children can enjoy as an additional reminder and gift from their sponsor.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. You can learn more about their child sponsorship program on their website.

You can check out the full project on Behance.

World Vision Kids Storybook Project

Last fall I worked with World Vision to illustrate a couple of storybook greeting cards designed to encourage their sponsored children around the world. This first one tells a story of kindness among children in rural India. Theresa generously blesses others by sharing her favorite possession—her bicycle. As she does she discovers the biggest blessing of all—the joy that comes from being kind to others.‪

The storybook cards are part of World Vision's "bounceback" initiative. Cards are first sent to each child's sponsor, who can sign it and add a personal message, before sending it back to World Vision, who sends it onward to the child. At the end of the story, a keepsake item is attached which children can enjoy as an additional reminder and gift from their sponsor.

You can check out the full project on Behance.

The Bible App for Kids Storybook Bible!

Starting this fall, The Bible App for Kids will be available in print! The Bible App for Kids Storybook Bible features 28 stories from the app in a nicely-bound 400+ page hardcover book. The book will include much of the art I worked on for the app over the last two years. I was also able to wear my designer's hat for this one by designing the cover, and had the privilege to help with design and review for some of the interior pages.

The Storybook Bible ships on October 13, plenty of time for the holidays. You can preorder now on Amazon.com.

The Bible App for Kids Storybook Bible from OneHope on Vimeo.

British Animal Portraits at Hot Red Bus

Made these cheeky British animal portraits for the newly remodeled Hot Red Bus restaurant, home of Los Angeles' best British-style fish & chips (LA Weekly) and some awesome British-Indian dishes.

Prints & throw pillows featuring these weird animal characters are available in my shop.

See some more behind-the-scenes images at on Behance.

Solomon's Temple Collectible Icons

I made these icons recently for a new collectible set in The Bible App for Kids. Kids can enjoy collecting these stylized versions while learning about the items used for worship in King Solomon’s temple. Even with all the required formality of that era, these beautiful tools were a reminder of God’s love and holiness, and his desire to overcome all obstacles to be with his people.

See more art from the ‪Bible App for Kids

Five Million Downloads for "The Bible App for Kids"

Congratulations to my clients YouVersion and OneHope, who are celebrating 5 million downloads of The Bible App for Kids since launching in November 2013!

The free app is currently available with 25 stories in 5 languages, and has been downloaded all around the world. More new stories and languages coming this year.

Here are a few of the latest stories I worked on:

Kids can see Queen Esther's courage in "The Brave & Beautiful Queen"

Watch David stand up to Goliath in "Stones, Slings, and Giant Things"

See more art from The Bible App for Kids

Timotheus Magazine Cover #18

Timotheus is a German magazine discussing issues relevant towards young Christians. I was commissioned to create the cover for Issue #18, exploring questions related to the topic "Money, Possessions, and Eternity."

You can see the painting process on Behance.