Why I was blogger MIA for about 3 weeks...

My old church family, UPPC (University Place Presbyterian Church) asked if I could paint a piece for the lenten season. The imagery was created by their church graphic designer, but they needed someone to paint it on a large scale, 10' by 10'. I painted the work in 2' x 2' sections which they revealed a few each week. I haven't painted in awhile so I was grateful for the opportunity to get out my paintbrushes and go to Tacoma Art Supply to pick up canvas. It was nice to have a creative outlet even though I didn't actually create the image. It was freeing to just paint away. It took me about 4-5 weeks to complete. Each 2' by 2' canvas took me between 45 min to one hour.

Below is an article (with photos) about the work in the newsletter that is sent out to members of UPPC. Thought you would like to know what the heck I have been up to!

(P.S. If I had actually created the image, I would have tried to make Christ with a darker complexion, and with less 'white' features lol)

Muralist Lindsay Hall Webster is pictured painting individual sections of the art, week by
week throughout Lent.


Lindsay's home studio


A few weeks into the process, the mural is coming together


Artist Nancy Archer, next to the finished mural


Keith Loftis, positioning the last panel on his hand made frame



An Artistic Rendition of
the Face of Christ
The Meaning Behind the UPPC Sanctuary Art

by Jeffrey Meeks
Minister of Worship

After searching for just the right artwork to communicate the Lenten sermon series, Nancy Archer, Director of Communications, grabbed a pad, a pencil, curled up in a blanket and began to sketch. Little did she realize what a profound impact her artistry would have on all who would be blessed to witness it for the first time.

Initially, she and the worship team searched through Orthodox iconography, passion play stage designs and religious artists renderings for inspiration. After Nancy shared her work with the team, artist and muralist Lindsay Hall Webster (who worked in UPPC Quest and Cornerstone) began the process of painting and replicating a 10X10 foot rendering of the sketch to be displayed in 2X2 foot sections of framed canvas. This original artwork symbolizes the dark hours Jesus endured before the resurrection, when He suffered and died for our sins. He is wearing a crown of thorns and a somber expression upon his face.

The slow process of putting up the painting piece by piece each Sunday was a proclamation of the various stages of Christ's journey throughout Lent. Lindsay completed the mural just before Palm Sunday. It will remain on the sanctuary stage during Holy Week and remain up through the Good Friday service.

On Easter Sunday, a second image, this time of the resurrected Christ (printed at 7 x 7 feet) will replace the mural center stage. He will bear scars on his forehead, be surrounded by light and have a look of peace behind his eyes.

Renaissance Man, Keith Loftis, designed and built the massive wooden-framed swivel easel centered in the Chancel.

You will be confronted not only by two artistic renderings of Christ's face on the screens and bulletin covers, but like the religious icons of antiquity, you will be called to look through the window of his eyes to contemplate the reality of his death, burial and resurrection no matter where you are seated.

Thank you to Nancy Archer, Lindsay Hall Webster and Keith Loftis for the incredible offering of worship through the visual arts. You are helping us "Turn Our Face To Jerusalem."