Pentecost

 Podcast Portrait

This drawing was done on a canvas — if you can believe it. Yes, a real canvas! I used an inky substance to sketch the outline, then brought it to life with layers of watercolor paint.

This piece definitely took some time to complete. The details alone required a careful hand and lots of patience. For inspiration, I used an old holy card I found

Interestingly, this might be the most well-traveled piece of art I’ve created. I brought it along on a pilgrimage to Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the month of May, where I visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. I worked on it during spare moments throughout the trip, adding little touches here and there whenever I had time.

Creating art in a sacred space — especially during a pilgrimage — gave this portrait an added layer of meaning for me. It holds the memory of that journey, the quiet hours of reflection, and the sense of peace that surrounded the work as it unfolded.

- "I am the Queen of Heaven, who prays for the conversion of sinners, and I wish you to do the same. Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they need to know for their salvation. Go and fear nothing. I will help you."

Can We Talk AI?

 When AI Doesn't cut it?

I know my readers and my readers know me. And I know how much they like AI...with that said let me show you my newest piece. This was done using three mediums: Charcoal, Oil Pastel, and Watercolor Paint.

You know those moments when someone means really well, but then technology swoops in and quietly misses the mark? That’s kind of how this story went — and yes, it involves artificial art.

My sister-in-law wanted to give a wedding gift that was more than just thoughtful — she wanted it to be sacred, beautiful, and personal. So naturally, she turned to an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But not just any image — she found one that looked serene and luminous, full of grace and heavenly peace. It was perfect.

Except… it was AI-generated.

Now, don’t get me wrong — AI can do some interesting things these days. It can “paint” in milliseconds, crank out digital imitations of Renaissance masters, and even get the folds of a veil almost right. But as my sister-in-law quickly realized, something about AI-generated religious art just doesn’t sit right. It’s not bad, exactly — just... off. A little too smooth, a little too hollow. Almost like it skipped prayer and went straight for the pixels.

So she turned to me.

With the original AI image in hand— a concept. An idea. She said, “Could you draw this — by hand?” And I knew exactly what she meant.

Because some images — especially ones of Mary, our divine and earthly Mother — deserve reverence. And reverence doesn’t come from a prompt or a codebase. It comes from quiet hours at a desk, from prayerful intention, from sketching and erasing and sketching again until the expression feels just right. It comes from the heart — not a machine.

So I sat down with my tools and got to work.

What you see here is the result: a hand-drawn image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I drew it with the kind of love and devotion that can’t be faked — certainly not by an algorithm. Every stroke, every shadow, every detail was intentional. Human. Real.

And when my sister-in-law saw the finished piece, she smiled and said what every artist longs to hear: “This is exactly what I was hoping for.”

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Why It Matters

There’s a reason why sacred art has been made by hand for centuries. Religious images aren’t just decoration — they’re invitations to prayer. They reflect divine mysteries, stir up devotion, and help lift our eyes toward heaven. And while AI might be able to mimic beauty, it can’t replicate love.

Art is incarnation. It’s flesh meeting form. And as Catholics, we believe deeply in that — in the union of spirit and matter, in the touch of the Creator through creation.

So no shade to the machines, but when it comes to Our Lady?

Let’s keep it personal.

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Want Something Like This?

I create original, hand-drawn Catholic artwork — icons, illustrations, and devotional pieces — all crafted with prayerful intention and traditional technique. If you're looking for a custom piece for your home, a gift, or a wedding present that won’t be mistaken for a soulless robot rendering, [reach out in the comments / or drop a message in the contact form]!

Our Mother deserves more than digital guesses. She deserves art made with love.

Miss K Begins to Draw

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Hello, readers of Esteban's blog! This is Miss K, Esteban's sister. I used to draw and paint in middle school art class, but then high school and college came along and I decided I didn't have any time. Fast forward eight years, and...I've started drawing again, partly in thanks to Esteban's encouragement (he's always telling my siblings and I how anyone can draw, "just look at it in shapes") and partly because I can bring a hobby to the monastery. I wanted to begin working on my skills before my free time is limited. :) 

I wasn't planning on doing a post so unfortunately, I don't have any progress pictures. 

Last October, I decided to draw St. Therese of Lisieux because she is one of my favorites and it was the month of her feast day, but...it took me five months to finish! The wimple was definitely the hardest. What's a wimple, you may ask? It's part of a religious sister's or nun's (yes, there's a difference!) habit that covers the head, neck, cheeks, and chin. It was originally worn by women in the medieval times, but now (sadly) only a select few communities of religious still wear them. 

Anyway, I think I asked Esteban about 100 times "How do I make the folds/wrinkles while still keeping it white?". His answer for every question: "Draw what you see, not what you know!". That phrase is going to be stuck in my head forever. After a few times of erasing it entirely, I was happy with the result. :) It really does make a difference when you break it up into shapes and different shades. 

About a month later, I drew St. Catherine of Siena for her feast day, but she's also one of my favorites (and a patron saint of mine...does that give my first name away?). I gifted this one to a friend who's also named after her. This one was definitely much harder to draw- closed eyelids, hands, Crown of Thorns, Rosary, flowers, and the crucifix. I'm really happy with the result though! I added my favorite quote from her: "He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, let go of yourself, lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely." 

Finally, my most recent drawing...St. John Bosco! You guessed it, he's also one of my favorites! There are so many wonderful saints for every occasion in life, so how could I just pick one favorite? ;) He was by far the hardest because I had to draw ears, folded hands, and hair. I think I prefer drawing veils over hair...

Mine vs. reference

However, I was happy with the result because someone guessed it was St. John Bosco based on the curly hair, one of the hardest parts! Also, I made some great progress comparing start to finish. I tried to draw on smaller paper and Esteban looked at it and said very nicely "It would be easier to draw him on bigger paper." He was right! Thanks, Esteban! ;) 

I just laugh at this drawing now, but I had to start somewhere! 

Next up, I'll be drawing St. Gemma Galgani because...she too is one of my favorites!

What do you think? Which drawing is your favorite? Have you ever drawn anything? 

Until next time,

-Miss K

The Sunshine Blogger Award

🌞 Sunshine Blogger Award 🌞

I’m honored to be nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award! I’ve never done a tag before and was a bit unsure how it works, but it seems pretty straightforward—I just answer a few questions! This is such a fun way to support fellow bloggers, share more about ourselves, and connect with our amazing community. Keep reading for my answers and nominations!

• Thank you, Miss K, @ Today with Miss K

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📜 Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
• Answer the 11 questions they asked you.
• Nominate 11 new bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
• List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post or on your blog.

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✅ Where is your favorite place to read?

Answer: My favorite place to read... hmm. Usually, it’s the couch—with the TV on in the background—because it’s hard to find a quiet spot in the house. Another favorite is the car: whether it be reading road signs or chowing down a book on the way home from church I will gladly read in the car (as long as I am not driving).. But ideally, I love reading in quiet, peaceful places—usually somewhere in nature.

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✅ If you could be the patron saint of anything, what would it be and why?

Answer: I would be the patron saint of thinking up a good answer! Because I'm struggling with this question. No, I would want to be the patron saint of everyone who likes mustard. That would be a good one...I wonder if there is one? I'd probably be patron of artists because that is what I like doing.

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✅ Swimming pools or lakes?

Answer: Lakes 100%! Can you fish, swim, canoe, kayak, boat, snorkel, watch sunsets, walk on water (in winter) in a swimming pool? We are talking about your everyday pool, right? Not the King's pool? Plus you can see all kinds of wildlife at a lake.

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✅ You have to spend an entire day in one room of your house. Which room would it be?

Answer: The basement—definitely. It’s where I draw and work on art projects. Bonus: if there’s tornadic weather, I’m already in the safest place in the house!

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✅ Would you rather lose your hearing or your sight?

Answer: I don’t even want to answer this—Murphy’s Law, you know? But if I had to choose, I’d go with hearing. How could I draw without being able to see?

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✅ What song always gets stuck in your head?

Answer: Either something by Elvis or one of the kids' songs my siblings sing on repeat!

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✅ Who is the most inspirational person in your life? (Real or fictional)

Answer: The most inspirational person in my life is...You! You are the most inspirational person I know. You keep coming back here and viewing my art and reading my posts! Thank You!

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✅ What is your favorite book series?

Answer: Lemony Snicket’s *A Series of Unfortunate Events*—hands down. I just finished it! Another top one is the *Half Upon a Time* series, but I still haven’t convinced my sister to read it (not Miss K, my other sister).

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✅ If you could learn a new language, what would it be and why?

Answer: I’d go with German. A lot of my family has German heritage, and I took a class in high school—so I know a few basics. Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

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✅ Would you stay in the present or travel back in time for a month?

Answer: The present—no question. God placed us in this time for a reason. If I were meant to be in another time, I wouldn’t be here answering this question!

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✅ Why did you start your blog?

Answer: Probably the easiest question here! I started this blog to showcase my artwork. Five years later, I’m still posting—thanks to the encouragement and kindness of readers... and some people think it's funny.

🌻 My Nominees:

I’d love to pass this award on to some amazing bloggers! I nominate the following five:

• The Writer @ The Scripted Scroll (Congrats on the new blog!)
• Miss K @ Today with Miss K
• Elizabeth @ The College Seamstress
• Sandy @ Sketching Everyday
• Eduardo @ Ebbilustracoes

🌞 My Questions for You:

1. If you could only have one hobby and had to give up all others, what would it be and why?
2. Name your favorite season and give an explanation as to why it is your favorite.
3. What is the weirdest thing you've ever done?
4. Favorite thing/subject to draw?
5. Favorite art medium and why?
6. Bald or hair down to your feet?
7. Favorite time period?
8. Shorts and tee shirt in below 0 weather or winter coat and snow apparel in Death Valley?
9. Favorite spot to vacation?
10. What would you build if you had unlimited supplies?
11. If you had a horse what would you do/where would you go? If you have a horse, what is your favorite reason for having it?

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💛 Thanks so much for reading! If you’ve been tagged, I can’t wait to see your answers. If not, feel free to tag yourself and join the fun! Also, my brother, “The Writer,” recently launched a writing blog called The Scripted Scroll—go check it out!

– Esteban

The Ascension

 Podcast Portrait

For this piece I was given the task to draw the Ascension of Jesus. I chose to use the medium of colored pencil on paper.

Secrets Revealed

I don't often give away secrets to my drawings, but today is an exception! As you see in the above picture, it is the first step in my process. For I always tell my students, (that is if I had students), if you don't get the face right, the whole drawing is ruined, or at least compromised to its potentiality. And in this case the face was to my liking, so I moved on to the next step.

The next step that is, is to continue down the page with more details. Adding color, value, and what not to achieve the look you want.

I thank you all for reading through and viewing my post. You now have all the necessary insight on how to go about drawing a portrait, or for that matter, drawing in general.

- "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."