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."

 Happy Easter

This is my latest drawing for the Podcast Portrait Series. I drew the angels and Our Lord with colored pencils and to contrast the main subjects I used charcoal. I think charcoal is one of my favorite mediums - I will plan another charcoal drawing soon!

Thank you for viewing today's drawing!

Crowning of Thorns Drawing

Crowning of Thorns Artwork

In my latest drawing, I sought to capture the intense and poignant moment of the crowning of thorns, where Jesus was mocked and humiliated by Roman soldiers before His crucifixion. The image portrays the cruelty and sorrow of the scene, with the thorny crown pressed harshly onto His head, symbolizing the physical pain and the immense emotional suffering He endured. The contrast between the harshness of the thorns and the calm expression on His face speaks to His divine grace and unwavering sacrifice. Through this artwork, I aimed to reflect on the profound significance of this moment in the Passion of Christ, a powerful reminder of the depths of His love and sacrifice for humanity.

Ultimately, the crowning of thorns was a moment of real suffering that Jesus experienced. It was not merely a symbol but a brutal act of humiliation and pain that He endured for all of us. Through this artwork, I hope to encourage others to reflect on the reality of His sacrifice and the depth of His love for humanity.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the reference photo I used and my final drawing. This comparison highlights the differences between the original source material and the artistic interpretation, demonstrating the process of adaptation and personal expression in art. Just for reference - pun intended - I just finished my calculations of all the videos put together, in total this drawing took 8 hrs and 10 minutes, plus or minus...

Watch the full video here

The Nativity in Colored Pencil

 The Nativity

Merry Christmas! I know it may seem early, as Thanksgiving merely ended on Thursday, the 28th, but Advent has begun and leaves us with four weeks til Christmas Day...even a little less than that. Another Podcast Portrait for you to take in - This one comes with a video as well - I know many of you anticipate, even look forward to the time lapse videos.

This one is done in colored pencils in a byzantine/eastern style icon. I have never done an icon before, so I decided to try it out. Obviously icons are not traditionally done in colored pencil.

Nativity Time Lapse Video

A little different style post, as this one comes with a poem I wrote a while back. Let me know your thoughts on it. It is called, "The Bright Star" It is about the Magi and Christmas time. If you like this poem, I have a few more to showcase.

The Bright Star

Not long after the birth of Christ,

By a bright star three Magi were enticed.

Now Herod was king of Judea,

Hearing of the Messiah, in him came an idea.

For his heart became very jealous,

He feared a threat to his rule they tell us.

So he sought the new babe's way by,

Sending the three Magi.

These three men traveled from the east.

With every step, their love increased.

For the one they came to seek.

They ever increased for the King's mystique.

And entering into the city,

They sang a small ditty,

For above a small house, stood a great star.

The Magi did ponder, and thought it bizarre.

But they knew it would be Him that would be within.

Entering they found both the Child, 

And Mary, his mother undefiled.

And then giving gifts to her,

For the Child: gold, frankincense, and myhrr.

Now being unladen with gifts for Him,

And Herod's heart was still very grim.

To the Magi was sent word,

Go to Herod not, so another way they deffered.

And to Joseph and angel appeared.

To Egypt he should fly,

With the Child and Mary he did comply

Until Herod should die.

And from the twenty-fifth of December,

Until Epiphany, we must remember,

The twelve days of Christmastide,

For in our hearts the Lord must reside.

Thank you for reading, until next time! 

And yes, there will be more...or will there?😉

Nephew's Sweet Turtle Surprise

Turtle Cake Adventure: Celebrating My Nephew's Birthday

This past weekend, we gathered to celebrate my nephew's birthday, which is just a day after mine. It was a special occasion filled with family, laughter, and, of course, cake! My sister took the reins in the kitchen, crafting a delightful turtle-shaped cake using sourdough—a unique twist that turned out to be a hit.

As I reminisced about the Bundt cake turtle I made for my own birthday, I was excited to see how my sister would interpret this fun theme. The sourdough added a rustic touch, with its tangy flavor perfectly complementing the sweetness of the frosting. My sister shaped the cake creatively, capturing the essence of a turtle while keeping it delicious. But of course, she forgot the turtle's body and created only one round cake...not to blame her on her limited turtle knowledge. But we made it work. As you see the crumbly side of the cake we used what we had a slit the round cake in two, one for the body (something for the shell to sit on) and the second for use to cut the legs and tail out. In the end it all worked out well!

Unfrosted Aerial

Let's frost this puppy!

I'm all gooped up!

Aerial view of the turtle frosted

The cake was adorned with vibrant green frosting for the shell, complete with chocolate accents for the eyes and feet. Watching my nephew’s eyes light up as we unveiled the cake was priceless. He couldn't wait to dig into the delicious creation!

This turtle cake brought us all together—sharing memories, stories, and laughter around the table. It reminded me that whether it’s my birthday or my nephew’s, the joy of celebration comes from the people we love and the creativity we share in the kitchen.

I can't wait to try more cake designs in the future. Here’s to more family gatherings and delicious adventures in baking!

What are you looking at?

Ready to eat?

Thank you to all my readers, also to the people who just scroll to the bottom to view the art photos. I hope you laugh...or even if you just break into a smile when you read the descriptions and background story. Thank you! I hope you have a great day/night. Let me know what you want to see in the future...More cake designs, paintings, drawings?

To Bundt or not to Bundt...

Bundt Cake Pans?

What can you do with them?

Cake. Birthdays. Frosting. What more? Did you ask? Um…not sure, I couldn’t hear you. But if you did you will soon see the newest creation of Sketched Drawn and Painted.

So it goes like this… The nephew of Esteban, that would be me, it is Esteban who writes this. Well, of course, Esteban is his brush name. Anyway, his nephew has a birthday the day after, so he planned to make a cake for him. His nephew somehow got into loving turtles (not to mention Tiny Tim, that’s a whole other story). So Esteban scavenged the kitchen for pans that would work for a turtle cake. He found some, one being a Bundt cake pan. When his sister found out—his sister is the mother of Esteban’s nephew—she went ballistic! A Bundt cake pan? Of course, not her exact words… just making stuff up as I go here… a Bundt cake pan! It’s got a hole in the top, besides it’s got ridges down the sides! It’s got to be smooth. But Esteban, again, that’s me, goes, well, turtles’ shells are not exactly smooth… and that’s that. Esteban set out to prove a Bundt cake pan would work to make a turtle cake! And that’s just what he did. And now on the art gallery page, you can see there is a new button for cakes!

Turtle Bundt Cake Gallery

To prove Bundt Cake pans are useful...Even if there is a hole in the middle.

The bundt cake devised as a turtle shell

Cake pieces were cut, turtle was formed.

Aerial view of the turtle unfrosted

Aerial view of the turtle unfrosted

The turtle was then frosted...oh no! Frosting was runny...

Details added to face and shell. Used up the black frosting. Almost ran out...

And now you see, a bundt cake pan works perfect! I hope you enjoyed my first cake post! Should I say that was a piece of cake? If I did this again...I think I will for my Nephew's Birthday...I would like less runny frosting...the runnyness was difficult to control, nevertheless I made do with what I had.

Thanks for sticking around till the end! If you thought this cake was wild, wait until you see what I come up with next. Maybe a sculpture made entirely of gummy bears? Or a portrait using only sprinkles? Who knows! Stay tuned for more of my creative escapades. And remember, life is what you bake of it. See you next time!

Just kidding about the last paragraph...AI made that up about gummy bear sculptures and such. He was helping me edit.

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