New Bible Storybook for Younger Readers
The Growing in Faith Bible's illustrations and stories were re-published in a smaller version called the Growing In Faith Bible Storybook, with thicker pages for younger readers. The project continues to grow outside of the initial 125 illustrations. Very challenging work, to re-imagine familiar scenes based on certain passages, and sometimes creating scenes that are less well-known.
A new Bible in print.
The Growing in Faith Bible (Concordia Publishing House) can now be held, read and looked at by people of all ages. It's more than 1,900 pages of easy reading text and 125 colorful illustrations.
Sometimes the text leads into the illustrations, and sometimes the illustrations lead deeper into the text. The readers as well as the visual learners can grow in their understanding of the Word.
People can find it on Concordia's website or on Amazon. Not sure about availability in bookstores yet.
New Bible in print in October 2018
The Growing in Faith Bible is being printed as of this writing, and can be pre-ordered through its publisher, Concordia Publishing House (where you can take a look inside) or through Amazon.
They say it should ship around October 16, 2018.
Concordia commissioned 125 illustrations from me, and the pictures are paired with summaries of the stories. The entire bible text is nearby, so readers can go back to the Source.
I've shared some of these images with little children -- some pre-readers interested in pictures containing sheep or ships -- along with international students, friends from church, colleagues and family members. Thank you all for your feedback along the way.
The illustrations often spark memories of the accompanying stories, and young and old can retell the before, during and after of each image.
And again, if they're not sure about a certain part, or have a question about why the artist put that particular detail in, they can check the Source. I have tried to be faithful to that.
Illustrating The Book
We're working with Concordia House Publishing on a new illustrated children's Bible that should be published in the coming year. More than one hundred illustrations will be paired with story summaries, and will be distributed throughout a colorful ESV Study Bible for children and adults.
I'm rediscovering fascinating details of this big Story along the way, and will try to share a few images from time to time as we get closer to publication.
Thanks to my friends, family, colleagues and students who have offered feedback as these pictures have developed from the sketch stage into completed illustrations. Your eyes and your ideas help me see these stories in a new light.
Self portrait . . . in China
My agent at WendyLynn & Co. asked for a self-portrait for a promotional piece.
A student asked me today why my beard is so many different colors.