Reading · Abigail’s Substack

I actually made this first one in 2022, but released it last month, so I’m counting it.

That moment in 22’ felt a lot like this painting, thought I didn’t realized how similar until recently. I was in a melancholy “what now?” phase when I drew my nephew in the snow. Mesmerized by his rosy cheeks and enthralled gaze, I found him the perfect expression for my existential after-christmas gloom. Holding my breath for the King of Heaven as the song goes.

I drew boy number two just before summer began after listening to Curse League’s song over and over again. It was my favorite song of theirs, and I was overjoyed to make the single cover. A boy's interaction with the natural world- and his inability to save it- is a favorite narrative of mine (think Princess Mononoke.) The idea that the broken world might heal him? It was something I didn’t expect in the image, as I had no idea I was going to draw the stethoscope until it happened. A happy poetic twist with some inspiration from the Girl on the Red Carpet by Casorati.)

My nephews posed again.

Finally, the last boy in blue- a dream job and a few more dreams come true.

When I was 10 or 12 I said I wanted my work in Barnes and Noble. This last month it came to pass- My first cover for a national publication, Christianity Today, and a Christmas cover at that! I love making work for the Christmas season- Advent, snow scenes, nativities, dragons- I’ve done it and love it all! This was a special issue highlighting the striking wonder and brutal hardship present at Christmas. The tension present at the incarnation…

The approved sketches… (I have others, but I think I’ll save them for another time…)