16 Comments
User's avatar
John Gary Feister's avatar

I love it! It's like Chick Tracts for Orthodox Christians. LOL

Kirstin Elizabeth's avatar

I think its ok to laugh at this point. we are all on a level with each other.

Bob's avatar

I love being dead to earned insults.

Steve Robinson's avatar

Yeah, I EARNED those, and you don’t get imposter syndrome like with compliments.

Solomon's avatar

I like your style. Fountain pen?

Steve Robinson's avatar

Thank you! So, I started drawing seriously after 55 years away from art when COVID started. But I'm old and I inherited my Dad's essential tremors in my hands so basically I cannot draw a steady line anymore, so I use a Wacom pen tablet and Sketchbook Pro drawing software (cheap and adequate). My "style" developed with my love for Japanese woodcuts and linocut printing and one day when I was drawing and trying to clean up some lines by erasing the "shakes" it looked like a woodcut print. So I ran with imperfection and the Japanese ethos of "beauty in restoration and repair of the broken". I've worked out some pen techniques and processes that look cool and hide my limitations. (My "Samurai Saints" series were my first attempts, you can see them in my Etsy shop called Phronemart). My hand tremors are progressing faster than I'd like so I'm trying to focus on some art projects I've had in mind for a while before I lose it all.

Solomon's avatar

For years I’ve had in my mind this exact concept. I envisioned my monks using Samurai Jack as the basic model. Replace his sword with a prayer rope LOL! It never moved beyond an idea because I’m not a person who has ever really learned to draw. That’s my goal when I retire very soon. Keep my mind young and learn. I’d never found anywhere else someone doing this. It was so cool when I found this. I do love it!

Steve Robinson's avatar

That’s awesome! I also have a concept for an Orthodox “Star Wars” kind of comic called the Sub-deacalorian (or Readerlorian) that I may work on later. If you’re interested in doing digital art I can give you a lot of start-up tips and information about hardware, software and tutorials that are cheap, good and often free. I’ve done all my drawings on a 30.00 drawing pad with 25.00 software.

Solomon's avatar

That would be way cool! I’d love to see that in action. Thank you for the offer of advice on tech. Part of my late in life art beginning is to unplug and go outside. Urban sketching, etc. Anything really to keep the mind engaged and myself active. Sketchbook and pencil and a variety of pens and colored pencils to explore. Cheap and easy. No tech. I’ve had my fill. Now if you have drawing skills advice to share I’ll take all you have! Can’t get enough of that.

H.E. Negash's avatar

This is one of my favorite sayings of the Desert Fathers, particularly for its practical application. Thank you for illustrating it, and God bless your priesthood (ministry). I came here after hearing your Ancient Faith talk on the priesthood, after being vaguely familiar with you for years, and seeing your comment on the Ask an Orthodox Hipster FB group in response that despondent commenter.

Steve Robinson's avatar

Thank you for visiting my "stuff", the kind words, and for the prayers!

H.E. Negash's avatar

As they say at the Lord's Chicken House, "my pleasure."

Steve Robinson's avatar

Thanks for sharing this Robert!