Curriculum Resources for Missions

While on the mission field, I created tons of illustrations and curriculum resources. When we came back to the states, I continued creating resources, first as part of the Creative Arts team with Team Expansion, then as a volunteer once I became part of the staff of Highland Park Christian Church.

I have been creating illustrations to contribute to a curriculum package for use in missions and ministry. Here are some of that I have done or reformatted this past year.

Ezra Comes to Life

This year, we are going to be going through the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther on Sunday mornings in our Student Bible classes. I came up with the idea to create some short videos to lead some, if not all, of the lessons. I thought I could use some small sets and do a little stop motion animation as well as live action with props and figures. Since the first lesson starts in a couple weeks (in fact I had to push it back), I am in full speed mode creating the props, sets and figures. I will be using a GoPro for most of the shooting. After I do the first two or three videos, I am going to be inviting the help of some students and adults to help complete the project.

A side goal of working on this for HP, will be that I will make the curriculum available for purchase for other churches. We are looking at about a 26 week curriculum package with lessons, resources and videos.

Here are some pictures of the process so far...

Concept sketches

 

 

Sculpting process...

I used aluminum foil balled up around the end of a nail. The nail will make it so I can turn the figure's head.

Ezra is beginning to take shape.

Esther will be used later on, but here head and figure are almost complete.

I use a heavy steel wire for the armature. The heads can be removed from the bodies so that I can use them for other characters.

 

Ezra's House:

 



Children's Curriculum Coloring Pages





Here's some of the latest images I have drawn for a children's curriculum in a closed mission field. One was drawn with my Microsoft Surface Pro with a pressure sensitive pen. The others were all drawn with two different sized sharpies. Can you tell which one? How can you tell? Write your answer in the comments below!

Character Design of Moses for Children's Curriculum

Here's a character design for Moses at various stages of his life that I did for an International Children's Curriculum I am working on.

Artist Notes - Done with a 2B Derwent Graphic pencil on Hammermill Color Copy Digital paper (28lbs, 100 brightness)

More Curriculum Coloring Pages

Here's more coloring pages that I have done for an upcoming curriculum package. These are from the life of Abraham. The first one is God telling Abraham the promise of descendants. The second is the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. The third one is Abraham sending Hagar and Ishmael away.

Curriculum Coloring Pages

Here's a few coloring pages that I have created for an upcoming curriculum project. The first one is of Cain and Abel. The following two are for Noah, his family, the animals and the Ark.

Drawing Curriculum Illustrations

Here is some work I am doing for an international curriculum. I normally use my drawing desk, but sometimes I like to mix it up.

Father Abraham Had Many Faces....Huh?

Spoofing the old Children's Church song, Father Abraham in my title, I am referencing one of the latest character designs I have done for an international children's curriculum. For three separate illustrations I have to draw Abraham. The twist is that each illustration is at a different stage in ol' Abe's life. So, not only did I have to do a character design for Abraham, but I had to do it at three different ages. Here you can see the pencil sketch of Abraham when he was an adult, older adult and an elderly man.

Artist Notes - sketch done with a Kimberly Graphite Drawing pencil 2B on Hammermill 28lb 100 brightness Color Copy Digital paper.

Coloring Pages for New Curriculum

Here's the first couple finished coloring pages for a new curriculum that I am contributing toward. Can you spot the difference in versions one and two of Lesson One's coloring page?

Artist Notes - First hand sketched with 2B Kimberly pencils, then overlaid on my light table for inking. For the inking I used Faber Castell pitt artist pen Medium. Afterward, I scanned the inked sketch into the computer where I imported it into CorelDraw for tracing and final clean-up. Then I exported them as PNG files to be used in the new curriculum.

Coloring Page Sketchwork for New Curriculum

Here's a serpent for the garden of Eden that I thought turned out pretty good. This is for some coloring sheets I am making for a new curriculum I am contributing toward.

Artist Notes - This was a handdrawn sketch using Kimberly 2B pencils and Hammermill Color Copy Digital Paper 28lb 100 brightness.