Sketching the Divine: Damp Benches, Holy Threads & Accidental Angels

 

Whimsy on a Wednesday!

Bringing you Divine Inspiration, Delayed by Tea, General Faffing & the JS site being down

Heavenly Sketching or Just Loitering with Pencils?

This week, well, technically last week, but who's counting, I thought I'd head off to do a bit of sketching at the mother church. That’s right, ‘en plein air’ as the French (and people who want to sound fancy) say. Except I wasn't in Provence with lavender fields, I was on a soggy bench soaked in English dew, caffeine in hand, pencil poised, posterior slowly absorbing moisture.

Naturally, I attracted the usual dog-walking locals who peered over with that specific British blend of curiosity and fear:
"What’s that odd woman doing over there, sitting on damp wood and drawing… things?"

Well, I ignored them like a seasoned eccentric and focused on my sketching, latte frothing merrily in my Smeg travel mug. I silently prayed no one would sneak up behind me, breathing skepticism down my neck. I had half a mind to throw my (non-existent) cap to the floor and start busking for donations. 

Drawing the Divine From All Angles

I did a full circuit of the enormous minster, sketching it from angles that would make a geometry teacher proud. Usually, I pop inside to bask in the stained-glass splendour, but I was on a tight schedule. And then fate intervened. A priest opened the great wooden door as I passed, and held it for me, silently inviting me in.

How do they know?
Was it the halo of graphite smudges on my hands?
Was it the otherworldly grace with which I sipped my coffee?
I’ll never know. But one thing’s certain: the man could sense an angelic presence.

Threads of Revelation (and Mild Existential Guilt)

So in I went, and lo! A divine coincidence! A glorious textile exhibition called "Threads through the Bible." Oh, what luck! Just when I was lamenting my missed opportunity for philosophical pontification, the Lord dropped 44 tapestry panels in my path.

This colossal artistic feat was stitched by one woman, Jacqui Parkinson, over a decade with 25 million stitches. Twenty. Five. Million.
Frankly, she deserves more than a medal.
She deserves a standing ovation, a small knighthood, and a crate of blessed Bordeaux delivered by cherubs.

This particular series was based on Revelation, the Bible’s final, slightly terrifying book. Jacqui has turned John’s fever dream into something beautiful, colourful, and slightly less doom-laden.

 “Not your average Sunday School craft”

And if you fancy a bit of holy home décor or want to support the arts, her book is only fifteen quid. Absolute bargain, cheaper than salvation and just as moving.

Maundy Madness & Artistic Miracles

So, look who’s brought you some relevant content on Maundy Thursday, eh? You didn’t expect me, did you?
Well, I’ve even washed my feet and booked myself in for a supper in town.
Blessed art I, and mildly moisturised.

And, in truly miraculous news, word of my angelic artistic aura travelled internationally! A fabulous artist in Germany painted me (yes, me) in all my haloed glory. The Art Philosopher finally has a portrait. Somewhere, a saint is quietly impressed.

Easter Thoughts: Holier Than Thou (But With Snacks)

So Happy Easter, one and all.
Remember: it’s not about you. It’s about Jesus.
And also chocolate.
And possibly a bit of wine.
Amen to that.