Advent Calendar 2024

I've completed my 14th Advent Calendar.  It's always a blessing for me to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers.

This year, with Advent starting on December 1, my calendar grid works best with four rows of six, and a center oval for Christmas Day.  So the Sunday spaces (where I draw candles) occur diagonally.  Each drawing space is small, about 1-3/4" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.

If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3, 0.2, and 0.1 black
• Paper: Neenah
• Words and sources:
• 12/1  We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended)
• 12/2  Holy and Mighty (Trisagion hymn, "Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one, have mercy upon us")
• 12/3  Fulfill the promise;  12/4  A righteous Branch;  12/5  Live in safety (Jeremiah 33:14-16)
  
• 12/6  Be alert (Luke 21:36
  
• 12/7  Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest ...")
  
• 12/8  Grace 
• 12/9-10  No words
• 12/11  Greet with joy! (Collect for 2nd Sunday in Advent, Book of Common Prayer, "... that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer ...")
  
• 12/12  The desert shall rejoice (Isaiah 35:1)
• 12/13  Love
• 12/14  Lift high your praise! (Advent hymn, "Prepare the way, O Zion")
• 12/15-16  No words
• 12/17  Rejoice in the Lord always - Again I say, Rejoice!  (Philippians 4:4)
• 12/18  Hope 
• 12/19  Angels we have heard on high (Hymn) 
• 12/20  Trust
• 12/21  Dayspring (Advent hymn, "O come, O come Emmanuel") 
• 12/22  Come, Emmanuel (same source as 12/21) 
• 12/23  Bless
• 12/24   Filled with expectation (Luke 3:15)
• 12/25  Christ the Savior is born!  (Hymn, "Silent night, holy night")
  

Advent Calendar 2023

I've finished drawing my Advent calendar, the 13th since I began in 2008.  As always, it's been a meaningful way for me to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers. 

Because Advent ended on Sunday 12/24 this year, my calendar grid has double-wide spaces for the Sundays (moving down diagonally from the top left) and for Christmas Day.

Each drawing space is small, about 1-5/8" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.  If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers; also some colored pencil for 12/3
  
• Pen: Copic multiliner or Micron
  
• Words and sources:
• 12/3  We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended.)
  
• 12/4  Make haste to help us (Psalm 70:1 and Book of Common Prayer, evening prayer liturgy)
• 12/5  O come, thou branch of Jesse's tree (Hymn "O come, O come, Emmanuel")
• 12/6  Joy
• 12/7  Keep awake (Mark 13:35-37)
• 12/8  Grace
• 12/9  Good news - Jesus Christ the Son of God (Mark 1:1) 
• 12/10 Joyful hope is springing (Hymn "Sleepers, wake!") 
• 12/11 Mercy and truth have met together (Psalm 85:10) 
• 12/12 Restore (Psalm 80:3) 
• 12/13 The day is near (Romans 13:12) 
• 12/14 Stir up your strength and come to help us (Psalm 80:2) 
• 12/15 Peace shall be a pathway for his feet (Psalm 85:13) 
• 12/16 God so loves the world ... (John 3:16, with "loves" in place of "loved")
  
• 12/17 Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear!  (Hymn)
  
• 12/18 Listen 
• 12/19 Holy and mighty (Trisagion hymn, "Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one, have mercy upon us")
  
• 12/20 The Lord is not slow about His promise. (2 Peter 3:9) 
• 12/21 Son of God - Savior - Emmanuel - Redeemer - Son of Man
  
• 12/22 Praise
  
• 12/23 Patience
  
• 12/24 May the Word sent from God lead us in the way of love, hope, joy, and peace. (Advent candle-lighting sentence from our church bulletin)
  
• 12/25 Joy to the world!
  

Peace Angel

It's too soon for Christmas, but never too soon for an angel of peace and good will.  

Starting from my 2022 Advent calendar, I redrew it to be larger and with a full set of wings on the left.  It will be the image for my 2023 Christmas card. 

• Copic marker colors used: BG10, B01,21, BV31, V25, R02, E37,41,53, Y21, YR21, C0,1, Custom color G143
• Pen: Micron 03 black
  
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to A2 (4-1/4 x 5-1/2")
  
• Words: Peace
  

Advent Calendar 2022

I've finished my Advent calendar, the 12th since I began in 2008.  It's always a meaningful way for me to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers.  

Each drawing space is small, about 1-5/8" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.  If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers
  
• Pen: Copic multiliner
• Words and sources:
• 11/27  We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended.)
• 11/28 Hope of all the earth Thou art (hymn - Come Thou Long-expected Jesus)
• 11/29 A light to the nations  (Luke 2:32)
  
• 11/30 Joy
  
• 12/1  Born a child, and yet a King (hymn - Come Thou Long-expected Jesus)
• 12/2  He shall reign forever and ever - Hallelujah!  (Handel's Messiah - Hallelujah chorus)
  
• 12/3  Peace
  
• 12/4  Grace
  
• 12/5  Let each heart prepare a home (hymn "On Jordan's Bank." There are various translations of the lyrics. My hymnal reads, "Let each heart prepare a home where such a mighty Guest may come.")
• 12/6-8 and 13-15  Unto us a child (Isaiah 9:6)
• 12/9 The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him. (Isaiah 11:2)
• 12/10  The wilderness shall be glad. (from Isaiah 35:1)
• 12/11  Happy are they whose hope is in the Lord. (from Psalm 146:4)
• 12/12  Holy and mighty  (Trisagion hymn - "Holy Lord, holy and mighty, holy immortal one, have mercy upon us.")
• 12/16  Love
• 12/17  Stars keep watch (hymn - People, Look East) 
• 12/18  O come, Emmanuel (hymn)
• 12/19  Pour light upon us (hymn - O Heavenly Word - "pour light upon us from above, and fire our hearts with ardent love") 
• 12/20  Mercy
• 12/21  Wait
• 12/22  Awake
• 12/23  The day is near (Romans 13:12)
• 12/24  Anticipate ...
  

Advent Calendar 2021

I'm happy that I've completed another Advent calendar, my 11th since I began in 2008.  As always, I  enjoyed the activity to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers.  

 

Each drawing space is small, about 1-5/8" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.  If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers
• Pen: Copic multiliner
  
• Paper: Neenah
• Words and sources:
• 11/28  We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended.)
• 11/29-12/4  Savior of the nations, come! Virgin's Son, make here your home! Marvel now, both heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.  (hymn)  (My calendar drawings had a late start this year, and I used the 6-day blank space for a long vine and the first verse of a favorite Advent hymn.)
  
• 12/5  Wait ...
• 12/6  Emmanuel (meaning "God with us")
  
• 12/7  Hope 
• 12/8  From our fears and sins release us (hymn - Come thou long-expected Jesus)
• 12/9  Put on the armor of Light (Romans 13:12)
• 12/10  The Day is at hand (Romans 13:12) 
• 12/11  Rejoice
• 12/12  The Lord will renew you in his love (Zephaniah 3:17) 
• 12/13  At that time, I will bring you home (Zephaniah 3:20)
  
• 12/14  Grace and mercy (from the Book of Common Prayer collect (prayer) for the 3rd Sunday of Advent)
  
• 12/15  Patience
  
• 12/16  Come, thou long expected Jesus (hymn)
  
• 12/17  Sing aloud, O daughter Zion! (Zephaniah 3:14)
  
• 12/18  Therefore, keep awake (Mark 13:24)
  
• 12/19  Love, hope, joy, peace (from an Advent blessing "May the Word sent from God lead us in the way of love, hope, joy, and peace") 
• 12/20  Believe
  
• 12/21  The Lord will fulfill the promise (Jeremiah 33:14)
  
• 12/22  With joy, you will draw water from the springs of salvation (Isaiah 12:3)
  
• 12/23  Blessings
  
• 12/24  Unto us, a Savior (Luke 2:11)
  
• 12/25  Glory to God in the highest (Luke 2:14)
  

Advent Calendar 2019

I've finished drawing my 10th Advent Calendar.  After taking a year off in 2018, I was happy to do one again.  It's been such a blessing for me to reflect, draw, and color using seasonal images and words, often taken from scripture, hymns, and prayers.

This year, with Advent starting on December 1, my calendar grid worked best with four rows of six, and a center oval for Christmas Day.  So the Sunday spaces (where I draw candles) will occur diagonally.  Each drawing space is small, about 1-5/8" high, and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.

If you'd like to see my calendar drawings from past years, click here.

• Copic markers
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3, 0.2, and 0.1 black
• Paper: Neenah
• Words and sources:
• 1. We are leaving ordinary time  (My calendar each year starts with these words which point out the wonder of the Advent time, looking forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.  And in the church year, our long season of "ordinary time" - the summer and fall weeks after Pentecost - has now ended)
• 2. Sometimes a light surprises (hymn)
• 3. O come Emmanuel, thou Branch of Jesse's stem (hymn, Veni Emmanuel)
• 4.  I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:9)
• 5. Await
• 6. Hope
• 7. Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight (Matthew 3:3)
• 8. Then you shall see and be radiant (Isaiah 60:5)
• 9-10. Peace - be still
• 11. Shine
• 12. Let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song (hymn, Hark! a loud voice! the Savior comes)
• 13. Rejoice with joy and singing (Isaiah 35:1)
• 14. Trust in God's promise
• 15-16. Patience 
• 17. Brighten your heart (from an Advent blessing)
• 18. Already - Not yet
• 19. Savior
• 20. Every valley shall be lifted up (Isaiah 40:4)
• 21. Wonder
• 22. Grant us your Light (from an Advent prayer) 
• 23. Glory to God in the highest!
• 24. Grace
• 25. Christmas Day

Nativity - 2018

Though I took a break this year and didn't draw an Advent calendar, I finished a small Nativity drawing today.  Wishing the blessings of Christmas to all! 

• Copic marker colors used: Custom color B2000, B000,63, R00,32, RV55,66, YR21,24,27, E00,04,25
• Colored pencil (for halos): Venus Spectracolor, sand 1437
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3 black
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to 3 x 3-3/4"

Advent Calendar 2017

With the Nativity scene drawing for Christmas Day, I've completed my annual Advent calendar drawings.  As with past years, I've enjoyed taking the time to enjoy the hope, joy, and wonder of the season with my pens and markers. 

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.

If you might like to try something similar, click here for more information, or here (my friend Sybil's blog) for 2017 template formats, including my calendar grid that I'm using.  Or click here for my eight completed calendars from past years.

For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it.)

Advent Calendar 2016

My 2016 Advent calendar is finished. Always a good experience for me as I draw and color my way through Christmas.

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy or faded above.  For a better view, click on the image.

With my daily drawings, I set aside a bit of space and time to reflect on the Advent season, and its message of hope and love.   If you might like to try something similar, click here for more information, including 2016 template links.  Or click here for my seven calendars from past years.

For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it.)

Advent Calendar Template 2016

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent, and I'll start to draw my 8th annual Advent calendar.   I'll plan to post the drawings at least weekly. 

My first Advent calendar was drawn in 2008, and afterward I wrote about what I learned.  It's been a wonderful way for me to connect with the season and to meditate while I draw and color. 

To see my previous Advent calendar drawings, click as follows:

• Here for 2015
• Here for 2014 (no calendar for 2013 - I skipped a year)
• Here for 2012
• Here for 2011
• Here for 2010
• Here for 2009
• Here for 2008
• Here for all of my Advent and Christmas-related drawings and posts

My friend Sybil also posts her yearly Advent calendars in her prayer-drawing blog, Praying in Color.  Click here for her 2014 calendar, here for 2013, here for 2012, here for 2011, or here for 2010.  I'll also link to her 2016 calendar as it appears.

If you'd like to try this activity for yourself, you're invited to click here for several different templates on Sybil's blog.  Along with my calendar grid I'll be using this year, she offers a wreath and two trees with different shapes for the days.  She also shows her finished calendars for 2015 at the end of her post.

Seven Years of Advent Candles

A friend was wondering how I draw candles for my Advent calendars.  Her question prompted me to think of all the candles together, and so I created this collage in PowerPoint.  It's seven years of Sunday candles, cropped from all my calendars.  I like the variety of shapes, colors, words, and styles -  realistic or abstract, simple or detailed. 

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy above.  For a clearer view, click on the image.

The columns are years 2008-2012 and 2014-2015;  I didn't draw a calendar in 2013.  The rows are the four Sundays in Advent, with a candle added each week, somewhat like the traditional Advent wreath. 

For more about my calendars, including the words and the drawing materials, click here and here. 

Advent Calendar 2015

I've finished my 2015 Advent calendar drawings.  As in the other years, it felt like time well spent.

This daily activity helps me reflect on the hope and joy of the season.  If you might like to try something similar, click here for more information, including template links and prior years' calendars.

Each drawing space is small (about 1-5/8" high) and it may look a bit fuzzy above.  For a better view, click on the image.

For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it)

Advent Calendar Template 2015

The Advent season begins this Sunday, and I'll begin drawing my 7th annual Advent calendar.  I'll plan to post the drawings at least weekly. 

My first Advent calendar was drawn in 2008, and afterward I wrote about what I learned.  It explains why I've made the calendar an annual activity.

To see my previous Advent calendar drawings, click as follows:

• Here for 2014 (no calendar for 2013 - I skipped a year)
• Here for 2012
• Here for 2011
• Here for 2010
• Here for 2009
• Here for 2008
• Here for all of my Advent and Christmas-related drawings and posts

My friend Sybil also posts her yearly Advent calendars in her prayer-drawing blog, Praying in Color.  Click here for her 2014 calendar, here for 2013, here for 2012, here for 2011, or here for 2010.  I'll also link to her 2015 calendar as it appears.

If you'd like to try this activity for yourself, you're invited to click here for several different templates on Sybil's blog.  Along with my calendar grid I'll be using this year, she offers a tree with different shapes for the days and two versions of a tree-lined pathway.  She also shows some finished examples, including mine.  You can also click here for a few more calendar ideas from Sybil.

Advent Calendar 2014

My Advent calendar is complete for 2014 with today's Nativity drawing.  As with the other five years, I'm very glad that I did this activity.  At each Advent's beginning, I wonder how I'll ever have enough words and images to fill the page.  It's such a joyful discovery as I enter into the process and wind my way through the days.

My daily drawing spaces are small (about 1-5/8" high), so you may want to click on the image for a better view, especially if it looks a bit fuzzy above.

For more information including template links and prior years' calendars, click here.
For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it)

Advent Calendar 2014 - First Day and Notes

My calendar drawing for today, the first day of Advent.  Click here for my explanation of today's words, and why I draw candles for the Sunday dates.  I'll continue to post at least weekly during December, as I fill in the calendar spaces through Christmas. 

Today's drawing is about 1-3/8 x 1-5/8" in size.  You can click on it for a better view. For the template and more information about the calendar, as well as links to past years and to my friend Sybil's Advent calendar drawings, scroll down or click here for my template post.

Warm wishes to all of you for many blessings of the season!

Advent Calendar Template 2014

November 30 will be the first Sunday of Advent, and once again, time to start drawing my Advent Calendar.  After five years of drawing them, I took a break in 2013.  But I'm really looking forward to it again for this Advent season.

I'll be posting my calendar here throughout Advent, at least weekly, and maybe more often. After my first year's Advent calendar, I wrote a post on what I learned from it, and it does a good job of explaining why I've continued.

For my previous Advent calendar drawings, click as follows:

• Here for 2012
• Here for 2011
• Here for 2010
• Here for 2009
• Here for 2008
• Here for all of my Advent and Christmas-related drawings and posts

My friend Sybil also posts her yearly Advent calendars in her prayer-drawing blog, Praying in Color.  Click here for her 2013 calendar, here for 2012, here for 2011, or here for 2010.  I'll also link to her 2014 calendar as it appears.

If you'd like to try this activity for yourself, you're invited to click here for two different templates on Sybil's blog.  One is a variation of the calendar grid I'll be using this year.  The other is a tree with different shapes for the days.  She also shows a few examples, including my 2011 calendar.  You may also enjoy her latest book, The Season of the Nativity, which is filled with ideas and simple activities for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

Edited November 30, 2014, to add:  For an additional template on Sybil's blog, click here.  

Nativity with Angels

A Christmas drawing of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus with angels. 

I thought of this scene on Christmas Eve as we sang O Little Town of Bethlehem.  "For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love."  

Unfortunately, my scan lost some of the subtle pinks and lavenders in the angel wings and robes.  

• Copic marker colors used: Custom color YYR2000, Y19,26, C0, B000,01,21,24,26,32, E000,00,04,11,21,23,25,41,71, BV000,23, G000,YG61,63,91, BG90, YR24, R000,02, V000
• The outer circle is computer-printed.
• Pen: Copic 0.2 black multiliner
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to A2 size (4.25 x 5.5")

Advent Calendar 2013 - Taking a Break This Year

I've been drawing annual Advent Calendars for the past five years.  Loved doing it.  This year though, I'm taking a break.   

• For Advent inspiration and two 2013 Advent calendar templates, please visit my friend Sybil's blog, Praying in Color.  
• To see my past Advent and Christmas drawings, click here.  
• My current card-making, mostly for Operation Write Home, is posted on my other blog, Mostly Markers - Cards.

Wishing everyone an Advent season filled with hope and joy!

Nativity with Three Kings - 2013

It's now the end of the twelve days of Christmas - today is Epiphany, when the Three Kings (also known as wise men, or magi) brought their gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense to the baby Jesus.  I enjoyed drawing with simple geometric shapes to start my scene.  The rich colors and stiff shapes of the Kings are a nice contrast with the softer, more natural shapes and colors of the Holy Family.

I have two more drawings that fit with the "Three Kings" story line - one taking place before and one after this.   Click here for the kings approaching Bethlehem.  And here for the angel's warning to Joseph, after the kings departed.

For all my Advent and Christmas related drawings, click on the "Advent-Christmas" label below, or in the label list to the right of the screen. 

• Copic marker colors used: 0.2 black multiliner, W1,3,5, YR14,15,27, Y15,26,27, R00,02,56,59, RV32, B63, V000,04,17, BV04,20, BG10,53,70, YG05,21,23, G14,21,43, E000,00,04,11,23,25,41,49,53,71,95
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to 3-3/4 x 5"

Advent Calendar 2012

My 2012 calendar is now complete. Another year of words and pictures for the Advent season.  Along with drawing and coloring, this year I experimented with some bits of colored paper, as mentioned here.

The drawing spaces are small (about 1-5/8" high), so you may want to click on the image for a better view, especially if it looks a bit fuzzy above.

Click here for my friend Sybil's beautiful and prayerful 2012 Advent calendar, in a very different format from mine.  You can read her thoughts on her first week here and her second week here on her Praying in Color blog.

For my previous Advent calendar drawings, click as follows:

• Here for 2011
• Here for 2010
• Here for 2009
• Here for 2008
• Here for all of my Advent and Christmas-related drawings and posts

For more information about the calendar and the template, click here for my template post.

For a listing of words, sources of words, Copic colors, and other materials used,  see below (or click on "read more" to see it)