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!
  

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)
  

Lenten Calendar 2021

My finished calendar for Lent.  A variety of templates and ideas are posted here on Sybil MacBeth's Praying in Color blog.  Her finished calendar is posted here.

Once again, I'm so glad to have done this activity of daily prayer drawings, with words and meditations layered into the lines and colors. 

Note: each drawing space is small, about an inch wide, so you may want to click on the drawing for a better view.  

• Copic markers, Uniball gold gel impact pen, white gel pen, yellow colored pencil
  
• Pen: Copic multiliners, black, sky blue, cobalt, purple
• Paper: Neenah
• Words: 
• Week 1: Ashes, Renew, Hope, Enlighten
• Week 2: Mighty to save, Thaw, Grateful, Turn, Mend/ heal, Thirst, His mercy endures forever
• Week 3: Follow, Presence, Lift up, Pray, Remember, Be still and know, Redeem
• Week 4: Give life, Believe, Grace, Learn, Promise, Connect, Inspire
  
• Week 5: Journey, Faith, Sustain, Bless, Centering, Stir, Loving-kindness
• Week 6: Embrace, Dwell in safety, Lord, Rest, Kyrie eleison, Release, Forgiven
  
• Week 7 (Holy Week): Hosanna, Help us, There/Here, Lay aside every weight (Hebrews 12:1), Given for us, God so loves (adapted from John 3:16).  The last day doesn't have words.
  

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

Lenten Calendar 2019

Since I didn't draw a calendar for this past Advent season, I was very ready to start one for Lent!  I've kept it simple, just a few words from the season's scriptures or prayers, as they connect to my daily events and experiences, with a bit of drawing and coloring.  Note: each drawing space is small, about an inch wide, so you may want to click on the drawing for a better view. 

Added Saturday, April 20, 2019:  This is my finished calendar update, with the drawings complete through today in Holy Week. Though my drawings end with the sorrow and darkness of Holy Saturday, there is joy in our faith of Easter's resurrection.

In the past, I've used a variety of templates (click here for more of my Lent and Easter posts, or here for my Advent calendar posts).  You can find this grid and other templates on my friend Sybil's Praying in Color blog, along with her current Lent calendar drawing. 

• Copic markers; colored pencil for April 1 bench
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 black
• Paper: Neenah
• Words:
• Week 1: Ash; Slow; Draw near; Wash
• Week 2: The time is now; Rough; Give me vision; Walk - put one foot in front of the other; Look for truth; Make in us new and contrite hearts; Spare your people, O Lord
• Week 3: Sustain; Gather; Trust; Seek Him; Wait patiently for the Lord; Show me your way, O Lord; Sounds of great gladness
• Week 4: Deeply; Keep me safe; Read and meditate; Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden -
• Week 5: And I will give you rest; Teach me; Mercy; Be reconciled to God; Who gives life to the world
• Week 6: For our sake; Lift up your hearts; He remembers that we are but dust; I will guide you with my eye; Now is the day of salvation; Hide not; Forgive
• Week 7: Hosanna; Oh... hush... ; Gifts of God; Darkness.

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.)

Daily Drawings - January 2016

Updated through January 23 (Final)

I've completed my four weeks of daily drawings for January 2016.  I tried the idea last January with objects around the house.  This year I wanted to keep it simple with a few lines and colors each day.

Added January 23:  I found it refreshing and relaxing to stay with the simple lines and coloring.   It felt like a "vocabulary review" of lines, shapes, and patterns that I enjoy using.  At the beginning, I made a list: Circles, squiggles, lace-like, v's and u's, landscapey lines, fill patterns, swooping curves, spiral, diamonds, zigzags, wavy lines, angles, dots, and stripes.  Looking back, I see them all except the spiral.  Overall, I really like the drawings (some more than others, of course) and I'm glad I tried this.

I'm using a computer-printed grid like my annual Advent calendars.  Each rectangle is 1-7/16" x 1-5/8".  The drawings can look blurry in the blog post, so please click on the image for a better view. 

• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.5 black
• Copic colors:  If you'd like to know the colors I used, please leave a comment here, and I'll be happy to add them to this post.
• Paper: Neenah

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)

Two Drawings for Friends

Two three-panel drawings from January.  The drawing above was inspired by three beautiful poems written by a friend, who included them with my birthday card.  I gave her my illustration with my thanks.

The one below was drawn for another friend who requested "snow on trees." 

• Copic marker colors used: I didn't keep track of them
• Pen: Copic multiliner 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 black
• White is the paper (top left, bottom right, large areas of bottom left) or Copic opaque white
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to 4-1/4 x 5-12"
• Words (top drawing): Blackbird sky, Paths of tears, Gingko gold

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 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)

Lenten Prayer Calendar (2012)

For Lent this year, I'm drawing a honeycomb of daily prayers. Each hexagon is 1-1/4" wide, point-to-point.

• If you'd like to try something like this, please click here for my friend Sybil's template to print or download, with daily blank drawing spaces. (Thanks, Sybil, for the hexagons!)
  
• Click here for my 2011 Advent Calendar. Its drawings are more complex. I will probably keep my Lent drawings pretty simple.
  
• Click here for my 2010 Lenten Calendar.
  

Advent Calendar 2011

(Final drawing) My Advent calendar drawing for 2011. Each day's space is small, 1-3/8 x 1-1/2", so you may want to click on the drawing for a clearer view.

My friend Sybil has posted her 2011 Advent calendar here on her Praying in Color blog.

• Click here for a listing of my words, sources of words, and Copic marker colors (or other materials) used.
• Click here for my 2011 template - to print or save my blank Advent calendar template for your own use (PDF or JPG format).
• Click here for my 2010 Advent calendar drawing, or here for 2009 and here for 2008.
  
• For all related posts, click on my Advent-Christmas label, below or in the label list to the right.

Advent Calendar 2010

My Advent calendar drawing for 2010. Each day's space is small, 1-3/8 x 1-5/8", so you may want to click on the drawing for a clearer view.

• Click here for a listing of words, sources of words, and Copic colors (or other materials) used.
• Click here for my template - to print or save my blank 2010 Advent calendar template for your own use (PDF or Word format).
• Added November 26, 2011: Click here for my 2011 Advent calendar drawing, or here for 2009 and here for 2008.
  
• For all related posts, click on my Advent-Christmas label, below or in the label list to the right.

Work in progress note: This post was dated December 25 to keep it at the top of my blog through Christmas Day. From November 28 through December 24, as I completed my daily drawings, I replaced the image here with the new version, and also updated my separate listing (see link above) with the words, sources of words, and Copic marker colors used for each day.

Lenten Prayer Calendar (2010) and Perspective

Tiny daily prayer drawings, each a little less than 1" wide. To put things into perspective for me.
It's my picture of Illustration Friday's word for the week, "perspective."

• If you'd like to do something like this, click here for a PDF calendar template to print or download with daily blank drawing spaces for Lent 2010 (February 17 - April 3). It prints on 8.5 x 11" paper, and then can be enlarged on a copy machine to 11 x 17" if you want more room to draw. (Created by my friend Sybil, and used with her permission.)
• Click here for Sybil's "Praying in Color" blog to see her prayer drawings.
• Click here for my 2009 Advent Calendar. Larger and more complex drawings than the ones in my Lenten calendar.
  

Advent Calendar 2009

Originally posted November 29. Final edits December 24: My Advent calendar drawing for 2009 is now complete. Each day's space is small, 1-3/8 x 1-5/8", so you may want to double-click the drawing for a larger view.

• Click here for a listing of 2009 words, sources of words, and Copic colors used.
• Click here to print or save my blank 2009 Advent calendar template (PDF format).
• Added November 27, 2010: Click here for my 2010 Advent calendar drawing.
• Click here for 2008.
  
• For all related posts, click on my Advent-Christmas label, below or in the label list to the right.

For links to my friend Sybil's Advent calendar drawings (2008 and 2009), scroll down to my post below, also dated December 25. She has posted her drawings for Weeks 1, 2, and 3, and now her final large 2009 calendar. (Or click on "home" below, and then scroll down.)

Work in progress note: This post was dated December 25 to keep it at the top of my blog through Christmas Day. From November 29 through December 24, as I completed my daily drawings, I replaced the image here with the new version, and also updated my separate listing (see link above) with the words, sources of words, and Copic marker colors used for each day.