Thursday 4 November 2021

Thursday Art Date With Rain -- "The Workshop"

For Rain's Art Date theme this week,
I have reached back, back, BACK 
into the mists of time and retrieved 
a drawing I did in 1972 when I was 15. 

It depicts a 16th century carpenter
in his workshop, making or repairing
the stock of a wooden crossbow.


The original art on which my drawing was based
is by an illustrator named Paul V. Lantz. 
Here's his original which, as you can see, 
had another character in it who I omitted --


This art illustrated a story called "The Secret Trap"
by Jack M. MacLeod in his 1959 book 
Theirs Is The Kingdom.
Aimed at teens, this book 
recounted tales of Christian heroes
who put their faith into action over the centuries.

For some reason, my older brother 
had been given a copy of this book, 
along with its two companion volumes 
retelling stories from the 
Old and New Testaments.

I can only assume it was a Sunday School
prize or gift or something. I can't imagine 
my parents shelling out money for the series.


"The Secret Trap" concerned a carpenter who,
along with some buddies, staged a fake kidnapping 
of Martin Luther in 1521 when Luther was on the run 
from the Catholic Church as an excommunicated heretic. 

The seizure actually occurred 
at the behest of Prince Frederick III, 
who then hid Luther in safety 
from his enemies for over a year at 
Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Saxony.

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, October 2021]

39 comments:

LL Cool Joe said...

It definitely looks better without the other character! Great drawing.

Travel said...

Wonderful drawing, one of you many talents

Marie Smith said...

Wow. Great job and just 15. Talented woman!

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Whoa.
1972! That was a blast from the past. Do you still have the books? This is super interesting!

XOXO

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Sixpence Notthewiser -- Yes, I still have all 3 books in the set. We had so few books at home when I was a kid growing up that I've kept many of them out of sheer sentimentality, because I read and reread them all about a million times.

Debi said...

Time to take up your creative self, it has been waiting for you!

Christine said...

Wonderful work at 15 Debra!

baili said...

what a poignant art dear Debra !

you did Great job here indeed ,Really Impressive work my friend ,liked it sooo much .

oh i did not know this part of the story about Luther's .

blessings to you and loved ones !

Gillena Cox said...

Nice sketch. Good to look back. Happy Thursday

Much💛love

DVArtist said...

Really wonderful drawing. A great way to show off the theme today.

Valerie-Jael said...

Fabulous drawing and an interesting story. I visited the Wartburg some years back, it was beautiful. Have a great day, hugs, Valerie

Parnassus said...

Hello Debra, Yours is better! The original bowmaker is looking down at a sort of nebbish-looking character, but yours is glancing aside with a more powerful look at something of apparent moment.
--Jim

Guillaume said...

Wow, really well done.

e said...

Amazing work at age 15. Have you been drawing all your life? And, archiving all along!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ e -- Thanks! "Archiving" sounds SO much classier than "pack ratting away old crap," LOL!

Mike said...

Nice job on the drawing. I never could draw. I need a t-square and triangle to get anything recognizable on paper.

bobbie said...

Well done, 15 y.o. Debra ~ well done indeed!

Elderberry-Rob said...

I like your art and the interesting take on the workroom theme :)

Boud said...

That's a strange aeries of books. I'm guessing it was a bit of religious twig bending.

Wonder what interested you in the subject of the drawing? Nice job on the hands.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Boud -- "Religious twig bending" is exactly right, LOL! But this twig ended up growing in its own direction after all!

Moving with Mitchell said...

A great memory of strange (to me) reading material, of which I had my share.

ashok said...

Excellent for a 15 yr old :)

Rosemary said...

It is great that you have kept your old artwork - it is very obvious that your talent has always been there.

Adam said...

We forget that Luther needed a powerful friend

Magaly Guerrero said...

I'm trying not to be too jealous of your sketching talent... and failing (I'm a terrible woman). I really enjoyed the background, behind the book and your thoughts on why your brother had it.

The Blog Fodder said...

We did not have many books either, growing up, but we did have newspapers and magazines. Maclean's and Chatelaine were far different in the 50s than they are today.

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is amazing and I'm always taken back by your drawing talent. Also, bravo for holding onto this for so long!

Miss Val's Creations said...

Interesting story behind this piece. Your drawing is fantastic. I wish I had that talent!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

My sincere apologies for taking so long to visit. Life got in the way of computer time on Thursday and Friday.

You draw extremely well. You are really gifted and quite talented. I prefer your version of this drawing. It isn't cluttered with a smaller image.

OneVikingGirl said...

Great study, Deb, and a fab master to copy. That is how drawing used to be taught. Btw, I have been to Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, it is a fantastic place and worth a visit!

This N That said...

Wonderful drawing...I envy your talent....interesting story!! Enjoy your weekend..

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

Well you were already a budding artist at 15 and we got an interesting history lesson as well. Fun post Debra ...

Andrea @ From the Sol

Barbara said...

Dang. You could draw so well at 15. I think I would have been very happy and my life enriched if I had had some natural talent, but, alas, no.

Sandi said...

Well done! Looks realistic.

Empire of the Cat said...

Wow great drawing! Elle/EOTC xx

yellowdoggranny said...

I hope you're keeping up with your art...

Rain said...

Geez Debra, that is pretty damn good! You need to draw more so we can all enjoy your artwork!!!

Rain said...

Forgot to mention, well done on the shading!!! ♥

Rommy said...

We just got prayer books or plastic rosaries as our prizes.