Marker Art

Mary Magdalene is one of the few women that all four Gospels can agree on: She was the apostle to the apostles, the one who first discovered the resurrection. Luke tells us that 7 demons went out of her. While I don't believe in literal demons, the idea of our figurative demons being sent away is still a powerful image of being set free.

"Between Us" // a study on the streets of Chicago

I use mostly sharpies and pilot precise writing pens on simple sketchbook paper. It's important to me to use simple materials that are easy accessible to everyone. However, I do pride myself...perhaps too much, on my extensive collection of limited edition sharpie colors.

Scroll through to see my favorite pieces of marker art.

I began to draw like this in 2008 after returning from a semester abroad in Ghana. I wanted to recapture the cityscapes of Tadoradi, the trotros of Accra, and the colorful patterns of the cloth. Later, when I moved to South Korea, the mountains and high rises mixed in with henna designs, underground plazas, and winding roads. In Mumbai, I became fascinated with trains. In Chicago, with the city block, in Minneapolis, with leaves and parks. 

This one is from my Greek translation days. The first line of the magnificat, as it appears in the Greek: My Soul Magnifies the Lord. Pretty sure I was procrastinating on a sermon when I drew this. 

"Priestess" - January, 2013

Metalic Sharpies, henna designs, cities, and more...can you tell I was in class, thinking a lot when I drew out all those tiny flowers?

CPE Journal

CPE stands for "Clinical Pastoral Education." Student chaplains learn how to be present with people in crisis situations with cohorts of other students. While I took CPE in 2013, I kept a drawing journal, and sold the originals to friends and family to help cover the costs of the program.

#42 - Woven

Living in cities with metrolines got me staring at the maps with quite a lot of frequency. Seoul. Daejeon. Mumbai. Chicago. Oh how I wish there had been a map like this for Minneapolis, at the time. Luckily, there is now.

#66 - Destinations

(2014)

Sharpie, pilot precise, and some Prismacolors for the grays and skin tones. This image is larger than some of the others, drawn in an 11x14 sketchbook. The concept had been sitting in my mind for a while, and took several months to complete. I don't usually do this, but this time I did sketch out the lines before inking them. It paid off, especially in the braids and the train.

Religious Work and Iconography

Kept all these Things 

(#31 - 2010)

An Icon and Nativity Scene of Mary, the Mother of God. Despite being almost 10 years old, this is still one of my most favorite images. The shepherds bow, the kings offer gifts, and the people wander towards Bethlehem. 

Religious images may be used by churches and places of worship free of charge for their bulletins, newsletters, or reflection purposes with proper linking to my website. All electronic publications must include a live link to maggienancarrow.com. All paper publications must include the link with the image. This only applies to faith communities and to religious images. Other images cannot be reproduced without written permission.

Why are you looking for the living among the dead? 

(Easter 2013)

Commissioned for an Easter service: the three women at the tomb, as told by Mark. Mark's version of the gospel did not originally include any resurrection appearances--only a message from an angel and terrified women. 

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

Pentecost and Acts 2 // Your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesy

My Delight is in Her

Isaiah sings songs of restoration and hope across 200 years of painful history in for the ancient Israelites. The images are powerful and beautiful.

#32 - Crowned

(2011)

Prints Available on Fine Art America.
Cards Available on Zazzle.
Mug Available on Zazzle.

Crowned took months, and some new toys in the form of Straedler finepoint pens. I used the mid-grey and light grey to achieve the gradients on the buildings. 

What might it mean to have a crown growing from the head that wears it? How does power relate to us--does it come from within, or is it placed on us? Do those who wear crowns find that they become attached?

Early Work | 2008 - 2010

Inspired by Ghana, Korea, and India