Curriculum Resources for Missions

While on the mission field, I created tons of illustrations and curriculum resources. When we came back to the states, I continued creating resources, first as part of the Creative Arts team with Team Expansion, then as a volunteer once I became part of the staff of Highland Park Christian Church.

I have been creating illustrations to contribute to a curriculum package for use in missions and ministry. Here are some of that I have done or reformatted this past year.

Ezra Comes to Life

This year, we are going to be going through the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther on Sunday mornings in our Student Bible classes. I came up with the idea to create some short videos to lead some, if not all, of the lessons. I thought I could use some small sets and do a little stop motion animation as well as live action with props and figures. Since the first lesson starts in a couple weeks (in fact I had to push it back), I am in full speed mode creating the props, sets and figures. I will be using a GoPro for most of the shooting. After I do the first two or three videos, I am going to be inviting the help of some students and adults to help complete the project.

A side goal of working on this for HP, will be that I will make the curriculum available for purchase for other churches. We are looking at about a 26 week curriculum package with lessons, resources and videos.

Here are some pictures of the process so far...

Concept sketches

 

 

Sculpting process...

I used aluminum foil balled up around the end of a nail. The nail will make it so I can turn the figure's head.

Ezra is beginning to take shape.

Esther will be used later on, but here head and figure are almost complete.

I use a heavy steel wire for the armature. The heads can be removed from the bodies so that I can use them for other characters.

 

Ezra's House:

 



Dancing Skeleton Reference Behind-the-Scenes

Here's a little behind the scenes to my October Monster Madness sketch series.... The Dancing Skeleton was based on a famous pose of the late great Fred Astaire! You can see it light in the background. Then I just used some general human skeletons for reference. Using them I sketch atop Fred Astaire's photo where his bones would be. I even drew his shoes. I added a mustache to my skeleton, partly to show that I didn't mean for it to be Fred Astaire's skeleton, but used him only for reference. Remember to see the whole run check out the following link: https://sway.com/GVFZRK_LyCeVz8B9

 

Other Sways I've done for you to check out:
Fat Baby (Children's Book) https://sway.com/eRK3gW0C1t8riQ9M

Matt's Monster Madness 2014

Check out my latest daily monster sketches in the embedded sway below... Swipe up to view more and double-click images to see them larger! Go here if the embedded sway doesn't work https://sway.com/GVFZRK_LyCeVz8B9

Matt's Monster Madness 2013 - Day 16 Growler Beast

This is day sixteen of thirty-one days of Monster Sketches in October. Done in Sketchbook Pro w/a pressure sensitive pen on a Surface Pro. 

Matt's Monster Madness 2013 - Day 15 The Mummy

This is day fifteen of thirty-one days of Monster Sketches in October. Done in Sketchbook Pro w/a pressure sensitive pen on a Surface Pro. 

Matt's Monster Madness 2013 - Day 14 Screamer

This is day fourteen of thirty-one days of Monster Sketches in October. Done in Sketchbook Pro w/a pressure sensitive pen on a Surface Pro. 

Matt's Monster Madness 2013 - Day 13 Ghostboy

This is day thirteen of thirty-one days of Monster Sketches in October. Done in Sketchbook Pro w/a pressure sensitive pen on a Surface Pro. 

Matt's Monster Madness 2013 - Day 12 Four Eyes

This is day twelve of thirty-one days of Monster Sketches in October. Done in Sketchbook Pro w/a pressure sensitive pen on a Surface Pro. 

Matt's Monster Madness 2013 - Day 11 Evil Space Robot

This is day eleven of thirty-one days of Monster Sketches in October. Done in Sketchbook Pro w/a pressure sensitive pen on a Surface Pro.