The Gift of Christmas

Family Christmas Gift

I had been gifted a bottle of turquoise ink several years ago that I had never gotten a chance to try, until I paid a late Christmas visit to my sister and brother-in-law back in 2021. Earlier that month I had come across a rendition of the old Christmas song, “I Wonder as I Wander,” and was instantly hit with inspiration for an illustration that I ended up giving to them as a late Christmas gift. The decision to use pen and ink was mostly me wanting to try a new medium, but I also felt that the color and fine detail would create the simplistically beautiful nighttime scene that I had envisioned for the piece as well.

the christmas gift displayed

The Design Process

the christmas gift process image

Materials Used

  • Strathmore Bristol 9x12 in paper

  • Pentel 0.7 Pencil

  • Speedball dip pens

  • Liquitex Deep Turquoise Ink

Media Practice

pen and ink practice page 1
pen and ink practice page 2

Due to the short time frame that I had to finish this, I wasn’t able to create concept sketches for the piece and went with the original vision I had formed in my head. However, having never used pen and ink before, I tested out a lot of the techniques and nibs I wanted to use on scrap paper before applying it to the final sketch.

Final Illustration

the christmas gift final illustration

"If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing:

A star in the sky or a bird on the wing;

Or all of God’s angels in Heaven to sing;

He surely could have had it,

‘Cause He was the King!”

Lyrics from the Christmas song, “I Wonder as I Wander” by John Jacob Niles

This illustration was primarily inspired by the third verse of the song, “I Wonder as I Wander” by American folklorist John Jacob Niles in 1933. The song was inspired by the rough lyrics and unfinished tune sung by a poor Appalachian girl named Annie Morgan in Murphy, North Carolina, and remains a familiar Christmas hymn to this day.

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