Ephesians 5:8-17
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
(Click on a box if you wish to read the chapter)
Sleepers ‘wake I
April ‘22, 8” x 10”, Colored Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake II
April ‘22, 8” x 10”, Colored Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake III
April ‘22, 8” x 10”, Colored Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake IV
April ‘22, 8” x 10”, Colored Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake V
April ‘22, 8” x 10”, Colored Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake VI
April ‘22, 8” x 10”, Acrylic on paper
Sleepers ‘wake VII
May ‘22, 8” x 10”, Black colored pencil
Sleepers ‘wake VIII
July ‘22, 5” x 7”, Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake IX
July ‘22, 5” x 7”, Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake X
July ‘22, 6” x 9”, Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake XI
July ‘22, 6” x 9”, Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake XII
July ‘22, 6” x 9”, Watercolor Pastel
Sleepers ‘wake XIII
July ‘22, 5” x 7”, Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake XIV
July ‘22, 12” x 15”, Acrylic on canvas
Sleepers ‘wake XV
October ‘22, 2 x 3.5”
Colored pencil and gold calligraphy ink
Sleepers ‘wake XVI
September ‘22, 8 x 8”, Watercolor Pencil
Featured in the Angad Arts Hotel’s 7th Biennial
Sleepers ‘wake XVII
October ‘22, 5” x 7”, Watercolor Pencil and Pen
Sleepers ‘wake XVIII
October ‘22, 8” x 11”, Colored Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake XIX
September ‘22, 5” x 7”, Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake XX
August ‘22, 6” x 9”, Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake XXI
October ‘22, 5” x 7”, Colored pencil
Sleepers ‘wake XXII
October ‘22, 2.5” x 4”, Colored pencil and gold calligraphy ink
Sleepers ‘wake XXIII
October ‘22, 3” x 4.5”,
Colored Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XXIV
November ‘22, Colored Pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXV
November ‘22, Watercolor Pastel, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXVI
November ‘22, Watercolor Pastel, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXVII
November ‘22, Watercolor Pastel, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXVIII
November ‘22, Watercolor Pastel, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXIX
December ‘22, Watercolor Pencil, 6” x 9”
Sleepers ‘wake XXX
December ‘22, Watercolor Pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXXI
January ‘23, Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXXII
January ‘23, Watercolor Pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXXIII
January ‘23, Watercolor Pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XXXIV
February ‘23, 5” x 7” Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XXXV
February ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XXXVI
February ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XXXVIII
February ‘23, Pencil, Pastel, Marker and Gold Calligraphy Ink, 6” x 9”
I created this Sleepers ‘Wake in correlation with a piece of music written by my dad, Leonard Payton. In January, I arranged a new setting, heavily inspired by Michael E. Owens (weblink). While working through the arrangement, I found myself having difficulty sleeping as I wrote a dance, of sorts, that followed the music. The dance was not performed by people though. It was performed by pencil, pastel, marker, and brush strokes in collaboration with symbolism. You can read the full artist statement here (weblink).
Sleepers ‘wake XXXVII
February ‘23, 5” x 5”
Colored Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XXXIX
March ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XL
March ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake XLI - A Lost Sheep, Found
March ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XLII
March ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XLIII
April ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XLIV
April ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XLV
April ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil, Gold Calligraphy Ink and Black Pen
Sleepers ‘wake XLVI
April ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil, Gold Calligraphy Ink and Black Pen
Sleepers ‘wake XLVII - Blue Hour
April ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XLVIII - A Lost Sheep, Found
April ‘23, 5” x 7”
Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake XLIX
April ‘23, 10” x 15” Colored Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake L - A Lost Sheep, Found
April ‘23, 5” x 7”
Colored Pencil, Gold Calligraphy Ink, Thread, Black Pen, and Trashcan Particles
Sleepers ‘wake LI
June ‘23, 5” x 7”, Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake LII
June ‘23, 5” x 7”, Ink
Sleepers ‘wake LIII
June ‘23, 5” x 7”, Ink and Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake LIV
July ‘23, 5” x 7”, Ink and Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake LV
July ‘23, 5” x 7”, Pencil and Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake LVI
August ‘23, 5” x 7”, Ink and Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake LVII
September ‘23, 4” x 6”, Ink and Watercolor Pencil
Sleepers ‘wake LVIII - He Makes My Sorrowing Spirit Sing
September ‘23, Ink, Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake LVIX - Blessed Are They Who Mourn
October ‘23, 4” x 6”, Ink, Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
Sleepers ‘wake LX - For They Shall Be Comforted
October ‘23, 4” x 6”, Ink, Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
A Visual Prayer to Always Be Thankful I
September ‘22, 3.5” x 2”, Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
A Visual Prayer to Always Be Thankful II
September ‘22, 5” x 7”, Black Ink, Watercolor Pencil and Gold Calligraphy Ink
A Visual Prayer to Always Be Thankful III
October ‘23, 5” x 7”, Black Ink and Watercolor Pencil
Emmanuel, That Is God with Us
December 2014, 2” x 3.5”, Black ink
CHAPTER FIVE
Psalm 13:3-5
“Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.”
Sleepers ‘wake LXI
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXII
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXIII
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXIV
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXV
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXVI
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXVII
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXVIII
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXIX
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXX
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXI
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXII
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXIII
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXIV
January ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 4” x 6”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXV
March ‘24, Watercolor Markers, 5'“ x 7”
CHAPTER SIX
Psalm 91:15-16
“When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXVI
April ‘24, Watercolor pencil, black ink, gold calligraphy ink, 5'“ x 7”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Psalm 16:11
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXVII
April ‘24, Watercolor pencil, gold calligraphy ink, 7” x 10”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXVIII
April ‘24, Watercolor pencil, gold calligraphy ink, 7” x 10”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXIX
May ‘24, Watercolor pencil, gold calligraphy ink, 7” x 10”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXX
May ‘24, Watercolor pencil, gold calligraphy ink, 7” x 10”
CHAPTER EIGHT
In progress
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXI
April ‘24, Black ink, 7” x 10”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXII - ‘wakers wake sleepers
July ‘24, Watercolor pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXIII
July ‘24, Watercolor pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXIV - By the Waters of Babylon
July ‘24, Watercolor pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXV
July ‘24, Watercolor pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXVI - ‘wakers wake sleepers
July ‘24, Watercolor pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXVII
July ‘24, Watercolor pencil, gold calligraphy ink, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXVIII
July ‘24, Watercolor pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake LXXXIX
August ‘24, Watercolor pencil, gold calligraphy ink, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XC
August ‘24, Watercolor pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XCI
August ‘24, Watercolor pencil, colored pencil, gold calligraphy ink, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XCII
August ‘24, Colored pencil, gold calligraphy ink, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XCIII - No
September 2, 2024, Watercolor pen, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XCIV - Joy and Grief Are Sisters
September ‘24, Colored pencil and pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XCV - Evidence of Joy
September ‘24, Watercolor marker, 4” x 6”
Sleepers ‘wake XCVI
October ‘24, Colored pencil and pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake XCVII - ‘wakers wake sleepers
October ‘24, Watercolor, 8” x 10”
Sleepers ‘wake XCVIII - ‘wakers wake sleepers
October ‘24, Watercolor, 8” x 10”
Sleepers ‘wake XCIX
October ‘24, Colored pencil and pencil, 5” x 7”
Sleepers ‘wake C - Immanuel (‘wakers wake sleepers)
Commissioned by St. Paul Lutheran Church in Melrose Park, IL for their 2024 advent sermon series.
November ‘24, Acrylic on canvas, 2 x 3 feet
Sleepers ‘wake CI - Immanuel (‘wakers wake sleepers)
November ‘24, Acrylic on watercolor paper, 16” x 20”
Sleepers ‘wake CII - Maranatha
November ‘24, Colored pencil, pencil and gold calligraphy ink on watercolor paper, 16” x 20”
Sleepers ‘wake CIII - Immanuel (‘wakers wake sleepers)
November ‘24, Acrylic on watercolor paper, 18” x 24”
Psalm 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
Isaiah 26:19
Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.
Mark 13:32-37
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
1 Corinthians 15:16-22
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
Ephesians 5:8-17
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.