Finding the Story in the Pilgrimage: On Illustrating Psalm 84
The final illustration for Psalm 84. The entire piece is built around the theme of finding strength and blessing within the journey of faith.
There’s a unique kind of challenge in trying to commit a piece of text to memory. A few months ago, I started this practice with the Psalms, and it’s been an exercise in humility. My first two illustrations in this series, for Psalm 1 and Psalm 23, came after the words had finally settled in my mind.
This piece, however, was born from a work very much in progress: the beautiful and formidable Psalm 84. My attempt to memorize it continues, and I’ve found that the act of illustrating it has become its own form of study—a way to grapple with the text when recitation alone falls short.
At the center of my exploration was verse 5, a line that I find both grounding and aspirational:
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”
As I sat with that line, I realized you can’t fully appreciate a single verse without understanding its context. The whole chapter tells a story, a narrative of transformation. The question for me then became: how do you translate that entire narrative arc into a single, static image?
An early look from my sketchbook, where the initial composition and character gesture take shape. Every finished piece starts with these foundational pencil lines.
Weaving a Visual Narrative
My solution was to treat the landscape itself as a character in the story, embedding symbolic meaning into the environment:
The completed ink drawing before any digital color is applied. This stage is all about defining the forms and textures that will serve as the soul of the final piece.
The Companion: Verse 3 mentions the sparrow and the swallow finding a home. This image of a small, free creature resonated with me. The bird became a stand-in for the Holy Spirit—a constant, guiding presence on the journey.
The Transforming Path: Verses 6 and 7 speak of passing through a valley of hardship and seeing it redeemed, turned into a place of springs. This became the key to the composition. The path begins in a barren landscape, but as the pilgrim—sustained by a strength not her own—walks on, the world around her begins to flourish. This visual progression from desert to verdant garden is my attempt to capture the essence of going "from strength to strength."
This was my first color pass for the illustration. While bright and cheerful, I felt a more atmospheric palette would better serve the story, which led me to the final version.
With this conceptual framework in place, the technical work could begin. My aim is always to create compelling, character-driven art, and the palette here was crucial. I moved toward more earthy, atmospheric colors to evoke a feeling of sincere warmth. And, as is my standard process, the piece began with the tactile energy of traditional sketching and inking before being brought to a final polish in a digital workflow.
The final "Art Print" version, created without text to allow the visual narrative to stand on its own.
Ultimately, this illustration is a reflection of a personal journey—both my own fumbling attempt to memorize a beautiful piece of writing, and the universal pilgrimage of faith it describes. It’s a welcome reminder that blessing isn’t found at the destination, but in the act of the journey itself.
Now, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. Is there a piece of writing or art that has served as a map for you on your own journey? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
P.S. This illustration will be a cornerstone of a new collection of art prints, apparel, and stickers. Please consider joining my newsletter to be the first to know when the shop goes live.
