Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 55

More smoothing of shading and more detail work.  One hour of work today.


October 16, 2014
Yep just one of those nights. ~Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 54

Still detailing, smoothing my pencil strokes and shading.  One hour today


October 14, 2014
I know I haven't posted any of these in awhile...I have been trying to keep us super busy. I have been trying to avoid the inevitable but I'm afraid I can feel the crash coming and well it just plain hurts.

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 53

Filling in the background.  40 minutes draw time.


October 2, 2014
Truth ~Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 52

Fine tuning things and making adjustments.  Averaging about 40 minutes of draw time a day.  I wanted to say a few things about Karens posts that I share here.  I don't share every single post she made over the last few years.  I share most everything she posts about Joel, but again not everything.  Some I feel are just too private.  I share the heartache and I want you to share in it too.  I want you to read her broken heart and understand that there are many moments in a day that are overwhelming for the grieving.

I want you to reach out to your friends and family, strangers too when you see them struggling or even on a good day.  I want you to offer condolences, ask if they need help with anything, take them a meal, offer to take their children for a few hours, or simply talk to them about their departed loved ones.   Just talk to them, find out what they need.  I think a lot of us don't fully grasp the magnitude of losing a loved one.  Until you actually suffer the heartbreak, we can't wrap our heads around it.  Step out, step up and support the grieving.  I have suffered loss.  This is why I draw our departed.  You are not forgotten in my eyes, you're loved ones have not faded away.  I see you, I send you love.  I do what I can do for you.


September 28, 2014
It is impossible to find all of the pieces of a broken heart
~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 51

Still working hard to finish up this drawing.  While this hasn't been my most challenging drawing, my circumstances in my environment have definitely been challenging.  Hoping to make this guy proud around his birthday this year.  Hoping for completion on his birthday but I may be a few days late due to lifes rollercoaster.  Loving him and missing his giant hugs and compassionate self.  I imagine his wife and daughter miss him with every breath they take, every day.  As I am sure it is hard to just breathe some days for them both.  Joels father also departed not long after Joel left us.  Joels mother is just the kindest and most gentle woman.  Sending them all a bundle of love today as we inch closer to Joels birth day.

September 26, 2014
At least once a day I still say to myself...."this can't be happening to me"  ~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 50

September 21, 2014
Kendalynn's "new" tattoo  ~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 49

September 18, 2014
Heavy hearted tonight...thinking of so many things. So many times...different memories...so many events that take you right back to that one moment in time. Thoughts and prayers go out to many tonight....on a side note had a nice talk with someone I've been waiting to hear from for awhile....💛missing him  ~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 48

Getting there with facial features, still working, still changing things.  Missing him.


September 13, 2014
That moment when you discover you haven't deleted your voicemail messages in over a year....and you get to hear that persons voice  ~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 47

Still making adjustments to faces.  Bringing up tones, doing hair, deepening tones, darkening eyes.  Need to feel satisfied with faces before I can move on.


September 9, 2014
Accomplished a few things on my own tonight with only some minor scratching and bruising...but most importantly...I did it!  ~ Karen

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Joel 46

Still making minor adjustments here and there.



September 4, 2014
~ Karen