OFM

In the novitiate at St. Louis Friary, Palamaner, where young men learn to live the Franciscan way of life, Brother Balu, OFM, offers something that goes beyond prayer, study, and community life. He teaches them to draw. The friary is a Franciscan brotherhood inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, and its novitiate is one of the places where new brothers begin their formation.

Brother Balu is a gifted artist who believes that creativity is part of how a person comes to know God and themselves. His classes are not about perfect technique alone. He invites the novices to explore many mediums, from pencil and charcoal to watercolor and other materials, and to discover which ones let them express what they see and feel.

His approach is practical and playful. Novices are encouraged to:

• Try different mediums so that each one reveals something new about line, color, and texture.

• Draw from observation, looking closely at the world around them, including the simple beauty of everyday things.

• Work without fear of mistakes, treating each sketch as an honest step in learning rather than a final judgment.

• Reflect on their work, asking what a drawing shows about their hopes, questions, and experience of community life.

For many of the novices, the classes are a first chance to make art without pressure. Brother Balu's patience and encouragement help them see that they do not need to be "artists" to create something meaningful. They only need to pay attention and be willing to begin.

Franciscan tradition has always valued the beauty of creation, and Brother Balu carries that spirit into his studio. Through his teaching, the novices learn that a pencil, a brush, or a piece of charcoal can become a way of praying, noticing, and giving thanks.