Artists for The Lutheran Missal

In August of last year we began soliciting portfolio submissions to find an artist to illustrate The Lutheran Missal. We were pleasantly surprised to receive not two or three, but fifteen applications and portfolios from as many artists. As we reviewed the submissions, two related facts became clear: 1) Due to the astounding quality of submitted work, it would be nearly impossible to choose a single artist. 2) The project itself was too large for a single artist.

Therefore, after much thoughtful deliberation, we are pleased to announce that Ludecus Press has engaged two artists to illustrate The Lutheran Missal: Kelly Schumacher and Nathan Walz.

Kelly Schumacher is a 2013 MFA Graduate from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. She is the founder of Agnus Dei Liturgical Arts with the goal of reestablishing classical religious art in the church. Some readers will be familiar with her work in the Kloria Publishing books Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart, Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow, and Now Thank We All Our God. She is a lecturer and artist and has been featured on KFUO Radio and Issues, Etc.

Nathan A. M. Walz is a licensed architect in Texas and a classically trained graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture with a concentration in Preservation and Restoration, and also interned at Duncan G. Stroik. He has received numerous awards for architectural drawing, research, and design related to sacred architecture.

Examples from Kelly’s portfolio:

Examples from Nathan’s portfolio:

Both Kelly and Nathan are eager to begin their coordinated work, though the full catalog of planned drawings will take several years to complete. When finished, The Lutheran Missal will contain far more illumination than most medieval missals, placing it among the richly illuminated liturgical manuscripts produced for well-endowed churches and patrons.

We estimate that it will cost up to $70,000 to prepare, illustrate, and print the initial edition of The Lutheran Missal. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help bring this project to fruition.