Fresno California Temple Drawing

The Fresno California Temple is one of a series of detailed pencil drawings and paintings created by the artist Chad S. Hawkins. In 1989, at the age of seventeen, Chad started this unique temple series, becoming the original LDS artist to involve hidden spiritual images in his artwork. 

“Upon arriving for the first time in the San Joaquin Valley,” comments the artist, “I will never forget how impressed I was when I saw the variety of beautiful well-maintained fields, orchards, and vineyards. After learning the importance of vineyards to the region as well as to the local Church, I thought that it would be appropriate to use the religious symbolism of vineyards within this drawing.” In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, Christ is the Lord of the Vineyard who sends forth laborers to prune and work there. (Matt. 20:1–16) In the latter days, the Lord’s vineyard covers the whole earth, and the laborers are going forth to gather scattered Israel before the Lord’s Second Coming. In this drawing Jesus Christ is placed among the trees to the left of the temple; grapes are found within many of the trees that adorn the beautiful temple grounds.