Husband's Sketches Of Wife And Kids Are Full Of Love And Raw Emotion

Finding love in the little moments.
"Early morning goodbyes."
"Early morning goodbyes."

For years, artist Curtis Wiklund has been sketching moments ― both big and small ― from his daily life with his wife Jordin and their two sons Casen and Hayden.

Based in southeast Michigan, the Wiklunds, who have been married eight years, are now expecting a daughter in March. This exciting news came on the heels of a particular devastating period for the couple, who lost two pregnancies in the last two years.

"We should put a better reading light in by their beds."
"We should put a better reading light in by their beds."
The Wiklunds -- with 4-year-old Casen and 3-year-old Hayden -- own a wedding photography business in Michigan.
The Wiklunds -- with 4-year-old Casen and 3-year-old Hayden -- own a wedding photography business in Michigan.
“Oh my gosh, she’s RIGHT there."
“Oh my gosh, she’s RIGHT there."

“That first loss was actually what drove me to start drawing again,” Wiklund told HuffPost. “I realized I needed drawing, like somebody might need to write music, journal or go for a run. Drawing was helping me process.”

"This was the day we found out we miscarried."
"This was the day we found out we miscarried."
“Closure."
“Closure."

Curtis said he also uses his drawings as a way to document life with his family.

“I tend to draw moments that made me feel something,” he told HuffPost. “Those moments are sometimes hard to notice in real life, and even harder to articulate to someone else. But when I can draw it, I hope that somebody else knows what I’m talking about when they see it.”

The moments Curtis often feels most compelled to draw are the simplest ones.

Like a quick kiss in the kitchen before work:

“Quick kiss."
“Quick kiss."

Or the way his wife rests her chin on his shoulder when they’re out with the kids:

“Penguins.”
“Penguins.”

“I would’ve missed those moments if I hadn’t drawn them, and those are the moments I never want to forget,” the artist told HuffPost.

"Nights out don’t always end like this. When they do, I want to remember it."
"Nights out don’t always end like this. When they do, I want to remember it."

Back in 2011, Jordin embarked on a 365-day photo project and encouraged Curtis to join in by committing to sketching every day for a year. After the year was up, Curtis continued drawing scenes and posting them online (though not every day) and developed a following on social media.

“Today, the drawings help me hold onto and cherish the fleeting moments, and even help me work through the hard ones,” Wiklund told HuffPost. “I try to remember that they could help somebody else like they help me.”

“Are you just going to stand there the whole time?” “Yeah.”
“Are you just going to stand there the whole time?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to brush?”“No.”
“Do you want to brush?”
“No.”
"Momma! Can you help me squeeze?"
"Momma! Can you help me squeeze?"
“Setting a real clock."
“Setting a real clock."

Wiklund told HuffPost he hopes others can relate to the candid moments and raw emotion he captures in his work.

“It’s very comforting to find an artist who ‘gets you,’” he said. “If me being honest about the things I love or the things that make me feel comforts somebody else in their daily life, then I’m glad I’m sharing the drawings online and not hoarding them to myself.”

Below, check out more of Wiklund’s work. To see even more sketches, visit his website, or find him on Instagram or Facebook. You can purchase his book Us on Amazon.

“We’ll make them uncomfortable someday. For now, they just think it’s funny when I attack their mom.”
“We’ll make them uncomfortable someday. For now, they just think it’s funny when I attack their mom.”
"Morning with Casen."
"Morning with Casen."
“The way we sleep – Phase 1”
“The way we sleep – Phase 1”
“The way we sleep – Phase 2”
“The way we sleep – Phase 2”
“The way we sleep – Phase 3"
“The way we sleep – Phase 3"
"Well somebody had to eat the Santa cookie."
"Well somebody had to eat the Santa cookie."
“Jordin’s Mother’s Day card."
“Jordin’s Mother’s Day card."
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
"I cry when I look at you."
"I cry when I look at you."
"This is my whole world."
"This is my whole world."

Before You Go

Gorgeous Illustrations That Capture The Sensual Side Of Being In Love

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