Sketches of Soul and Sanctuary: Fifty Years of Drawings and Reflections at Christmastime
by Jim Firmin
About the Book
Sketches of Soul and Sanctuary is a collection of a half-century of pen-and-ink architectural drawings and personal reflections, born from a Christmas card tradition sent annually to family, friends, and acquaintances for fifty years. Though often personal, but not private, these yearly messages have become a seasonal ritual that many eagerly anticipate. In the early years, the reflections centered on childhood memories and the family members who directly shaped the author’s life. Over time, they evolved to draw inspiration from individuals whose life journeys echoed his own experiences of growing up and growing older.
The drawings are of buildings that have touched the author’s spirit—from the south Louisiana homes of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors to quiet country churches and intriguing structures from his travels, including ancient Chinese architecture that sparked his imagination of stories of ancient journeys. Paired with each illustration is a meditation on how the simple lessons of caring we learn as children can mature into enduring acts of compassion and remembrance as we age. At the heart of the collection is the author’s belief that Christmastime is the ultimate season for us to become fully present in life, allowing us to better understand the quiet shadows in the lives of friends and strangers alike, and to find the courage to reach out to those whose hope is frail or missing.
About the Author
Jim Firmin is an architect, storyteller, and lifelong resident of south Louisiana. For fifty years, he has captured the quiet beauty of family homes, historic churches, and faraway gateways through a cherished annual tradition: hand-drawn pen-and-ink Christmas cards. Founder and still working at Firmin Architects, a foster parent, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a champion for children’s education from Morgan City to rural China, Firmin infuses this collection with the same spirit of sanctuary that has defined his sixty-year career and large, five-generation family.
© 2026 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
Hardcover | 112 pgs. | 7" x 8.25" | ISBN: 978-1-959569-41-1