Aileen in Color

The internet and this blog have really increased my accessibility to others. Right now I am working my way down through a list of request for illustrations from a number of different people that have placed orders with me. I enjoy getting to know each person just a bit, to learn about their interest, and to work with them in creating a humorous scenario for their illustration.

This is Aileen (pronounced A-leen), and she recently ordered a caricature from me.

Among the things that she wanted for her illustration was color. So color she got!

I like this drawing, if I do say so myself. Previously I have tried to draw this concept of paint flowing out of a brush. I gave up on that earlier attempt because I didn't like how it was turning out. This one turned out much better.

At the last minute I decided to follow the flow of colors on the color wheel when I filled in the stream of paint - rather than drawing in random colors. Doing that, I think, added to the appeal of the illustration. Maybe I should have used more green. I like green. (A reference of my last name for you uninformed readers out there.) Overall I am very please with the way Aileen's caricature turned out. And yes, Eggy is there.

Aileen was also interested in having her house included into the illustration. One look at the photo and you can tell that she is a unique individual, and I say that as complement. If you visit her blog , and take a look at some of her unique art, I think you will come to the same conclusion.

Aileen says that she is redesigning her blog so that she can use her new illustration there - to be posted there in the near future I am told.

Update: Aileen's illustration now sits on the header of her blog. I am really impressed with the way she has it incorporated into the scheme of her web page. Go take a peek and leave a nice comment.

Airplane Art - Let It Shine

Someone asked me what was the connection between these four individuals. The answer is... None. I was just tryng to fill space on a page.

Airplane Art - Zoom!

This is more airplane art from the trip to Oklahoma earlier this month. I wasn't really all that excited about the drawing but I warmed up to it when I went back and added the lettering. I've never filled in letters like that before and I kind of like it.

What do you think?

Family Practice - Packing Skills

The Season of Shopping Has Begun!

Click on the image to see the full size.

This is another cartoon strip left from my attempt at having a syndicated cartoon and another example of me creating an idea from real life situation. The conversation in this piece pretty much follows one that I had with my wife on a Christmas shopping adventure - only I think that my mother-in-law thought, not said, the last line.

Gail - A Proper Writer

The internet and this blog have given me the chance to meet so many interesting people that I would otherwise never have the opportunity to meet. This post certainly is an example of that.

This is Gail and she is from jolly old England. Gail requested an illustration from me and said that her thing was pens - she likes pens. (We've all got to have something I guess.) She wanted a pen included in her caricature. That was a challenge for me because drawing a ball point isn't very visually stimulating. So I came up with the concept of using a quill. She liked that. It was her idea to have all the crumple paper laying at her feet, and I like that.

The dogs are her Norwegian Elkhounds (Funny, they don't look Scandinavian to me.) which she was happy to have included in the illustration.

Gail said the the drawing made her look like a "proper writer." I just love the way the British talk - don't you. I don't know about it making her look proper, but I think the illustration turned out well.

You can visit her blog by going to squaredoff.blogspot.com
and see how she used her drawing at her own site. (Please do, you know how we bloggers love the traffic.)

Thanks Gail for choosing me for your cartoon needs. Please stay in touch.

Family Practice - Happy Thanksgiving

Click on the image for a larger view.

Eight Random Things & Walking Dino

I was "tagged" the other day by Lucinda Naia. You can find her at When You're Ready to SOAR. I've seen this tagging stuff before while visiting various blogs on my travels around the net. Honestly, I feared that eventually someone might "tag" me. While I want to be a good member of the blogging community, and I understand the concept of getting more people to link to your site so that you can have a great presence on the web, I fear that I am the weak link in the chain when it comes to passing the fun onward.

So, I'm not going to turn around and tag eight other people. I don't personally know that many people who have blogs. But I am honored to be chosen by Lucinda and I do encourage you to visit her site; if for no other reason than to see her nice smile.

In the mean time, the rules state that I am suppose to tell you eight random things about me. It's hard for me to believe that anyone would want to know eight random things about me; much less two or three. (that I haven't revealed somewhere on this blog already). But for the curious, here we go...

1. I've lived in Oklahoma (born there), Missouri, Texas, Idaho, Colorado (back to Oklahoma) (back to Missouri) (back to Oklahoma) Arizona, (back to Oklahoma), California, now Oregon. That's pretty random.

2. I have a great view of the Pacific Ocean from my house. I am very lucky that way.

3. My social security number is... Ooops! - forget that one. Uh, well... I have a social security number.

4. I can't spell my way out of a paper bag. Maybe you've noitced.

5. I don't like meatloaf. But doesn't everybody? (I know you meatloaf lovers out there will respond to that one.)

(Three more to go. This is getting harder.)

6. I have a sister that is single - never married. I'll be happy to forward you her personal information. (She visits my blog on occasion - just to check my spelling. I love you Jan.)

7. I got claustrophobic (I had to look that word up to spell it.) on a recent cruise that my wife and I took. They call those closets "cabins" and expect you to live in them for a week.

8. When my wife first met me she thought, "Ewe, I hope he never ask me out." (I guess it was my winning personality that won her over.)



And for art enthusiast out there... Here is another bit of airplane art.

This is may be my favorite illustration from my recent trip to Oklahoma. It shares a similar theme with an earlier post of mine... Caveman Hunt .

What do you think about this one?

Thanksgiving vs Christmas

Why is Thanksgiving better than Christmas? Because the turkey is real and Santa is not. AND! the turkey is coming to your house whether or not you've been naughty or nice.
Another sketch that I did on a plane. It kind of looks like a cross between a turkey and a vulture. Probably a lot of dark meat on this one. I like white meat. How about you?

Airplane Art - Homecoming Trip

I flew back to Oklahoma last week - this time with my wife and youngest daughter. We were there for a happy reason this time - our middle daughter was being presented in the Homecoming court at her university - which is also the alma-mater of both my wife and I.

It is with no small pride that I tell you she was crowned Homecoming Queen! What a joy! We're very proud of all our girls, but that was a special moment for us.

The added joy of going was that we got to see our eldest daughter and her (serious) boyfriend as well. So we had a bit of a family reunion.


As usual, I took my pad and created some more airplane art. I did a LOT of doodling on this trip. I don't think that I'll post it all at once. But here is an example of the kind of stuff that I do while I'm traveling - off the cuff (way off) - just whatever comes to mind. Don't ask me to explain it. The answer is that I don't know where it comes from. I just start drawing and this "stuff" comes out.

The egg-man is easy to find in this one.

King of the Road

If you've spent anytime on my blog you know that I have a deep appreciate for all things Harley Davidson. So, when on a recent visit to my brother in Texas, one of his acquaintances offered to let me take a spin on his '07 Harley Road King, I was thrilled. You need to understand that this is generally not done in biker circles. Most riders are very protective of their bikes and so, to let someone else ride yours is a pretty big deal.

I didn't get a chance to ride it very long, but I really enjoyed the experience of being on a big "hog." Honestly, I had just decided that my '02 HD Sportster was plenty of bike for me, but after that, I now know that I will always hunger for more.

Sometime later Leo wrote and asked me to create a drawing of a lion on a Harley Road King. (Leo - Lion, Lion - Road King - you follow the logic, don't you?) After the generous offer of a ride on his bike, I was all too happy to create an illustration for him.

The first illustration is one that I sent Leo before going on with the color work. I'm glad that I did because he wrote back saying that he liked the drawing, but the leg on the lion looked a little too "girlie." I wrote back saying that my legs were my best feature, but that I was happy to comply. He suggest that I add some leather chaps on the beast.

(My wife told me that if I bought a motorcycle I could never BUY leather chaps. I agreed, but later on a friend GAVE me a pair. So I've kept to our bargain. She never said anything about me not accepting a pair as a gift.)

The next drawing has the lion now modestly dressed in chaps and blue jeans. I think the chaps add to the illustration. What do you think?Next you see that the color and the lettering that have been added for the completion of the job.

I am beginning to have a growing collection of motorcycle artwork. (See my post on Sept. 25, Feb. 16, Jan. 17, Jan. 5)

Actually, I'm really not all that comfortable with creating illustrations that include mechanical stuff. I prefer more free hand, "artsie" kind of work. I really struggle at drawing these kind of pieces and so it took me three or four whacks with a pencil before I felt comfortable putting it down in pen.

I am really proud of this drawing. There are a few things that I don't like about it, but there always are. It's a totally freehand illustration that is fun and makes a definite statement about what kind of "beast" rides the road on his King.

Family Practice - Watch Football 2

This is the follow-up strip to yesterday's post. Yesterday Heidi left a comment asking me, "Did this really work for you." Honestly, I never tried to bribe any of my three daughters into watching a football game with me. Believe me it would have taken more than $5 to get them to do it - I'm sure.

My oldest daughter is "seriously" dating a young man (see my Feb. 28th post) and he REALLY likes football. He's introducing me to the world an Fantasy Sports. (If had I to explain it you still wouldn't understand). But, maybe, if this relationship works out, I'll have someone to watch a game or two with me during the holiday seasons.

It's kind of scary trusting your daughter to pick out your first son for you. So far, so good.

Family Practice - Watch Football 1

I know that there are a lot of "Football Widows" out there. My wife is not one of them. I enjoy watching a good game, but I gave up on being any kind of "intense" fan a long time ago. BUT... what does the lone member of the male gender do in a household full of women when he wants to have a little companionship during a big game?

The answer is below...
Either buy a pair of reading glasses OR click on the image to get the full size.

Set Your Clock Back

This is the first time that I've repeated posting an illustration, but I felt it appropriate for a repeat performance because we go off Day Light Savings Times tonight (@ 2am officially).

Set your clock back or you'll be an hour earlier for church, and I know you don't want to do that - do you now?

The Sub

Did you ever have one of those substitute teachers that was as mean as a bear? I did. I think that they're worried that the class would try to take advantage of them since they didn't know anybody. And, of course, that was true. So the sub turns up the "mean factor" in the classroom to try and get the upper hand.

This above illustration addresses two questions: 1. What would the ultimate mean substitute look like? and 2. What would they eat? The answer to the first question is obvious - like a bear. The answer to the second question is merely suggested - perhaps, students?

Now, for those naturalist out there who might be wanting to say that bears aren't strictly "carnivores," but are "omnivores", (The kind of animal that eats either meat or plants) I say... A. Stop trying to show off! and B. If you were a 6ft., 400 lb. bear, that could talk, you probably would be strictly a carnivore.

You can't get in a position like that eating nuts and berries. You would have to be a meat eater!

What do YOU think?

P.S. Yes, the Egg-Man made it to class.