What? Me Stress?

Thank you to everyone that took the time to post a birthday wish to Jim-Jim, my BIL. I really appreciated it and so did he. My sis, Beck, said that he saw the post early in the day, but got to celebrate the rest of his special day by visiting a couple of doctors. Oh joy!

Last week, the wife and I were at a conference where the speaker, a medical doctor, stressed the need get the proper amount of rest and relaxation. While he was speaking, instead of taking notes, I was relaxing by doing some doodling. Here's is just one of the creations that I put down on paper.

Maybe you can relate.

Speaking of stress... We're on an 11 day countdown to our daughter's wedding. There is MUCH to be done, and we're feeling a bit stress - not enough time to get everything done.

One of the projects that we have going is the collecting and drying of hydrangeas for the floral decorations. Our laundry room, and my office is full of hydrangeas. It's amazing how many little critters live in those things. I discovered one the other night crawling across my drawing table.

(Now I'm going to brag here: You can't see it, but our laundry room is one of the few that I know of that has a view of the ocean. But don't go thinking that I spend a whole lot of time in there.)

And hey!... This doodle is another "Copy & Share If You Dare" creation. I'm thinking that some of you out there can find a reason to post this piece. You know the rules... drop me a note so that I can come and take a peek.

It's late. Peace out...

Happy Birthday Jimmy Boy!

Say hello to my Bro-In-Law, Jim. He turns 48 today! Some of you doodle fans may remember the little birthday notice I gave his wife, my sister, Becky back in March.

I feel that I should tell you that Mr. James has been fighting a six year battle with stupid cancer. Lately, they've had some bad news on this front, and so I wanted to make his celebration a little brighter by posting this doodle of him here.

Jim is the pastor of a church in Hood River, Oregon. The Scripture reference is entirely appropriate for a guy that's been undergoing chemo for six years. Look it up and you'll see.

Apparently Jim-bo reads my blog religiously. (Pun intended) He's probably the only family member that does. (Even my own daughers!!!) So, if you leave him a birthday greeting I'm sure he'll see it, and it will make this special day all that much merrier.

Happy birthday Jimmy Boy!! (How many different ways can I misuse your name?) I hope you have a great day. Tell that dumb cancer to go away. We're all praying for you.

Your Favorite Bro-In-Law (Despite what my brothers may say.)

Rickie-poo

Family In Tandem

You know what "they" say: "The family that rides a tandem bike together stays together."

Isn't that what "they" say? Well, even if "they" don't, it's still true.

(Who are these "they" people that I hear about all the time.? "They" sure do get a lot of credit for saying a lot of stuff.)

Anyways...

Diane wanted to celebrate her hubby's B-day coming in October. Apparently, tandem bike riding is something that they do. So, she wanted me to create an illustration of the whole gang pushing the pedals together.

These type of illustrations are always a challenge because I'm not so great with mechanical drawings. Bicycles don't come easy for me, and drawing a five seater made it all that more difficult. Plus, you have to try to draw each family member to scale, at the correct position and height.

(Have I sufficiently communicated the idea that this was hard so that you are duly impressed with my drawing skills?)

Actually, the illustration went fairly well and I didn't have to do a lot of erasing and redrawing.

Since hubby's birthday is sometime next month he hasn't seen it yet, but Diane seemed to like it when she wrote...

How do I scream a happy scream in email? I don't know how to spell it, but I'm shouting for joy and excitement (good thing he's at work)! I love it, and not just because you made me skinny. &:-) Yes, it's a very happy drawing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! He'll love it. Thank you so much!

Oh - will you have it on your web site like I've seen others? I thought I could send the link to friends before his big day to give a subtle hint to send him a card!

Thank you, Rick!

(Now, THAT'S the kind of response I like to get when I finish one of those caricatures.)

You're welcome Diane. I'm glad you like your new girlish figure, and don't worry about the helmet laws. They don't apply in the blogging world. I'll look forward to hearing how the lead biker responds to his new doodle.

You know what "they" say? No? Too bad. I was hopping you would know, because right now I don't have a clue.

And oh! How could I forget? Hallie and her Sock Monkey are making a run for the White House. They held a campaign stop here in Oregon. My blog was featured on theirs. Voting for a monkey, much less one stuffed with fluff may not seem like all that much a change for some of you, but go and check out her blog anyways.

Mom On The Go!

I'm at a con- ference at the mo- ment in Newport, OR. - sitting in a motel room looking at the great big Pacific Ocean. I don't have a lot of time, but I thought that I would throw up, or rather, on this doodle that I did not long ago.

So, this is yet another "Copy & Share If You Dare" doodle. Feel free to use it in your diabolical plans to take over the internet, or whatever. All I ask is a "heads up" when you do. I love seeing my work splashed all over the web.

The Boys of October

Just a doodle that I did a few years ago that I thought I would post now. October is close at hand and the baseball playoffs are just around the corner. I'm not big into baseball, but I like doing a doodle or duo (meaning "or two") about it.

In other news...

One of the joys of blogging is making new friends. While doing some blog surfing the other day I ran across the name of Reddirt Woman. I knew right away she had to be from Oklahoma. I've got some red dirt flowing in my viens too.

On her blog she had a photograph of the okra plants in her garden. I commented that the wife and I LOVE okra. We can never find fresh okra out here in Oregon. (If you don't know what I'm talking about you're not from the south.)

The next thing I knew I got an e-mail from Reddirt W., offering to mail me some. I couldn't believe it, but it was an offer that I could hardly refuse.

Offering to pay for the postage, the only thing she require was that I "pay it forward" to some other person in need. What a deal!!

I didn't tell my wife about the surprise coming in the mail - Dirt Lady mailed it last Saturday with two day postage, no less. It arrived this afternoon.

Our daughter brought the package in and I knew right away what was inside. When my wife step into the room I asked her, "Do you love me?" She looked at me and then that the box and asked what it was. I said something about, "You know how I connect with people through my blog...?" She said, "Oh no, what is it?"

I opened the package and showed her what was inside. She just laughed, and laughed. I told her the story about my Okie friend. She was amazed that someone would go to so much trouble, and spend so much money to send us some fresh okra. I was too.

We cooked them up right away. A little oil, corn meal in a frying pan and it tasted great. (Boiled okra? Slimy and YUCK! Fried okra - crispy and yummy! You've got to try it.)



Thank you Reddirt Woman for your terrific kindness to a stranger. We have been blessed by your generosity and I will not forget my debt to pass it forward.

Oh, and thank you for the fresh tomato too. Another lovely treat.

Why don't the rest of you give my friend the DirtRed Woman a visit on her blog and do a little electronic drool over her garden. (But I suggest that you just scroll past the photos of her doggie. Sorry RDW, I just had to add that.)

Behind the Seen

September is almost over and I know some of you really, truly organized bloggers out there are already thinking of.... (Dare I say it?) Christmas.

As I look back I realize that my Christmas art has been rather cynical. Actually, I do enjoy Christmas. I just don't enjoy getting ready for it. But you know, those sleigh bells will be a jinglin' soon!

So, this doodle may be a little too early for most of us, but I have another one that I'm really looking forward to sharing with you later on. I figured that I should pop this one in on you now - while you were least expecting it.

Also: I meant to share some photos with you when I posted the illustration I drew of Jason the Gray. But I forgot to.

I had my daughter take a few pics of me while I was working on that caricature. This is meant to be your peek into my inner sanctum. It's the story behind the story. It's the rest of the story. It's... It's... Well, it's another way for me to get attention from you - my kind blogging friends.

I start out making a pencil sketch of the concept I am trying to make. I use the pencil very lightly at first. When I'm happy with what I've got down, I come back with a pencil again - laying down a stronger line.


This is me at my art table in my home office, with my trusty little Mac at my side. I am constantly referencing the photos on it that my clients have sent me, and pics that I've down loaded from the web to help me create a better concept. The mess on the corner of the desk (I fear) is typical. You can see a bit of the T.V. in the corner of the room, which is also something I am constantly referencing while I draw.


Here I am going back over my pencil marks with a pen. I always seem to need to take a breath before I start on this step, because if I mess up here the whole project is ruined.


I always feel better when I get this part done. The rest takes time, but it's much less stressful.


I almost forgot to get my daughter to take another photo before I was finished with the color pencils. I have learned to start at the top left-hand corner of the illustration and work my way down and across it. The pencil uses wax as a base and so my hands can easily smear some of the pigment if I am not careful. When that does happen it makes for some very interesting creative color work. (Do you see my Dollar Store glasses?)


When I am done I photograph the final product and e-mail a small copy to the customer for their approval. They send me payment, either by check, or through PayPal. I then mail them their original artwork, and we're all happy.

I've been going crazy on this caricature thing for nearly a year now. You can generally find me in the evenings sitting at my desk doodling someone's face on a piece of paper. I honestly do enjoy it, but sometime I think I've created a.......

What?

Some of you are looking at this doodle and saying, "What?" That makes me do a COL. (Chuckle Out Loud)

Sorry, but if I have to explain it to you, well, then... you're probably one of the sane ones that reads this blog. (Consider yourself fortunate.)

In other news: Mum-Me posted some photos of her husband opening the caricature that I drew of him. I like getting photos of an unveiling. I don't get to see pics like this too often. Thanks Mum-you for sharing them with me. Seeing them gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

About the unveiling Mum wrote...

I find it very difficult to shop for gifts for HB. If he wants or needs something he just buys it. I am always looking for something unusual and original to give him for his birthday. So I was very excited to stumble across Rick's blog and I contacted him earlier in the year and asked if he could draw a cartoon of HB. Rick agreed, and here is the result.

I think he liked it.

He kept looking and chuckling, looking and chuckling for quite a while. I finally asked him what he thought, and he said "It's funny." Well, that was the whole idea so I judge it a success. Oh, and he did want to know how the illustrator was able to draw the details of his motorbike, camera and clothes so well. (So I think he was pretty impressed by that, Rick.)

Thanks again Mum. As far as the all the details in the drawing... they call it "tracing". I'm glad that he liked it.





It's always a bit bazaar to me to see something that I drew here in Oregon in the hands of someone in Australia. That's the power of the internet.

Smile

Some doodles don't need a lot of explanation.

This is another "Copy & Share If You Dare" doodle. Be sure to click on the image and down load the full size.

Jason The Gray

Cathie first contacted me about a Father's Day gift for her husband Jason, but time was too short. So, a September birthday gift became the target. She gave me a list of ideas I could use to create a caricature of him.

She said that he A. loves music and has huge cd collection. (Sorry Cathie, it didn't inspire me.)
B. is a huge Cubs fan (Did that one already) C. and a Celtic fan. (Basketball? That's new, but still it's another sportsie drawing) D. He works with computers. (Yup, been there too) E. He loves to BBQ (Who doesn't?) AND! F. He is a Lord of the Rings fan as well. (BINGO! Something new. Something I can sink my pencil into.)

I suggested that we put Jason into his fantasy world and portray him in the manner of Gandalf the Gray. Cathie liked the idea and told me to go with it.

I know I say this a lot, but... I think this turned out pretty good. I had a lot of fun creating it. In fact, it was almost too easy. I looked up Gandalf and Hobbit images on the internet for some references and inspiration, and then went to work. You can see the results.

One of the parts I enjoyed the most is the "magic" coming out of the top of the staff. It provided a chance for real creativity and color.

Thanks Cathie for choosing me to help celebrate your wizard's big day. And thank you Jason for giving me a reason to play with the image of one of my own fantasy heroes. You look good in gray. And if you're a good wizard, maybe next year we'll promote you to White Wizard!

In other news... Many of you were curious about the symbolism behind the illustration I created for Laura. She took time on her blog to try and explain what the image means to her. You are invited to read that post.

Laura, I noticed that you began to use the doodle as your personal profile pic. I'm honored, but does that mean we're not going to get to see your Mona Lisa smile anymore?

Unlocking Laura's Brain

If you've hung around my blog very much, you've probably noticed the smiling face of another one of my blogging friends, Laura the Peace. Either Laura found me, or I found her nearly a year ago, and we've shared nonsense with each other since. Last Christmas I created two caricatures for her. One of her son and another of her daughter. (Hi Martha!! - am I allowed to share her name?)

Any-who... One of the first requests Laura threw my way was an idea she had mulling around her head for a tattoo. It was difficult for me to understand what she had in mind. Recently I drew a preliminary sketch and sent it to her for feed back (or back feed - whatever).

Fortunately I was in the neighborhood of her imagination, (Not an easy thing to do) and she was able to help me understand what it was that she wanted. The above drawing is the result - a very symbolic image that has special meaning for her.

This is what Laura wrote on her blog about the illustration...

Last, but far from least, this beauty Rick Green drew for me... she has been floating around in my head for many years and someday she will become a tattoo... but in the mean time she will live on my blog and on my wall when she arrives. I think Rick had some doubts when we first started talking about this way back when that he could extract what I could see in my head (I DO realize that my head can be a terrifying place) But as with all drawing tasks he did it and then one upped it and made it even better! THANK YOU RICK!!!!!!!!!

You're welcome Laura. Thanks for trusting me with a doodle that is obviously very important to you. Traveling around in your head wasn't so scary, it's just that I didn't like having to keep stopping and asking for directions. Sorry that I haven't gotten it actually mailed just yet - these are busy days for me. It's all packaged up and ready to go - first thing tomorrow morning.

I really like how this illustration turned out. This is actually the third time someone asked me for a drawing intended to go under skin. Here's another...

None have actually made it to flesh yet. But that's okay, because, well, OOOOUUUCH!

There Is None

This is just another bit of absurd humor. I don't know - I doodle these things and then some kind of caption pops into my head, and then I write it down. Don't try to give it any kind of deep meaning. There is none.

(Sorry - an egg-less doodle.)

In other news...

I enjoyed going to Chris' blog yesterday evening and seeing that she had posted a photo of my crazy doodle on her blog.

She wrote...

Notice the 'doodle' art on the wall that I got from Rick Green ? It was the FIRST thing I hung on a wall in our new home! And it goes so well in this room.... I'm wrapt with it.

There it is. Can you see it?

I wrote her to thank her for posting the photo. She replied and said...

I am soooo happy you saw it! I loved it and was thrilled to bits that we had the perfect room to hang it in immediately.... The bright pink board was already in the house attatched to the wall when we moved in, how perfect !

My Mum is in that room while she is visiting and says "Lovely doodle Rick"....

I asked her what "wrapt" meant. My New Zealand-eese is a bit rusty....

"Wrapt" in the context I used means... very very happy!

Keep up the fantastic work, and try not to do too many more 'doodles' that I just HAVE TO BUY!!! I will end up broke!

Have a lovely day..
Regards
Chris H

Thanks again Chris. Please keep that pocket book handy. The daughter is getting married and the wallet is mighty thin right now.

AND! my thanks to your Mum. She obviously has an eye for art!

Who Let The Dogs Out?

Tracy contacted me about doing a doodle for her web site, and promotional material. Tracy is the head trainer at Yespup.com. She wanted an illustration of her, playing with five of her dogs, and no leashes. Which was fine with me because I don't think that there are any leashe laws on the Internet. (When I look at some blogs on the net I think that maybe there should be.)

I had a lot of fun creating this for her. It's a fun, happy illustra- tion - I think. Tracy said that she liked it and that is pretty much what matters.

If you're the owner of an unruly pup, give Tracy a bark. I'm positive she could bring peace to it's troubled mind. Just look at that doodle. Can't you just see that.

She's probably better than this guys. I mean, can you actually trust a fellow that goes around whispering to dogs? I don't think so!!

Another Shot of Coffee

On my last post I told the story of a caricature I drew for Coffee Bean. I had a lot of fun this weekend waiting for her to discover my surprise gift that I drew for her. What I expected to happen was that someone would write and tell her to look at my blog and then she would discover it.

What actually did happen was that Bean had a bit of a change of heart and e-mailed me about doing a more simple caricature of just her for her other blog. At that point I just wrote back and said, "Go check out my blog." What happened next was a number of different e-mail exchanges over the weekend. (Some of that you can read in the comment section from the previous post.)

I particularly enjoyed one e-mail I got from her when she had a chance to sit down and write...

"Gosh Rick. When you said to go over to your blog my heart jumped up into my throat because I was afraid something bad had happened and you weren't going to be doing drawings for awhile. I just couldn't believe what I saw! I only had time to quickly skim over what you wrote! Wow! We do want to pay you! The first thing my husband said when he saw it was, "Wow! He's really talented. That really looks like you!" and then he said, "We need to pay him for that!" Oh my gosh! You did such a great job! I adore the Coffee Bean! The pink shoes are a HOOT! And my husband is always making fun of me and my sunglasses.. . something you didn't even know!"

(I guess I have that Sixth-Artist-Sense and I'm able to knoooow things about people with out them telling me. I'm going to have a T.V. show called "Crossing Under." And, I might add... Isn't Bean's husband a very perceptive guy as well?)

Of course I told her that she couldn't pay me. That would steal some of my joy. As the great theologian Frank Burns once said, "It's nice to be nice to the nice."

In the process of all this, C. Bean ended up using an illustration I sent her much earlier when she first started her coffee blog. (Actually, I had almost forgotten that I sent her that illustration.) At the time I figured it was something she could use.

When my blogging friend, Brenda, saw the drawing she tried to find where I had previously posted it. Then she e-mailed me and asked where it was. I thought, "She ain't looking hard enough." But, lo and behold, when I looked for it, I too couldn't find it. That was hard for me to believe. I drew this a few years back - figuring that somebody would want to purchase a copy for their caffeine addicted friend or loved one. And if memory serves (which rarely it does) I have sold a few copies of it.

So, here it is, posted for your entertainment pleasure.

IF I were to do it again I would switch the "wife's" place with her "husband." When people see this illustration they tend to read her dialogue first; which doesn't make sense until you read his.

(If you'd like an autographed copy you can always e-mail me at the address give in the right-side column. For a mere $15 I will put a fresh copy in your hands.)

Also: In the flurry of e-mail exchanges between The Bean and Me she present me with this blog award. And so, on behalf of all pitifully tender egos everywhere, I do here by accept (and expect) this award. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. (Last line to be said in your best Elvis voice.)

I've seen this award on a number of different blogs that I've surfed through. AND I really didn't expect it from Bean-O. And I really do appreciate it. AND I'm really NOT going to forward it. Just lazy I guess.

Thanks Bean for all the fun that you provided. The illustration(s) looks good on your blog. Keep your chin up and your feet dry.