Great Big Humongus Giveaway

Time is up! The polls are closed!

Check in tomorrow morning for the big announcement.

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Here it is!! Welcome to my second annual Great Big Humongous Giveaway!

January 4th will mark two years since I started Organized Doodles. To celebrate I am giving away some PRIZES!

What are the prizes?

1. I am giving away a copy of one of my doodles to four different individuals, chosen by a random drawing. The selected winners will be asked to surf back through my blog and select one of the various doodles that I've posted in the past. After telling me which doodle they have selected I will send them a signed copy of the piece. I'll even pay for shipping. The possible selections do not include one of the caricatures that I've drawn for others. (But would you really want one of those?) But the possible selections DO include any one of the various pieces of cartoon artwork that I've posted on this blog.

Also!!!...

2. I am giving away one free caricature drawn personally by me - the doodle king himself. Upon selection, all that the winner will have to do is e-mail me a clear, large photo of themselves, or of whomever they would like me to draw, and I will create for him, or her, their very own caricature - like the many, many that I've posted on my blog these past two years.

Please note: The caricature can only be an illustration of one individual - no group drawings please. (I know how some of you people operate.)

What's the Catch?

There is no catch. This is just my way of saying thanks to all the people that have made this blogging thing the adventure that it has been for me.

Two years ago I began Organized Doodles as a way to post my cartoons onto the world wide web. At that time I had an audience of zero. These past two years have give me the chance to digitally meet many great people. It's been a lot of fun.

This giveaway is my little way of saying thanks to all the people that visit my blog and have given me so much fun.

How do I sign up?

All you have to do is make a comment on this post and your name will be put into the hat, bowl, bath tub, whatever, for a chance to win. That's it! There's no creating a link on your blog back to this mine. No sending in five box tops. No giving away your first born child. (Not that you'd want to - right?) Nothing like that. Just make a comment (preferable a kind one) and you will be entered for a chance to win one of these fine prizes.

Now, if you do want to tell your blogging friends about this giveaway then that would be okay with me. Some of you have taken a chance use one or more of my Copy & Share If You Dare Doodles, and (hint, hint) if you wanted to return the favor by telling others about my little giveaway, then that would be nice. And as your mother use to say, "It's nice to be nice."

A proper method of contact will be important for you to provide to me, just in case you win. A back link to your blog will suffice, but I can't tell you if you won if I don't have anyway of making contact.

Only one entry per person will be accepted. Multiple comments will not give you more opportunities to win. No cheating allowed!! I'll tell your mother if you do. Also, my immediate family members are not eligible. Sorry family. It just wouldn't be right.

When will the winners be announced?

The cut off for entry is 10 PM, Pacific Standard time, January 4th. I will be selecting the winners, with the help of my daughter, that evening and I will announce the winners sometime on the morning of January 5th. After that, I will trying to make contact with the each person and begin making the necessary arrangements so that they can receive their prize.

That's it! Good luck!!

AND NOW!!! an unveiling...

This is a piece that I've been telling you about recently. I'm calling it "Doodlenormous." It is a collection of nonsensical doodles that I created purely for fun. It is an 11x14 illustration with an 1/2 inch border. Hidden within it's menagerie of madness are 13 egg-men! Why 13? Because 13 is funnier than 12. Makes sense? (If you're saying, "egg-men?", then you're new to these parts.)

But!!!...

This time there IS a catch. The only way you can fully appreciate and properly visually explore this creation is to purchase a copy from me for a mere $10 (plus $3 S&H - $5 outside the U.S.) That's right! This particular doodle is for sell.

I know what you're thinking: "Why only $10?" Well, it's because I get these printed at my local pharmacy. So, we're not talking about a professional print here. BUT, each print will be clean and clear and have one bit of doodle originality drawn on it by me. So no two copies will be exactly alike. AND each copy will have an original signature by me. What more could you ask for?

For your purchase you will enjoy hours, upon hours of fun exploration of this crazy creation, as you sit and ask yourself, "What's wrong with this fellow?"

All you have to do is e-mail me at green_rick@juno.com, and tell me that you want to make a purchase and I will make the necessary arrangements with you so that you can have your very own piece of cartoon history.

Hey people! Momma needs a new pair of shoes. So dig out that Christmas money that Aunt Betty gave you because she was too lazy to go out and buy you a real gift and treat yourself to your very own copy of this delicious doodle delicacy. Your brain will thank you.

So order now!

Happy New Year

We're still in Oklahoma enjoying the company of my daughters. I have limited access to a computer, so I haven't been able to do a lot of posting. In fact, it's is very early in the morning here. I was awaken by a good old fashion Oklahoma thunder storm.

I did manage to scan this little Copy & Share If You Dare doodle before I left. Normally I would have some happy little bit of text, or something, to go with it, but I didn't even have time to get that done. So you got ahead and make the necessary additions if you'd like.

I did a little doodling on the airplanes on the trip over, which I think you'll enjoy - one is a twist on the New Year theme, but I don't think I'll have the chance to load it up before the 2009. So this will probably have to do for now.

I'm looking forward to hearing some reports of the Christmas unveiling's, when various persons opened up their doodles. I really hope to get some pics to load on to my blog. Those bits of feedback on the icing on the cake for me. I got a report from Laura, my peachie friend, that hers didn't make it by Christmas. That was a bit of bummer news. I think Mr. Postal Person ran into the big snow storm that had everything grounded in Portland a few days before Christmas. We had to drive through some of the after-math of that storm to get to the airport. There were several cars still sitting in the ditch along the way. I hope the doodle has made it by now Laura - sorry.

ALSO!!! (note: Three exclamation marks - so that means I'm really, really excited) Don't forget my Great Big Humongous Giveaway right after the first of the year. January 4th will officially mark my second anniversary of blogging. This blogging thing was something that I began on a whim one afternoon, while sitting on my couch back home. I had no idea the about the fun I would have connecting with good people (such as yourself) all over the globe.

I am giving away a free caricature, drawn by me, of you. Or of someone you'd like to insult. I'm even paying for shipping and handling. That's the grand prize. But I will also be giving away copies of some of my doodles to three different, randomly selected, totally impartial selected individuals. Those person will be able to do some back surfing on my blog and choose which particular doodle of mine that they would like to receive. The choices would not include anyone of the caricatures that I've done, which I don't think anyone would want in the first place, but would include any of the color, or black/white doodles I've created.

So stay tooned, and good luck.

North to Alaska

Kris, a real live Alaskan SAHM, wrote me and said, "The dilemma I face each and every year is that my husband's birthday is on Christmas Day. As you can imagine it is always overshadowed by the holiday celebrations. I try to have a separate party and attempt to come up with a unique gift that isn't muddled in with the Christmas gifts. I think a gift of one of your drawings may be the perfect answer this year. I think you do high quality work and I know he will treasure it for a long time."

Do you read all that? "Perfect" "High quality work!" "Treasure!" Thanks for the complements Kris, But they weren't necessary. You had me at "hello."

Some of the unique things about her husband, Adam, is that he built his own cabin out off trees from their own property—with a chainsaw no less! Who is this guy? Jeremiah Johnson? (I love that movie.) Also, he really loves his Jeep Scrambler, and is proud of his Polish heritage.


This was another fun illustra- tion. But there are two mistakes that I made, maybe not obvious at first...

1) I left the windows off the cabin. Kris was okay with that, but thought that he would notice right away.

Also, 2) I was looking at this the other day and realized that the flag, chimney smoke, and chainsaw exhaust should be blowing in the same direction. They are not. Oh well, some things like that get by an artist when he's under pressure.

Happy birthday and merry Christmas Adam. And thank you Kris for your kind words. I look forward to hearing about the party.

And now, for those of you who enjoy reading about the mundane life of a doodler... My wife heard that yesterday was the last day that the Post Office would guarantee delivery before Christmas. I'm telling you, I've been doodling my precious fingers to the bone! I had two illustrations to finish down at the wire. Talk about pressure! I was up to 1 am in the night working on them. Then I got up early Saturday and finished my last one around 11 am. I thought the Post Office closed at noon, but it turned out that they were open until 2 PM.

I have one more local doodle to doodle, but that doesn't require the cooperation of the postal service.

Sadly, though, I couldn't get an address for one of those last two doodles. Lately, I've been mailing these drawing even before receiving payment. (So far no one has defaulted on me—knock on computer screen) I'm waiting to hear from the doodle requestee to see what our options are. Hopefully we can work something out.

There are a couple of other requests that I have on my list. Actually, they have the same first name (no last name), and for the life of me I can't remember if they're from the same person or not. One of the request required more photos that I never received. So if you're that person, or those persons, I'm sorry that we couldn't get it worked out, but I'll still be happy to put a caricature together for you for any other special occassion.

In other news: We're flying to Oklahoma for Christmas for Christmas. (That is, unless you're a robber that is reading this. Then in your case we'll be home all day, everyday.) The whole family will be together for a holiday celebration. I can't wait to see my girls.

I plan to take my drawing pad on the plane to get some prime doodling time in.

When I get back I'll be starting off my second Great Big Humongous Annual Giveaway!!!!

My plan is to give away a number of copies of some of my work art. (I haven't decided how many yet) and THEN, I will be giving away one chance to have a free caricature drawn for one winner by me. (This will be a doodle of a single individual—no group request.) I'll even pay for packaging and shipping.

What's the catch? None! It's just my way of saying thanks to all you crazy people out there that take the time to stop by my little corner of the WWW.

All you will have to do is make a comment on the Giveaway post and you will be entered into the drawing. That's it!! No placing a link on your blog back to mine. No handing over the deed to your house, or your first born child. Nothing like that! I just want to celebrate.

Of course, I would appreciate you telling your friends about my giveaway. That, I'm sure you realize, will decrease your odds of winning, But hey!, consider it payback for all those free doodles I've been giving to you! Remember that? Ummm? So be sure to tell your friends and family members about my little celebration.

Also! I will be revealing a special doodle that I really enjoyed working on between all the caricatures that I've been doing. In fact, I will be offering copies up for sale. I think you egg-heads are really going to want to purchase a copy. They're priced cheap too!!

Whew! That was a long post. How did you ever get through it?

Merry Christmas! Now go do something productive.

Fox 3, Oh Yeah!

Here is another Christmas doodle that is headed for the U.K.

This is May's husband. He's an Apache Helicopter pilot for the British military. I can't show you his photo—apparently military authorities aren't "down" with that. But they are "up" with me sharing his caricature.

You're just going to have to trust me on this one—it looks just like him. Oh man! I mean, the similarities are amazing. Did I ever nail this one! Whew!! What a job I did with this caricature!!!

(Are you buying into any of this?)

May wrote that her husband... "is being deployed to Afghanistan just after Christmas and I have been racking my brain over presents to give him. I think he would absolutely LOVE one of your doodles. I can frame it and give it to him to keep in his 'army room'....a basically empty room in the house where he is allowed his military pictures!"

"The scenario I had thought of was him in an Apache flying over Anfield (Liverpool FC Football ground)....them playing in Red vs Everton in blue. While Liverpool score he says 'Fox 3 Oh Yeah'! It is an ongoing joke we have so it would be awesome if you could do this?!"

I don't know if "Fox 3" is military code for "We're kicking your butt," but I was honored to try and put this doodle together for someone going into the battle against terror. Wow! One of my doodles hanging in Afghanistan. That's kind of cool! (Or in this case "hot!")

May's request presented the challenge to doodle two things that I don't enjoy drawing (as some of you may remember)... a mechanical item of some sort (the helicopter), and yet another stadium full of people. The aerial view also presented the challenge of drawing an on going soccer (Oh! Sorry you Brit.s) football game. I tried to simplify those aspects of the illustration just so they wouldn't get in the way of what the drawing was suppose to represent. I'm pleased with the results. What do you think?

Thanks May. Please tell your husband that we're all grateful. I'm hoping that the angels of postal delivery will help get the doodle there on time. It would be great if the original piece could be there so that you wouldn't have to give him an e-mailed copy to take with him.

On a side note... It snowed in our little town last Monday. While that has happened a few times in the seven years that I've lived here, it is still very unusual. So, like a good blogger, I broke out the camera for a few pics.

The big blur in the middle is me

Our home.
The window on the left is where I doodle.
Those trees are two of my four Redwoods.
(Just bragging - again)

Our ferns didn't know what hit them.
The snow was gone before the day was over.

Remember my second annual, great big, humongous giveaway is coming the first of January. On the 4th I will be celebrating two years of pouring my life out to you in the blogging universe. I will be giving away some copies of some of my doodles, plus the grand prize of a free caricature given to some unfortunate individual. I'm also revealing my "egglious" project come January.

Stay tooned!!!

Go Gators!!

Jennifer has a surprise for her son come Christmas. He's been drafted!

Jennifer and family are turning their son's room into a Florida Gator's temple of sorts. She wanted something to hang on those hallowed walls and so who ya gonna call?

Yup. Me!

She wrote, "My son is a MAJOR Florida Gators fan (as we all are) and for Christmas we are turning his room into a Florida Gators room. His hero is Tim Tebow, #15. I thought it might be fun to have a caricature drawn of him wearing jersey #15 running for a touchdown."

Football doodles are always a challenge for me. On the surface they don't seem too complicated, but there are always so many little details to try and figure out. Like the uniforms for example. The stripes, the numbers, the stuff. A doodler has to look at a lot of pictures on the web to be sure to get it right.

Also, stadiums are never fun. I'm still trying to figure out how to draw a stadium full of people so that it looks like a stadium full of people.

You will note the Heisman Trophy pose that Mr. Young Gator takes in the illustration. He's got the right stuff.

In addition, you Buckeye fans might also have noticed the fact that the player being blocked is one of yours. Apparently there is no love loss between the two. Can't we all just get along?

It's another late night. Another doodle almost done.

Thanks Jennifer. You MUST send photos. I want to see what a Gator room looks like.

Life Is A Beach

Like Santa working over his list I'm am busy working my way through my list of request for Christmas.

Katie wanted an illustration which would include her good looking twin boys, and her parents. She pictured a Florida beach scene.

I decided that such good looking boys were probably fairly intelligent as well, so I pictured them creating a sizable sand castle. Wouldn't you agree? At first I had both Mom and Dad sitting in beach cars, but I knew that most likely grandma would be engaged in the operation. So, I erased my preliminary sketches and put grandma in the sand.

Here is the piece which is headed for a Christ- mas opening. One of the things that Katie said when she saw it is that her Dad had a shirt a lot like the one I created. I just figured that he would look good in black.

I'm still working. It's nearly midnight, and my doodling fingers need a break.

Merry Christmas Katie. Have a beachie Christmas.

Lampooning the Law

One should take care when lampooning an officer of the law. Even if that officer operates clear across the nation. But I need the dough, so I ventured where no cartoonist should dare trod.

Pat contacted me about creating a caricature of her son, a North Carolina State Trooper. She requested that the illustration incorporate the marked car that he use to drive, and the unmarked patrol car that he now drives. She wanted it for a Christmas gift.

You know me, I'm always looking for a way to add a comedic twist. Thus the obvious perpetrator in the foreground.

I wish to point out, to the trooper son of Pat, that in no way does this doodle illustrate a violation on his part. This doodle illustrates the finest efforts on his part to uphold the law. So, please, do not see the bit of comedic graphic design as any kind of criticism of his duties as an officer of the law.

(Enough groveling to insure safe passage if by chance I should choose to travel through the fine state of North Carolina?)

This copy of the illustration ended up getting a few changes. Pat said that his uniform is gray, not beige. Also, the marked car in the background has a black stripe, not dark green on it. That's one of the inherent problems when working with photos e-mail over the internet. Sometimes it's a bit difficult to figure out colors. I made the changes, but didn't get a chance to make a digital copy before mailing it off to North Carolina.

Merry Christmas Pat. Thanks for using me to help make the holidays a bit more merry.

Setting Sun

Sorry, no doodle this evening. It's been a full day. I took this photo off my back deck this evening as the sun was setting into the Pacific Ocean.

Yes, I'm bragging, but what good is a blog if you can't do that often every once in a while?

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised." Psalms 113.3

Copy & Share If You Dare.

Dampening Your Christmas Spirit

Somebody please tell the artist that just because he can imagine it, that doesn't mean that it had to be drawn.

Here I go again, taking a cynical look at Christmas. What is it with me and this holiday season? I really do like Christmas. I promise! I'm just trying to be funny. Which is something that usually gets me into trouble.

I hope that my mom doesn't see this one. Becky, Jan (my sisters) don't tell her either. She might call me up and use my full name and talk to me with her mommy voice. You know the one?

Anyway, I hope that I have not dampened your Christmas spirit.

And yes, this IS a Copy & Share If Your Dare (seriously - if you dare) doodle. Let your conscience be your guide. That is, if you've still got one.

Now Other Stuff: Kelly Jean, the Coffee Bean, posted this photo of her little blogging corner in her mocha flavored world. This is where she types out her wisdom to the world. Note that there are three of my doodles, all nice and framed, hanging above there.

Thanks for sharing Bean-O. My ittle bitty ego thrives on the attention. Is there any other reason to do all this?

Coming Through

Just a doodle I did some- time ago while I was wasting time.

Not much to say about it. It is what it is.

My calendar for doodles between now and Christmas is fairly full. Soon, I should be able to post a number of caricatures. I've been working on one most of the evening. It's late now and I need to go beddie-bye.

Blog you later. Nightie Night!