Inspired by the Olympics

Here's a little doodle that I drew while my family was sitting around the TV in the cabin in Hood River, OR.  (Refer to my February 23rd post)  My one regret is that the right hand seems to be a bit bigger than the left one.  Oh well, otherwise I think not bad for just sitting down at the table with a sketch pad and doodling away some time.

Copy & Share If You Dare

He Wraps Himself in Light

There is a song that we sing in church that uses a line from Psalms 104:2 - "He wraps Himself in light as with a garement; He stetches out the heavens like a tent." One Sunday we were singing the song and the concept for this doodle hit me.  I started on it as soon as I got home.  To tell you the truth, I'm not totally happy with it.  On top of that, I'm not happy with how my scan of the illustration turned out.  So, I've been holding on to this for sometime.  Here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Having said all that, if you would be interested in purchasing this original bit of doodlery, then I would be happy wrap it up and ship it your way for the mere price of $49.99 (Plus $3.01 shipping and handling).  It's an 11x14 piece, drawn a card stock paper, in pen and color pencil.  So Purchase and Share (your money) If You Dare. (And yes, Eggy is included.)

Otherwise, feel free to express an opinion.  We artist types live on the comments from the larger public out there.

P.S. I'm kind of stoked about reaching 200 followers.  I'm always amazed that anyone would want to follow my madness. Thank you all.

It's Not Nice to Fool With Mother Lisa

Lisa has been a visitor to my blog, and a Facebook friend, for sometime now.  The other day she finally worked up the courage to ask me how much I charge for a caricature drawing.  I gave her the information and, apparently, she liked what she read and ordered up an illustration right away.

Lisa has a particular love for raccoons, but when I checked out her photos I saw that she has a love for all kinds of God's creatures.  So, instead of illustrating her with just raccoons I decided to turn her into the mother of all nature... (You got it.) Mother Nature herself.

I really like how this one turned out.  In fact, I am adding it to my Favorite Doodles list.  I had fun doing research on various attempts at illustrating Mother Nature.  My version incorporates some aspects of several different images—with a lot of Lisa put into the mix, of course.  Lisa apparently liked what she saw.  She's using it as her Facebook profile pic.

In other news...

Some of my family got together to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday.  We met in a four bedroom cabin in Hood River, OR.  Since sometimes members of the family visit this blog here are a few photos that I took during our weekend together.  Non-family types are allowed to view the photos as well.

The cabin we stayed in.

View of the Columbia Gorge from our cabin.

The family gathered for breakfast.

A sign in a store window, downtown Hood River, OR

(I thought you would enjoy seeing it.)

Mom and Dad

Our youngest - Marla

(Ain't she purty?)

Mom blowing out the candles.

Mom crocheting.

She's trying to make a tablecloth for all of her granddaughters.

Marla and me walking.

My oldest keeps me exercising by making me do 30 minutes before she will give me a phone call.  I hate exercising, but I love talking to my girls.

A view of Mt. Hood shot through a grove of pear trees.  I thought it made an interesting photo.

Mt. Hood on a rare clear day - minus the pear trees

The family - all that was there, at least

Just Hanging With Jesus

Jon saw the doodle that I created for my sister, Becky. He is a youth pastor in Yreka, CA.  Jon contacted me about an illustration he has wanted for sometime.  He said that he wanted an illustration depicting Jesus just hanging out with teens.  While, to me, drawing Jesus as a cartoon seems less than worthy of such an honored  subject, I'm not one to turn down a paying job.  (In other words: I can be bought.)

After looking for various photos of teens just hanging out, this is what I came up with.  Jon liked what he saw.  He said that he was going to frame it and hang it in his new office that his church is building.

I assume Jon, that you'll have the illustration hanging under proper lighting—give it a heavenly glow.

Chief Thunder Bolt

This is the last of the doodles I created during my meeting two weeks ago in Salem.  I guess I like this one the least from that series.  The story behind the doodle is that we were at the time conducting an interview with a friend I've worked with during a few of the children's summer camps I attended.  For whatever reason, her nickname at those camps has always been "Princes Thunder Bolt."  I'm sure that there is a story behind the name somewhere. One time I even gave her a "Princes Thunder Bolt" doodle.  So, this time I thought I would create the male counter part.  But, I haven't shown it to her.  Maybe that's because I'm not too crazy about the illustration.  But here it is for your viewing pleasure.

This is a Copy & Share If You Dare doodle.  Remember that if the illustration is NOT labeled Copy & Share... then that particular drawing is (as you might guess) not to be copied.  Just so you know.

Banner Update

Back in September I posted a design I created for a banner that some of the ladies in my church asked me to put together.  The ladies finished it and it has been hanging in the front of the sanctuary of our church the last few Sundays.  They did a pretty good job, I thought.

Here's a photo of it.  What do you think?

Hilary's Holiday Hoorah

Sometime last year I was contacted by Hilary from way over in England.  She found a doodle of mine that I created for a children's camp here in Oregon.  Hilary wanted to use it as a logo for "Holiday Bible Club" they conduct each year.  (Over here in America we call them Vacation Bible Schools.)  I like kids and I sure want to do want ever I could to promote their Bible education, so I gave her my "blessing", of course.  The one condition would be the payment of photos from the event sent to me.  I've been saving these photos for some time, waiting for the chance to share them with you...

Included in the photos that she sent me was a picture of a "sculpture" they created based upon my doodle.  That was a first for me.  To my knowledge, no one has ever turned my art into a 3D image.  Pretty cool, huh!?!

This year, Hilary contacted me again about creating a brand new image for her.  I told her that I would have to charge her this time, but (I modestly add) it wasn't much—certainly not in today's Pounds to Dollars exchange rate.  Hilary wanted an image of a child, that could be seen as either male or female, riding a flying bike.  If you've been around my blog you know that I don't like to draw mechanical items, but for the kids I was going to give it the "Organized Doodles try."  

After playing with the colors to suit her taste, this is what I sent Hilary.  I hope to get some photos, yet again, of this year's event.
What do you think?

Update:  This note from Hilary...
Hi Rick,

Many thanks for that.  I thought your page was very interesting.  I’m so glad you liked our 3D model, it did cause quite a stir.  We are hoping to make a model of this year’s logo as well, but I haven’t mentioned that to our designer yet …

Thanks and God Bless,

Hilary

Gonna' Get You...

I keep posting these "meeting doodles."  I have other works to share, but posting and writing out the text for them is always more involved.  So, on a lazy Superbowl Sunday, I offer another tidbit to you.  It's much the same kind of stuff, only this one I took the time to color.

I'm not sure if, or where you can use this one.  It's a little "Halloweeny", but go ahead and Copy & Share If You Dare.  In the mean time—keep looking back over your shoulder.

Mosey On Out of Here

The birthday is over.  I had a great day, but it's time to get back to some cartoon series posting.  Here's another meeting doodle from the day long one I was in last week.

Besides the fact that his pointy finger looks like a carrot, I like my conception of Moses.  I think his beard turned out especially well.  And, don't you figure that a guy named "Moses" might tell 'o Pharaoh  to let them "mosey?"


Copy & Share If You Dare

Give Me Some Birthday Love

Well, it's my birthday—I don't mind tell you.  And I don't mind telling you that I turn 53 today.  Is it just me, or does everyone have a hard time remembering how old they are when they get to be my age.  I'm not talking about pretending you forget how old you are.  I seriously have a hard time remembering.  One time I was 46 for almost two years before my brother informed me that I was turning 48.  Wow!  That 47th year went by really fast.

This is a doodle that I originally created as a birthday greeting for my sister Becky a couple of years ago.  You can see the original using the link (if you like).  You'll have to scroll down to the bottom of the post.  I just changed the text and gave it some color.  I wanted something to post as my profile pic on my Facebook account, so I made the changes.  But I didn't want to miss the opportunity to share it with you too, so enjoy.

Make my day complete.  Give me some blog comment love.  I'll turn 53 a happy man.