HaHa and Her Zoo

This isn't the first time that Jodi requested a doodle from me.  I like having repeat customers.  That means they were really happy with the first creation. 

This time Jodi wanted an illustration of her mother for a Christmas gift.  About her mother she wrote...

"She lives alone with her pets, she LOVES them. Her sweet calico cat died 2 weeks ago. She had Callie for over 17 years. She also has a 3 legged boxer named Jeff. A boxer mix named Ginger. And 2 horses (one horse is over 30 years old). She keeps telling friends that she will meet Callie on the 'rainbow bridge.'"

"She has 2 daughters (me and my sister) and 5 grandchildren. I did not want pictures for all these people, just maybe their initials somewhere, like inside flowers or something? I am a "J" and so is my sister. Then the grand kids are C,K,C,K, and B."

So with photos in hand, I went to work on the caricature.  Drawing animals isn't too very hard for me.  I actually don't like drawing horses.  I've never seem to do very well.  The main thing when drawing pets is trying to be sure to get the right spots in the right places.  Jodi was kind enough to send me several good photos of the pets.  That makes my job a whole lot easier.

On Christmas day Jodi and family got to watch her mom open the gift while "Skyping" on the computer.  (If you haven't discovered Skype yet, it's terrific!)  She took photos of the computer screen while the unveiling was done.  This is a first for me.  "HaHa" is what the grandkids call her.  There's got to be a good story behind that one.

Jodi wrote, "THANK YOU!!!  We just watched her open it on the computer a few minutes ago. She was absolutely speechless (which is a rarity) and she cried!!! I took some pictures of the computer screen and I will send them. Thanks for helping me give her probably the best gift ever!!! I was the one who set up her face book account.  I just put this picture as her profile picture. She is getting some GREAT comments and she hasn't even been home to see them yet!"

"The best gift EVER!?!"  Now,  I like reading that!  Here are the photos that Jodi sent me...

Thanks Jodi.  Those photos are a precious part of my doodling unveiling collection.  They are definitely  a classic.  Give your mother my greetings.  I was so happy to be a part of making her Christmas merrier.

Some day we'll all sit virtually in each other's living rooms while we open our presents.  I'm not sure that I want to be around when that happens. 

Update:  I received an e-mail from"HaHa" regarding the caricature.  It was so nice I wanted to include it with this post...

Hi Rick, I am Haha, Jodi Smith’s mother. Talk about a surprise!!. It was wonderful to see your interpretation of the pictures Jodi sent you for my present. The story behind my  name, Haha, comes from the Jodi’s oldest son, Collin. You know- the whatever the first  grandchild calls you will last thru all of them.  As I am told, I used to say hahahahaha to him all the time to get him to smile. I am a loud-mouth yankee, so  I guess it mad an impression on him.  As far as the” rainbow bridge”, there is a poem about  beloved pets when they die. Please look it up, and you will know why I cried  when I saw her, which I did not at first. I was so busy looking at each pet individually, and was so shocked at the whole idea of this masterpiece. My animals are very precious to me and bring me so much comfort. Jeffrey the 3 legged boxer has become a Therapy dog and visits nursing homes, children’s homes, special ed. Classes. Etc.  After Callie died, I said if there was a special kity that needed me, I would probably adopt it. Sure enough, there was Journie, with just one eye- another calico. How could I pass on her??. She is a joy, fun and helps ease the vacant spot Callie left after 17 years.  My daughters and sons-in law are  wonderful to me. My grandchildren are the most beautiful  you have ever seen. Talk about  love. They give so much and make life complete. You picture has drawn acclaim on my facebook site from other countries as well as here.  Know, that your artistry has brought me much joy and smiles.

Warmly, Rose

Thank you Rose.  You are most welcomed.

Christmas Rewind

I don't like to repost my doodles, but I updated this one from last year—to make it fit better closer to Christmas.  I thought that perhaps some of you bloggers would share in the sentiment that is expressed in this drawing.  If you're not ready by now it's almost too late.  Copy & Share If You Dare. Merry Christmas to all.

You're On the Naughty List

I drew this little ditty while waisting some time watching some television.  It's been a while since I've done any nonsense doodling.  It felt good—like old times.

Have you been naughty?  Then please Copy & Share If You Dare.  (Remember that means you have to tell me if you're posting it on your blog.  I want to come over and visit.)

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?

Black Friday Memories

Well, they had us. The wife and I looked at the ads in the local paper and we were caught in the dark net called Black Friday!

Yes, the alarm went off at 4 in the AM so that we could make our consumerism trek to the temples of commercialization. I'm a bit embarrassed to tell you that not only did we go shopping at 5 Am, but we went to the black heart of Black Friday. Yes, that's right, we were heading towards... Waaaaal-Mart!

The closest Waaaaal-Mart is in the next town, 30 minutes south of here. You must forgive me for my naiveté. Because heading there I imagined a small conglomerate of people waiting for the man in blue vestment to open the door to Waaaaal-Mart—to let a small, but happy group of holiday shoppers to walk quickly, and freely through the isle while we filled our list of Christmas Ho Ho Ho. After all, how many crazy people like us are out there that would make it to a 5 AM opening of Waaaal-Mart?

Wrooong!! Imagine our surprise to learn that there are HUNDREDS of dummies just like us who would venture out in the ungodly hour of 5 AM. No lie. Imagine a parking lot, maybe 150 yards long, with a line of people, about 4 or 5 wide, standing there in the dark, waiting for the temple priests and priestess to open the doors of the price-reduction temple. Hundreds of people, all there to lay our offerings of the cash and credit cards on the registers altars of debt.

On top of all that, imagine the eerie sound that greeted us when, after one finally does find a parking space, we hear the sound of the rattle hundreds of shopping cart rattling in from all directions while people lay claim to their own little plastic mesh mules—beast of Christmas burdens they were to become.

Surprisingly, the line moved quickly. Apparently Waaaal-Mart was prepared to swallow the entire crowd whole. I'm guessing that the Fire Marshall didn't get a sales flier. Because, if he had, he surely would have been there too. And surely (stop calling me "Shirley") would have shut down the entire operation—having witnessed the massive holiday migration.

Before we even got to the doors there were several people carting out huge television sets. Unbelievable!! Obviously we were in competition with some real operators here. Slick shoppers that lot was.

Into the darkest part of the belly of the beast we went. Yes, right again... We headed straight for the electronics department! May God bless the two souls who piloted the riot that was happening there. We were shoulder to shoulder, cart to cart with dozens of others—each of us hoping, almost praying, that perhaps a remnant of our targeted Christmas cheer had somehow survived the onslaught.

The spirit of Sam Walton smiled upon us because each and every item was located and secured. Thank you Sam. Another bit of fortune that smiled upon us was the fact that the wife and I carried less than 10 items to the checkout, because the the Express Check Out line was significantly shorter than the rest. Our wait there was totally non-insane. Thank you again Sam.

We loaded up our booty and off into the dark towards home we went. At that point my wife pulled up another sales flier and said... "There's a six hour sale at Fred Meyers."

The above doodle is a Copy & Share If You Dare—an inspiration from my holiday shopping experience.

Merry Christmas to all!!

In other news: Previously I shared my appreciation for a young British artist Andrea Joseph. Recently she set up an Esty Shop to sell prints of one of her works for the first time. I like her work so much that for the first time I made a purchase of some else's art.

With her permission I am posting a copy of her art here. Andrea's main medium of choice is the common ballpoint pen. I'm always amazed at what she is able to accomplish with pen in hand. One of the unique aspects of this print is that the pen in the middle is actually drawn in, not printed, on the paper.

Thanks Andrea. I love it.

Sometime I must try and set up an Esty Shop for myself. Be sure to check my blog around the first part of January. I'll be giving away a few prints plus some unfortunate blogger will be chosen to have me lampoon their face with a their own personal caricature.

Christmas Is Coming

Here I go again, being a little cynical when it comes to my artistic expression regarding Christmas. But, the other day I was wondering what Santa's reaction would be if Christmas snuck up on him like it has the rest of us. I think maybe he has the same reaction we do.

Maybe I'm a little early with this doodle, but then maybe not. I've been seeing the Christmas displays in stores for a couple of weeks now. Plus I wanted to get this posted early enough for you to Copy & Share If You Dare on your own blog - that is, if you wanted to.

Someone said that I should have put "November" on the calendar, but I think "oh crap" begins now for Old St. Nick, and for me when I saw the displays out already.

("Oh Crap" is about as potty mouth as I generally get - especially with the prospects of my dear mother reading this post. Hi Mom! Love ya!!)

I doodled this out a number of weeks ago, and have been hanging on to it for a while - waiting for the right time to post it. I'm still not as educated on the Photoshop program as I should be. All the black lines on this doodle is my pen work. Then I colored it in on my computer. For those of you who know what I'm talking about... I still don't quite know how to work with layers. To color this one I just went in an filled all the little spots on his suit with red - instead of just coloring in a background. If you zoom in on the piece you see that there are HUNDREDS of little places that I had to zoom in and fill in. In fact, some are not all done, but I think it made the illustration look more interesting with just a few white specks showing through.

Well, a very early, very merry Christmas to you all. If you decide to use this doodle - you know the rules - drop me a note so that I came come and check things out.

Merry Christmas Eve

Let us pause, and take a moment, to think about Jolly Old Saint Nick as he has a long tough night ahead of him.

Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends.

Airplane Art - Losing the Christmas Spirit?

Have you lost your Christmas spirit yet?
This is another bit of airplane art - one that I have been saving to post in the middle of the Christmas rush. Feel free to pass it along to your friends that are in a "Bah, Humbug" mood at the moment.

P.S. Did you know that there is a Humbug Mt. on the Oregon Coast. I've wonder if Ebenezer Scrooge lives at the top. I guess that I'll never find out - it's a three mile hike to the top.

Here's a photo that I took of the base of the mountain. I live about an hour south of there.

Family Practice - Battle Bob

My wife and I spent most of the day yesterday Christmas shopping. Only for us, a trip to the mall involves a 2 1/2 hours driving one way. It's an all day affair.

Yet again, I followed my wife around as we picked out various gift items for our girls. Alas, it's always the same thing. We rushed by all the COOL STUFF to get to the girlie items: shirts, beauty products, pants, coats, and a few ladies' unmentionables, etc. etc.

Since I am the father of three girls (And yes, I under biologically that I am responsible for that.) I NEVER got the chance, on Christmas morning, to sit on the floor with some boys while they try out their manly (huff, grunt, growl) toys.

This is the inspiration behind this particular cartoon panel.

Click on Image for a larger size

I wish my girls would hurry up and give me a grandson to play with on Christmas morning. WHAT AM I SAYING!?! You take your time girls. I can wait.

P.S. For the record: I love my girls dearly and I wouldn't trade them for any boy in the world!!!

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.

My Daughters - Holy Ghost Riders

Here is the photo that I wrote about earlier. These are my three girls again posing in the t-shirts that I gave them for Christmas. This was taken on Christmas Eve of '06.

A few years ago I began a tradition of giving the girls a present that was specifically from me. In the past the gifts have had something to do with sleeping... i.e. pajamas with feet one year, satin pillow cases, blankets, etc. etc. I guess this year it was for a shirt to sleep in. They seemed to like the shirts, so I guess I did alright.

Our youngest, the dark haired one, had figured out what I was getting them. She saw a note on my desk which told her what the gift was. I guess I'll have to do a better job of clearing off my desk top next year.

But now there are a few of us around town who proudly call themselves, "The Holy Ghost Riders." The only requirement for membership is a t-shirt. You don't even have to own a bike - you just have to want to own one.

What do you think?