Two Countries, Two Hearts = One Family

Whenever I open my e-mail I never know what kind of request I may be getting. I've had a couple of different ones of late. This is one of them.

Chana wrote me and said, "I am adopting from Vietnam and am wanting my blog design to reflect this. This is what image I am wanting: 2 heart shaped flags - one of the USA, one of Vietnam. I'd like the flags to sort of overlap, with the Vietnam flag in the front. I'd then like twine (string, thread, whatever) to 'wrap' them together. From the twine I'd like 4 tags hanging from them. On each tag I'd like a different name ... Jordan, Mama, Emercyn, Arityn."

This was certainly different from the usual caricature request that I normally get, but it seemed simple enough.

I first sketched it out this drawing (during a meeting) and sent it to her.

Then, with her approval, I put together this illustrat- ion.

Now you know that I'm bragging when I share with what Chana wrote after seeing this drawing. She said, "I cannot even begin to tell you how impressed I am. I am in tears. This means so much to me." Did you read that? Tears! She said that she was "in tears!!" Now, mind you, this is not the first time that my work has made someone cry, but it wasn't because they were happy with what they saw it.

Thank you Chana for your kind words, and for trusting me with creating something that is obviously very important to you.

I haven't got a blog address for Chana's site yet. I think that it is still in the developmental stage. When I get an address I will be sure to put a link on my list of sites using my work so that you can see how she put the drawing to work.

Kristy's Crew

Kristy and family are serving our country over in Germany at the moment. Technically her husband is the one that is serving, but I know the rest of the family is making sacrifices as well.

She wanted an illustration of the whole family as a gift for her husband, and requested a patriotic theme. I suggested that maybe I could try to depict her family at the flag raising on Iwo Jima. But I think she preferred that I tone it down a bit and asked me to draw a draped American flag over the front of the illustration.



Again, I am here to please and this is what I came up with. Cute kids - don't you think?




The F-16 flying over head was something she thought her husband would really like. Below is a photo from Christmas Day. It looks like the baby is thrilled by my talent.




I'm proud to have one of my drawings sitting in Germany. Including Gail's caricature that I mailed to England, (Nov. 24 post) this drawing has traveling further than any of my caricatures so far. I am doing one for a family in Australia soon. Maybe, if I end up doing one for a family of penguins in the Antarctic, that would travel further yet.

Check out Kristy's blog and express your thanks to her and the whole family for helping to secure our freedom.

Thank you Kristy and family for serving our country and for using me for your cartoon needs.


Anniversary Give-Away: Be sure to read about my anniversary give away. I will be selecting two lucky winners on January 5th. Check out the previous post for details.