The Whole Big Bite

Back on April 19th I posted half of this illustration. Basically I hadn't scanned it correctly and half the of the drawing didn't come out right.  He now, for your viewing pleasure, is the whole "ding dong" thing. Was it worth the wait?

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In other news:  Let the wedding planning begin. There have been a ton of phone calls going back and forth between here and Oklahoma. This is daughter number two getting hitched. This wedding is a bit more tricky than when our oldest got married. We live 2,000 miles away and the wedding will be there, where the wind come sweeping down the plains—lots of logistics to plot out. But I married Mrs. Logistics. I am confident that this event will come off in style. As for me, I'm sure that it will kill me.

Lizard in Living Color

This is kind of a repeat of an earlier post, except that I took time to color it.  There was a young man that asked me to draw a lizard for him.  I think that he has some kind of science display about lizards that he was working on.  I remembered that I had this drawing of an iguana and told him that I would print it out for him.  That seem to make him happy enough, but I did decide to put on the splash of color on it just so that his report would have that extra "zing" to it. (I like "zing."  Don't you?) There is a bit of an interesting story as to why I drew this lizard in the first place.  Go here to read the rest of the story.

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In other news:  Our middle daughter, Andrea, became engaged last Sunday evening.  My now future son-in-law, Evan, surprised her as she arrived back from a mission trip to Haiti.  He was kind enough to have a talented friend put together a video of the event.  It's been getting a lot of attention on Facebook and the ladies especially have been giving reports about tearing up watching the thing.  I'm not telling you how many times I've teared up watching the thing—a dad likes seeing the smile of love on his daughter's face.

If you love a love story I invite you to click over here to watch.

The Math Wizard

Back in 2008, Kim requested that I make a doodle of her daughter's entire school class to be auctioned off as a fund raiser.  Two years later she's back with another request to create an end-of-the-year gift for her daughter's math teach—Mr. Hill.  He's also a baseball coach.  Kim wanted an illustration that might incorporate both of those aspects of his life.  After thinking about it, I requested that I be able to focus on just one of them.  Kim allowed that and said the math part would be best.  I was happy for that because she described him as a "math wiz," and the idea of drawing a wizard intrigued me.

I downed loaded a few images of wizards from the net and went to town—actually I just went to my drawing table, but you know what I mean.  So, here is Mr. Hill the Math Wizard.  He hasn't actually seen this yet.  Chances are he doesn't visit my blog, but if you know Mr. Hill, don't tell him that I just posted his face on my blog.

What do you think?

Chemistry

I just finished a caricature last night.  I have another one to do soon.  Then I have an illustration of a large family to put together.  I've been spending so much of my doodling time on getting these request done I haven't had any normal/fun doodling time.  Still, I wanted to have something to post so I threw this little tidbit on paper this morning—just for you.

I dedicate this doodle to my wife, Marylynn.  We have such chem-is-try!!

In the meantime... Copy & Share If You Dare.

Featured Photos

Webshots is a popular web site which host 1,000's of photos that both pro and amateur photographers post there.  I've been posting photos there over the past five years.  Recently I received a comment congratulating me on having one have one of my photos featured in their US Travel section.

It was this photo that I took down in Crescent City, CA of the Battery Point Lighthouse.  Naturally I looked to see where the photo was feature.  When I saw it  I also discovered that another one of my photos was featured as one of the most viewed in the US Travel section.  You can see it posted below the lighthouse pic.

This photo was taken at a state park on the north side of our town—Harris State Beach.

Now I've got to admit that I was pretty proud to see two of my photographs featured there. There has to be thousands posted on that web site, and two of my shots are featured. What do you think about that?

I've often told people that the secret of my photography is that digital camera has made it possible to take tons of photos in one setting.  One of them is bound to turn out.

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Overcoming Evil

Just do it.

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Not Quite a Dragon Slayer

My cousin Lily contacted me about creating something for her husband.  She saw my recent dragon doodle that I posted several updates on this blog about.  Apparent she liked what she saw and then wrote me saying..

"Here is a picture of my husband.  He tells a story to all little children he meets that ask him what he does for a living.  He says that he is a dragon slayer but he is not very good at it and he has a dragon friend named Sally and Sally lives in his backyard and she sneezed on him and that's how he got a small bald spot!  If the children look interested he keeps the story going, expounding on Sally's physique (she's gained a lot of weight and has itty bitty wings so it makes it hard for her to fly).  He says she is big, green, stomps on Tokyo, breathes fire...on and on he goes.  He is very funny and the kids love it."

Lily wanted something that she could frame and hang it in their pool table room.  This was fairly easy and an enjoyable one to draw.  Dragons, as far as I can tell, come in all shapes and sizes.  That makes room for a lot of creativity.  Lily liked the illustration.  I haven't head whether or no her dragon slayer has seen it yet.  I hope he doesn't quit his day job.


Update: Cousin Lily sent me this message after seeing this post...


Well, my dear cousin, the "not quite" dragon slayer checked the mail this Saturday and "lo and bebald" the doodle you created. I have not yet framed it but he loved it. My mom was over for Mom's day and she loved it as well. I am tempted to have t-shirts made, but I already gave out t-shirts that say "Sally Rocks" (the name of the dragon). If I find an extra, I'll send you one. THX again...hugs to all...cousin Lily

Sheriff of a No Horse Town

During all the excitement I had last Friday night while trying to up my vote totals I grabbed a spare piece of paper and starting doodling this guy. In my usual fashion I started without really knowing where the drawing was heading. The next thing I knew he turned into a cowboy, and the the cowboy was upgraded to sheriff.  After shading the feller in with my usual crosshatching I decided that I liked it so well I would add some color.  Next came the dog and more color. Finally, I figured the Sheriff needed a town. I only wished that I had added a horse so that I could say he was he sheriff of a "one horse town."

I really, really like how this doodle turned out. In fact it's up there as one of my favorites. I just like how the whole thing turned out. I wished that I could express this kind of freedom when I do my caricatures, but I feel bound down when I draw those. The one or two times that I've tried to add my own "flair" to a caricature I sensed that the client was less than enthused with my work.  Still, I try. What do you think?

Cute Megan

I can always tell when graduation season is upon us. There are some purple flowers that bloom whenever it's that time of year. Another hint is that I get graduation gift orders. Kathy wanted a high school graduation gift for her daughter, Megan. She wanted an illustration which depicted her daughter's love of nature and included the lake that the family enjoys water skiing on during the summer.  Also, she wanted Megan's high school mascot, the lightning blots (or something like that) included.

Megan is a cute looking young lady, don't you think? The cute ones are always harder to draw.  I always appreciate an ugly mug to draw.  This gift is yet to be opened, so I hope she's not a blogger.

This is a photo of the illustration, that's why the edge is kind of skewed.  I think the caricature turned out well, despite the cuteness factor.  What do you think?

Watchin' the Tube While Doin' a Doodle

Thank you all for voting for my blog @ BlogInterviewer.com.  The voting ends tonight—midnight.  I'm in the lead, but 2nd and 3rd are closing in.  If you haven't voted in the last 24 hours please do so.  It's not the prize, it's now the pride.  You know my tender ego feeds on it.

Here's a quick little doodle that I threw together last night while the wife and I were watching the end of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.  Nice movie, but totally predictable. The doodle has nothing to do with the movie, but that's what I often do in an evening—watch TV and doodle for you.

I was purposefully trying to be a little messy with the lines on this illustration—just to do something different.  I don't know what you would do with it, but Copy & Share If You Dare... then go VOTE!

This Is Art!!!

Peggy (or Peg, if you prefer) wrote me about creating a new header for her blog.  She said...
I have a blog that has been giving me fits with my header. All of a sudden today the photo is off and I can’t get it centered again. I have even tried to change the photo all together but it is not cooperating with me. I have had it!!!  So I have decided that maybe you can doodle me a blog template instead to elevate this problem all together.

Here is the photo I love that I scanned. I love it because it so captures some of our life.  I don’t care that the photo’s looks like us as much as a photo of a woman, a man and a dog. That is my life. What I love about this photo as I said it is just so us.  My hubby loves to fish and I love to sit on the boat and drink wine while sunning and keeping him company.  But our young lab comes with us now.

Peggy (or even Margaret, if you're the kind that prefers that) also sent me a photo of their lake house, and of the lake where all this fishing, sunning, and alcohol consumption takes place.  

In addition she sent me this peculiar—"who is that masked woman" photo of herself.  She didn't care if the characters in the illustration looked like her, but I liked having something to work off of.  Nice eyes Peg.  I did a little research on her blog and discovered that her husband was a Yankees fan.  Then I went to work.  This is what I came up with...

I liked how this one turned out.  Peggy apparently liked the results too.  She wrote...

Hey Rick THIS LOOKS FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Wow.  I don’t recall sending you anything with me and you got my hair down.  (Apparently she forgot about her fairly unrevealing photo)  All of it man. It is perfect. I just called my husband upstairs and he was blown away! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I will tell everyone on the blogs about you and give them your link!!!  God I am so exicted it is like Christmas in April. “Doodles” my ass – this is art!!!!

Now THAT'S the kind of response that I like to get.  Did you see all of those exclamation marks?  Over the top, I'm telling you.  Peggy quickly made it her blog header.  It fits there very well.  Please click over there and leave a little comment or two.  We bloggers, as most of you are, love receiving those comments.

Thank you Peggy for your MOST kind comment about the doodle (or "art" if you prefer).  I had fun putting it together for you.  I hope it graces the header of your blog for many days to come.

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In other news:  I appreciate all of you who have voted for my blog at BlogInterviewer.com. Many are telling me that it often won't let them vote everytime, even if the required 24 hours has lapsed, but many are getting through.  Supposedly you can vote once a day.  The contest goes until the end of April.  I'm in second and catching up on first, with third not far behind. So, keep on clicking.

Move That Mountain!

I really needed to get some- thing up quick tonight. It's been a long day and I've got another one facing me tomorrow.  I don't think that I've posted this one before.  To tell you the truth, I really don't remember.  So forgive me if I've posted two reruns in a row.  I try to keep things fresh.

When Jesus talked about His followers moving mountains I don't think He was talking about landscaping. I think He was challenging us to believe that He can do something about the figurative mountains in our lives. I will be honest with you, and I mean this, I have discovered that God can do amazing things in our lives, IF we will only trust Him. Try it—I think you will find it to be true too.

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Thank you for all that have been voting for me at Blog Interviewer.com.  I am hearing from a number of people that the "Vote Here" button doesn't always work—even after they've waited for 24 hours.  I don't know why that's true.  I would appreciate it if you just keep on trying.  I'm in second place and catching up on the guy in first.  But, the gal in third is gaining on me as well.  She may be deserving, but I may be more deserving.  So keep those fingers a clicking!

Earth Day

This is a reposted doodle, but perhaps there are some of you that haven't seen it and would like a chance to use it on your own blog.  Earth Day is April 22.  I believe that it's our God given responsibility to take care of the one earth that He has given us.  Go ahead then—be a little green.  I've been Green for years and it's kept me in good stead.

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AND!!: Please vote for my blog over at Blog Interviewer.com.  You can vote once a day during the month of April.  There is a "Vote Now" button at the top of the page.  I could win a "Major Award!"

Big Bite

This is just a little doodle I started last night and finished this morning—realizing that it has been too long since I posted anything new and had nothing to share.  This actually just part of the illustration.  My little scanner at home isn't big enough to copy the entire image.  That'll have to come at a later date.

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Don't forget to vote for my blog a BlogInterview.com.  All you have to do is click on the "Vote Now" button at the top.  You can vote once a day during the month of April. I could win a prize, and that would be nice.  Right?

Community Art Walk

On each 2nd Saturday of the month the local art association in town holds an art walk.  Various businesses downtown host an artist to display their works. Some friends of mine own a popular thrift store and asked me to display my doodles there. I was happy to do so.  This is the third time I've had the chance to show my art during the art walk. I've yet to sell anytime at one of these, but I always have a good time showing my stuff—plus they always serve snacks.

Me and some of my doodles.  Perhaps you recognize some of the pieces.

A better photo of the display.

The girl's name is Peanut.  (Her nickname) She and her mother worked the counter.  She was a nice young lady.  I'm pretending to explain my work to her.  I let her have a copy of one of my cartoons—signed it to "my new nutty friend."

My eyes look so intense in this photo.

Also: I was asked for an interview at bloginterviewer.com.  If you go there and vote for my blog during the month of April I could get a prize!  That wouldn't be so bad—right?

Click on the above image, find the little "vote" button and visit once a day during April.  You don't even have to give them an e-mail address or anything.  Just vote.

Harley Charlie

Charlie has been a good friend of mine.  He's a big guy, but a gentle-gaint—as I refer to him. On more than one occasion He, and his sweet wife Lydia have treated my wife and I with kindness and generosity. For a couple of years now I've been wanted to try and repay his kindness by drawing a caricature of him on his bike. Last week I took the opportunity to create one for him. There was a motorcycle rally a couple of years ago at our church. During the event I snuck out to the parking lot and took some photos of his Harley—and '02 Deuce. It's a long machine—has to be to accommodate a big guy like Charlie.  

Last night, at church, I told Charlie that I wanted to show him some- thing after- wards.  He said, "Does it have something to do with motorcycles?" "Yes."  "Alright I'll look forward to that," He said.  So afterwards I gave him a paper sack with his doodle in it.  I LOVED the smile on his face when he saw it.  He was totally surprised.  It was a three-hugger response.

This is a photo of the illustration, so the quality is not the best.  But I really love how this one turned out.  I took great care in getting it done.  I wanted it just right.  It's always a challenge to get the arms and legs to fit on the bike just right.  I like the doodle, but more importantly I really loved enjoying surprising a good friend.

A Bridge Called Grace

A friend sent me this set of illustrations depicting the concept of following Jesus' directive to "carry your cross."  I've seen it before, perhaps you have too. The problem that I have with it is that it is wrong. It's hard to see but in the images we see a man carrying his cross.  He complains that the cross is too heavy so he whittles it down a couple of times to make his burden lighter.  In the end we see that it is the person that dutifully carries the full weight of their cross to the end that is able to cross the gap. The one man's cross is now too short to cross it. The problem is that's bad theology. The Bible tells us that we can't do anything to earn our salvation.  We are able to gain access to the Father only by His grace—which is appropriated for us by placing our faith in him.  I responded to my friend's e-mail by sending back to him this Bible doodle I drew sometime ago. In the background you see a bridge that the man tried to build himself. In the trash can are the plans for his bridge that he discarded because his efforts are turning into a disaster.  With hammer still in hand he contemplates the idea of crossing the bridge of grace already provide for him.  I don't a lot of "preaching" on this blog, but it is my recommendation that you cross that bridge for yourself. I did and have never regretted doing so.

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Heart of Brookings Update

To tell you the truth, I really didn't want to post this one.  I drew it so large that the only way I could get a copy of it was to photograph it.  The photo didn't turn out that great, but I wanted to post it anyway because I like closure.  So, this is the final outcome of the image I shared on March 18th.  This one took a lot of time. There are a lot of little details that

On Saturday there is a monthly art walk that is put on in our community.  The owners of the thrift store have asked me to display some of my doodles in their store for the occasion.  I've participated in this a couple of times before in two other locations.  I've never had an success in selling any pieces.  Maybe I'll have to reduce my prices just to make some kind of change.  Supposedly, the owners of the store are going to have the original of this piece framed and on display.

Photos of an Unveiling

Stefani sent me these photos taken at the unveiling of the doodle I did of her parents with the grandchildren.  I really enjoy seeing these kind of pictures.  Generally my only feedback comes through e-mail text.  I try to measure reaction by the number of exclamation marks and words used to describe my client's reaction.  But, As the saying goes: "A picture is worth..."  It would appear that their doodle was well appreciated—there even what appears to be clapping at one point.  An ovation!  Wow!  Could even Rembrandt ask for more?  Hardly!  Thanks Stefani for sending the pics to me.  They're great!!! (Note: three exclamation marks.)

It's a funny thing, these caricatures that I do.  I take a piece of paper, work with it a little while, and then turn it into something that people end up prizing.  I always feel honored, and amazed that they put them in places of importance in their homes—over a desk, by a collection of family photos, near the toilet, wherever. It does my heart good to see people enjoying something that I had the chance to create for them.  I guess that I'm kind of like Santa with a pencil.

Dragon Encounter Fini?

I don't mean to draaaag this out, (Pun in- tended)  but after looking at my En- counter With a Dragon doodle I knew that it needed just a bit more work.  You can scroll down to make a comparison.  The main thing I did was darken the sky.  So, maybe, I'm done with it.  At least it feels like it's done.

Anyone interested in purchasing an original bit of art?  It's drawn on an13.5x11 piece of paper—pen and ink.  For a mere $30, plus $5 shipping, this bit of doodlery can be yours.  Why so cheap?  Two reasons:  1. My doodles don't seem to sell when I charge more, and 2. I can be bought.  At least my doodles can.

Contact me at green_rick@juno.com and we'll get this dragon in the mail.

The Sting is Gone

Tomorrow is Good Friday—a very special day for many people.  For those who follow Jesus, it is a time which commemorates the day when He destroyed the sting of death.

My wife thought this doodle was a bit strange.  Maybe a should take that as a compliment.  I like to create images which provoke thought.

You are welcomed to Copy & Share If You Dare this doodle.  I hope that it provokes some thought from the readers of your blog as well.


(And BTW, it's suppose to be a wasp and not a bee.  Wasp are a lot meaner than bees.  At least in my opinion.  It was three wasps that hit me the first time I got stung.  So, I've had it out for them ever since.)

Spark

I've been pretty busy lately but I didn't want to ignore this blog too long without posting something else.  I know that you've got to try and keep things fresh so that you, my blogging audience, will stay in the habit of checking up on me.  We artist live for the attention of their adoring public.

Here's a quick one.  I drew this for a friend that is a children's pastor in Bend, OR.  She calls her ministry "Spark."  This doodle really didn't take me long.  Often, the good ones, don't require a lot of time.  Simplicity is often the best.

I never heard if she actually put the illustration to use.  I guess I'll have to ask her the next time I see her.

Dragon On

I hope that you're not getting bored with dragon updates.  At one point I thought that this was finished, but as I look at it this morning I think that I could fiddle with in a bit more.  The problem is that sometimes I fiddle with things too much and end up hurting the illustration more than helping it.  I think every artist faces that challenge.  Anyway, for you view pleasure, here is an update on my Dragon Encounter doodle.  This is a photograph so some of the details (especially one particular detail—you regulars to my blog know, perhaps, of whom I am referring) my be difficult to pick out.

AND... Just so I can throw something in a little different on this post—here is a photo of the youngest and I getting ready to go for a ride on the Harley.  It's also my current Facebook profile pic.  The weather looks good today.  I may have to break out the bike for a quick spin.

Dragon Doodle Update

I've had to lay this aside for the past few days, but not before I got some more doodle time in on this dragon encounter illustration.  The trick for me is to not make the background so busy that I end up losing the two characters.  Yet, I want the forrest and so forth to be busy enough to make it interesting.

So, what do you think?

Scroll down to March 12 to make the comparison from when I previously posted this illustration and!!  ...stay "tooned" for more.

Boatin' With the Grands

Stefani wrote me and said...
Hi, My name is Stefani and I have seen your work both on Because I Said So blog and a fellow twin mom friend here in San Diego, Tonya From a Day In My Life blog. I have been thinking about having a caricature done (and was just gonna contact Tonya for your name and info when I saw your contest post on Because blog tonight).
I love your work and was thinking it would make a great gift for my dad who has everything for his 68th birthday. I was thinking I would like it to include the whole family which is mom and dad, my husband and I plus 2 kids and twin babies and Brother, sister in law, young niece and new baby (due the end of march). Is this too many people? what would you charge for something like this? I look forward to hearing from you and discussing possible options. Thanks, Stefani

After sharing my (very reason- able) prices with Stefani she decided to go with a doodle of her parents with the six grandkids.  Together we came up with the idea of making it a boating scene.  


I had a lot of fun putting this together for her.  Large group illustrations can be a challenge to bring all the portraits together to make an interesting layout.  I'm happy with the way this one came together.


When I sent Stefani of photo of her piece she wrote back and said, Oh Rick, it's great.  So, love it, love it, love it.  Wow!  a three "love it" response.  That's pretty good.  

A Dragon Work In Progress

I started this little doodle during the recent mini-family reunion we had a few weeks ago.  I had forgotten about it, and then rediscovered it while flipping through my sketch pad.  All that I had done was a quick pencil sketch, but it still had an appeal to me.  I've drawn plenty of dragons before, and even posted some on this blog.  I liked how this one was turning out enough to make me want to develop the illustration further.  The scribbles you see on the illustration are the outlines of a forrest that I am setting the two characters in.

There's no real purpose for this illustration; other than my the entertainment factor for me.  I have a couple of other paying jobs I need to be working on, but once I get going on something like this it's hard for me to put it away.

Stay "tooned" for dragon updates.

New Blog Header

After three years of just using the standard blog header for this space on the internet I finally took some time to create a new customized header for myself.  I started on it early Monday morning and could hardly put the project down all day.  I'm happy with it—quite happy as a matter of fact.  I wanted something colorful, something fun, something doodly...  My one fear is that the title, "Organized Doodles," get's lost in the mix.  What do you think?

An Evil Dust Bunny Has Hit

I woke up yes- terday morning to find that there were 444 new com- ments on my blog!  "Wow!," I thought, "somebody out there really likes my work."  It didn't take long to find out that my blog had been "spammed."  Of course I don't know who the evil dust bunny is. All I know is that the culprit is Asian because the "comments" involved a loooong like list of links in some kind of Asian script.  It turned out that he/she left one of their annoying spam comments on EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY POST!!  Grrr.....!!!  I am guessing that they have some kind of program which seeks and finds blogs to target and then will automatically place the links there.

What likely took them seconds to do is taking me days to erase.  I have been slowly going through each of my post and permanently deleting the links.  I'm a little over half way through.

To delete one of the comments involves seven clicks with scrolls on my computer.  Do the math.  To rid my blog of this "dust" I have to click 3,108 times.  That doesn't include the "miss-clicks" and the times I click on the post again by mistake.  So now I've had to change my setting to give approval to a comment before it will be seen on my blog.  I don't like that.  When I visit a blog I just like seeing that my comment in place before I move on.

Any of you have your blog attack in the same way?  What steps did you take to prevent it?  I did follow the link on his name back to his "blog" and told him that he was a pain in the butt.  That probably didn't help me any.  Also, I reported it to Blogger.  Who knows if they'll do anything.

At least going back through each one of my post has been a trip down memory lane for me.  So many doodles, so many kind people making nice comments.  I've been at this blog thing for over three years now.  I guess I will keep on going—despite the evil dust bunnies that are lurking out there.

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Your Name Here

This doodle may seem more appropriate for Halloween, but really all it is was an attempt to fill a tall slender piece of paper that I had laying around.  As with most of my doodles, one thing led to another, and the next thing you know, I've sketched out some kind of macabre graveyard scene.

Do you know where you'll find your final rest?  If not, then Copy & Share If You Dare, and prepare to met they Maker.  (No forwarding address will be necessary.)