Archive for the ‘children’s illustration’ category

New Output (pics)

January 14, 2014

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Feeling a bit more comfortable (and well-fed) at legal conference I am attending.  I still mainly stand against a back wall sketching as I listen and hoping people think that I am taking voluminous notes.  (It is not, in fact, a bad way to listen as while sketching you are not, for example, checking you iPhone.)

Your encouragement from yesterday was most kind, and made me feel much less lonely here. Thanks.

PS – pictures posted not very well from phone – if you suspect you are not seeing the whole image, such as it is, please just click on it.

Just Getting By (With Pics)

January 13, 2014

I generally try not to write too much about my work life in this blog.  But desperate circumstances call for desperate measures, so today is an exception.

Okay, I am not truly desperate.  What I AM is at a law conference in Orlando, Florida, studying up about law. (I am a practicing attorney for those who do not know.)  The law part is interesting, except that the lectures go on for seven hours each day, and they are held in a huge very self-contained hotel in Orlando, Florida where they charge substantial amounts for internet in the rooms.

It is what many would consider a very nice hotel, and honestly, on one level, I am terrifically grateful that I can be here.   But on another level, I also feel very–out of place.

I will not give the example regarding the lecture mentioning a famous painter whose estate generated a famous law suit.  (I felt out of place there because I seemed to be one of the very few people who actually just love that painter’s paintings, regardless of monetary value or law suit.)

But here’s something–at the opening reception, everything they served was either meaty or a dessert!  Okay, I sound whiny.  Just because I don’t eat meat or (very often) dessert–  It all looked pretty good.  From afar.  Not touching anything.   Kind of hungry.  All by myself.

I am just not a blender-inner, not a networker, not a hale-fellow-well-metter.  What I tend to do in these conference situations is stand in a back corner and draw in a little notebook all the time listening intently.  (I really do listen.)  (I promise, say I, to any clients out there.)

As a result, I am posting today’s output because it really is rather lonely here (in the lobby), (listening to other people congregate), (and still, at 9:42, not certain what to do about dinner.)

Encouragement is encouraged.

P.S – a few of these drawings are for a specific book project–the one with the little girl and her mom and little girl and dog, though these are very preliminary sketches. (If your browser does not show whole pic and you want to see it, please just click on it.)

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Through the Crinkly Boots

December 7, 2013

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When I put on my boots this morning, they felt really cold and crinkly.

I remembered that the last time I wore them I tried to hike over a stream.

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I think the correct word is “ford.”

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But I only had my own two feet, which have a lot less traction than most tires.  Especially modern ones .

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I kind of wished I’d put on my special thick socks, with the super cool stripes, but, hey, the boots were laced up already.

And after I wore them around the house a while either they relaxed or my feet grew crinkly.  Either way, they felt more or less in sync.

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Then I went outside.

Have you ever felt your toes get cold?  Have you ever NOT felt your toes get cold?

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As I trudged around, I thought about my special thick socks sitting so cozily in my drawer, their cool stripes useless in its darkness.

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No-toes and all

Tree trunks striping the snow,

but my feet in frozen solids.

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I am linking the above to the dVerse Poets Pub prompt by the wonderful Claudia Schoenfeld to write something about Through the Looking Glass/ Alice in Wonderland and/or Advent.  I’m not sure this fits but it is what I have done!

(All rights in the pictures, such as they are, as well as the text are mine, and cannot be reproduced without permission.  Thanks! )

Happy Saturday and do check out the other wonderful poets at dVerse.

Happy Thanksgiving–Pleasing the Crowd

November 28, 2013

Thanksgiving – you can’t please everyone.

Or maybe you can.

Happy Thanksgiving.

This is a reposting of older watercolors–so sorry if you’ve seen already.  Pearl is still in this world–over 18–I am very thankful for that and so much else (especially your visits and your own work.)   Take care.

Camaraderie

October 20, 2013

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Camaraderie

Got a camera for my birthday;
I take pictures all day long,
sometimes they’re of my brother
sitting on the john.

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Some people call him John.
(But his name is Michael.)

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I take pictures of my mother,
take pictures of my dad,
take LOTS of pictures of my dog
whose eyes come out so sad.

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Sometimes I try to catch a crime–
I mean, what could be neater?
So far the only pic I’ve got
is “man kicking parking meter.”

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Not sure that’s even illegal–
the man says it didn’t work.
Don’t know if I believe him
’cause he called me a little jerk.

My folks now say that nature
is better for me to shoot–
stuff like deer in our backyard
and, in a nearby swamp, the newt.

At first I groaned, how boring,
but, actually, that’s not true
cause there’s something cool my camera does
whenever I look through.

It makes the world turn special–
sure, it’s special anyhow.
But my camera makes it special-er
adds in some extra wow.

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So now my camera’s with me
’bout everywhere I go–
my imaginary friend, I guess,
but don’t tell that I said so.

Especially don’t tell Michael
(that kid “some folks” call John)
’cause he’d probably try to snitch it
if he knew it was so fun.

‘Course, then, I’d get his picture–
red-handed as can be,
still, better keep it secret (sigh)
between just you and me.

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Here’s a new little poem written and illustrated for Victoria Slotto’s prompt on dVerse Poets Pub to write a poem for children. I did poem and illustrations today, so they are very rough–especially towards the beginning where I wasn’t sure how to best get the joke of the big brother across and just repeated the same drawing with dialogue. Also very uncertain of the title–any suggestions, let me know. All fun. Check out Victoria’s prompt and the other children’s poems on dVerse.

Finally, if you like the elephants, check out a children’s book I wrote and illustrated called 1 Mississippi, available on Amazon.

In Praise of the Big Cheese

June 19, 2013

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(Posting from iPhone– if either mouse or “moon” missing, just click on photo to see all.)

PS. The standing figure is my drawing of a Buddhist guardian figure or bodhisattva (an enlightened figure who helps others attain enlightenment). Either the figure has large ears–for better hearing–or little wings behind the ears. The mouse is not sure which.

Since Seeing the Bear

June 15, 2013

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Click on pic if cant see the music!

Bad Side of Spring Thaw

June 5, 2013

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Poor polar bears have fewer places farther in between as arctic ice floes melt.

I am posting this drawing, which you will notice has no elephants, from iPhone. If there are not TWO polar bears in it, you may need to click on the drawing. Thanks.

The Masseuse Is Worried

June 4, 2013

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Still trying to branch out from elephants, but elephants creep in.

(If the whole masseuse does not show, or all the quills of the massaged, just click on drawing. I am posting from a mobile format and I fear that parts of the drawing are inadvertently cut. Thanks. )

Branching Out?

June 3, 2013

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I have been trying of late to branch out to different animals.

I mean, in my drawings, and I mean, other than elephants.

The first above was a European Bison.  (Sort of.)  The hump on his back looks suspicious.

Then I moved on to ducks.  (Sort of.)

And a horse.  (Ha.)

Hope your weekend was good.

P.S. – I’m not sure that drawings uploaded from an iPhone in their original (large) sizes show up on older browsers, so please click on image to see full version.  Thanks!  (If they are not loading in full, please let me know.  I could use smaller versions also.)