Sketchpot

Another political doodle...

2011-12-17T20:51:00.000-05:00

Yes, another Saturday ends with a doodle. You have to laugh at the candidates running for President, if not, you would cry. Here's a little medicine for the craziness.....

A wonderously lazy Saturday

2011-12-10T21:54:00.001-05:00

Today was a Saturday that saw mostly nothing accomplished, but listening to Christmas music, taking a long, hot bath, sipping cocoa, and passing the basketball around with the youngest. At the end of the day, I was scanning through a bunch of photos that we had taken while playing around with some lens modifications. I loved the way the pictures made everyone we know look completely jacked up! I did a few doodles in the spirit of "Jacked-up-ness" and had fun doing it.
I'll probably add color another day.........

Preparing the Turkey

2011-11-24T18:02:00.001-05:00

This morning, as my wife arose early to start the cooking, I decided to do some cooking of my own, but with a pen instead of an oven.
First, I found a great picture on Flickr of a turkey head, and started to sketch my very own little turkey head. This is how it ended up:

Then, after getting an idea for a Thanksgiving meal activity, I decided to add a body of a naked turkey trying to cover up his "naughty bits."

My youngest son and I then spent the morning making little colored feathers to put upon everyone's plate for dinner (whereupon they would write the things they were thankful for and paste them to the very naked and cold Turkey man). This is what our poster board Turkey Man looked like after being "clothed" with everyone's blessings:

I liked the head enough that I decided to color with with watercolor and colored pencil, for a finished head like this:

Romney Doodle

2011-11-22T11:55:00.001-05:00

It looks like it is that season again, where we can loathe, love, despise and dream of the various candidates running for the high office.....a great season to do charicatures! We'll start it off with Romney...
Enjoy

Birthday Contemplations

2011-11-20T21:56:00.001-05:00

Today is one year closer to....well, closer to whatever the future holds in store. I couldn't sleep last night so I stayed up and started to think about all sorts of stuff. I saw a picture of a moped that I liked, and did a quick, free, doodle of it. I liked the way it came out so later today I added a bit of color.
At 39 years old today, this old moped with an empty can of gas on the back is sometimes how one feels that they are equipped to handle the future....HA! At least I've got the gas in the tank!

If you chance to meet a frown....

2011-11-18T21:26:00.001-05:00

After a brutal week at work, I decided to come home and just doodle. This is what eeked out of the pen and brush....It kinda reminds me of a song I used to sing in primary. "If you chance to meet a frown, do not let it stay........."

Still Catching Up

2011-11-14T20:53:00.001-05:00

I'm still trying to catch up on posting things that I missed during my prolonged "absence."This on is probably my favorite since I have been gone. My wife doesn't much care for it, but I like the edgy representation of a bible verse. It gave me the idea of illustrating a Bible, doing a picture for random stories.....probably wouldn't get picked up by Deseret Book....unless I put a loin cloth on this guy....HA!

Here's a few others for enjoyment:(Here's another unliked sketch by the wife...she thought it was kinda cheese-ball. I had fun doodling it at my daughter's band competition. Do you get the cheesy pun?

And yet another little devil.....

This one was done watching people line up before the stampede into the airplane during a business trip.....

Holy Cow!!! Has it been that long?

2011-11-12T13:32:00.006-05:00

Wow, I was just looking at the date of my last post and was suprised at the length of time between posts. I haven't had time, due to some changes that have occurred in my free time, to be as diligent....or even ACTIVE in the posting of art. Today was a lazy Saturday and I gathered a few things that I had doodled recently, and that were handy for a quick scan....enjoy.

This one is probably my favorite of the bunch....the most basic, but most appealing. It reminds me of the Tootsie-Roll Suckers I used to devour as a kid, but with a head on it instead. We'll call it the flesh-i-pop.

buggy....

2009-09-26T22:16:00.002-04:00

When I have had time, I've been punching away at this little drawing. I got bored with the bugs, so I added a little something "hidden" to keep me interested in the composition. Enjoy.

A few more doodles...

2009-09-12T12:39:00.002-04:00

I have been errant in my "posting" responsibilities. Although I haven't drawn and doodled as much as previously, I have done a few quickies over the past few months. Here's a quick run-down:

This is the airport in New Orleans. I was early for the flight and had to keep myself entertained for an hour before boarding.....

This was done on that plane ride home to Atlanta...

A few weeks ago my wife surprised me with concert tickets to see Sir Paul the Beatle...we got there very early, as was required. I was shocked to see how many people were there...but was more fascinated by the light stands and speaker stands throughout the park. Here was a quick sketch of one...

Finally, here is this one. I couldn't sleep last night, so I sat at the kitchen table listening to Pandora and letting the pen move around. I liked the outcome.

Another Little Devil....

2009-08-03T21:21:00.002-04:00

Yes, it has been a while since I last posted. I guess you could say, it's been a DEVIL of a time trying to find time for recreation. However, the last couple of days I spent some time with the kids doing the "Sculpey" clay and I just like doing little busts. Once I get done with them I always add a couple of horns (to my wife's dismay).
I didn't like this one as much because I used the white "Sculpey" instead of the flesh colored, which made it very opaque and it didn't take watercolor at all. So, I had to use acrylic to color it. Even after painting it, it just wasn't working for me. The saving grace was to put a high gloss finish on it. That way it almost looked glass-like and then the paint that I used seemed to work a little better. I'll be using the flesh colored clay for the next project.

Butterfly

2009-03-28T19:35:00.002-04:00

After my last post, I figured that it was time to do something a little less dark...or even, ahem, uplifting...

I did a blue gouache background....but I'm thinking of doing more later. We'll see......

more polymer clay

2009-03-21T01:05:00.002-04:00

The other night I was playing around with the kids. We did more polymer clay sculptures to pass the time. I ended up making this guy, but only painted him tonight. Yes, it is somewhat macabre...in fact, it's actually kind of disturbing if you think about it...oooh but it was fun to make. Enjoy.

I'm still trying to figure out what I'll do with the little guy. I put a few holes around the edges, maybe I'll hammer him onto a wall in the garage, or glue him to the front of the mailbox. That should brighten up our postman.

yuck

2009-03-09T22:13:00.002-04:00

Tonight I made gnocchi for the first time in our family. My wife and I love it, but my youngest...we'll that's a different story all together. You see, it looked different, it wasn't breaded or deep fried, there was no cheese over the top of it, nor was it covered in chocolate, which meant that it wasn't good. After we coaxed, begged, pleaded, threatened and force fed, he finally realized that he did not only think it was edible, but likable.
I did this little sketch after dinner while he was playing in the yard.

My Friday Fiend

2009-03-06T21:22:00.004-05:00

Many years ago I got on this kick of making papier mache masks. I remember wishing that I had a kiln so that I could do ceramic stuff, thinking it would be fun. Well, today I found some polymer clay that fires at a low enough temperature that you can do it in your oven. I made a tiny little head, and I'm hooked. I'll definitely be doing more stuff like this.... (my wife is upset that I put horns on the guy so the next one will have to be a guy singing in a choir, or paying tithing or something...)

I took some pictures of the thing in my hand to show how small the little guy really is:

Tribute to Tommy Kane

2009-03-05T22:48:00.002-05:00

As a tribute to a squirrel so skillfully drawn by Mr. Tommy Kane, I wanted to play around with the idea of taking something fuzzy and cozy and adulterating it a bit. Definitely not in the same caliber as Tommy's stuff, but I enjoyed getting back to the pen and ink and watercolor.

oops...

2009-02-28T22:46:00.002-05:00

I was called to repentance recently for not posting more regularly on this site and my writing site. Indeed, life is ready to pour its many distractions into each of us if we let it. So, in the spirit of "posting" and "repentance", I did this little study of a drop-box, a wall, stickers and graffiti.

Read into it what you like, but it was a productive study with gouache.

Heavy Lifting

2009-02-05T22:15:00.002-05:00

Yet another "fat" sketch. I love exploring the lines and curves of a chunky, plumpy subject. Here's a quick sketch I did after work. I will color later, maybe this weekend when I have some free time. Looks like it is time for this guy to lay off the Pringles and Little Debbie snacks......

ear bomb

2009-01-31T17:08:00.001-05:00

Another quickie sketch to fill a peaceful Saturday afternoon. Where did this one come from......can't say. Could it be because my phone keeps ringing, and ringing, and ringing.........HELP ME GET AWAY FROM THE RINGING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goggle-Master!

2009-01-31T14:27:00.003-05:00

I decided to pull out the ol' pencil...I was too lazy to fill up my Lamy Safari with ink. I like the feel of organic lines that's hard for me to achieve with pen and ink....I have to confess though, all the time I was drawing I wanted to make it tighter with pen and ink. I need to break through that constraint.

michelle....in good fun

2009-01-24T00:40:00.001-05:00

Alas, a return to caricature of political figures........a quickie before going to bed:

Fat man cookin' in color

2009-01-19T20:15:00.002-05:00

A few days ago I posted a quick sketch of a nice little man cooking. I have finally had a little time to put some color to it. I don't know if I like it as much as I did non colored, except for the oven mitts, those came out better than I had expected. This is watercolor and Noodler's ink.

fat man cookin'

2009-01-06T21:13:00.003-05:00

I spent some time cooking yesterday and today. As I got ready for bed, I pulled out the ol' sketchbook (since I couldn't sleep) and started doodling. This is what came out. I'll put more detail in later, and possibly some color, but I was happy with the start...
more to come on this:

new year doodling

2009-01-01T16:04:00.003-05:00

Alas, a day off from work finds me with brush in hand and images to put on paper. This is what leaked out of the brush this morning. There's nothing better than the antique television sets...I could live in a room surrounded by them. The woodwork and craftsmanship put into those old sets puts today's disposable appliances to shame.
Enjoy

Continued study of wrinkles

2008-12-20T12:34:00.002-05:00

In my last post, which was a hundred years ago, I spoke of wrinkles, and how many I am getting...
My time to doodle has been vastly diminished since August, but over the past few Saturdays, taking a few minutes here and there, I have continued to play around with wrinkles, and in a medium that I haven't used for a long time...the trusty graphite pencil.

There is a lot in the expression. Part of it is fear, part surprise, and a twinge of anger maybe. The eyes tell the most...

post birthday tinkering

2008-11-22T12:52:00.003-05:00

Another birthday has come and passed....have you ever got the feelings that your wrinkles are coming faster than the birthdays?
I wanted to play with contrast this morning, so I pulled out the gouache and found a great portrait off of flickr, and started to play. This is the result.

Another moly 24 contribution

2008-11-15T00:36:00.003-05:00

I did a little painting in our moly 24 group on a moleskine that I received in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Sorry about the poor quality photographs. The computer that I have my scanner attached to is in the shop getting a new power supply.......

more HALLOWEEN eggs...

2008-10-25T20:48:00.003-04:00

The egg painting continues. Hopefully I'll have enough time before the 31st to do a few more, at least enough to fill a half-dozen container.

It's ALIVE...ALIVE!

2008-10-25T13:40:00.003-04:00

This morning I woke up with Halloween on my mind....that, plus a hankerin' to paint. So, as any other LOGICAL person would conclude, I decided it was TIME TO DO HALLOWEEN EGGS! This was the result...brahhhaahaahahaaa!!

I will say that my wife was pretty disappointed when I went to the fridge, got out the eggs, and it WASN'T because I was making breakfast!!
I can't wait until next Spring to do Easter Jack-o-Lanterns.

returning to youth, yet again.....

2008-10-06T23:06:00.002-04:00

I've been journaling and remembering with a brush odd things here and there from my youth. This is what came out the last couple of days.

Journaling...again

2008-09-30T22:07:00.002-04:00

After a brutal day at work, I found myself longing just to doodle aimlessly. So when I got home, I rummaged through some old photos and journaled a train of thought that ended up somewhere I wasn't expecting, but had fun anyway. My favorite was going back to a journal from when I was 4 and copying a picture that I drew when just a youngster. I liked the way that it's innocence contrasted with the other images.
I enjoyed it, the journey was fun....

It's been a long time....

2008-09-27T12:46:00.002-04:00

Some changes have recently happened in my life which have made it necessary to shift my attention and time elsewhere. Consequently, I haven't had a chance to draw/paint for a bit. Thankfully, I got a moleskine in the mail the other day from our swap group. Knowing that I HAD to do my part to not hold up the process, I was somewhat forced to sit down and let the paint flow. I'm grateful, it was good to escape with ol' jack into the bean maze.

Whirlwind...

2008-07-31T19:01:00.002-04:00

For the past two weeks I have been on vacation far away from home. Consequently, I haven't had access to computer, email, blogs, etc. I did have a lot of time to sketch, however. In fact, as I was scanning everything that I did, I surprised myself with the quantity (not quality on most). In the spirit of posting, here is everything with a bit of description for each doodle:

On the plane trip from Rome to Utah I drew this little guy...possibly capturing the elation of being away from work for an entire two weeks.....ESCAPE!!!!!

Then as soon as we landed, we packed up our campin' stuff and early the next morning we were on our way to the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone. I did a couple of doodles while there for a week. I don't particularly care for the mountain doodle...frankly, I don't have much talent for landscaping, but I enjoyed being in the lake playing with my family. The next is the camper that we looked at everyday.

Then we were back on the road to Salt Lake to enjoy a week full of parades, movies with friends, talks with family, strolls through graveyards, revisiting key memory filled places, and just hanging out. The following sketches just filled in the time...

This last bony faced man was done on the plane back to home...I was contemplating the piles and piles of work that were awaiting my return to work....alas, vacations are joyous!!

blog award...yipee

2008-07-15T21:36:00.002-04:00

... I was surprised and humbled to receive a compliment from Karen Blados today in the form of a blog award. A big thanks to her and her thoughtfulness. I've been watching Karen's blog for a while now and am constantly impressed with her ability to journal her life and package it in such a delightful presentation. Take a look at her stuff!

The rules of acceptance are:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate 7 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Consequently, here are the people that I'd like to suggest...

Felicity
Miguel
Mrana
Nina
Juj
Szaza
Ester

Seer

2008-07-12T16:13:00.002-04:00

Last night I couldn't sleep because of the hundreds of work items that were spinning and bouncing off the walls of my mind. So to extinguish them I went again to my trusty moleskine and started sketching. I found a picture on the net of a blind lady, and did a little rendition of what I saw.

Prelude to the fireworks...

2008-07-05T00:10:00.002-04:00

A quick sketch of the band before the sky show at the park....

Patriotic lemons...

2008-07-04T17:50:00.002-04:00

This morning we took the kids to brunch just to get out and enjoy the day. Here's the lemon from my drink in the most patriotic garb I could muster:

After we got home, the kids and I had a massive water fight on the front lawn. It was perfect to beat the Georgia sun. After drying off, we all sat down to the table to doodle and paint away the afternoon. I had nothing in mind, and so my pen just drew. This is what came out. (Don't ask, I have not idea either.)

I'm also adding a couple of doodles that I did a few days ago. One is of a fellow that was speaking at my church. I was intrigued with his comments and doodled him speaking. The other is yet another sumo sketch. I didn't like this one, but am posting it nonetheless.

more painting with my boy...

2008-06-15T18:27:00.002-04:00

This afternoon was a lazy, hot, and relaxing time. I continued to paint, and decided to explore fear. This is what came out.

My son painted along with me, sneaking the juice from my palette. Here's what he did. It must be our "blue period."

Rainy Saturday...

2008-06-14T14:48:00.004-04:00

This week my wife's sister came into town for an enjoyable few days. They packed all the kids (except for my youngest) into the cars this morning and headed for the Atlanta History Museum. That left my little boy and me with lots of time to play around and have fun. After a few chores, playing on the wii, and lunch, we decided to jam out to music and paint/draw.

He made these two little masterpieces:(this is his interpretation of the Death Star)

(and this is what he painted watching the rain outside our window.)

His attention span lasted almost a half an hour while painting, which is impressive. I started this little sketch, but wasn't able to finish because he was already moving to the next activity...which happened to be "How many things can I stick in the aquarium before dad notices?"

More stuff for the Moly-x-24 group

2008-06-08T00:08:00.002-04:00

It was a CRAZY busy week, but despite the lack of time, after I received the most recent "hand-off" from the moleskine exchange, I had to make time to finish my section. I gave more detail about the process on the Moly-24 website, but thought I would post the pictures on this site as well.

E.D.M. Challenge #3

2008-05-31T21:38:00.003-04:00

A while ago I promised myself that I would do all of the "every day matters" challenges in order to keep the creative juices flowing. I puttered out after the first two. Mustering up my resolve, I have moved onto #3 (Draw a wallet, purse or bag.) This is a sketch of my watercolor bag. I've had this old rawhide bag since my mission in Brazil and have been storing brushes, watercolors, gouache, and pens in it for the last few years. It's been through the ringer...

A visit to the park...

2008-05-29T23:06:00.003-04:00

Today we made an excursion to the park. It let the kids run around and go crazy, and also let the parents sit around and enjoy the shade, the green, the squirrels and not being cooped up in our house.
I did a quick journaling page while I was there, and was unable to completely finish the sketch. I added text just to fill up the area a bit.

Wood pile...

2008-05-26T22:25:00.003-04:00

Today was Memorial Day and we spent the evening in our friend's backyard surrounded by our family and other friends from the neighborhood. It was a good evening eating, chatting, relaxing and watching the children play, get dirty and run, run, run.
I was fascinated with the woodpile by the fire and decided to whip out a sketch of the various shadows on the logs. This is what resulted:

The great chicken dilemma....

2008-05-25T22:08:00.003-04:00

I've recently been trying to convince my wife of my genius surrounding my chicken dreams. You can read about my attempts on my writing site. I did this painting tonight after being thwarted.

Fiver

2008-05-17T18:10:00.002-04:00

I have been reading "Watership Down" by Richard Adams for our book club. I'm about half way through the book and am enjoying it. There have been a few passages that have been extremely thoughtful, particularly when the little adventurers happen upon a warren that is seemingly paradisaical, yet is really a grouping of rabbits that have gone against their nature for luxury and are willing to pay the price of a farmer killing them off here and there.

"The rabbits became strange in many ways, different from other rabbits. They knew well enough what was happening. But even to themselves they pretended that all was well, for the food was good, they were protected, they had nothing to fear but the one fear; and that struck here and there, never enough at a time to drive them away. They forgot the ways of wild rabbits. They forgot El-ahrairah, for what use had they for tricks and cunning, living in the enemy's warren and paying his price?"

As promised in other posts, I am continuing the tradition of illustrating something from every book that I read. Here is the sketch I did of "Fiver", a character in Watership Down.

Japanese "INK" drawing

2008-05-15T22:57:00.002-04:00

As previously mentioned, I am participating in the Moleskine Exchange #24, which has been pretty fun. I got my first exchange in the mail the other day from Kerstin in Germany. She wanted to keep a "Japanese" theme for her sketchbook, so I pondered and puzzled about something along that line. I kept thinking of squid, ink drawings, etc. This is what resulted. The scan didn't come out as good as I'd have hoped, but it's fun to see how everything starts blending together in this project.

Moleskine Exchange 24

2008-05-09T20:08:00.002-04:00

Recently I was invited to participate in an international sketchbook swap where we send Japanese Accordion Style Moleskine Pocket Notebooks around the world filled with sketches. I WAS STOKED TO BE INVITED. This little post is my homage to "Japanese Accordion Style" (I know, it's pretty cheesy, but I had fun doing it.)

A Grief Observed...

2008-05-02T23:56:00.004-04:00

Yesterday marked the 7th anniversary of my father's passing. Time is only beginning to heal make the loss less painful, yet, the path of grieving has been enlightening. Tonight I tried to catch some of the feelings of lonliness, and insight in this little sketch. I've blogged a few more of my feelings on my writing blog.
Can you relate?

Be Nice....

2008-04-27T21:25:00.001-04:00

Last night we took our family to see the Lion King Broadway show. It was fun, and visually spectacular, however, I found that there were so many people that were getting up and coming in late, going to the bathroom, etc. that I kept having my view of the stage blocked. I kept getting upset with myself because I found myself harboring bad feelings to people that were impeding my view. So, during the intermission, I began sketching this little guy to help me remember that I need to be less judgmental. I think I need to hire one of these guys to follow me around and to "toot" whenever I'm ready to pass judgment on others just because I have been inconvenienced....He'd probably run out of air with how much blowing that would be going on....

Brick Lung

2008-04-23T23:29:00.002-04:00

At 2 in the morning today I found myself on the way to the hospital because I couldn't breathe. I've been kind of wheezing the last couple of weeks, likely due to the HUGE pollen counts in this part of the country. But it was pretty startling walking around the house early in the morning knowing that you weren't able to get enough air.
After a few breathing treatments, steroid injections and antibiotic doses, I was released and able to breathe much better. Doc's orders were to rest, put breathing treatments on my regiment for the next couple of hours, and continue the med's. Consequently, I found myself in bed, in a quiet house with a lot of time to think about what was going on inside my chest and how long it would take to get rid of this acute bronchitis.
When I was a kid, my parents purchased "Gray's Book of Anatomy", the classic compilation of pathological illustrations. I used to spend hours looking at the pen and ink drawings of hearts, lungs, legs, bones, etc. All of them were expertly drawn, and colored with two or three very faded and basic colors. The illustration below was a result of what I thought I would find in Mr. Grey's anatomy book under the "Respiratory Failure" section....

Sketching Night...

2008-04-21T23:17:00.002-04:00

As promised in the last post, I have tried to give justice to the feelings and thoughts that I experienced while and after reading "Night" by Elie Wiesel. There really aren't words to attempt to describe it, and trying to do so might cheapen the impact that it had upon me. I suggest the book to others, so as not to forget what can be unleashed in each of us if we do not watch the demons within...

Saturday and Sunday Sketches...

2008-04-20T22:42:00.002-04:00

I haven't done much drawing lately, so I only have two to post for the last couple of weeks.
First, my son has begun his baseball season again, so, I find myself with time to doodle at his baseball games. I was impressed with the trees around the field as compared to the lights, so I did this little sketch:

As for this last sketch, I have decided to try to start illustrating something from the various books that I am reading. I find that I read more often than I watch T.V., etc. Consequently, I have my nose in a book quite often. In seeking out ways to keep the creative juices flowing, I decided that I will try to make one illustration of at least every book that I read and enjoy.
This first illustration actually comes from a book of scripture that I have been pondering. You can read more about why I illustrated this scene on my writing blog. The approach I took was to steal the style of some of the old Japanese woodblock prints and run with it. I had fun, and even came up with a oriental-style signature to continue the motif. Enjoy:

Continuing the series....

2008-04-05T17:55:00.004-04:00

A couple of other self-portrait sketches done from the same picture. I like the black and white one better. The color is colored pencil and watercolor mix and I didn't much care for the texture.

A study in...grunt

2008-04-05T14:18:00.002-04:00

I have recently decided, through a few minutes of boredom and a fully charged digital camera, that I will be doing a series of self-portraits (not to mention that the price of this model is extremely reasonable.)

I call this one CONSTIPATION:

Portrait exchange with Juj

2008-03-27T22:29:00.006-04:00

I got the gumption up to ask Juj (I'm a huge fan of her work) to do a portrait exchange with me the other day. Her work is fabulous and I'm enamored by the little snails that keep showing up in her work. I took the liberty to ask those slimy fellows to join me in a little project of my own. I can't wait to see more of her stuff. Here is my contribution to the collaboration:

I just got her portrait of me and I LOVE IT!! She is so skilled at taking the norm and presenting it in a way that is engaging, entertaining and thought provoking. WELL DONE JUJ!!!!!!

Playing Chaperon

2008-03-23T18:20:00.003-04:00

These last few day's I have been playing the chaperon for a couple of different activities. First, I spent a couple of days with my kids and their challenge group at school during their excursion to SpaceCamp in Huntsville, Alabama. There was a lot of time to sit and observe...and naturally, to sketch. Here's what came out of being surrounded by the cosmos:

Upon returning, I was asked to chaperon a dance for one of our youth groups in our church. Once again, I found myself with a few extra moments to doodle. The incessant drum beat of the music around me brought this guy to mind:

Temptation...

2008-03-16T21:11:00.002-04:00

I've been reading "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel over the past few days and have found myself stuck on a lifeboat together with the main character. Consequently, my thoughts have been somewhat aquatic. This is what came out today.

San Diego Trip

2008-03-08T11:50:00.002-05:00

This week I had to travel to San Diego for a business awards ceremony. The good thing was that I had a lot of time to sketch on the plane, in the airport and at the resort. Here are a couple of the doodles that resulted:

While we were waiting to get on the plane I saw everyone scarfing down food in preparation for the 5 hour flight. This guy is what came to mind:

While we were on the plane it seemed that we had the displeasure of sitting within nose-shot of the most flatulent passenger on Delta. As I was assaulted repeatedly, I looked throughout the cabin and noticed that the area of effect was not just my row. There was an older lady sitting in front of me who was crinkling up her nose...so I sketched this little lady. I mounted her head because, well, because I was in a bad mood.

After breakfast one morning while we were waiting for our ride to Sea World, I did a quick sketch of some of the foliage behind the resort. I didn't care for the way it came out, so later I started pasting in various things in our room that I had laying around. I still don't like the sketch, but I enjoyed the compiling of things in a sketchbook. It gave more depth and interest to the subject matter.

The "PIT" of despair...

2008-03-02T22:50:00.004-05:00

Ahh yes, a post about my armpit. I decided to address this topic and my concern thereof with a little journaling page:

I was thinking about lips today and how the lower lip is generally larger than the top. My mind got the best of me and I started to think of favorite quotes while I was drawing. This came out:

Then finally, an incomplete sketch that I have been working on here and there. I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately, and this always conjures up images and stirs the imagination. I don't know if I'll finish this little, mischievous fellow, so I'll post now in case he ends up in half-drawn hell (pun intended...)

Space Case

2008-02-17T21:40:00.003-05:00

It's my littlest boy's birthday tomorrow and he is ecstatic about a celebration just for him. My mind, consequently, has been more focused on the simple, fun, childlike and innocent images that are such a part of his life and learning. Consequently, last night when I couldn't sleep, and when he was laying next to me whimpering in his sleep with a bad dream, I sketched out a theme that I enjoy going back to...the man in the moon and his neighbors. I tried to capture a bunch of old cantankerous fuddies frustrated with an intruder into their realm. This one was fun.

Hubba Hubba...

2008-02-12T19:33:00.000-05:00

Ending the dry spell.....

2008-02-09T11:09:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted for months now and frankly, I haven't done too much art. During the holiday season I did a few things as a request from my mother. These are sketches of my kids:

As for sketches on my own, I haven't really put out too much. On the flight to Salt Lake I did this little doodle:

When I grew tired of doodling, my little boy took my moleskine and drew his little monster:

Finally, a couple of months ago while I was chaperoning a youth dance for our church, I parked myself in a dark corner and did this guy:

more Saturday journaling...

2007-12-01T20:26:00.000-05:00

Waiting....

2007-11-30T22:09:00.000-05:00

In a few weeks we'll be flying back to our homeland where snow is real. We've been in Georgia long enough that we've become acclimated to the climate. While I was thinking about the clothing we'll need to bring for the kids, I took time to sketch a little boy that is impatiently waiting for the snow to fall....

Realization...

2007-11-29T22:25:00.000-05:00

Isn't it funny what things inspire you to draw. Lately I have been thinking a lot about power. My current responsibilities at work place considerable power within my hands, it's been my chore to figure out how to wield that power most effectively.

Brainfart.....

2007-11-27T22:48:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted pictures for a while. I've been experiencing one of those phases where there just isn't a lot of joy doodling...and when there isn't joy, the stuff that comes out of the pencil isn't too appealing either. NONETHLESS, I've decided to post some of the little doodles I've tried. Maybe if I see these every time I log into the blog it will give me added desire to put something out that is more eye-friendly.

A splendid Saturday

2007-10-20T21:27:00.000-04:00

Today was one of the good days. After getting up and playing with the kids a bit, I was off to get my haircut. I've posted previously about the barber shop that I go to. There is a single barber, pulled right out of Mayberry, who comes to work in a white shirt, a tie, slacks, and he takes his own sweet time cutting hair. There are 3 chairs, 2 are never used (from his partners that have both died already) and the old men in town line up more for the conversation than the haircut. There is nothing better than sitting, sketching and listening to the conversation. I did the sketch above while listening to a handful of angry southern men ranting about the drought, politics, how to use a computer, and women not knowing how to drive. It was blissful. I kept my head down while I sketched because I had a grin that was hard to wipe off my face.

A bit later we took the kids on a drive to future camping and fishing spots, went out to dinner, and came home to relax.

A great day.

Enjoying diversity...

2007-10-13T20:43:00.000-04:00

I found this delightful photograph of a Hindu man and decided to do a little doodle. I loved the colorful turban. When painting the happy man, I thought a lot about religion, diversity, culture. Isn't it a sad commentary that we attack the things that we see as different...or even define our own beliefs based on what we see wrong in the beliefs of others...

I think Mohandas K. Gandhi deftly explained it best when he uttered:
"It is the duty of every cultured man or woman to read sympathetically the scriptures of the world. If we are to respect others' religions as we would have them respect our own, a friendly study of the world's religions is a sacred duty."

...and ne'er a word said she

2007-10-07T15:48:00.000-04:00

If thou wilt...

2007-10-06T18:40:00.000-04:00

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of aleprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

weekend sum-up

2007-09-23T21:41:00.001-04:00

I haven't really spent too much time doodling the last few days. Mostly I sketched today. But I did produce a couple of things. This one was a quick study of a young man next to me in a meeting.

Inspired by other E.D.M. sketchers, I decided to try a few farm animals (going way out of my comfort zone), and this is all I came up with.....bacon.

Yesterday, I had to take the boys to get a haircut. Strapping a 3 year old into a seat while a stranger holds sharp scissors over his head is always an interesting experience. Actually, the little guy was pretty good yesterday....

Finally, a little more morbid doodle. I was examining the "mental" or "cerebral" approach to doodling...

Bandaged

2007-09-16T21:16:00.000-04:00

Last night I had an urge to sketch before going to bed. I sat up on the couch as not to keep the family up, and watched old reruns of M*A*S*H. I love that show. I started with just a face. That's often what I find myself reverting to when I don't have anything in mind but am wanting to run the pen across paper. As I began, the face seemed bland and boring, so I added the moustache. I added some wrinkles to add a little character, and still it was missing interest, so I added a few bandages and bruises. The finale was the cotton up the nose. I actually really enjoyed doing this one. My wife got mad after painting because of the blood here and there...I blamed it on the old M*A*S*H episodes.

remembering

2007-09-09T21:54:00.000-04:00

Here are a few more doodles that I did over the weekend. The first one just kind of happened on the paper. I was thinking about creating an image that left the viewer to decide if it was about one thing, or the exact opposite. I suppose it could be about surrendering. Or, it could be about faithfully upholding the standard, despite injury....you decide.

This other one was done while I was at a meeting that was discussing the importance of the family. September is an interesting month for me because my Dad's birthday is in September...so, while the speaker taught, I didn't really digest what he was saying...rather, was thinking about dad, and wondering what that reunion will be like...in retrospect, maybe I was digesting exactly what the speaker intended. So while he was speaking, I was sketching. I later added the photo of my father when he was a boy.

Mental Dysentary

2007-09-02T22:30:00.001-04:00

Here are a couple of sketches that I have done in the last couple of days. This one I did while I was at the barber shop waiting for a haircut. There was a lot going through my mind. The thought came to me that a "mute" can pray with as much power as the eloquent....this is what came out.

This one was done a few days ago in a meeting (it was actually a baby blessing for a friend.) I was in a place where I knew very few people, and all the new faces were fun to look at...I had to put something on paper...

CANDY SUSHI

2007-09-01T19:06:00.000-04:00

This lazy Saturday afternoon was needed and enjoyed. A little while ago the kids and I did a project to calm them down a bit. We decided to make sushi out of sweedish fish, fruit roll-ups, rice krispy treats, jelly beans and yogos.

Here's how they came out:

Another Portrait Exchange

2007-09-01T00:09:00.000-04:00

A couple of days ago a fellow contacted me and kindly suggested another portrait exchange. His name was Roy Mosby, and you can check out his stuff here.
I agreed, and sent him off a photo, and I received this in return:
He was kind enough, in his email exchange, to ask if the shadows would make it too complex...and I tucked that away in the back of my mind.

After work today in an effort to relax, I decided to get this project done and started looking at his photo. I continued to think about his comment regarding the shadows, and Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" kept coming to mind......so, I went with it.

Here's what came out (I'll probably color it later, but I'm too tired tonight.)

poopie potpourri

2007-08-18T21:48:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted for a while, and really haven't produced anything noteworthy...but, I'm going to post some of the doodles from the past few days any way.

This was a little journaling while I was waiting for my wife to come out of her doctor's appointment.

Today I took my son to a scout activity at our little local airport. They went up in some small, two-seater planes for a while to get introduced to aeronautics. They had a blast. I decided to sketch some of the stuff that was surrounding me.

This was just an exploration sketch with color and images that I really wasn't able to articulate with a brush.

This was sketched out when I couldn't sleep last night and as I stayed up late watching old re-runs.

Then there was this...I can't say I particularly know where this came from...

Harvesting

2007-08-13T14:10:00.000-04:00

This is a sketch that I did some time ago, and I already posted it in this blog. However, I recently wrote a story while remembering something from my childhood and thought that it would be a good visual. I posted the story on my writing blog.

Examining fear...

2007-08-01T22:29:00.000-04:00

I've been having a hard time sleeping lately. It seems that the troubles that weigh on me during the day seep into my sleep and transform themselves into monsters. Last night I awoke screaming a bit. My wife had to calm me down, it was embarrasing and frightening all wrapped up in one.

While at lunch today, I thought I would explore some of the images in the sketchpad...once again, the pen becomes the therapist.

Mitt Romney...

2007-07-28T19:15:00.000-04:00

I was asked to continue my presidential candidates series. So on this lazy Saturday, I pulled out another caricature. Enjoy.

Down by the river...

2007-07-28T00:21:00.001-04:00

The other day when my wife needed some alone time, I packed up the kids and went to the park down by the river. They played, jumped, squeeled and I pulled out the moleskine and sketched the trunks of trees that were beautiful in the shadows of the setting sun. Here is what came out of the pen.

Also, the other day at lunch while I was waiting forever for a new waitress to bring us our food, I sketched out this little man. I colored him in photoshop, which was most of the fun of this little project.

And then there were...three

2007-07-17T21:57:00.000-04:00

Here are a few more sketches that I have done these last few days. I'm taking a break from the Presidential sketches for a bit, maybe I'll go back in a few days. I enjoyed doing the really muted tones of the "prisoner" picture. The other ones just kind of eeked out of the pen, one at lunch, and the other during a sleepless night.

Hillary Clinton Caricature

2007-07-13T21:46:00.001-04:00

Here's another political caricature that I did to release the stress from this past week...I think the picture explains it.

Fred Thompson Sketch

2007-07-05T23:35:00.000-04:00

Someone suggested that I make a go at doing a series of presidential contenders...
I kind of liked the idea, however, if I were to try to capture all of them, I'd still be doodling when I am as old as this guy.

I think that when you combine the ages of ol' Mr. Thompson and John McCain, you get around 350. That's just what we need in the oval office, someone who needs a nap 3 times a day and a presidential helping of geritol.

Barack Caricature....

2007-07-04T16:17:00.000-04:00

I had the urge to do some more caricature doodling in the moleskine today. There is a face that is plastered on the news channels today because of his campaigns ability to raise cash. The war of words continues between the talking, campaigning heads...It'll be an interesting race this time around... SO MUCH VERBAL KUNG FU....

Gouache in my Moleskine

2007-07-01T22:25:00.000-04:00

I got some cheap gouache paints yesterday to play around with in the moleskine sketchbook. So...here...is gouache paint in my sketchbook.

Journaling on Saturday, June 30, 2007

2007-06-30T22:47:00.000-04:00

I spent some time in the moleskine again today playing around with color, gauche, watercolors and some strange ideas. I don't necessarily know where this one came from, but I actually like the way that it came out.

Stop me if you think that you've heard this one before...

2007-06-28T00:57:00.000-04:00

I drew this the other night when I couldn't sleep. I stayed up sketching and watching politicians on the news channel.....

mouth that runneth over....

2007-06-23T15:21:00.000-04:00

Here is a sketch that I did while watching t.v. the other night. Who is she? I don't really know. Maybe a typical high school cheerleader who's 20 year, post-school stint, hasn't been too kind. The hair is nice, but it's the rest that needs work....
Or, maybe it's Chelsea Clinton in 20 years, (like mother, like daughter).
You decide....

My kids and I have been sketching together quite a bit. Here are a couple that my daughter did while we were on a Saturday afternoon "sketch hunt."

Hinckley

2007-06-17T22:15:00.000-04:00

I have been looking at a few web sites where there has been some amazing caricatures of various people. Caricatures that don't poke fun, but that are masterfully done. I decided to try my hand at it. I've been thinking a lot about religious leaders, and the ones that I deeply respect. Consequently, this gentleman came to mind and the challenge was to do a sketch, caricature style, that isn't demeaning, but that still comes across as a caricature. I don't know if I succeeded, but it was a good exercise nonethless.

The Plague

2007-06-16T15:31:00.000-04:00

I've been reading a book entitled "The Plague" for the past few weeks and have found myself thinking a lot about sickness and pestilence. Some of Camus' imagery in the book is gripping, and prompts some pretty in depth introspection.
On a similar note, with the sickness that has been occuring in our home recently, I have reflected on our own mortality much more than I normally do. I suppose that a good reflection on the brief nature of this mortal existence is good for the soul.

Journaling for June 9 and 10

2007-06-10T17:20:00.000-04:00

Yesterday in our attempt to wash away some of the heat, we let the kids run through the sprinklers in the early evening. They enjoyed getting muddy, wet and sprayed. Unfortunately, while they were running around, Mom and Dad got eaten by the opportunistic mosquitos. I did a little sketching while they were playing.
Also, I did a teensy bit of doodling after studying the scriptures today.

Lost Sketch Book....June 7, 2007

2007-06-07T21:42:00.000-04:00

I am either very unlucky, or simply a fool...(it's likely both). A few days ago I got a new Moleskine and started doodling in it (3 pages worth), and have lost the thing. I looked all night, and all day and it has vanished like a fart in an air conditioner (so to speak). So, I broke open another brand new one and started in it today. I will try to be more careful with this one....

Here is June 7th's journaling doodles:

June 4th Journaling....my very first MOLESKINE

2007-06-05T00:56:00.000-04:00

I decided, after hearing everyone else rave about Moleskines, to buy a couple for myself. I started using it yesterday and I do enjoy how flat the pages are for scanning. The ink from my pen seems to be a little runny on the paper, but I'll get used to it.
I took the week off from work to spend time with my family while my wife is under the weather. The kids and I went on a "sketch hunt" today in the mountains. We went to one of our favorite places and just hung out doing doodles of this and that. This is what I filled my two pages with.

Responding to a "tag"

2007-06-03T18:32:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I got tagged by Juj, wherein I was asked to tell 7 things about myself that not many people know. I decided to do it as part of my journaling for June 3.

I can't find another person who hasn't been tagged in our group, so I will be searching and will revise their post with their names once I find them.

Journaling, June 2, 2007

2007-06-02T22:25:00.000-04:00

Here is my journaling for today...thinking about last night.

Another Superhero of JOY!!!

2007-06-02T19:59:00.000-04:00

Keeping with my promise, I'm posting another one of my son's drawings from our sketching game. He's coming up with some sweet ideas. Where is this super hero when you need him?

Journaling

2007-06-01T18:49:00.000-04:00

I've been journaling the last couple of days, to improve my consistency of getting behind a pencil. Here's what's come out....

MORE SUPERHERO FUN...and other sketches

2007-05-27T23:48:00.000-04:00

As promised in the last post, I will be putting some of the sketches that my son did from our superhero game. Here is the latest: ALIEN MAN!

I have had to make some time for myself the last couple of days to get some stress out of the system. Consequently, I have taken the pen in hand and doodled what has come to mind. Some of it isn't really noteworthy, but a couple of the doodles I liked. I'll include them all, and you decide what is noteworthy or not.

And finally, life isn't complete with another gratuitous sumo...

Super Hero Fun with my boy

2007-05-24T21:21:00.000-04:00

For the past two weeks my wife has been ill and unable to be as involved as normal with the family. It's been sad for us, however, it has given me an opportunity to spend a lot more time with my children. The other night my son and I were playing a game with our sketchbooks. He would guess a name of an unknown superhero (something that nobody has heard of yet) and I would draw it. Conversely, I would pick a name for him, and he would come up with his version of a superhero. We had a blast doing it, and he made a ton of drawings. I'll be posting them here over the next few days because THEY ROCK! Here is his first:

HAVE NO FEAR...FIVE LEGGED MAN IS HERE!! Say goodbye to those two-legged butt-kickin's. You haven't seen justice until you've seen the bad guys get their arse kicked by the FIVE LEGGED MAN!!!