Illustration Friday: Robot

Just a quick color sketch of father and son fishing at ol' Oil Slick Lake. I know I have some drawing problems in this, but I'm too busy and too tired to try and fix them now. I realized that I don't think I've ever drawn robots, so I did a little googling to try to get some ideas on the mechanics. National Geographic had a story about a real robot fish which probably helped inspire this image. While on their site I found a crazy article about a housefly with glasses, and another about a ginormous monster bunny which would have been a useful reference for me a few posts ago.

Illustration Friday: Spotted

Last week I heard on the news that a family of owls had returned to nest in a tree at a courthouse in a town near where I live, so on my way home I had to check it out. It was easy to find the right spot as there were people staring up into the trees. I didn't see anything in the nest, but then someone pointed out that the owl was on a branch farther up the tree. I asked if there were babies, and was told that was a baby. Wow, I didn't realize they were already so big. With help from others I spotted the other 2 babies in different trees. I tried to take some photos, but they were only a speck in my little camera.

I bought this photo from a toothless man who got the shot a day earlier when they left the nest, and one fell to the ground. Animal control came out and scooped it up, and put it on the roof of the courthouse. It was o.k..
They aren't the famous Spotted Owls, but rather Great Horned Owls.

I went home to my parents house for Easter weekend, and we went up to Fernwood Nature Preserve. It was the most beautifully perfect day! I took lots of photos of frogs and flowers, and we hiked through the woods. I felt so fortunate to take a day to really relax.


I wasn't sure if I'd get anything drawn this week as I've been ridiculously tired. To prepare for the nature filled weekend I got a sample of the allergy drug, Astelin. I breathed very clearly, but was sleepy and very drowsy. These last few days I started to feel like I was in a fog, and couldn't concentrate. I felt like my mind was slipping, and I was forgetting simple things. I was useless by evening, and didn't have the energy for anything, and depression was setting in. I googled, and found that others had many similar side effects, so I stopped taking it. I feel almost 100% better today. I was so much more awake this evening that I jumped for joy, and there was some skipping too. I guess I'll be going back to Flonase and homeopatheic remedies. I only wanted to mention this here to warn anyone who's considering trying Astelin that there are some possible serious downsides that they don't mention much in their cheery commercials.

Illustration Friday: Speed

Sure bee boy enjoys buzzing from place to place on wing power alone, but when he has the real need for speed nothing beats a super fly sports car. (Just hope the fly doesn't notice he "borrowed" it.)

I had the inspiration for this illustration ever since the Insect topic from last month. Speed seemed to be a fitting topic to turn this concept into tangible art.

Illustration Friday: Spring

I was hoping we'd get a 'spring' topic. A couple of week's ago I walked outside to go to work, and the air was warm, and the birds were chirping. I looked up and saw two robins on a branch. The first robin is always a nice sign that spring is here, so I figured two meant that mother nature wasn't kidding around. Then I glanced over at some other branches and there were 4, 5, wait, there were another 2 dozen or so robins gathered in the trees. I'd never seen a whole flock of robins before. (If 'flock' is even the right word.) Of course I've seen flocks of other birds, sparrows, crows, geese, but I've never seen so many robins in one place. It was a beautiful morning.

Then in true Chicago area fashion the very next day it snowed.