Illustration Friday: Momentum

A few weeks ago we had major flooding after thunderstorms tore through the area. I like to walk along the river, so I'm used to seeing the changes in the water level, but had never seen it spill over that much land. The river usually has a gentle flow over the dam, but after the storm it turned into raging rapids over the rocks. As it gained momentum it carried off anything in its path. Now that the waters have receded a bit I was exploring some of what had washed up on the banks. I found an area where black rocks and snail shells had been deposited. I collected some of the shells which had previously been hidden under the water, and imagined their wild river journey. I was planning on doing an ambitious painting to represent this story, but ended up with this more graphic approach. I had a lot of fun with this drawing.

Illustration Friday: Alphabet

Oliver is an obstetrician hence the baby octos.

Oh, I almost didn't have anything for this week. It was a busy labor day weekend of rest, relaxation, and good times followed by a week of catching up with work stress.
Thank goodness the new weekend is almost here.

Illustration Friday: Visitors + Captain

Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit and gang were frequent visitors to ol' Mr. McGregor's garden, but they might have found even greater adventures if they'd taken to the high seas. They could have found gardens on every shore to plunder, and been up to their knees in cabbage while drinking pints of carrot juice ale.
As you can see this was started for last week's topic, but it didn't come together in time, so I tried to stretch the idea around to fit this week.

Illustration Friday: Emergency

After an emergency delivery a healthy baby boy fawn was successfully delivered. Mother deer is doing well, and getting her much needed rest.
I wanted to draw deer after seeing 3 the other day on my afternoon walk. They always look so gentle, delicate, and I imagine caring too, as I often see the babies staying close to their protective mothers. I believe they'd make excellent candy stripers.

Illustration Friday: Missing

Too Many Geese

Is Canada missing some geese? We have a bit of a Canadian Geese population overload around here. When I go on my walks they are just everywhere. When I drive to work I wait while they cross in front of my car, and when you don't see them you can easily tell where they've been by all the evidence they leave behind. In the spring the parks district has been working on some population control methods, but teaching geese to practice safe sex is a near impossible mission. I guess we could always play a round of 'duck duck goose', but we seem to be missing the ducks.

I'm not very happy with the coloring on this one. I was having trouble with the black getting away from me with my old stand by technique, and I was losing the drawing, so I included the sketch. I think I could do a better job with a traditional painting, but time is short, and I must be getting some sleep. I was missing in action here on the blog for a few months this summer, and now I'm still trying to get back into the drawing groove. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by, and left kind such comments. As always it's very much appreciated, and I love hearing from everyone.

Illustration Friday: Moon

Under the light
of the moon
darkness hides
And all things become clear

Or is it more accurate to say that sometimes the moon makes lunatics of us all?

Since my last week's Poem entry contained a moon
I thought why not throw a poem in this week.

Illustration Friday: Poem

Nobody knows it but me
by Patrick O'Leary

There's a place that I travel
When I want to roam
And nobody knows it but me.

The roads don't go there
And the signs stay home
And nobody knows it but me.

It's far far away
And way way afar
It's over the moon and the sea

And wherever you're going
that's wherever you are
And nobody knows it but me.

I guess this is further evidence that I'm an incurable tv-o-holic. The above is one of my favorite poems, and was recited by James Garner for a 2002 Chevy Tahoe commercial. It had an instant classical tone reminiscent of one of my other favorites Robert Frost's 'Road Less Traveled'. Some online research revealed that 'Nobody knows it but me' was written by an advertising executive. I think I'm always looking for places such as the ones written about here, little slices of heaven that make the days brighter. It appears I wasn't the only one who had an emotional response to the poem. Read the story here.

Cable tv has some good series starting this week. Tonight I watched 'Saving Grace' with Holly Hunter on TNT, and it was everything the critics said it would be. I thought it was like 'Touched by an Angel' on crack. Good Stuff! I'm looking forward to 'Damages' on FX tomorrow.

Illustration Friday: Discovery

It's been forever since I've posted, and participated in Illustration Friday, so I thought even though I haven't colored this sketch yet it would be best just to post a work in progress, and update in a few days. I love the blogosphere, but lately my priorities have evolved to try to enjoy as many of these summer days as possible with long walks on the bike path, and spending as much time as possible enjoying these beautiful days. I often take my camera along to capture all the discoveries such as the 17 year cicadas, the blue herons, and the white egrets here in the Midwest. I'll be posting a little from my ever growing photo library soonish.

I haven't wanted to post until I update the 'ol blog look, but further template changes will have to wait until another day since I'm a bit tired this evening. (Maybe to much fresh air.)

Illustration Friday: Polar

This week's 'polar' topic made me think of polar fleece, and where it comes from. Not many people know of the rugged arctic sheep who produce this fabric, nor do they know of the dedication of the penguin shepherds who tend the flocks while keeping snuggly warm in their polar fleece vests.

Illustration Friday: Fortune

Roger the simian librarian has spent a fortune collecting first run editions of all his favorite novels. To him, they are a treasure more precious than all the gold in the world.

I'd like to say a big thank you, and that I'm flattered and honored to have just been spotlighted on Michelle Lana's site. Michelle is so sweet, and her creativity and hilarious sense of humor are a wonderful inspiration. Check out her awesomely fun blog.

Illustration Friday: Green

This week's super late entry is about the temporary loss of our spring green. I was thinking that I really do need to update my banner, especially to lose the snowflakes with it being spring and all, but then I went home to Indiana last weekend where snow soon covered the land. I had been disappointed about not having a white Christmas, so this made up for it I suppose. If anything, it inspired this little song:

I'm dreaming of a white Easter
Unlike the ones I used to know
Where the little chicks shiver,
and the Easter bunny quivers,
and the eggs are all buried under snow...

Here are my mom's daffodils and hyacinths with a fresh blanket of new fallen snow.

Illustration Friday: Hide

Hide!! Some bunny's looking for you.

Don't let the pink cuteness fool you.
Bunnies can be dangerous.

Just a quick mini sketch
slightly colored in photoshop.