Cartuneman's Doodles

2012-02-18T21:48:00.000-08:00

A painting I recently painted all matted up and framed yay what ya think?

A new poster Idea

2012-01-29T09:42:00.000-08:00

This is an accumulation cropped and pasted together to create this piece hope you all enjoy it. I went to the local office depot and had one made into a 24 x 36 poster and it looks really cool on the wall.

Olive Oil A Hooters Girl!!!!? OMG!

2012-01-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

Hahahaha I had to start this new year off with a laugh... Here is a very rough sketch I did today of some Iconic cartoon characters in a modern situation lol It even made me giggle when I was drawing it.... I'll clean it up and post the final soon.

The Wicked Wizard of OZ...

2011-12-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

Wait till you see this!!! (just edited this) here is my first rough draft......My daughter says I'm a bad man for making Dorthy Bad....... I'm just fooling around hehe

Portrait of an artist Friend from Dieviant ART

2011-12-07T21:11:00.000-08:00

Allow me to introduce The Famous "Famimao"

Autmns Golden Warmth

2011-11-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

i love these colors in my life...

ok I am an early starter hahaha "Happy Halloween!"

2011-10-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

Canyon View

2011-10-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

This was painted in art rage and a bit in photoshop and color enhanced in image ready. a lot of work for a hobby huh? LOL so I really didn't like the first attempt at this so I did some more color corrections and thought I'd post it next to the old one and get any ones advice about the differences.Oh! hehe the bottom pic is the new one.

Fairy in the lake

2011-09-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

a new sketch I'm considering to paint.

For ever in blue jeans

2011-09-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

A Little warm up paint I did the other night ......

Late summer afternoon

2011-09-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

I painted this last night. it was fun

VAMP

2011-09-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

OK, I know this is a bit sexy but hey I wanted to see if I could pull off SEXY? Did I?

Shhhhh, "Can you hear the snow?"

2011-09-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

Something I did to just warm up my artistic self.. So to speak,

A grouping of my work For your viewing Pleasure. Book Covers and other print graphics and Oil paintings and art work.

2011-07-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

"Pushing Mom"

2011-04-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning to a new story :

Pushing MOM

This was about how deep the snow was

The day was not over till the night had been written. That’s how this day was to be. It was a cold and wintry day, even though spring was officially upon us. I did not much care about the time of year it was. Being all of five years old, I just wanted to play in the snow. Mom had bundled us up like over stuffed suitcases and let us outside for a while but soon called us back in because the snow had started falling even stronger and the wind had picked up. I can remember her tugging at the metal buckles that latched my rubber boots. They had frozen over from all the snow. Unwrapping me like a mummy my scarf fell to the newspaper covered floor to reveal my little red cheeks and my now runny red nose. She grabbed a dish towel and cupped my face and nose and said “blow!” She then picked me up from the middle of the pile and sat me down on a dry spot of the kitchen floor and said, “Stay there till I get you some dry socks” Groaning deeply She took hold of the kitchen chair and pulled herself up off her knees to stand there for a minute or two. I noticed something wasn’t quite right. She clasped her Belly and rubbed the top of it and started saying quietly, “Not now baby, not now” She bit at her bottom lip and I could tell she was holding her breath. My mother was very much pregnant. My Sister still standing there with her face covered, bunched her eye brows together, while looking intently at her, she said “OK, Mommy”. Brother Dale was standing behind her and said “Not you silly, Mom’s talking to the new baby”. I chuckled and Mom glanced at me with a wisp of a quick smile and said, “Come on kids let’s get dry and warm.”

Donita and Dale finished taking their winter coats and boots off as Mom took my hand and pulled me off into the front room to put some dry socks on me. “there!” “feel Better?” she asked while she poked at the bottom of my feet. It tickled and I laughed. She reached up above the back of the couch and parted the curtain just behind it and looked outside. She looked with a longing in her face I’d never seen before. She then said. “I hope your Father gets home soon.” Dad was late getting home from work. He worked nights and He was always home before we even made it to the kitchen table for breakfast. But today was different. Mom said the Snow outside had slowed Dad down. You could tell she was anxious about that and something else was in the air. Something we would all experience and never forget.

Mom got up and went over to the fuel oil stove and lifted the lid on the fill tank and just looked up and said “Ugh!” Dale and Sissy had run off to the back room and also had started an argument over who was going to use the port-a- potty first. We had no running water in this home and actually there was no Electricity. We didn’t know about these things and we didn’t really care. It was the way we lived. Mom yelled at them and told them to stop or she was going to make them do chores. They got quiet immediately.

I sat there on the couch watching her intently and life as it was unfolding in front of me. She grabbed one of dads old work coats and wrapped her shoulders with it. She pushed her feet into some rubber boots and picked up an empty fuel can and said. “I’ll be right Back…” She opened the back door and some snow fell into the kitchen as she stepped out into the now total whiteness that was outside. I got up and ran to the back door as she pulled it shut behind her. I jumped up a couple times at the back door window to try and see where she had gone. I had an Idea where she was and I pulled a chair over and climbed up and looked out. There she was standing there in the blowing snow next to the fuel oil tank that stood beside the shed. Her long black hair was blowing every which way about her face from the biting and stinging cold wind that I remembered from that morning. The snow was falling so heavily it was hard to see her clearly. As she stood there waiting for the fuel to fill the can I could see her trying to keep her hair from her face with one hand and the other hand awkwardly attempting and failing at holding dads coat together over her large belly. I looked down at the snow where she had just walked and her foot prints were almost covered. The ice on the inside of the door window was thickening up as well. I licked at the inviting thick ice on the window and I remember it was so cold on my tongue. The taste of frozen ice on glass is a taste that stays with you for ever. It’s like one of those bits of information your mind holds as a key memory to unlock others. I then heard Mom in a muffled way saying, “Move away from the door Honey….Please Mommy wants in!” I had been licking the ice and had not noticed her there. I jumped down and pulled at the door handle. The door and the chair pushed in together as the wind howled and Mom and snow blew into the kitchen. “My god she exclaimed!” she turned and slammed the door shut. She went straight to the task of filling the Stove with the fuel that would keep us warm for the day. After that she reached behind the stove and turned up the burner a bit and walked over to the front door as she hung up dads coat on the wall just over our the wet cloths that we had left there. She rubbed her forehead of the wet snow now melting upon her face and took her bottom lip and caught the droplets of moisture that melted just above her lip.

“Come on Ed” ….she said under her Breath. Wiping both hands with her face she then pulled her hair back and said “Getting hungry for some lunch?” She turned away and walked into the kitchen. The rest of the late morning was a blur until Mom sat us down for lunch. She had made tomato soup and grilled cheese on homemade skillet bread.

Enjoying my meal we all sat there in a tentative quiet. Dad was not home yet. While there with us she kept one eye on the kitchen window and fed my little brother Jerry some oat meal she had made him. He wasn’t old enough to eat anything on his own yet. My Mother had Jim, Dale, Donita, me and Jerry to care for besides being pregnant. The winter outside seemed like it had settled in for the day. I don’t remember it ever stopping at all not even for a moment.

“OH MY GOD!” Mom said loudly. “Your Dads Home” she said, standing and turning towards the kitchen window. We all jumped up and ran to the front door where we could see Dad coming down the drive towards the house. That was sort of strange. Where’s dads car? Oh well I thought, I was just glad to see him. Bent against the wind Dad stumbled a bit in the deep snow as he made his way across the front yard and to the front door. Mom said get away from the door guys let your Father in. Dad came in shaking and shivering and stomping his feet knocking the packed snow from his feet. Mom grabbed his rugged red face and kissed him and said “you OK Honey?” Dad said “I’m fine sweetheart. Snapping his hat against his knee he turned to look Mom straight into her face again. With a cautious tone to her voice mom said, “Where’s the car?” Dad gasping a bit while he kicked off his boots said, “I slid off the road down in front of Pipes house. I had to walk here. I heard on the radio we are in a blizzard. But we’ll be ok.” Mom’s eyes welled up with tears and she walked off to their room.

Pipes house was about three miles away from ours. We lived in a small four room house at the end of a dead end road. Two miles from the main road and only one other

Family lived on our road. But their home was on the corner of our road and the main road. There was another home but it was empty at that time. Shaking his head my father said, “What now woman?” we all looked at him like wondering pups and he told us to sit back down and finish our lunches. Jerry Joe was still sitting in his high chair playing in the oatmeal he had spit back out onto the tray. We sat there and ate our lunch and didn’t say a word to each other. We heard Mom and dad having a conversation but could not understand what was going on. Dad burst back into the living room and hurriedly put his coat and boots back on. All we heard him say was “Jesus Christ!” Jesus Christ!”
Out the door he went still saying “Jesus Christ!” We knew Jesus wasn’t there but maybe Dad was going off to find him I thought. The front door blew open and the snow blew in as Dad disappeared out of sight. My big brother Jim caught the door and closed it just as I heard my Mother call out for my sister Donita to come to the bedroom. I looked at my Brother Dale and he shrugged his shoulders at me and asked me if I was going to eat my cheese. Just then a dollop of oatmeal smacked Dales face. We had let Jerry Joe try to feed himself. Mom was right…..he wasn’t old enough yet.

I'll write more later.....

"A Bird in the Bush" a short story from my new Book , "A Piece of My Mind"

2011-03-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

yay I call it done cept for some editing haha

A Bird in the Bush

It was a wonderful birthday gift for sure. A brand new Daisy, single spring action, 1873 Winchester replica, a want of millions of young boy’s. It looked just like the gun Chuck Conners used in his TV show, The Rifleman. I knew that when I carried this out onto the barn yard all my friends and brothers would look on in envy.

I could not figure out what I had done to deserve this most wonderful prize. My Mom always said, “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.” I think that was the first time I understood that old expression. Now I could go out and shoot at bottles and cans and perfect my aim and become the finest shot in the mid west.

Getting up from the table, my mother, wringing her hands, looked at me and smiled a strange sad smile. She turned and walked away into the kitchen. My father looked at me with a great big smile on his face. This was something he had wanted for me too. I could see it in his eyes and in his smile as he shook my hand and said, “I guess congratulations are in order.”

I think he felt it was like a right of passage for a young boy to a young man. Funny, I still felt like a boy. I was all of a fresh 10 years old. He gave me another wrapped gift and I opened it quickly, this birthday could not have gotten any better. My older brothers looked on at me. I knew they would argue later as to who would try my new B-B gun first.

“Wow!” “Thanks Mom, thanks Dad,” It was a package of targets and four tubes of B-B’s for my new rifle. I was so overwhelmed. My father looked at me and said,

“Now you take this and practice and practice hard and then you can join your Brother Dale and help kill sparrows and rats down at the barn.”

I heard what he had said but I had not truly listened. Because I did not realize how much the word “kill” and this B-B gun would change my life that year. The summer months blew by. I took my B-B gun everywhere, I shot up bottles and cans and I had become the envy of my friends. They all wanted to shoot my gun. It was a wonderful summer but before I knew it the harvest months were upon us.

After dinner that fall evening I came in from taking the trash out to the burn barrel. That was one of my chores. I wasn’t to burn it but just take it out to the barrel. I wasn’t old enough to manage a fire yet. My father sitting at the table in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee, looked up at me and said, “You ready to show me how good of a shot you are?” Excited, I said, “Ya, Let me go get my targets. I began to run off when he stopped me and said that’s not what he had meant. He told me that starting that weekend a few of the farms in the area would be paying for dead pests. The bounty was, fifteen cents a sparrow and ten cents a mouse and a whopping fifty cents a rat. Mom was standing behind him drying one of the super pans and was putting it away in the cabinet. Throwing the dish towel over her shoulder she looked at my father with a squinted frown upon her face and then looked at me and winked and went about her evening. She patted my arm softly as she passed by me and went into the living room. I stared at her so intently trying to figure out what was going on.

“You know you can start helping out around here more and you could use the extra money for school.” he said. I snapped back to pay attention to him and what he was saying.

“Yes Sir” I replied. He chuckled a little and took his cigarette box out of his shirt pocket and started snapping it in his palm. He took one out of the pack and put it in his mouth and lit it with his lighter. Snapping the lighter lid shut, he tossed the shinny silver lighter at me.

We were never to touch his lighter. I used to put my nose on the edge of the table close to it when he would leave it lay there. I always loved the smell of the metal and the lighter fluid. It smelled like Dad.

I fumbled a bit but caught it. Why was he giving it to me? I looked at him with a big question on my face. He said, “Go ahead use it to start the trash barrel on fire. You’re old enough to take on that chore.” “You know what to do don’t ya?” he asked.

“Yes sir, I’ll bring it right back to you Dad.” I said. I kind of just stood there dumb founded looking at the shiny metal lighter now in my hand. When I heard him say, “Go on, get it lit, it’s getting late and I don’t want you out there to long after dark.” Part of that chore was to stand there and watch the fire till it burned down so if there were any hot ash that flew out you could put it out. It is a very grown up and responsible chore.
Standing there that night watching the fire, I held the cool metal lighter to my lips. Enjoying the smell and thinking of the weekend ahead. I looked long into the flame and wondered how the next couple of days were going to go for me. I had never actually killed anything before, unless you count ants, worms and a couple snakes. I hate snakes. Oh, and stink bugs and the occasional Grand Daddy long legs. The killing of a bird a mouse or a rat is different. It couldn’t be that bad could it? Ya, I can do it, nothing to it right? If Dale can do it I can do it…I had mixed feelings about this and didn’t want to think about it anymore.

The fire was burning down so I took the big stir pole and stirred the fire like I’d seen Jim and Dale do. The ashes settled a bit and a large puff of red ashes gushed upward out of the barrel. It felt like the imagined hot breath of a dragon. I jumped back and watched the red sparks fill the air and whirl around popping and a snapping. With a few more pops and snaps they were all gone. Then my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could see out across the dried yellow weeds that now filled Mom's garden. There, just on the other side stood a large Mulberry tree. The coming fall had now bared its limbs like a thousand skeletal fingers, dimly lit by the half moon sky. I could also see the smoke from the burnt trash as it hung eerily above the valley like a blue gray ghost. It seemed to wonder off and taper down to nothing into the darkness of the wooded creek beyond. The smell of the smoke filled the night air. the late Indian summer crickets were chirping and other bugs were rattling. I could hear a cow bellow from a distance. I felt my body shiver a bit from the nip of fall as the warmth from the fire waned. Out there in the blue cold starlit darkness, the night was alive.

My father called out to me, bringing me back “It’s time to come in John, I need my lighter son.” I propped the stir pole up against the gate next to the trash barrel and ran back towards the porch I could see my father standing there silhouetted against the light from the kitchen that fell through the back porch door. My Dad was a tall rugged country man and I respected him very much. He was my very own renaissance man, my hero and my father rolled up into one. I wanted to grow up and be so like him. “Thanks son, he said, as I handed him his lighter. “Now wash up it’s almost bed time.” He bent over towards me and I kissed his cheek and I said goodnight. He exclaimed, “You smell like smoke boy!” Scruffily he messed with my hair. His work hewn hand felt so large upon my head. He then said, “Go on, it’ll be tomorrow before you know it.”

I walked through the house and looked back through the dinning room window just as I saw his face appear in the dark. Glowing from the fire of his lighter, I could see his contrasted heavy brow and his dark eyes glint from the red yellow glow. He lit his cigarette and with the quick metal click sound he faded back into the night.

Still with the lingering smell of his lighter upon my upper lip, I thought to myself, I love him so much I never ever wanted to let him down.

My father was one that rarely ever said I love you either. It was sort of like it never had to be said but you just knew that he did. I fell asleep that night comforted by this. Even still with a bit in trepidation. I could feel the weather of my life was changing.

Most of Saturday came and went uneventfully. Whew!, I had worried half that day, my Brother Dale had been gone all day so it was a good excuse to use, for not being able to hunt and kill with my B-B gun. Well, that's what a ten year old mind was deducing until dad got home. Man, was I wrong. I thought Dad was going to pop a cork. Not only was he upset with me but with Dale for being gone all day. I really think he expected a gunny sack full of dead bounty.
    Dad said, "You don't need Dale to kill Birds!" So I ran and got my gun and a tube of B-B's and lit out for the barn. That late evening I tried and tried to shoot a sparrow and or find a mouse or a rat to bring back home and save face. It was as if someone had told them there was a danger lurking out there and they all scattered and hid away. I was so afraid of coming back empty handed. It was getting late the evening sun had just gone down and the light of day was dimming. My Dad's Brother, Uncle Mike and his new wife had dropped by to visit that evening. The light from kitchen window revealed them all sitting at the table laughing and enjoying each others company.
I had finally caught site of a few sparrows. I was determined and in luck for they had not found the right place to roost for the evening. I came around the back porch as I saw the birds fly between the house and the smoke house. So I played the stealth hunter and went the long way around the smoke house. I creepd up the north side of it and settled myself against the corner. There next to the drive way stood a huge Lilac Bush The Sparrows had stopped there to roost for the evening. Back dropped by the dimming western light of the horizon I could make out a clear shot of one of the sparrows. I slowly brought my gun up and pointed it at the unsuspecting little bird. I took my time and aimed my gun. My trigger finger was now shacking. I could hear my inner voice in a loud whisper say, "Take the shot!...Take the shot!" Suddenly I saw the Sparrow flutter and the other birds scattered into the darkness and I saw the unfortunate one tumble to the ground. My heart Pounded with excitement, "I got one!...I got One!!! My inner voice shouted out. I ran over and looked down upon the bird. What I saw next changed my life.
    I saw the bird lying there it's beak moving as if trying to chirp or breath and I could see it's feet moving back and forth slowly as if to be running and the the bird fell lifeless. My mind swirled with a tornado mixture of emotions. My heart began to feel so very heavy. I had taken the life... of a bird while he slept. He didn't have a chance because of me. I began to hate what I had done. I picked him up so gently. his little head fell back and off the edge of my hand. I pulled at his wings a bit hoping he would some how revive and breath again. I began to cry. Big tears filled my eyes. Standing there in the light from the kitchen. I almost felt like a spot light had shown down upon me, because what I had done. I walked towards the window. I could see Mom, Dad, and my uncle sitting there laughing and talking about what ever adults talk about. I knocked on the window and held up the dead bird. My Mother turned and could see me crying and the dead bird. With a blank look on her face, She reached over and pulled down the blind. I felt totally lost just then and put the bird in my gunny sack. and wondered off to the front porch and sat there. I cried for a while and thought about what had just happened. This was a turning point in my young life. It was one of those moments you'd like to forget but actually shapes and molds you into the person you grow up to be.
    It was about an hour later and My uncle and his wife had left. The dust from the gravel road that had been stirred up from their car, still lingered over the field just behind our mail box. A cool evening breeze touched my neck and I shivered a bit. Then came the sound of the back porch screen door squeaking open. I just knew it was my Father. He called out for me from the back porch. I just sat there with no answer to his call. I heard him call out to me one more time and I then heard his unmistakable walk coming up towards the front porch. He saw me there huddled up on the front steps. He came over and sat down beside me. Sitting there quietly for a few moments he then spoke up and said. "The First time always Hurts son." Big tears refilled my eyes once more and there was an even longer Silence. Then he said, "I Love you John no matter what. There is nothing you'll ever do that will ever make me not love you."
    He put his big arm around me and pulled me close to him and we just sat there for a little while longer. I know Mom must had told him that I cried and I felt like I had let him down. But then He said. "Fifteen cents won't buy much for school so how about you clean out the horse shed and I'll pay you?" In the awkward stillness that followed, I could tell he understood me. Timidly, I said OK, warmed by his big arm and the words he'd spoke, he squeezed me again with a hug and we sat there in silence watching the evening stars fill the sky.

Music to bring back late summer 1966

In the Hay loft

2011-03-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Barn

Boy, this old picture tugs upon my heart and stirs my memories like a warm bowl of soup. Can't you just smell that dried clover and wheat straw? You could almost taste the thick humid morning air. My mind spins and reels from the memories of the tunnels and secret passage ways we created with in the bails of hay. Oh, the adventures we had...even my first stolen kiss, confessions and secrets never to be told. My life explored was reborn in a hay loft just like this one. If the old barn wood could speak it would echo our thoughts, the laughter and the tears it captured years ago within its weathered grain. Just imagine the things the hayloft keeps. Not just bails of hay or straw but the young lives spent there or the swearing in of the childish alliance "cross your heart and hope to die", kind of stuff. I have to laugh now because it was a promissory seldom broken till it proved necessary to save ones own behind.
    It is amazing to think of the life that this building witnessed and supported. From the sparrows that nested every year in the high corners and trusses and the barn swallows that would gather under its eaves. Including the mice, that one could probably count into the thousands. Oh and don't forget the ground hog family that had a burrow just under the north corner stone near the corn crib.
    I can remember lying upon the loose chat that covered the floor like a thick soft mattress. Nestled back looking up at the shafts of sun light that broke through the slats of the barn siding. Just like search lights of the night they illuminated the loft softly and sparkled from the dust with in them. The sparrows chirped and spoke quickly to their young. I almost believed I could understand there urging. "Fly, Fly, Fly" and the little ones would flutter from beam to beam. I noticed one of the scraggly gaunt barn cats hiding in the shadows that had been waiting with hungry eyes. Watching and waiting for one of the young birds to fail in its attempt...............I slowly reached behind myself and pulled out my inner tube gun from my coveralls and pulled one of the big black rubber bands tight over the trigger. The Cat had not taken his gaze off the sparrows. I noticed a few pigeons had landed on the edge wood of the bay door and were cooing and pertting, heads a bobbing, as if to say, “is it safe? Is it safe?”
    I took aim at the cat and let loose the black ammo. With a throng sound my large rubber band flew and then smacked the barn wall with a thud and the cat jumped like he'd been shot out of a cannon and vanished like the magicians they are. The pigeons popped into the air instantaneously with their wings making that rushing weeping noise with feathers flying. Then out of the darkness from the peak of the roof came a huge screech owl, swooping down into the light, towards the bay door. Wafting the warm mid morning barn air with his huge wings just over my head he flew. My heart pounded with excitement, I jumped up and watched him wing his way and disappear into the big walnut tree just across the pasture. That entire ruckus wrapped up in just a moment. Life’s sudden dramatic chain of events was only broken by my labored breath. I stepped forward into the sun light that haloed the bay door and felt its warmth and wondered to myself about what other adventures this magic place would bring. With a shiver through my shoulders and down my back, my real life daydream was broken and came to an end. I stood there looking at my spent gun and where the owl had flown... wow that was fun. I looked back up into the sunbeams and they sparkled even more fervently from the dust just stirred.
    A familiar ring filled my ears, I heard my Mother banging on the wash pail that hung next to the back porch screen door, 1965 technology at it's finest. In those days we always kept one ear bent towards home. Sometimes I would use my imagination and become the famed Marlin Perkins, the MC of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. I can hear him now...
"Lookout Jim, that jungle jaguar does not look happy."
"While we continue searching for the ever elusive flightless, three legged, Red throat Congo bird, you can hear the drums of Borneo calling the tribesmen together."
Gosh it was fun to be a kid...
Back to my Mother, What an amazing woman, she had to do this almost daily because right after breakfast we would all scatter like Dandelion seeds to the wind.
"Jim... Dale Lee... John... Jerry Joe... Cathy! Donita !!!"
" it's time for Lunch!" she'd call out.
You'd think with as many brothers and sisters, my mother would have just said,
" Hey, You all get your butts here now!"
My Mom was great though, she said, if she didn't call us all by name then she wouldn't know who to expect.

But if she called us individually and by our given name, trouble was a brewing.

"John! Charles! Blackford! She would snap the last syllable of each word and with a quip of authority. Her tongue could be like the crack of a bull whip, and our behinds suddenly grew a brain and could remember that very hot sting as our legs would begin to quiver. Because we all knew the business end of Mom's big wooden spoon all to well. Besides the fact after being re educated, by her first, she would always say, "wait till your Father gets home..." Mom never liked the word punished. That's another story in and of it self.

So, My how time can just fly, I had to sneak out of the barn because we weren't allowed in it while Dad was away... yes, I lived dangerously........I wonder what ever happened to Jim and that jaguar?

10 great Music hits to bring back the summer of 1965

this was my favorite song of the day in 1965

Just something that came to mind today.

2011-03-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

The old Steel Bridge

Just a memory...

I miss days like this…

It was a late summer afternoon. I can remember walking down that gravel road back to my home. I had been fishing down at the old steel bridge that day. I had just stopped at the artesian well on Old man Evan East, property. Ignoring the “No Trespassing Sign” and the fact that we all knew “old man East” would sometimes come busting out of his front door waving his shot gun, yelling, “You good for nothins” even firing a round or two just over our heads to scare us off his property. Knowingly with a bit of respect and an ounce of adolescent fear, I still drank my fill of the deep wells ice cold water. All the while, with one eye on my escape route and one on Mr. East’s house, just down the road. I brushed the sweat from my forehead and then squeezed back through the falling down wooden gate there at the corner and made my way towards home.

The willows that lined the gentle bend of the creek that also followed the road, rustled in the warm Indiana afternoon breeze and their limbs brushed along the road side, like a broom dusting my path as I walked. I looked down as my feet shuffled through the gravel, my eyes always looking for that fossil or amazing stone to add to my collection.
My life and my mind were simple then.

I was a lucky boy living outside the city life. The country side is filled with so many different things to excite young senses. From the trees came the vibrating rhythmic beat of the invisible cicada’s song. It would rise and fall as it filled my ears. The flying grasshoppers chirped and rattled about in the tall grasses and wild Jasmine that also grew there. The smell of fresh cut hay laid slightly upon the early evening, as well the aroma of the corn fields that had been heated by the day.

I remember as if it were yesterday. I kicked the rocks as I walked along, I can still taste the gravel dust. I stopped and turned to look up and watch a red winged black bird as it cawed, while flying above the corn rows in the field next to me. Then I turned back to continue upon my way. To my surprise, I looked straight up into the dark hazel eyes of this huge white tail deer. Looking into the wide frozen gaze of this massive animal scared me ... I froze and he froze. It was as if time stood still. I believe I could even feel his heart beat while I felt my heart rise into my throat, my chest tightened I couldn't breathe or even break the riveted stare. I can remember that feeling of rigid fright. Then I saw the deer’s nose twitch…he snorted and with a grunt he jumped an unbelievable distance across the road and over the small ditch and the broken wire fence next to the corn field. He disappeared into the thousand corn leaves. Like an actor at the end of a play, he took a final bow and in a wisp, as if the curtain briefly parted, he disappeared behind it. The road fell silent as if he’d never been there. Still in a bit of a daze, I shook my head, I realized I was sitting in the middle of the road … I grabbed my cane pole and my spilled coffee can of worms. Jumping up I ran the rest of the way home. Excited to share a new a tale, one of many that filled my evenings and those funny shared stories at the super table. Including a special place in my thoughts forever.

It's just one of those moments one never forgets.

hear are 10 of the top hits of the summer of 1964...Enjoy

I'm stuck in Dragon mode hahaha "A dragon Bus Stop"

2011-03-05T17:39:00.000-08:00

The Dragon Bus Stop

I drew these today while waiting for my wife at a class she had today.

These were a bunch of fun to do I actually caught the characters in my mind as I watched real people sitting on the bus bench outside the school.

"MY PET DRAGON" New concept for Halloween 2011

2011-02-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I've started on the development of our new Halloween display for this year. I felt it was time to change. We always have had the Haunted Mine Shaft. (called the Ghoul Mine) It has been a lot of fun to build for the past 5 years and it has been a pure joy to hear the squeals and laughter it brings to the neighborhood and the kids. We had close to 500 trick or treaters' last year. I felt it was time to re-group and create something new, different and exciting. So, I dreamed this up...Let me set the scene for you so you can better understand the concept and where this is going.

Dragon Head Design I plan to immulate, except for a much longer neck. Courtsey of:

"The Beast" by Cynthia Elizabeth Oakley

Well known over at www.elfwood.com for her dragon sculptures.

First There will be a faux ancient wooden entry with what looks like a massive dungeon door that you have to open to enter with a 10 foot high wall that covers the entire width of my garage with an exit door at the end of that wall.(This entrance will cover my front door where the kids will get their candy) But after you enter and receive your treat there is only one way to leave and it is through the darkened tunnel that goes in front of my garage. So, you walk down the path in front of my garage to the exit at the other end. But before you reach the exit door you will be met with jets of steam and warm air and the guttural sound of a giant lizard beast of which will draw your attention just to your left. There you will notice the concrete floor heaved upwards as if broken through and a huge object coming through it and laying there just a few feet away (Under lit with a red fiery glow as if coming from deep within the violent lava pools of the earths depths.) Then you will see some deep yellowish- red eyes open and look straight at you. With a rumbling growl to a a low roar the object rises and silhouetted against a darkened back drop the black lights will catch the sparkle of its scales...as it shakes it's massive neck, awakening to your presence. Just as you realize you are staring down a DRAGON....he will ROAR a roar that will rumble through you. Tilting his head back and opening his giant maw, widening it to bare is fangs and razor sharp teeth, he will swing his massive head to and fro spewing smoke upon you and your friends as you are hit with another blast of hot air.

Thankfully you will notice that I have him chained to the broken concrete blocks from the floor so then you can leave in peace knowing that at least for the moment you made it out safe.....Till you meet the Troll guard on the other side of the exit door "Muahhhahahahahahahahahahaha" Fun huh?

This is the experience I want to give the kids and all who enter this year. So far, I have built the base and installed the electrical Foot push buttons for the sound, fog, steam jets, dragon eyes and dragons breath. The entire show can be operated by the one puppeteer (me). The viewing area of this show is the entire width of my garage

(24 feet wide) and the field of depth is about 18 feet deep. The dragons head will be a wire mesh covering a wire armature and frame work. Then covered with latex and paper machete. The neck of the dragon is a ten inch in diameter by 8 foot long , black plastic covered flex pipe. ( normally used for heating and air duct work) it will have glitter scales glued to it. The broken concrete floor sections are large Styrofoam blocks, a friend of mine in the stucco business gave me. I have fake flame lights and all the other lighting effects and a couple of skeletons and latex body parts to toss around in the scene. I am currently putting together the PVC piping that will deliver the simulated steam jets and the volcanic smoke and hot air. (this is going to be so cool)
the entire cost of this project so far has been zero. I have most everything I need to build the Dragon and the puppet control chair. The only purchase may be some spray paint and the Black see through scrim curtain that will hang floor to ceiling across my garage. The curtain puts me in the black and hides me and the controls behind the Dragon and the viewable stage area. Even though the scrim curtain is see through, when lighted from the viewers side the viewer can not see through to the other side. It works like a two way mirror.
Well, Now that I've started this, I will post updates and hopefully if all goes well I will post a video debuting My dragon in all his glory just before Halloween. I would also love to have video or even live streaming video the night of Halloween so you all can enjoy it too as you see the kids and adults alike scream with enjoyment. It will be a labor of love to complete. I will be updating this post this year as I continue onward with this project. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I am. and if you all have any suggestions as I'm going along please let me know.

"My Pet Dragon" Sound effect

click my arrow first to set the mood...

Get sound effects & royalty free music at AudioMicro.

Hear are the sound tracks I'm using to produce the sound track for the "My pet dragon" If you wanna hear what it will sound like please press the forward arrow button on the first two sound tracks then you can play around with the other tracks creating your own complete sound track ....I think this is neat that the computer allows you to play all the sounds at once or in conjunction with.
Just imagine, Dolby surround sound through the computer for that perfect digital sound. Pumped up and delivered to your ears by way of my 150 amp Sony Dolby surround system so it will actually vibrate you and make your skin shiver with anticipation..........

Get sound effects & royalty free music at AudioMicro.

More To Come...!!!

Here are a couple color pages I created for a local Resturant Chain.

2011-01-15T19:03:00.000-08:00

More to come...................

Just a couple funnies I made for Christmas cards

2010-12-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple funny cards I created for Christmas and a couple more tame ones. Enjoy and if you want to copy these and use them for yourselves please feel free to do so. Just click on the picture for a larger pic and then copy it to your desk top and print it from there.Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!

More Pic's Of Halloween hope you enjoy them.

2010-12-01T21:06:00.000-08:00

WOW!, I can't believe I took so many pics hahahaha Anyway here are some pics of Our Halloween set up. We call it the Ghoul Mine. Picture this...It's dark and the interior of the mind shaft is smokey and lit by black lights and a strobe and the graveyard outside has low lying fog and you can here the water dripping in the mine shaft then you hear a blood curdling scream of a miner falling down the mine shaft and all other kinds of eerie sounds and music play on in the background. So many little details and a ton of fun to put up and of course Halloween night was a riot! We had over 400 hundred kids and adults traverse the gauntlet to get to the candy. I Don't know if you can see the stand in front of the fence by the grave yard? that where I stand dressed up like a Scare Crow and I scare the kiddies and adults from there as well hahaha. Next year we are doing something really special we are Building a Dragon and we will keep him in our garage and you will have to walk by him ( hope he dosn't see you hahahahah) to leave after you have gotten your candy.....Muahahahahahahaha hehe It will be fantastic Fun!!!! hope to see you there. I also hope to put up pics of the dragon as I go along. maybe even a dry run of him on youtube and omg I know I'll get some vid's of him in action next Halloween night....

It's Halloween

2010-10-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

Wow a great contest over at Animation Forum

2010-09-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Lip Sync Challenge thread

September Challenge: LIP SYNC
Challenge Length: September 4, 2010 - November 4, 2010 (*2 Months)

Prizes:

Challenge Description: The theme of this challenge is LIP SYNC, your task should you choose You can take any angle you want. The animation can be funny, sad, informative or even extreme.

Rules:

1. To enter you must acquire a sound bite of your choosing. The sound bite can not be vulgar or offensive to anyone. Due to the fact we have young people and Women that are members of this site.
2. The animation clip should not exceed 11 seconds but if need to be because of sequence this will not disqualify you.
3. Pencil test will be accepted. (note; try to clean up your work when ever possible)
__________________
4. the winners will allow their piece to be shown on other sights as well as the AF forum. Also the winners will submit to a interview that may appear on some internet magazines.
5. The time limit you have is two months.We understand that school and the end of summer is upon us all. So we wanted to give everyone an equal opportunity to be a part.

More rules to come as I can put them together. Please be patient with me this is the first time I've ever run one of these. I will edit these the rest of the week.

For information on the ArtRage 3 software go here - http://www.artrage.com/artrage.html

BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN !!!!

Steps:
- Go in the Challenge Entry forum,
- Create a new thread, with your name, and challenge name :
example : jakiloblanco - GLOBAL WARMING
- Use your thread to keep us updated on your animations
- When you finish your entry,edit the first post in your thread,with a link to your work.If you are using Flash or YouTube you have the option of embedding your animations directly into the post, using the specific tags.

*subject to change

__________________
http://john-cartunemansdoodles.blogspot.com/

Indie a freind of mine over at Animation Forum

2010-08-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

"Once", a Knight .... A Fun new Idea I'm developing

2010-08-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

Please allow me to introduce to you "Once' " , Once is a knight from the Famed fairy Tale....Humpty Dumpty....Ever since That most dreadful day that he could not put Humpty back together. Mother Goose was made a laughing stock and the world of Fairy tales has all but disappeared from the annals of child hood. He was made an outcast and has been on an epic quest, in search of his dignity and the right sequence of events that will restore the Fairy Tale kingdom, along with his Honor and his rightful place among the Heroes of History. (and just maybe Mamby Pamby will quit making fun of him.............) Hang on for the ride of your life as Once, a king among all, proves that once a King always a king but "Once" a Knight is Enough!

Oh and if you are wondering how or why a loving Mother or Father would ever name their kid "Once"? Well,...would you have named him "Twice"?

stay tuned for updates

Some of my Painting skills "Adventure City Birthday Party house"

2010-04-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a Giraffe I painted for the party house. This was fun because I could do 3D type painting in some areas of the room. The party house was supposed to be a setting of inner city...A park, a zoo, a city street, a train station, a pet shoppe, a cake shoppe, a pizza joint, and a theater. This took me 3 months to paint. There are little carts as well that I painted up to look like Taxi's and there are 4 other service carts that look like a garbage truck which was used to buss the tables and a pizza truck that delivers the Pizzas and drinks to the kids tables. A Fire Truck that delivers the Birthday cakes. Also a party truck that delivers the presents to the tables. There are like 10 taxis that would wheel the kids to their party table. There is an actual train on tracks that travels through and and can drop kids off and pick them up at the train station and take them to the actual amusement park outside. I believe the place is still open in southern California its called Adventure City. You can even find them on the net at: www.adventurecity.com I think? Anyway thought I'd share some of my large painting ability. So here are a few more pics to check out. Oh and this was all painted with latex house paint. I used a semi gloss white tint base and tinted the paint for all my colors. The floor was painted on concrete with a epoxy base paint for high traffic areas. All in all this was a very fun project to do.

I also got to design the characters for the park they are City Kitty and Hobby Doggy if I can find some pics of them I'll post them as well. hope you enjoy these?!

Kingsley's Meadow.....wow I found these old pics and thought I'd share

2010-04-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

These three pics are some of the sets I designed and built for a Video series called "Kingsly's Meadow" If I can find more of the pictures I will post them. I thought they would be cool for some of you to see. I designed all the puppets for this show and did the first activity books that accompanied the release of the first video. I actually even got to be one of the puppeteers for one of the main characters that has gone on to be one of the stars of the show he is a chipmunk his name is Munk. Thought I'd just share some more of my past.

Up late doodling

2010-03-21T02:52:00.000-07:00

Just had some time on my hands this evening and figured I'd try to get the ole creative juices going. I have a book to start illustrating soon so I gotta limber up.

a couple of fun characters I just created for a friend.

2010-02-27T13:30:00.000-08:00

Garbage critters

Our Son Brennan

2010-01-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

This is our Son "Brennan's" Senior Picture hahahaha looks like some sort of rock star huh? and all the girls think he's a doll and chase him hahaha Ahhh to be that young again Love ya Son!!!

Hahaha My Brothers and sisters God love them all.....I'm the one with the fishing pole

2010-01-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

Wow I found this on my sisters facebook account. I had forgotten about this pic for so long .......I think I was 6 or 7 in this pic. Taken in 1963 I believe? Man I'm getting old hehe This was taken by our Father. He fancy'd himself a pretty good photographer at the time...Wish I knew what happened to the rest of those old pics. The funny thing is I actually dressed like that all the time......I think I saw Huck fin at the drive in once and became a fan hahahahahaha.

The Winners ARE!!!!!

2010-01-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

Julian won First place in the 7 to 10 year old Category for the most Bright and colorful rendition of a Christmas tree I've ever seen! Congratulations JULIAN You will be notified asap of your winning.

Congratulations to Allie Mae you have won 2nd place in the 7 to 10 year old division we loved your warm rendition of Rudolf.

Congratulations to Sarah You've won 3rd place in the 7 to 10 year old category!!!!! what a wonderful pic of Santa!

More to come in just a bit!!! stay tuned

Tune in Wednesday 01-06-2010

2010-01-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

I will be making the announcments of the final winners of "The Great Christmas coloring page contest" Man it was hard to make the decissions. All the kids that entered needed praise for their fine work!

Christmas coloring page contest update!!!!!!

2009-12-23T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

This contest just got harder hahahaha I just recieved over 300 envelopes last night and they all have coloring pages in them GULP! Wow you guys are all going to have to give me a day or two to get them all scanned and loaded. I will be posting the Winners of the contest early next week so all you kids keep your fingers and toes crossed and we'll see who the winners are! Merry Christmas everyone! and thank you all so much for entering into the Great Christmas Coloring contest!

Merry Christmas to everyone I know!

2009-12-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year

From our home to yours we wish you all the very best.

from John, Samantha,

and all the kids.

My first Book Signing this year and it was a total success

2009-11-29T17:18:00.000-08:00

Hi every one,

Here are three pics of a book signing for "Jolly the ELF" we held at Borders Book Store at the Meadowood Mall, Reno Nevada. This was in the beginning, it got so busy my wife and I couldn't take any more pictures but it was a blast. We sold out and we have been asked to come back next weekend as well. We had Santa there all day which helped hahahaha But it was a blast and I'm looking forward to next weekend.

The Great Coloring page contest "GREAT NEWS"

2009-11-25T08:12:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

I am extending the entry date to the 22nd of December. There are so many kids from around the world that want to enter but are afraid that their entry will not make it to me in time so please send in your entries and get them to me as soon as possible Good luck kids!

Also please visit the Kids Colored ART review page just by clicking on the little elf in the top left column. Enjoy looking at all the other kids entries. Please leave comments too!

"Christmas Holiday" COLORING CONTEST!!!!

2009-11-03T19:07:00.000-08:00

WOW !! 10 to Choose From!!!

The easiest way to copy and print these pictures is to click on the one you want. Then save the page to your desk top then just open it from your desk top and then go to file and then click print.

3 divisions of age groups, 1 to 3, 4 to 6 and 7 to 10 will be judged

Hi Kids,

I'm going to have a coloring contest. This contest will be held over the next few weeks. I've noticed tons of you that visit my blog during the holidays like the free coloring pages. So I want to give back to you young Rembrandt's and show off your work and art ability. So instead of just coloring these Christmas pictures and hanging them up on the ole refrigerator. Scan them into the computer and send them to me. My e-mail address is cartuneman85@yahoo.com if you can't scan them in and send them that way just e-mail me and I'll give you my mailing address. So lets get going and share your art with the world!

All the entry's will be posted on my blog on a separate linked page. The winners art will be posted on the main page. There will be 3 place winners ....1st 2nd and 3rd. (But if you think about it all of you will be winners because your art will be displayed to the world right here on my blog)

note: (I just found out that there might be more prizes to come ....Stay tuned!) YAY!

The winners will receive:

1st place: Will win An autographed copy of Jolly the Elf and 2 each plush Jolly the Elf
friends dolls

2nd place: Will win a plush Jolly the Elf Friends doll.

3rd place: Will win an autographed original drawing and or a coloring page created by
me. Of course anyone who enters will have honorable mention on my blog!

All prizes are final

Please Visit: www.jollytheelf.com to see the book and plush dolls.

The Rules:

Dadgummit!!! everything has rules......

1) To enter and be eligible to win, you must be between the ages of 1 year to 10
years old. Of course anyone can enter but only children between the ages of 1
and 10 years will be verified as winners.
2) All entries must be received no later than midnight December 15th 2009. contest ends complete on Dec. 25, 2009. If you
are sending your art by e-mail please make sure that the art is sent in jpeg format
no larger than 8 inches x 10 inches 72 dpi. If you intend on mailing them to me
please e-mail at cartuneman85@yahoo.com and I will send you my mailing
address.
3) All entries must have the child's first name ONLY!!!! no last names please, and age attached to the coloring page entry. Separately the entry also must be accompanied by an address so as to receive any potential winnings. Not
to worry I'm not a spammer and will not sell or give away any vital information. Only
the child's first name, their age and maybe their general location such as country or
state if provided by the parent will be published with their art on this blog.
4) Any form of media may be used to color your masterpiece: Digital, Crayon, Colored
Pencil, Water Color, Marker or even chalk.
5) If you have one child or a house full only one piece of art per child can be
submitted.
6)Comments are urged So speak away and be nice, all these kids need praise! All comments on this blog and for the pictures that will be posted, can and only be
moderated by the blog and its owner. Google is not responsible for any of the prizes or contest in full or in part.
7) All information for the use of this contest only. Any other use strictly prohibited. All personal information gathered for this contest will be destroyed after the contest is completed. To insure all privacy to children and their family's.
8) Children's Privacy statement

We do NOT use online information for any purpose other than responding directly to the child's request.
We do NOT collect personally identifiable offline contact information.
We do NOT distribute to third parties any personally identifiable information.
We do NOT give the ability to publicly post or otherwise distribute personally identifiable contact information.

This site contains links to other sites. www.john-cartunemansdoodles.blogspot.com and www.jollytheelf.com is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such web sites.

I'm anxious to see your work, so kids get your art tools warmed up this is going to be a Blast!

Good luck to you all!

The Silver Star Ghoul Mine 2009 Our home this year ...Muahahahahahahahaha!!!

2009-10-25T11:44:00.001-07:00

This is our Halloween Display we put up every year. This year we enlarged it and added a tower with a hanging skeleton ....ooooooo! scary hahahahaha We love this holiday as all the others and we have a blast with all the kids. Hope you all enjoy the pics and have fun this year yourselves!
Believe it or not this only takes an afternoon to put up and take down. Lord help me, next year hahahahaha I wanna enlarge it some more! You wouldn't believe how many adults that will not walk the gauntlet to the front door to get candy hahahahahahahahahaha The inside is even scarier hahaha (well at least the kids think so).

(Click on pic for larger view)
Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

Introducing "Big Blue"

2009-10-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

Big Blue is an Elephant character I created for a national add campaign for Blue Box Moving containers. This has been a blast to work on and there is more to come and do. So I thought I'd share a few pics of him.

(please click on picture to enlarge)
All Characterizations of Big Blue are Trade Marked and Copyrighted by: Blue Box Container Corp. all rights reserved 2009

The Release of "Jolly The Elf" a Christmas Tradition coming soon

2009-09-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

Available this Holiday Season Through Amazon, Ingram publishing and fine book stores. Also Including Jolly The Elf... Plush Dolls, Christmas cards and a soon to be available Coloring and Activity book.

This Christmas.......... make it a Jolly Christmas Tradition!!

The Tradition of Jolly the Elf was first created over 40 years ago by Jo Shepherd Ripley and is still enjoyed by thousands of children through out the Midwest. I am very proud to have been the illustrator to bring the true Jolly to life and into your hearts This Holiday Season.

Announcing another book I've illustrated "The Secret of Willow Ridge"

2009-09-26T22:25:00.001-07:00

Due to be Released Soon
Available through Amazon Books and fine Book stores

Helen H. Moore, Illustrated by John Blackford
Foreword by Claudia Black, Ph.D.

Meet Gabe, an extremely likeable ten-year-old. Yet Gabe is almost-friendless, unhappy, and skeptical. He’s reeling from mistreatment at the hands of his addicted father and the effects the disease of addiction have had on his family. The good–and exciting–news is that Gabe is about to embark on a hopeful journey that leads him to take pride in his dad’s greatest accomplishment: recovery. Peppered with Gabe’s insights and enhanced with charming and evocative illustrations, The Secret of Willow Ridge: Gabe’s Dad Finds Recovery addresses the emotional and social issues children of addicts face, through an engaging and contemporary story.

Foreword written by renowned author Claudia Black, Ph.D. who is internationally recognized for her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders. Since the 1970s Dr. Black’s work has encompassed the impact of addiction on young and adult children.

Free halloween coloring pages for 2009

2009-09-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

This is the first of 4 new Free Halloween coloring pages, ENJOY Kids

I just had to add my favorite mummy enjoy

Just follow the unbroken web links to the finish...before
The Big Spider repairs her web and eats you!!!!

NOTE:
(Just Have Mom or Dad click on this picture then save a copy of it to their picture files on their computer and print it from there.)

Please allow me to introduce "JOLLY"

2009-09-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

"Jolly the ELF" a Christmas Tradition

2009-08-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Jolly is one of the books I'm currently working on and I thought I'd post a few of the pages here so you can see them. Hope you like them?

Leonardo an artist I admire....................

2009-08-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

WOW sorry I haven't been around for a while but I have had to knuckle down and work on some book illustrations but in between the pages I was able to do some self gratification (hehe) art and I thought I'd post some today and bring my blog back up to speed. Also I removed some of my most precious art hehe and stowed them away because I found I have a stalker and he was hacking me and trying to attach viruses to my art...I think he is gone now. So I'll start posting again.....man life sometimes can just get in the way of having fun.........can't it? Why do people have to try and destroy other people. I will never understand the use of computer viruses or reason behind hackers. I can see why now people go to war!

"Leonardo, a Art Rage Painting of mine"

A couple of Poster concept Designs for Burning man. If I get to go this year I'll use them to barter with hehehehe

An "IDLE" mind..........Illu Friday

2009-07-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

An IDLE mind is not very creative. Support Illustration Friday!! and create!

So the next time you find an artist that resembles this remark.."Slap the crap outta them"....For a blank piece of paper and an unused pencil are sad things to waste.

Illu Friday "Tango" Remember when.....?

2009-07-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

This picture says it all............Remember when....?

Illu Friday word "Hollow"

2009-07-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

The Sergeant had a hollow feeling his tank crews targeting was a tad off........

Snail Race

2009-07-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hope you guys like this one it was a fun Art Rage Pic to paint. I thought I'd post this before I figure out the word hollow for IF hahahahaha

Illu Friday "Shaky"

2009-07-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

"Antonio's" attempt to cross the Gorge was shaky at best!!! hehe

(click to enlarge)

More of the lost wizard

2009-06-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Well here is more of what I'm doing with "The Lost Wizard". I see all the elements of the piece in my head and I'm drawing them separately. Does that sound weird? Well, anyway hehe I'm drawing them separately and will lay them all out and put them back together in the scene. but when I do this I can move the scene around so I can achieve exactly what I'm looking for. So far this is what I have.....In the first Picture is the wizard talking to a local farmer looking for directions.....(May keep this one don't know yet?) I'll post more of the wizard later.

This is the second Lizard strider that the wizards apprentice rides. I am thinking of placing this guy just to the left of the wizards strider and a little behind. I'm not sure But I was thinking of having the apprentice still sitting in the saddle but facing left chatting it up with the farmers daughter? (any suggestions)

I thought I'd throw this in to give depth of field and an idea of immediate area. The actual poster size is 30x18 so a lot of the picture is still outside of this area.

and lastly: here is the wizards strider, all done up with his saddle and trappings.

Suggestions anyone? I'd love to here what you all think as I build this piece.

Lost with the wizard....hummmmmmmmmm?

2009-06-23T19:34:00.001-07:00

This is a warm up sketch to free my mind but it was so much fun that I kept going. hehe, I think I will save this sketch and add a wizard sitting or standing next to his guilded dragon strider, holding a road map looking lost .....and the BG I think will be out front of a rickety wood rail fence and on the road and behind the fence will be a cobblers country shanty with a bunch of kids looking and poking at the dragon strider as the wizard is oblivious to whats going on........hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ? I think I'll even add a wizards apprentice trying to impress the young cobblers daughter with his meager magic and ......OMG! I could just go on and on hehehe What do you guys think? Should I can this lil project or continue with it?

(Click on picture for larger view)

2009-06-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

Wow look!! More free coloring pages!!

I created these over 10 years ago. My goodness how time flies. These were for an activity book I created for a christian kids show produced by Sony. Called "Kingsly's Meadow" I created all the characters for the pilot show. Of which they created all of them into puppets as well. It was a blast to see my characters come to life. I'll have to dig up some of the old production photos I took during the making of the film and post them here sometime if anyone would be interested?

Changing the Look of her!

2009-06-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Well, For Fathers day the Wife and kids took me to Red Lobster where we had some Mud bugs and tators heheh then we went to the Mall where I baught my wife and daughter some new clothes hahahahahahahah then I was left alone hahahahaha the kids wanted to give me my space so I enjoyed an afternoon of peace and quiet and decided to give our boat a new look So I took off the old Decal and hand painted on some Flames! I think she looks faster huh? So She's ready for the lake now hehe It was a great day!! At least I didn't get a Tie! Thanks Babydoll and kids for a wonderful day!

June 2009

Old Decal 2004-2008

More Jona and the Whale story, Coloring Pages

2009-06-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Enjoy, more to come!

A funny "Jona" as well hehehe

More Free Coloring Pages!!!!!!

2009-06-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

Wow I just noticed I haven't posted any Free Coloring Pages in a while so here ya go and I'll post 3 more later in the week! These are from the Bible story "JONA and the Whale"

Sorry about that kids! I'll try to publish more soon!

When Pigs Fly!!!!

2009-06-09T20:30:00.001-07:00

Hahahaha,
I drew this for a lil drawing competition over at Jeff Lyngs Blog http://cartoonsinc.blogspot.com/ fun warm up for the day....

Heck if you go there and become a follower and enter before the 13th you could WIN a Snappy $100.00 dollar bill, good luck!!

Illu friday "Craving"!

2009-06-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

Rocky's "Craving" for human knowledge had left a mark!!!

OUCH!!

Illu Friday "Cracked" the truth about Venus de Milo

2009-05-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

Pinaclease is telling Alexandros that maybe if he can't do arms and hands then maybe being a sculptor isn't what it's all "CRAKED" up to be.....!!!!! Besides how many mistakes can one person make before it becomes insanity hahahahahahahahaha

"Hey Look at it this way Alex....., we now have plenty of manikins for the new gift shoppe!!" Besides...who is going to care about her arms in a few thousand years... anyway?"

(click on picture for larger image)

Another Don Bluth Animation Competition. This time it's For a Pygmy Owl, Character. Which will be used in a 3 minute animated short. Cool huh?!

2009-05-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well, My first thought was the character you see directly below hahahah I was just warming up. but then I started watching everyone else's Characters and I wanted to be a bit different. So I kept creating....The character description was one of a north American pygmy owl that never says anything but just watches with intent. Sort of like a grandfather that sits on his porch and watches traffic all day. So which one should I have submitted?

No.1... too silly?

No. 2 Just not quite right...hummmmmm?

No. 3 Hummmmmm? Maybe? what do you think?

No. 4... Nope not this one, To cheerful But he was fun to draw.....

(click on picture to enlarge)

No. 5 not another owl!!!!!
Just created this one......OMG I can't stop this is like a bad tune that gets stuck in your head....I drew another owl even though the competition is over hahahahaha I'm doomed.

(click on picture to enlarge)

Illu Friday..."PARADE"

2009-05-11T21:17:00.001-07:00

This was the first thing that popped into my head.......well maybe it's because I am working on a new publication of the book hehehehehe I was thinking about this book so much I even dreamed for the first time of being naked in front of hundreds of peoples!!! gulp!

illu Friday "Hierarchy"

2009-05-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you know it,
being low man on the totem pole
can really suck sometimes!!

Illu Friday "Theater"

2009-04-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Wow I almost forgot to do this hahahaha

I just drew this not more than 5 minutes ago ..sorry it's not a complete colored piece but at least it captures the feeling of the Theater. When ever I go to the theater I prepare myself for strong emotions that can change in an instant. That is what I felt when I drew this. Simple, but it worked for me.

ok I had to ad some sort of color "hehe"

ENJOY your day!

The great Rhino competition ...

2009-04-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone I have some great awesome news!

I am now the proud winner of the first drawing competition over at Don Bluth's Animation tutorial and artist forum site. Here is a picture of one of the contest winners!
drawn by: Nanook123's

if you wanna see my winning pic just click the Don Bluth Icon

in the left hand coloumn that you will find on this blog and then click on forums and then click on the Rhino compitition. Besides being a great site and Don Bluth being an out of this world artist creator of some of the greatist cartoons ever he is giving back to the young artist out there that want to learn the true craft of animation. Thank you MR. B for all that you do. It is not only an honor to be your first winner but also a honor to be a part of your community.

Illu. Friday "Impossibility"

2009-04-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

The word brought up so many different pics in my head and then I stumbled over an old piece I created for a kids show Idea. It was about a lil boy Zombie who wanted to be real and his buddy was always trying to make this wish come true! Even using after market parts like Mr. Tator head didn't even work. hehehe Hope you enjoy this one ...Forgive the photoshopped BG, this was done when I was learning how to use a computer hehehe

"Extreme Makeovers are almost always an "Impossibility!"

"Fame is Fleeting..........." A funny lil Joke I wrote, Enjoy

2009-04-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

(Click on pic to enlarge)

The Cave Artist!

Once upon a time ....say about 1100 BC, There was a tribe of great Hunters and Gatherers. They prided themselves on having the latest in Technology such as stone hued spears, wooden clubs and a cave Artist!
A Cave Artist?! Yes, a Cave Artist for this cave artist was no ordinary cave artist.....he was the tribes fore seer. He would paint on the cave walls the animals that the great hunters would go out and hunt that day for sustenance. He was hailed as the giver of life to his people.
Only knowing of his art and nothing beyond the cave. The cave artist Feeling so proud of his found fame thought he would bestow a great piece of art upon his people. So, he painted a great saber tooth tiger on the wall and with a smile, fell asleep that morning exhausted from his work, ................................................................ The surviving hunters returned that evening and clubbed the cave artist to death!

Damn Critics'

Spring brings Instinct! hehe

2009-02-21T11:54:00.001-08:00

With Spring right around the corner the lil critters of the world rely upon their "Instinct" to find their way.... funny play on words and a very old joke hahahahahaha
hope you like?!

(Click to enlarge to see what Baby bird is saying)

I just had to draw this.............hahahahahahahahaha

Illu Friday "Celebrate"

2009-02-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

Ok I'm a slacker and figured it would be easy to celebrate the Valentine Holiday so I did! haha Here is a coloring page for all the peoples I wish to Celebrate Valentines day with.

enjoy!!!!!

Illu Friday "Time" hehe

2009-02-06T07:53:00.001-08:00

"Outta Time" hahahahaha

Click on pic to view larger

For Illu-Friday "Flawed"

2009-01-30T09:26:00.001-08:00

Even though Billy was a zombie and flawed in many ways his worst flaw was he was always loosing his head!

Illu Friday "Climbing"

2009-01-24T16:13:00.000-08:00

......after climbing to the top of the water tower the young lady got to see what a goofball town she had stopped in!

OK, OK, I know I was really reaching here but this is the only pic I could find that was fun and had a ladder in it hahahahahahahahahahahaha so for your enjoyment I'm adding my own lil pic and word hahahahah I did this up for another lil drawing chalange and the word was Wonder......This is a baby while it's still in the whomb and the wonders of life hahahahahahahahahahaha I know I'm bad........

My next interview teaser, "The Master...Ben Caldwell"

2009-01-22T20:38:00.000-08:00

You are gonna like this!!

Coming soon to my Blog..............hehehehehe

"Aurther Ant" the Finally!

2009-01-19T12:22:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone.
Here are the last two coloring pages for "Aurther Ant" I hope you all enjoyed this? I have a couple others in the making......"The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Eny, Meany, Miny, Moe". I'll be posting more interviews as well. I'll keep you all informed!

Illu Friday "PALE"

2009-01-16T18:07:00.000-08:00

I know I look a little washed out and Pasty and maybe even a bit insipid or even a tad light. But Pale......? Hummmmm? well maybe...hahahaha I know this is a wee bit gross (HeHe) but hey a guy needs to get some color in his cheeks after a long cold winter

Don't laugh to hard I've lost twenty pounds since this picture! and have a great Tan!

An Interview with Martin Wittig

2009-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

Click on the title of this post and it will take you to "TOTORO" a book that Martin was a contributor too and his work is still on display please visit Martins blog as well at, (Just clip and paste in your browser...)
http://martinwittig.blogspot.com/

The Interview
Hi everyone Please allow me to introduce to you "Martin Wittig" One of the finest animal character artist and cartoonist and animator I've ever seen Bar none!!! I've always wanted to interview Martin so lets welcome him and enjoy his thoughts and his wonderful art.

1.) Martin?, Like everyone else, there is a story behind how (we) you as an artist become an artist and the path you took to get where you are today. You know like who influenced you and why? At what age did you decide to become an artist? What college did you attend and do you have any insight for any young artist on his way to a university?

I can remember always being interested in art. I wasn’t particularly interested in Animation as a career until much later. I spent a lot of time drawing and copying images from cartoons and Disney books. That was the beginning for me. I would say that my influences later on were mostly animation artists that I read about and admired. These were people like Glen Keane, Andreas Deja and so on. I was really limited in my scope of what I knew about the industry and art in general, so I clung to the current giants in the field, which of course was Disney at the time.
I went to the School of Visual Arts in NYC. In hindsight, this may have not been the best choice in terms of getting the strongest background in animation. School was pretty frustrating because it seemed that the students had a better understanding than the administration did of the kind of curriculum we needed. However, I think I made the most of it, and opted to choose drawing classes instead of the scheduled humanities classes. After my third year of school I was accepted to the Disney Boot Camp, upon completion of which I decided to start working in the industry rather than returning to school.
I think that the best advice that I could give would be to do your research! Look up the schools that you are thinking about attending. Talk to others in the Animation Community about them, and find the best place for yourself. Once you are attending a college, don't take it easy! Do your work and bust your butt to get your skills up there. Get a mentor in the animation field, and constantly show your work around. Most importantly, be humble! You can’t grow as an artist if you are in love with your work or have an attitude. I still show my work to others, and take their suggestions to heart.

2.) Wow that was a loaded question huh? Hahaha ,………….Being the artist you are today where do you see yourself in ten years?

Oh man, that's a tough one. I think about that all the time. Hopefully, I’ll be working on a great project at one of the Feature studios doing some character development. I also would love to see my work in some children's books! That has been a dream of mine. Lastly, I hope that I have more time to spend doing things like painting, just for fun.

3.) Hahahaha don't we all..... So, Did you have to study animal anatomy and to what extent to be able to draw the characters you do draw?

I did study quite a bit of animal and human anatomy. I took a few classes at the Museum of Natural history, and did a lot of research on my own. I believe that it really has helped me on a day to day basis. I love studying anatomy. It was one of my favorite classes at art school. And by Anatomy, I don’t mean rendering a femur for 10 hours with a pencil, lol, but rather the functionality of the limbs, how they work, what do those muscles do? I used to live upstate NY, and we had a small local zoo that did not charge admission. So I would go there almost every day off, and draw the animals. They only had 20-25 different animals, but it was great! I spent weeks drawing one animal. When I would go home, I would compare my sketches to some anatomy reference, and correct my own work. I know it sounds funny, but it really helped me remember things, and the drawings weren’t precious to me, so I didn’t mind drawing over top of them. I must say that in a few weeks time, I could draw the animal with my eyes closed! If I can give any advice, please draw from life!!!!

4.) I agree totally thats how I taught myself as well. How has the Computer changed the way you do art work? Or has It?

ABSOLUTELY!!! I use a Cintiq almost every day. I started using one at work a few years ago with much hesitation, but then I began enjoying it, and now I have one at home. It certainly has a few drawbacks, and I am sure that in some ways it has hurt my abilities. Paper just feels so nice to work on, and certainly the screen just can’t duplicate that feeling. But it also has some great positives - it helps me to work faster and with more precision.

5.) If you could work anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Italy, France or Japan!! Man, I fell in love with France a few years ago. I would love to work there in those incredible surroundings. All that history and Art!! Japan looks like an amazing place too, and I’m such a huge fan of Japanese culture and history, that I know it would have a positive impact on my work just being there.

6.) If you could sit down with any artist in the world, who would it be? and what would you ask him?

Wow,...dead or alive?....I think that if it had to be an artist who is alive, I would probably say Carter Goodrich. If I could pick one who was dead, I'd say Rembrandt. With Carter Goodrich, I would ask him how he got so damn good! Actually, I would probably have a well prepared list of like 100 questions asking him everything from his approach to where he grew up. It would be a long day for him. As for Rembrandt, I would love to know where his inspirations came from, what he was thinking when he did some of his works, how he approached a painting or sketch, that sort of thing.

7.) What has been the most important thing anyone has ever taught you about your craft and who was that person? Also how has that changed your life?

Hmmmm… Thinking back, I remember a lot of things that people have taught me about my craft, but I honestly cannot say whether one was more important than the other. College was great in that I had opportunities to get advice from classmates and teachers. In the real world, it was kind of like sink or swim for me, lol. It seemed like I was put in the deep end of the pool, and I had to do it alone. Honestly, if I had to give anyone credit for me still being here today, it would go to my wife. She puts up with me, and is my constant inspiration and healer for when I’m down in the dumps....So yeah, it's probably her advice to keep going, and that I’ll get there one day that keeps me driven towards success.

Speak Up

Last but not least ……..Step up on the soap box and speak your mind. Tell the world how you feel about the future of your work or how you feel about the price of eggs….haha whatever you want…… this section of the interview is the real you….. ………

This is what I have been waiting for! I can finally gripe about how crappy it is out here! Lol. I thought about how I would answer this, and let me tell you, I think that I have exhausted my opinions on what is causing a lot of the crap in this industry. Actually, I am tired of even talking about it. I can't change it. But what I would like to say, is just focus on your work, on your goals. That's what I am trying to do. Push yourself as much as you can, and constantly reevaluate where you have been with your work, and where you would like to be. All of this crap going on with the economy, and lack of jobs is enough to drag anyone down, but this is the best time to shut that stuff out, and remember why we all chose this field. It's about the art.http://martinwittig.blogspot.com/

Illu Friday "Contained"

2009-01-09T07:42:00.000-08:00

Hahahaha! This was an illustration I created for a bank here in Reno and they put it up on billboards all over. It said....."Tired of being caught up in the rent-cycle? Be self-contained and own a home." see your lender .

looks like he is contained hahahahaha

Sneak Peek of "Martin Wittig's" work!!!

2009-01-07T16:13:00.000-08:00

I have a new Interview coming up and I'd like to pre introduce you all to Martin Whittig, A fantastic artist and character designer. I should have his interview up this weekend! Hope you all enjoy!

Illustration Friday....." Resolve", hahahaha not!

2009-01-04T19:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not going to put in for this Illustration Friday....for the word is resolve. I have nothing for Resolve, except for the fact I resolved to put 3 more coloring pages up for Aurther Ant. Yay ...enjoy :)

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!

2008-12-31T16:32:00.000-08:00

Illustration Friday, "Clandestine"

2008-12-26T20:03:00.000-08:00

So I got a new 24 inch screen for Christmas and this is what I drew this evening on it for illustration Friday!
My Wife really loves me!!!!

The clandestine meetings of the woodland Princess and her lover had to end. So she is saying goodbye to her love The Beetle King.

man you wouldn't believe the amount of detail I can put into this art now....! WOW!

(Please Click on the pic. the large view is much better!)

Woot! Woot! somethin to shout about

2008-12-23T20:31:00.001-08:00

JR Poulter and I have a published poem and poster at Sharing-books, of course all I did was the art but hey gotta start some where hehe. Here is the e-mail I received today "YAY" what a nice early Christmas gift! Just click the Woot Woot title above and it will link you to the sharing-books page!

Expelling spell by J.R.Poulter
Written by Jennifer Poulter
Illustrated by John Blackford

Published on December 23, 2008

Hi,

We are pleased to inform you that you recently submitted book, Expelling spell by J.R.Poulter, was accepted for publication.

A committee of qualified volunteer librarians evaluates each submission against the Contribution Guidelines available on our site. In this case your Works were judged as fitting within our guidelines. We thank you for contributing material suitable for our audience.

Your book will now be available for all our visitors from around the world to read and appreciate. We recommend you let all your friends know about your success and invite them to visit our site and see your book by following this link above to ...Expelling spell by J.R.Poulter

Congratulations,

The Sharing-Books Volunteer Librarians.
www.sharing-books.com

Happy Happy Everyone!!!!!!!!!

For Illustration Friday " Voices"

2008-12-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

I was rumaging thru some of my old stuff and found this. It was a pic from a thread I started over in the Animation forum, It was only ment to be a few funny little drawings that ended up having a life of it's own for a while. It was sort of like a daily ongoing web comic that just got nuts......anyway I rememberd drawing this one because the character had voices in his head telling him what he should do......go after the bad guy? stand true to his freinds? take the town hooker and run? or take his true love the sheriffs horse and ride off into the sunset?..........you had to be there. anyway enjoy.....

<

This pic was one I drew while I was at a very dull all day meeting and I remember doing this one so well, because all I remember about that day was the mundane voices that lay in the back ground as I was off in the world of "John" hahahahaha

Our 16 year old came Thru!!! YAY!!!

2008-12-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

So here is Our Son Brennan's Christmas card.....Cool huh?
Since he is 16 notice the EMO Santa hehe.

Our kids are making Our Christmas cards!

2008-11-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

I had to post these they are all so much fun and they each worked hard on them. Our kids wanted to do the Christmas cards this year so please allow me to introduce the next great artist they are......

"Sierra" Our beautiful 12 year old Daughter created this gorgeous piece. She's always drawing and I can see natural talent in her.

"Casey", Our other cutie pie of a daughter (10 years old) created a Christmas frog...hahahahaha she hates it when I tell her to be original and this is what she created!

"Ryan" Our Son, (8 years old) thought a chili pepper santa was funny so here is his take on it hahahaha good isn't he?

So there you have it the Blackford Christmas card review!!!!!! Now if we can just convince our 16 year old Brennan to contribute hummmmmmmm?

3 more pages of Aurther Ant.

2008-11-30T16:35:00.000-08:00

Stick around and I'll post the remaining pages soon!!!

Yay...Christmas is on it's way!

2008-11-30T16:24:00.000-08:00

3 more pages of Aurther Ant.

2008-11-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

We are ready for Halloween!

2008-10-23T07:05:00.001-07:00

Our front lawn Muah-hahahahahaha, This is the Silver Star Ghoul Mine. Scary looking huh?

Things I've built for my kids

2008-10-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

"Shrek's Play House"
I built this last summer for the Children's make a wish program. They auctioned it off for close to 10 thousand dollars. It was a ton of fun to build and a ton of fun to participate....I won an award too. hehe

Here are a few things I've built my kids in the recent past few years and I thought I'd share them with anyone who cares....ya I know I spoil them rotten! (click on the pictures below for a larger view)

it actually snowed here yesterday and last night!

2008-10-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Ugh I wasn't ready for the snow....It felt so cold last night.....I took my wife to see Paul Anka, (Classy old singer) My wife had no clue as to who he is. hahahaha but he has been not only a great entertainer but a great song writer. She recognized a bunch of his songs ....Anyway!!!....when we left the concert hall the snow was coming down so hard it felt and looked about like this......Funny thing is, the day before yesterday it was 80 degrees.

(a painting I did for a book I'm illustrating)

3 more pages of Aurther Ant.

2008-10-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

"Mauricio Herrera"

2008-10-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Lets All give a great welcome to an International Favorite artist, "Mauricio Herrera",
(For interview in Spanish), Please click on Mauricio's name at the top

1. When did you know that drawing comic art was going to be your life and why?

I believe at the age of 14 I started collecting comic books choosing them by their authors. In collage I would comment to my friends and ask them what they thought. They really liked my work. So, in turn my aspirations started growing for the world of pencils and drawing boards. It was a typical case of a student drawing for his Peers.

2. Who inspired you the most in the comic art arena?

As the same as many colleagues I loved "Sword and Sorcery", So I'd have to say of course "Frank Frazetta". He is my maximum idol. Even though in the 90's I also loved the work of "Simon Bisley" and before that it was "Jim Lee". I believe that Frazetta's art pushes something in me to prove my abilities to myself some day on my own. It's also the doing... the dedication to entertainment with a logical content with a prospective of youth that is valid, solidity and honor that deepens through the visual art and surrealism that one can find in the images of Frazetta.

3. Does comic art differ in your country as it may in other countries? Or is it just the dialog? Or are there any differences at all?

Of Course, In Chile during the 60's there was an epic of gold in comics. A lot of our Comic book titles formed part of a collective memory in Latino America. But during the 70's and the 80's A Military dictatorship ruled our country so comic art and it's expressions all but disappeared for a very long time. But later it would emerge as a way to speak out in protest with a mixing of social tribute of urban and punk. I was able to read and witness all this during my boyhood. In the 90's, There was no more dictatorship and I began working.
As for the tendency of entertainment today, the reconciliation of attractive graphics and interesting content can be found in the development of many comics and a lot of today's authors.

4. Was it difficult to get a contract with Marvel and or DC comics to draw their Comic books?

No I believe it wasn't (That is if you have what they are looking for). But So far getting them to look at new projects is another story. haha I haven't had the guts to do this yet. but I do know a lot of other authors that have. They have met with defiance that forms part of this industry.

5. Do you do all the inking and coloring of your own work?

Yes, In my country every author is in charge of their own production of art. We artist in Chile gathered our influences from French comics, Belgen and comics from Spain.
Although there are other authors that work for other publications and they have the original artist do the pencils and another artist do the ink and add their personal touch and then a colorist artist that adds their influence so then the original interpretation of the original artist is kind of lost. But that's my opinion.

6. What has been your most Favorite piece of art you have created and why?

I got to produce a piece of art that I really enjoyed a drawing of a myth and legend card game from my country. It's called "Kitsune", A little more elegant and refined game than "Monsters and Gentlemen" hahahahaha Even though it is not the most technical or detailed piece I've ever drawn. It took a lot more time to create the correct look and tough poses.

7. What do you like to do besides draw?

A lot of my time deals with family activities. I enjoy watching movies and cartoons. I play video games with my son and I love to travel and seenew places and meet new people.

8. Just for fun: If you could have any artist from the beginning of time sit down with you and talk. Who would it be and why?

Need you ask!!! hahahahaha "Frazetta!" of Course. I would tell him I would exchange 100 drawings of dinosaurs for 1 of his of Eva.

Thank you Mauricio for such an in depth interview.

If you would like to see more of this mans wonderful works please visit:
http://el-grimlock.deviantart.com/
http://www.berserker-comics.com/

Aurther Ant and his ABC's

2008-10-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

Three more pages to color and have fun with before the next interview! Enjoy!

2008-09-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

"I invented these for my kids and they love them every year for Halloween"

A freind of mine got me to thinking......(I'm dangerous when I think hahaha) So I thought I'd share this with everyone.
OK here is the recipe for Hairy Hot dogs........ One packet of Hot dogs brought to room temperature (this is a must because cold Hot dogs straight from the Fridge are too hard to poke the pasta through) One Package of angel hair pasta Spaghetti sauce (your Favorite)Hot Dog Buns and Kids to do the Fun What you do is You take the package of angel hair pasta and break the pasta in half and divide among the kids and have them poke the pasta thru the Hot dogs. As much as they like. The more you poke thru the more hairy their hot dog will get. Then You put all the hairy hot dogs in a large pot of cool water (I use a large glass pot so the kids can watch the hot dogs cook. That's even more fun.) You bring the water and hot dogs to boil. Boil for 8 to 10 minutes.Warm your spaghetti sauce and have on the side. Serve the hot dogs on toasted buns with garlic butter and spaghetti sauce (or no garlic butter at all). You can add cheese to this as well. You'd be surprised at how delicious these are. My kids love them.......I invented these for my kids.....

Hope you all enjoy them. Please let me know how they turned out for you.

An Interview with "Kathleen Rietz"

2008-09-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

Allow me to introduce and welcome the beautiful "Kathleen Rietz" A fantastic childrens book illustrator and designer. One of the top illustrators who are always in demand!

I'm a freelance artist and a "sometimes" art teacher. My hope is to make a positive difference in the world in everything I do
1.) I’ve read that you are Teaching Art Classes. So What is the most fun thing to teach about your Trade and what has been the most Challenging? (Sorry this was a double sided question haha)

Actually, I have taken a break from teaching this year. But I do miss it. I really enjoyed teaching children between the ages of 11 and 18. They are able to understand more complex and sophisticated concepts and their brains are fertile grounds for creative development. I find that when they love art, they willingly spend hours mastering and learning their craft. I find a lot of satisfaction in helping them to develop that love of art, since it is something they will take with them for a lifetime. I also know that if you give a bored teen an activity to enjoy, they will be less likely to get caught up in a bad crowd.

2.) I understand that when you were in college you also did freelance art work at the same time. So was this a hard thing to do or was it rewarding and in what ways?

Art was something I always wanted to do, whether I got paid or not. But they pay is definitely a reward. It was fun to be able to experience the business side of the industry first hand while I was still in school. I did everything from hand lettered calligraphy to painting murals for children. I am still very diverse in my skill set to this day.

3.) I know there is something about art that draws us all in either just be a viewer and appreciate art work, or the creator of artistic expression. What was it that made you want to become the creator of art work?

I was drawing and painting before I learned to write my name, so for me it was innate.

4.) Do you ever just create for your own enjoyment anymore?

Yes. Today I hope to go outside and draw in my sketchbook. I also love photography.

5.) What is your suggestion to get ones name out there and in front of prospective clients?

Promote, promote, and promote some more. The internet has made it much easier to get your work out there where it can be seen. A website is a must. Or a blog. A blog is free. You can also find critique groups in your area which can give you valuable feedback when developing your portfolio.

6.) What is the best piece of advice you can give to a young artist.

Don’t forget to learn good basic business skills if you plan to pursue a career in art. Many artists lack business skills, and you do not want to be responsible for indulging the “starving artist” stereotype. I would also say, do not do a job for free. Many companies will try to take advantage of young artists by promising to give them credit for a project in lieu of payment. Trust me, your talent is valuable, and someone who doesn’t want to pay you for it is not worth working for. A reputable company understands how business is run and will always pay you for your work. When a new artist does a job for free, it also devalues the rest of us artists as a whole because then we are expected to also work for free.

7.) Can you give us a sampling of your publishers and a small list of Book Titles?

“Prayers for Children”, Regina Press. “A Very Merry Mice Tale”, Roman. “My New Pet”, Harcourt. And I have 2 books I am now illustrating for 2009. One is a yoga book for children, which will be published by an independent publisher. The other is called “Little Black Ant on Park Street”, which will be published by Soundprints for the Smithsonian Institution.

8.) In the most recent past…what has been the hardest project to work on and why?

Most projects have some sort of challenge, whether it is a tight deadline or technically challenging artwork. The “Little Black Ant” book has both. There are 14 double page spreads in the book, and each painting will have to be technically accurate since it is a book about nature. I am working on the yoga book simultaneously, so the deadlines overlap. It is a challenge.

9.) Just for fun: If you knew that today was going to replay itself For the rest of your life…..what would be the last thing you’d do before you went to sleep tonight?

Laugh and talk and eat and draw with the people who mean the most to me in my life. I like ending the day with appreciation in my heart and a smile on my face.

Please comment on this interview and take the time to visit all the sites you will find Kathleen in. Let us all welcome her and applaud her work!

Check out Kathleen's Blog at http://licoricegirl.blogspot.com/ Check out her portfolios at Picture book http://picture-book.com/user/47 and http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=kittykat

SNEAK PEEK....Cover page of One of the books I'm doing..

2008-09-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

This has been FUN! Now just 32 more color pieces to do.
Jennifer Gladen is the Author, ( a great childrens book Writer) I will let you all know when it hits the Book stores. Please visit http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/ and check out all the other great Authors and illustrators there! You can also check them out here as well...
http://guardianangelfamily.blogspot.com/

Don't worry Folks the two interviews are still warming up in the bull pin.....The two illustrators are just so darn busy!!! back to you soon!

A little eye candy just before the interviews!!

2008-09-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

and yes this is my work.