Pendleton Roundup

Here's a fun one, just because it exudes excitement and motion. Besides, cowboys are just plain fun to draw!! This is from my '95 calendar, "Welcome to Oregon". It featured fun things to do or watch throughout the state of Oregon . This drawing represented the Pendleton Roundup, which has gotten to be quite the event, attracting pro rodeo cowboys from all over the country. I haven't been to see it yet, but have heard that it is really fun. Hopefully I will get to see it b.i.d. (before I die).

first greatest hits

So, I have begun working on the calendar for 2011!! Wow, I have been doing this for a long time! My first calendar was in 1994, so that's 17 calendars I have put together. So, I thought it might be fun to do a "greatest hits" series of posts. I will be selecting my favorite drawings, for whatever reason.

My first "greatest hit" is this series from a wonderful trip to Nepal, back in the '03 calendar, which means we were there in '02. I chose to post both these drawings because they were in the same calendar, and were from the same trip. And what a trip it was!! Lindsay did an amazing job of planning our itinerary. She was there for 6 months or so, while our trip was to visit her for 2 weeks. Wow, hiking, paddling, more paddling, riding elephants, bird watching, shopping,and tons more!! So, two highlights were riding elephants, and, believe it or not, battling leeches during our 4-day trek. Our elephant ride really did come face to face with a rhinoceros!! Quite a stand off. Fortunately, our elephant won the argument. Then the battle of the leeches wasn't necessarily a good highlight, but certainly something all of us will remember.

I think these toons really capture the feeling of the time, and have a spot of humor as well. They were colored with my felt markers, which is less formal and precise than Photoshop, but a lot of fun to work with. So, the feeling that these toons evoke from me make them one of my "greatest hits."

pygmy owl

I found this one in my archives, and although it never made it to the calendar, it catches a fun theme. Pygmy owls are, as their name implies, really small. Mean, but small. When one landed at our pond, there was actually a pretty big hub-bub. The other animals that come to our pond were pretty agitated. But this LITTLE bird, being a bully and hunter was an interesting juxtaposition. So, that is what spawned this sketch. I am sure the Pygmy Owl has a short person complex.