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.

happy birthday

My wife's birthday was two days ago, and I did a crappy job of addressing it. I was too wrapped up in my own affairs to pay it much attention. Not a good way to keep a healthy relationship!!

It is not that I didn't care, but I didn't take the active role in making it a special day for her. So, it ended up being just another day. Even after all these years, birthdays are special, and need to be treated as such. So, to those readers who are new to the business of relationships, remember to remember your better half's birthday, and do something special with him/her. It is now too late for me to make my better half's birthday special, but watch out for next year!!! and the year after!!!! and the year after that!!!

So, this little toon is simply posted to tell my honey that I really do love her, and once again wish her a happy birthday...even if I didn't do right.

downtown banners

All right Everybody!!! I get to honk my own

horn!!! This is a photo of banners I drew for the Bend Downtown Association. These are up all over downtown. Another company did the graphic layout, but the cartoons are MINE!!! It is always fun to fantasize, and think that maybe I am getting famous. Anyway, these toons show some fun whimsey, and I am always into fun whimsey! So, come to Bend and see my posters!

House in Miranda

Every once in a while, my drawings overlap with my
profession, designing houses.
This is a drawing from my sketchbook. I was at my sister-in-law's house up in the hills of Humbolt Co., and had some time to spare. So, I decided to sketch her house. It is a different looking house, obviously vintage 70's hippy-style. It is very cool, though, with a lot of beautiful redwood. Anyway, I think I caught the essence of the design well, and it reads very clearly also. It is fun to look through old sketchbooks and come across little gems like this.

good wolf vs bad wolf

This is a drawing I did for a book of fables that I helped
create for my tae kwon do instructor and the owner of the gym. I illustrated a whole compilation of stories. It was a lot of fun, and Master Graff has used the book a lot since, reading the fables to his students at the end of class. It is very rewarding to know he uses the book.
This fable is of a native american grandfather who is telling his grandson about two wolves, one very good wolf, and one evil wolf. The grandson asks, "Which wolf is stronger?" The grandfather replies, " Whichever wolf you feed more."

think about it....