Last of the Homes Drawings (206-208)

Finally, I have finished the house drawings for the Festival of Trees Tour of Homes. This last one was a bit of a struggle since the homeowner provided a picture that was very small. I am sure they will be somewhat disappointed because they think they provided something else.

I have been trying to find all of the scans of the past years. I became religous about them only in the past 5 or 6 years, so it is difficult to assemble them back together. I am trying to put together a booklet with as many of the 75 donated drawings as I can find. I might try to convince them to put the booklet on display with the current drawings thinking it might generate some business.

Funny, I need the work, but I really didn't enjoy doing these drawings as much. I've been spending more time working on Illustration Friday sketches and paintings and found this a bit tedious. Oh, well. They turned out pretty nice and I will go into the past of the Tour of Homes knowing that I did something well and meaningful.

Move on.

I didn't get a drawing done for IF this week. The Fast theme was ok. I first thought about several ideas only to quickly see them done by others. Then I thought I would just go ahead and do my take of a Cheetah, but didn't get around to it until there were about 10 images dealing with that. I finally settled on a surfing image, but couldn't manage it with all the other things this past week. I look forward to the new theme and will definitely get something in this week.

Four of Five Festival Homes (209-218)

I have only one remaining for this donation. A very busy week since last post meant that I could only work on this one in small portions. I've done a lot of graphic design projects in the week, but nothing particularly creative or original, so I chose not to post it here. This is the fourth of the five donation drawings. The last one will be a challenge, but it will be the last for sure.

IF: Frozen (219)

It won't be long...

Once or maybe twice a year it snows to amount to anything around this part of the United States. I live in the Tidewater region of Maryland on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. These blackbirds are very tough and scavange for whatever they can find. Here they came in behind the squirrels who usually leave very little.

More Festival of Trees Drawings (219-222)

Not too much other than these two drawings for Festival of Trees Tour of Homes. Two more to go. No time to paint and weather is crappy for getting in the shed. I'll have to decide where to paint for the winter--heater in the shed or paint smell in the house.

Version 2 of Napoleon (224-223)

A while back, I created a handwashing poster that featured Napoleon Bonaparte. The customer wanted to use a work for hire piece that a gaming company had as it's brand. I created a take off on Napoleon's portrait for the poster. I posted the illustration here and I thought it was pretty good.

The customer wanted changes. I can never get over how people seem to think that they can change a photo or illustration as an "edit." I think they think that there is a magic change button on the computer or something. Anyway, it was very hard to get them to tell me what they liked because they wanted the other illustration. Of course it was, first inappropriate for the message and audience, and second, looked like Lord Farquar from Shrek.

So here's my most recent take. I hope they accept because it makes a good image. But I don't really care, since each time they change I get to draw and paint! (on their dime)

Top image is new bottom is the older version.

IF: Flying--This Little Guy Caught the Wrong Flyer (225)

I tried to reach outside the box for this week's IF illustration. Nothing is actually flying, but both the Radio Flyer and the bird have the potential for flight. We'll see if this idea flies with the audience!

Working on Festival of Trees (226-230)

I've been working on some house portraits for the Hospice Festival of Trees. For 15 years I have donated 5 illustrations as gifts to the people who open their houses to a tour of homes. This helps raise money for Talbot Hospice. Several years ago, I was ready to move on from this project, but my Dad used a very limited hospice service when he died and I felt obligated to continue. That has been more than 10 years ago, so I will be concluding this donation this year with my 75th rendering. Here is the first of the last 5.

Foggy morning (232-231)

Photoshop sketch...foggy morning light.

A gallery event (236-233)

Friday I toyed with the idea of attending First Friday gallery walk in town. I was distracted by an issue with the car dealer, so I opted not to go. I also knew that Saturday my friend Greg's gallery 447 was having an event and I would go to that.

I went and was interested in the interaction. I thought that several of the artists were very good and the others were good enough. I think I could participate at that level. I need to get busy creating more work. One of the artists , Mary Ann Schindler was very modern and good. We chatted for a bit. It seems that you almost have to wait until you are retired to do this full time.

Greg wants me to take space in one of the studios, but I can't afford $350 a month and get the most out of it. Perhaps one day.

IF: Germs -- She doesn't feel well

I've been considering this Illustration Friday subject for a couple of days. It appears that most folks are approaching it from a cartooning or abstract point of view. I wanted to take a different tact and went with this illustration of a little girl not feeling well. The germs are attacking her from in the air.

Peacock (239-237)

This is from a picture my wife took on Maui last summer.