IF - Peace

It's winter and there's no snow in the Mid West, Indiana to be specific, so of course my mind is on how a coating of fresh fallen snow makes the world around you seem so peaceful.
When I think of snow I think of snowmen. So I usually draw a lot of them during this tiime of year.
For this image I decided at the beginning that I wanted a banner that said "PEACE" and a snowman. Other than that I had no idea what the image would contain.
As I was sketching out the pole and snowman I had to put down my sketchbook and take a candy cane away from my 11 month old daughter so she wouldn't choke on the wrapper or the candy cane for that matter.
When I sat back down and started sketching I found myself drawing the snow man holding candy canes. Go figure.
Well he had to have the canes for a reason so I started adding animals who were holding candy canes that they had gotten, and those that were still waiting to get one.
So the snowman is spreading peace by sharing.

IF -Help

This weeks IF topic - Help.
Like most people my first thought was to draw someone in a situation where they needed help. No too easy.
My next thought was a situation where someone is helping another person. Still too easy
My next thought was a sitation where someone is getting help they don't want. Better, I'll start there.
Then I got hungry and went to Mc Burger King where they seem to employ people who could care less if you're there or not.
That's when the idea for this drawing was born.

IF - Might

I'm posting these because they are for an authors concept for a graphic novel that "might" go somewhere.
All I can tell you is that the main character is a snake.
The art is just in rough form to give the author an idea of what I would do with his story.

IF - Wind

Someday I'll be able to catch up and do these once a week again.
This IF word was Wind.
Most of the people who posted read it as if it were "blowing in the wind"
I read it as "Could you wind us up please?"

Jungle

This is a workbook cover that I did for a client. It's in stores like K-mart, Walmart, and Office Depot now,
I also did one of a girl snorkling under water.
I'm also including my submissions for "sorry" , "cake", and "portrait" from the few weeks.
I never got to post them in time.

The little kiities are having cake and tea.

This one is a portrait of me in mmy studio working. It was taken for a local paper.

Never get a haircut from the new girl.

IF - Angels and Demons

Angels and Demons.....
Kids are often thought of as little angels or little demons...
Nah, too easy.
Competeing sports teams?....
Nah, too much research, I'm not into sports.
They're on opposite sides. One's from all the way up there.
The other's from all the way down there.
So where would they meet?
Oh, I got it. In the lobby waiting for their elevator to take them up or down to their office.
So then what do they do while they wait for the elevator to arrive?
battle- no, they're civilized. After all each one is just doing his job after all.
So while they wait they chat a bit.
What do they chat about? I don't know. that's why the balloons are empty.
Why don't you help me out and suggest what they might be saying.
Keep it clean, they are civilized after all.

IF - Under the Sea

Carl was an adventurous Cucumber who one New Years Eve made a resolution to do, eat, drink, or buy everything he could think of that started or sounded like the letter C.
That's why we find him in his current situation.
Deep Sea diving with a carp while looking for coral, crabs, and other crustaecians.
Little does he know that he's run into a Carnivorous Crappie who made just the same resolution 2 years earlier.
And is now about to clean his pallet with a nice crunchie cucumber and carp snack.

IF - Spotted

I originally started this illustration for an SCBWI contest that required showing what a boy who ducked into a cave on his way home from school might see.
I'm posting it here because it fits the theme.
Like this.... "On his way home from school Bobby spotted, out of the corner of his eye, a cave he had never seen befor. Even though he had been walking this path to school, both ways, for so many years that he had worn the grass down to little green nubs. Hesitantly he broke from his regular path, picked up a stick that was nearby, and approached the mysterious new cave. As he got closer, Spot, his dog stopped wagging his tail and drew closer to Bobby's leg for comfort. As they entered the cave, and their eyes adjusted to the half light, they were quite confused and surprised to spot...a bug, reading the paper and enjoying his morning tea and toast. "

IF-Speed

Sometimes your speed has to be brought down to 0mph.

IF-Spring

Here's the colored version of Spring.
I used marker and colored pencil on the original sketchbook page.




Spring time. The flowers come out, the birds start singing again, the days last longer, and all of the little creatures start showing off their favorite hats.
So for this weeks IF I just had to show you what the little critters are waering in my back yard.
I call this one "Spring Fashions"

IF-Monster

One drawing three versions.
I guess it's appropriate since there are three monsters in there trying to look like one.
This is another sketchbook page.
This time I scanned it in and played around in Photoshop to do the coloring.

IF - Feet

These guys are proud to be 3 feet tall.
I got alot of responses wanting me to do this one in color.
You were all so nice I had to do it. Thanks.

IF-Insect 2

This is another sketchbook page.
It was drawn with a Bic pen over several sessions at several different places.
My goal is to make sure I do an original sketch or painting each week for the IF site.
That's why I've posted 2 this week. The first on was an old image that I posted because I was very busy with a client job that looked like it might never end.. So I didn't think I'd have time to do an original piece.

IF-Insect

This was done Last year for a on line contest.
They listed 4 songs and said do an illustration inspired by one of the songs.
Being overly creative sometimes, I decided to bend the rules and combine all of the songs into one illustration.
Needless to say they didn't like my creative way of dealing with their creativity contest.
And told me they couldn't accept it.
Go figure, anyhow here it is.
I was going to submit it for last weeks "Tea" submission, until I remembered that I used coffee to do the under painting, not tea.

E is for Emma

This little girl is the 3rd addition to our family.
She's almost a month old now and getting spoiled already.
She brought with her an explosion of pink into our home.
Her two other siblings are boys, so we've never experienced "a girl" before.
Takes some getting used to.
But she's happy and healthy and hard to put down.
So I guess I'll adjust because as her brother says, "she's a keeper."

IF-Song

Everyone has song to sing.
This is another sketchbook quicky
for the Illustration Friday sight.

Leopard sculpt

I'm a professional Illustrator by trade but I find that every so often I get the urge to make something dimensional.
I guess it goes back to the early years when I used to make dioramas for my Gamorra toys.
This Leopard is the most recent thing that I just finished making.
He's inspired by drawings in my sketchbook. You can see them in the background.
He's made of aluminum foil, wire, MDF for the base, and Super Scupley. He's about 6 inches tall.
He's painted with acrylics and will be protected by a coat or 3 of a matte finished sealer.
I like the way he turned out so I'm sure I'll do more cats and other animals in the future.
Let me know what you think of him.

Simple Simon

Simple Simon
By Robert Snyder

Simple Simon met a pie man on the street.
He said,"You look good enough to eat."
The pie man replied,"I'm all sour inside. You wouldn't like me at all."
"But you smell like cherry or some kind of berry treat."
So Simon pulled out his fork and his knife and ended the pie man's life
as he gobbled up his innards so sweet.
He ate the filling, the crust, and all until all that was left were his feet.

IF-Chair

This sketchbook image was the result of looking at a magazine about fairies, yea really, fairies.

IF - Cats

This an illustration that will be appearing in Highlights for Children magazine.
A poem will be printed over the dresser in the background.

IF - E is for...

E is for Emily.
Emily likes everyone.
Everyone likes Emily.