Philadelphia Weirdos.

There was a time when I would try not to be too obvious when I was drawing people in public. Sometime this year I just stopped caring. I figured if you are weird enough to get my attention, then you want attention so I will happily give it to you. I will stop everything I am doing and pull out my sketchbook and start drawing your weirdness for all of the world to see. I hope you're okay with that, because I am.

Illustration of the Year Award.

Last week I was honored with the Highlights High Five Pewter Plate Award for the "That's Silly" Illustration of the Year. It honestly brought tears to my eyes. Just to know someone out there cares about your work really means a lot. I had no idea Highlights sent out awards so I was very surprised to receive it.

The award was for the illustration above which was published in the October 2009 issue. More on my process of making this piece can be seen here.

Thank you to everyone at Highlights and High Five for challenging me with crazy busy illustration assignments. I promise to never get lazy.

Doodles.

I draw these for no reason while I have some down time while teaching. I grab a thin piece of illustration board that is lying around (usually by the paper cutter) and just start drawing with a micron. I have no idea where it's going to go so its fun to see what my brain is secretly thinking. It's kind of relieving.

Illustration Friday: Equipment.

I like to hike. I like to hike with my bike.

I drew this back in 2003 when I hiked alone in Yellowstone for 2 weeks. In hindsight I probably should have rode the bike.

Mom.

It is time I confessed a secret to the world. I know it, the government knows it and now you, too, will know it. It may sound crazy but you must trust me and hear me out. The truth is that all Al Qaeda really wants is my Mother's Meatloaf recipe. Honestly, I have lost count of the amount of people who have sworn off meatloaf but upon tasting my Mother's recipe have completely changed their minds. Because of this recipe lives have been changed and the balance of power in the West has depended on its survival.

Lucky for us it has been preserved in the National Archives under H for, "Holy Mother of God, that is really good meatloaf." Don't ask any government employee to show you, they will deny it's existence. That is all.

Illustration Friday: Fearless

Skateboards!

I did these for absolutely no reason in my sketchbook a few weeks ago. I drew dozens of them. Sometimes I do that to try and stay awake. I also color some stuff from my sketchbook to occupy my down time while teaching.

Squirrel with a Bagel.

That's what I saw one morning looking back at me from one of my trees. Be a good neighbor and cover your trash cans.