Doodles...

I was pretty bored tonight.

Downton Abbey.

My wife, a friend and I have been watching Downton Abbey. Aside from all of the annoying pompous characters it's a uh.... um...

Here are some sketches I do while watching the show (it's terribly hard for me to sit still for more than fifteen minutes without drawing).

IF: Snow

It has been a long time since I submitted anything to Illustration Friday so I thought I'd post these three Highlights illustrations for the snow theme this week. Have fun finding all of the Silly/Wrong things!

Crayons.

I'm coloring with my daughter. It's fun.

Sketching with my students.

This afternoon I took my students down to the Bourse food court to draw some strangers. They were to focus on drawing realistic three quarter view heads. Drawing strangers also teaches them to be fast in order to get everything down before the character moves on or gets ticked off.

What's Wrong? Mush! Mush, I say!

This is my latest What's Wrong? for Highlights' December issue which is available now. I had terrible fun with this piece in doing the research and in drawing it (see the first sketch below). The Iditarod Sled Dog Race ends in Nome, Alaska so I was able to use Google maps street view to view the finish line and even some of the buildings. The man winning the race is Dick Wilmarth, the first winner of the Iditarod in 1973. The woman pictured is Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod in 1985. The drums dispersed throughout the crowd are Eskimo (or Inuit) drums used to celebrate. Just for fun, here is a delightful video by the Inuit singing group, PAMYUA.

Please subscribe to Highlights Magazine for the important children in your life.

PS: They're all important.

The Round Valley Grump

I had quite an adventure today. I just finished a big two month job so I took the day off and went up to Round Valley State Park just north of Flemington, NJ. It was a beautiful day. I arrived to some gray clouds but eventually the sky cleared up and the sun started shining.

Just before I went home I took a walk along the rocky shoreline to get some last shots of the leaves. The following took place during that walk...

*Warning: the following story has not been censored. There is cursing.

As a short person this has happened to me more often then you'd think. However, most situations took place as a child or teenager, not as an adult. 

The Doctor

I drew some of the Doctors recently. Daisy and I are almost through season 6 and are really enjoying it. It's a wonderfully creative show.

Philadelphia Weirdos part 379.

Yesterday I had 10 free minutes at 11th and Walnut so I sat and drew a couple of strange folks nearby. The last pic is what I call a sketchnote. Most of these people walk by pretty fast so I quickly take sketchnotes to help me remember for when I have time to finish up the sketch. For comparison, below is a photo of the guy who just stood around. See? I don't make this stuff up.

Professional Bull Riding sketches

I took my wife to PBR for her birthday. It was a hoot.

Priorities. Priorities.

I saw this guy about a month ago while making a right onto 5th street. I pulled over and took some quick "sketch notes" to finish it up later.

Highlights Illustrators' Party 2012

The Highlights Illustrators' Party took place this past weekend! If you've been following me at all, you know it is something that I look forward to more than Christmas. 

I'll sum up: Each year Highlights magazine invites all of their illustrators to their headquarters in  Honesdale, PA. Besides having time to share portfolios there is an elaborate costume party, delicious PA dutch food and square dancing as well lots of fun children's activities. This year 's theme was Super Heroes. I went as my own superhero, Black & Blue- a take on my habit of constantly hitting my head. 

The illustrators were given a superhero sketchbook spec sheet to fill out (mine is below) which were collected into an awesome booklet/keepsake from the weekend. I used mine to add a deeper story to my costume as did some of the other illustrators...

Here are some photos of Black & Blue with his friends

(photos provided by myself and some very nice folks):

The Freelance League of America!

The Pink Pearl and I pose for villainy.

My daughter Virginia as the Polka Toddler!

The Luchadoro (aka illustrator Dave Klug) and I get ready to defend the street of Honesdale!

David Helton's wonderfully fun backdrop for the square dance and dinner.

My side kicks, the Freelance Pattern Posse! 

Striper, Pop Tartan and Polka Toddler aka my Mother-in-law, my wife, and my daughter.

R Michael Palan's Hungry-Man gives it to me good! Michael made this. 

I wish we set up about 200 others with everyone. They would be awesome.

The Revisionator (aka Rocky Fuller) poses with the Freelance Pattern Posse.

Friend and fellow crime fighter, Robert Squier made this shortly after we returned.

Taking a break with the Polka Toddler.

Command Z (aka Dave Justice) and I chat about the corruption in Honesdale. 

It was a very short conversation.

Black & Blue to the rescue!

Some more photos and a nice reflection on the HIP can be seen on Cheryl Kirk Knoll's blog.

Now, go get a subscription to Highlights for your kids, nephews, nieces, neighbors!

It's the greatest magazine in the world. Honest!