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!

Zoo stuff.

I just finished an animal illustration marathon for the zoo. I've been running non stop for the past 2 weeks (except for a little break over the weekend). There were sixty five illustrations to do, I think. I can't remember exactly, I'm kind of brain dead. Anyway, here's some snippets. The final art are full bodied animals which will be part of some signage at the Philadelphia Zoo's new Children Zoo opening this coming Spring.

Summer is over!

Below is an illustration I did for the back cover of October's Highlights magazine. This one is based on our annual Great Pumpkin Day celebration. This year is our 12th year of getting together with friends and family to eat, drink and carve pumpkins to welcome autumn. It started with myself and two friends but has grown to some fifty guests, many of whom are pictured here.

I just wanted to remind you that Highlights is greatest children's magazine on earth. You really should get the children in your life a subscription.

Conscious Collaboration.

I'm currently collaborating with author Brion J. Shreffler on a non-fiction travel/food blog called, "I'm Only Conscious of the Rush." The illustrations are way out of my norm in their looseness and painterly style so it is pretty fun for me. I hope you'll join Brion on his adventure to the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin. A more detailed description is below.

In Brion's words:

"Based on my trip to Austin,TX for SXSW back in March, 'I'm conscious only of the rush' is an adventure story that blends together food & music narrative journalism.

Featuring illustrations by Philly artist Chuck Dillon, the project is ongoing, with me soon to return to Austin for an epilogue. I also plan to revisit several other cities along the route I took from Philadelphia, in addition to visiting new cities in order to catch up with musicians and artists I came into contact with at SXSW. The thing that keeps Austin weird (a self-applied badge of honor) is the same DIY mentality that turns a little Texas town into the center of the music universe for 1 week in March. Bands from Berlin, London, Tokyo, Portland, Sao Paolo, NYC, and Brisbane descend on Austin along with music fans the world over. It.is.[cussing].nuts. But the DIY mentality isn't just for music--it permeates Austin culture, with a robust food truck scene and entrepreneurial spirit (everything from designer t-shirts + clothing, craft goods, metal works, bicycles, and more) that's evident on every street thankfully devoid of a national chain presence (only in Austin will you find a shop that is a bike repair/dealer, coffee shop, and art dealer all in one). In a sense then, SXSW is an argument for culture, a statement about what America should be, about the beauty of art, of what we can make our world when we create--music, food, business, etc--rather than follow."

Children's Zoo project

I'm currently finishing up a big project for the Philadelphia Zoo's new children zoo which should be open next spring. Among many animal illustrations (60 or so) I also have to make American Sign Language signs as shown above. Can anyone guess what is being signed?

All artwork is Copyright © The Philadelphia Zoo 2012