Friday 31 May 2013

From the Porch

I saved up and got me a PORCH!
I was randomly doodling with no real intent as is most often the method I go by. This dude looks a bit like Al Roker (the smile anyhow). How this guy decided to wander out to the front stoop wearing those plaid PJ's is anybody's guess.

Thursday 30 May 2013

When the clouds break

  Howling is so.....trite, maybe just a moment of silent contemplation 
This toon started out with the dog. I kind of liked the look of him and just started to add things to his environment. When the night sky is clear here the sights of stars and moon are amazing to the point where one silently appreciates and doesn't feel compelled to howl.

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Moosh face

Crowded Flight?
If drawing this was my reaction to merely booking a flight, you can imagine how I feel about actually getting schmooshed into an airplane. I swear they've crammed more seats into each cabin and lowered the ceilings!

I haven't fully developed this toon as you can see, but you might get the gist of it.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Tuesday's Teapot

Learning handles and spouts from master potter, Robert
circa 2011
Today's time warp is a short leap back to our trip to PEI two summers ago. Right Off the Bat Pottery graciously hosted me for an intensive learning experience in pottery. The ROTB people have a thriving business and they offer some workshops and day classes. I was lucky to have a week's worth of sessions and I'm still digesting all the great instruction. This picture was from our final session when Robert taught about making tea pots--handles, spouts, lids and all!

Friday 24 May 2013

Everybody's working for the weekend--mostly

Some will be working during the weekend too. This guy might be 'fixin' to have a rest after a long stroll. Maybe he's standing up after a nice spell of sitting watching ducks on the pond. Maybe he's doing as I sometimes do....stopping in mid-motion wondering "What was I supposed to be doing?"

from the sketchbook-drawn May 2013
So the weekend approaches...best to you whether you work, rest, play, or pause to remember.

Thursday 23 May 2013

Happy Thursday Spring might have arrived

Spring is trying to get here and has nearly succeeded. Bicyclists are emerging at the same tentative pace as the buds on the trees. Walkers venture out; a bit like the crocus that vanguard of spring. Walkers often have company as their dogs finally get some respite from a long winter indoors. It seems everyone is glad to be outdoors and a bit more inclined to interact with one another after a very long winter.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Tumbler's Face

The ribbed tumbler is not the most forgiving medium and that glossy surface is a bit tricky. We were at a wonderful cookout celebrating the confirmation of two teenagers. I noticed that people had signed their cups so they could reuse them. I got so preoccupied thinking about finding the sharpie and drawing on my empty outside full inside tumbler that I might have tuned out some the conversation around me. Later I looked at this face and thought "hmmmm looks a bit like Woodrow Wilson hopped up on caffeine".

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Time Warp Tuesday

The 'warp' is over my shoulder
You might have to squint a little....The photo was taken this morning. The pictures over my right shoulder include baby pictures of my best girl and me.

The shirt looks like the one in the other picture...different haircut. I bet that's iced coffee in the tumbler


Tomorrow....art on a tumbler

Sunday 19 May 2013

Earlier in the week my friend Julie sent me a note saying as she was singing the lyrics of a hymn, a cartoon "challenge" popped into her mind." How cool is that?", I think to myself. Knowing Julie is creative and has a delightful sense of humor, I decided to come up with something. The lyric was about "the holy apostolic band on Mount of Olives take their stand"....we're all thinking rock and roll band, right?

Holy Apostolic Band on their Mount of Olives Tour

You might notice a few "references" in this toon---that was part of the fun for me in putting it together. Thanks Julie for this great idea. Now I can get all swell headed and tell people I have writers!
For those celebrating the Festival of Weeks and Pentecost---happy day and may some life-enriching surprises at once confound and delight you.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Waiting for Pancake

Wheat germ and blueberry pancakes are wonderful--this discovery is quite recent for me, having not heard of them until a few months ago. Where have I been? A tip for doodlers: If you're in some restaurants and eateries where they wrap the cutlery in those strips of paper, you have a ready made source of drawing material (if you forgot the sketchbook and most establishments discourage drawing directly onto the table).


He fits nicely on those "napkin rings" made of paper

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Time Warp Tuesday:

bartster on Jen and Gary's bandwagon. Hey those names rhyme with Ben and Jerry; maybe they could combine creative talent and have their own brand. Sorry, coffee is still kicking in (a new roast my lovely spouse brought home called Tanzanian Peaberry--it's delish).

Engage the warp-age

Fall 2012-bart and his wonderful gary rith mug filled with  Black Pearl Coffee

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Remembering Sharol Collard-- a remarkable person and humorist

Farm Humor by Sharol Collard




 In late November Sharol gave  the OK to post one of her cartoons for this fledgling blog.She had produced and published illustrated stories and calendars to the delight of her family and friends. Her spontaneous style and gentle humor warm the heart and tickle the funny bone. These slices of life reveal the merriment teeming just under the surface of daily life.
   Sharol had battled cancer for nearly two years and her struggle ended a couple of weeks ago. We visited on her last full day on earth. She was tired, weak, and feeling some pain. In all of that she smiled, joked, and wanted to talk about the facets of life in which she found her greatest joy--her family, her pets, hopes for the future, life's mysterious and wondrous qualities--
   As we talked, she asked for the sketch book and markers she had brought to the hospital. On the spot she treated me to a drawing demo featuring "stick horses" that she could enliven with gesture and expression.
   As we parted that day I didn't realize I'd not see her again. At the time her beaming smile, wave, and kind word felt like the most profound of benedictions. Later that day I commented to my wife about Sharol's joyfulness and incredible generosity of spirit. The fact that a person whose strength and energy was waning would graciously receive a visitor and happily speak about life and then offer a 'demo' was like being invited to a master class---in living.
 

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Jen and Gary's Great Idea

My friend Gary blogs (it's address is one on my blog that I follow. Check it out). His friend Jen, whom I don't know also blogs and they have this clever idea: Time Warp Tuesday. The idea is to post photos from years or even decades ago. The name is winsome and the idea is fun. So I'm jumping on the bandwagon and playing "Time Warp Tuesday" as well. Why do songs from the Rocky Horror Picture Show keep coming to mind in 'ear worm" mode?
May 1983
The past weekend brought commencement exercises to my alma mater and the thirtieth anniversary of my graduation. Next day after graduation I was traveling with a group of students to central Europe for a study seminar and some touring. I am in awe (actually) about the scope of opportunities we had back then.  In looking over a yearbook from school, I decided I would need many lifetimes to have taken in all the amazing things that were going on--and I remember being fairly active  with both school and extra-curricular activities. I even drew once in a while:)

Friday 3 May 2013

Huh...coffee beans fit on a scanner

Un-leaded/LEADED!
   To be sure I was supplied with enough coffee for the next few days....I darted over to the bulk foods place near the house and got beans. To be sure I would differentiate between caffeinated* and decaffeinated coffee I judiciously applied the appropriate labels.
   When I got home I added the illustrations. These plain white bags are great fun to draw on. How much trouble would I be in if I took my marker back to the bulk foods place and started drawing on the bags before the customers got to them?
   Actually I have another idea...YOU could draw on YOUR plainwrapped packages and bags. Hey, if you can draw triangles the "c" shape and a couple of straight lines, you're in business. True confession: That's about all I do...placement is where the fun comes in. G'head...I dare you...draw your own cartoons on papers other than legal contracts and such.

**Spell check (cheque?) didn't care for my spelling of "caffeine". So: "i before e except after c and the word 'caffeine' and probably some other words too". Yeah, and kids say they don't enjoy grammar and spelling. I wonder why.....

Thursday 2 May 2013

Gone to the Dogs




So one day I was admiring Charles Schultz' amazing line drawings and how economical his style was. A single line or dot would convey emotion, expression and action. I idly began playing with 'variations on Snoopy" by changing angles, etc....the whole page was filled with dogs....and one guy.
Remember, they're doodles, right?




He reminded me of Underdog, so I gave him a cape


Why I oughtta...
humph
How did I end up a a page full of drawings of dogs?
                   

Wednesday 1 May 2013

May Day

May day! May day!
May in Manitoba....there are hazards. Robins eat freezer burned worms. Children have to be careful when dancing around the May pole because if one lets the tongue loll, it could freeze to the pole!

We hear the weather is more severe to the west. We got a dusting of snow overnight and expect temps to stay at or just below freezing today. Just when we thought spring might make a brief cameo appearance.

What do you think of the new look for the blog?  Thanks for commenting and Happy May Day. bartster