Wednesday 23 September 2015

Faces in multiples drawn by a guest artist

Posted with permission of the artist, Kevin Schroeder (grade 6)
This guy has drawing chops and proves to be a very witty and clever conversationalist. I am watching to see how soon before Kevin gets a comic strip of his own or maybe inks a book deal. Meanwhile, he graciously permits me to post some of his work.

My own pencil to paper output is a bit slow at present. To remedy such paucity of pencilings, my spouse purchased a book titled 500 Drawing Prompts. The challenge is to depict (in my cartoonish way) the suggested scenarios whether they be sandcastles or zombies (two actual assignments). Perhaps I can post a few of these in the near future.

Friday 14 August 2015

Facing the chores

"Cleanliness is next to impossible"
Long time, no post. I've been busy with a variety of projects including a deep clean of the pottery shop. I haven't lost the pencil and sketchbook and haven't figured out why I'm not posting of late.

Hope you're having a happy summer.

Saturday 6 June 2015

Not to be confused with....

OMG!!! Run for your lives! The cassocks are invading!

     I was thinking about some historical reference to invaders called Cossacks. An inadvertent transposition of vowels later and viola! Even though this conflation happened a couple of weeks back, publishing the toon now is almost prescient given that Anglican and Lutheran leaders are gathering at a retreat next week. Maybe the town and the retreat site will echo our little panicky guy here.....

Tuesday 26 May 2015

Mugs--sometimes I draw them, sometimes I throw them

From Sunday night's glaze firing
I sort of like the glaze combo here. I'm still toying with a variety of shapes and design elements. Testing involves coffee drinking (and some dish washing).

Friday 22 May 2015

The Pen is Still Moving

This one is just a random drawing while we were waiting for supper recently. I've been busy with the day job, making pots and doodling. Posting said doodles has been where the activity has waned.

Spring has finally arrived here, so today I look forward to making some of my rounds on bicycle. Cheers!

Monday 30 March 2015

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Spring in the making?

The screamin' storm
Friends in the maritime provinces have been whalloped by winter storms and record snow fall. Our winter has been moderate. Today? Blowing snow and some power outs and school closures. Many of us mutter "winter can't last forever, can it?".

Greta and Zoe 1998
I'm thinking of our 'special friends' who are now waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge. Two years ago today Greta (the black and tan doxie) died. Zoe lived another year and a half. Both dogs lived a long life and certainly gave us much joy. We still miss them.

Friday 20 March 2015

Rite of spring, right?

C'mon, Spring, I know you're out there, come see us! 
I've given myself two musical assignments while I work today: First, to listen to "Take 5" in honor of my friend Gary's blog. Then, I'll listen to Stravinski (I think) interpret the rite of spring. Our forecast: highs of about 25, and wind chills bringing the  "feels like" to between 5 and 10 f. Our temps flirted with 50 a week ago, so I figure spring can't be far off. We're simply awaiting the memo.

Tuesday 17 March 2015

A Spider for All Seasons

A very large spider stands vigil in our friends' front yard. Every season and holiday, spidey sports appropriate regalia. Our eight legged subject might also remind us that 'everybody's a little Irish' on St. Paddy's Day.
Our friends' local paper, the Fargo Forum, produced a profile with pictures and interviews about the spider project. You'll find it's a winsome and worthwhile read.
Paddy O' Spider (or Spider on the patio) image used with permission (thanks H&L)
Any suggestions about costuming in August?

Thursday 12 March 2015

Tuesday 10 March 2015

There are other ways to 'draw'

"Sin boldly and imbibe more boldly still" Not Luther

Friends treated us to a trip to a brewery in Moorhead, Minnesota next to a business called "Old Lutheran". The brew meisters at Junkyard Brewery created a winsome tie-in with their neighbors by crafting Abbey Ale and appropriating Martin Luther's mug with one of his oft quoted adages. The exit leads to the parking spaces just in front of "Old Lutheran".

Imbiber that I am, I quaffed an entire HALF PINT of a robust dark ale with a body that reminded me a little of Guinness but with containing a multi-layered blend of hops.  Our beverage experience capped a night that included a dinner and viewing an assortment of two minute films at the Fargo Film Festival.

Such a fun filled social docket precluded my picking up a pen and drawing. I happily post this memento of our dose of culture and evening with longtime and dear friends.

Monday 2 March 2015

Making manuscripts from THIS?

Composition teachers, preachers, and other respectable folk: Prepare to be appalled!
Remember those outlines with Roman numerals, sub-headed with Arabic numbers and
"Anglo" letters?
You call THIS an outline?

Believe it or not, a full manuscript followed this set of "notes". Granted, I seldom if ever actually read from said manuscript. Perhaps divulging my "process" will draw censure from  grown-up writers and preachers. Much to my surprise, more people than usual said "you could hear a pin drop" and "wow I really connected to what you were saying!" I'm not ready to credit the sterling outline. Must be something more transcendent at work.

Saturday 14 February 2015

Happy Valentines Day

My darling spouse presented me gifts of homemade knit socks, baked goodies and coffee from a local shop. I decided the coffee shop's packaging's minimalist style was.....minimal. Admittedly one does get the point:

Maybe if one were to add a line or two and a dash of color (or colour if you live in Canada)....

There. Isn't that better? I'll let you know how these beans grind and perform with a pour-over. I'm sure such an offer makes for a cliff hanger and regular followers of the blog will await with rapt anticipation......

In the meantime, hope you find some happiness on this Valentines Day.


Tuesday 10 February 2015

Making silly rules

Have you heard that in some states wearing a hoodie will be illegal?
. The Idaho legislature has passed a resolution allowing university students to carry a concealed weapon. I don't think assault weapons have been banned in any state. Yet some states are considering legislation banning the wearing of 'hoodies'. The rationale(irrationale?) goes like: we don't want to make anybody nervous, cause you know how sinister hoodies are. By the way, in Saskatchewan hoodies are called bunny hugs.

Sunday 8 February 2015

Facing mornings...sort of

Wake me when it's spring

 Lately the mornings (although coming earlier) haven't been particularly sunny and that makes me want to hit the snooze and keep on sleeping.

Wednesday 28 January 2015

Way back Wednesday: For our friends down east


Maybe those who are still digging out might wait a week or to to find this toon amusing. Note it's an encore presentation; drawn seven years ago and appearing in this blog a year or so back.

I was just beginning to experiment with ink washes (without benefit of training or license). I see a detail or two I'd do differently, yet I think the gag might be a keeper.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Meanwhile....faces

Drawn while waiting for lunch
It actually takes longer to scan and post some of these pictures than it takes to draw them!  As long as one has a writing implement and a drawing surface (paper and pencil are but just one paired option) the rest is pretty easy.

The postings on this blog have been erstwhile if one accepts a loose definition of 'erstwhile'.   I have no explanation for the inertia or the interval between posts. Time was that I posted daily. Now it's 'whenever-ly".  Thanks for your patience and for checking out the blog now and again to see whether new faces have arrived.

Friday 9 January 2015

A Few Friday Faves

Mug on a mug
   The beverage is fresh ground Ethiopian blend, locally roasted. The coffee has hints of banana and blueberry. The mug is a very cool Christmas gift from my lovely and thoughtful spouse. For a doodler what could be nicer than a mug that one can chalk up drawings and change them as often as one wants? Bonus: Orange is one of my favourite colours so I get to enjoy some orange with that mug!.