hibernate

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I took the Illustration Friday prompt word "hibernate" and tried something a little different this time. I got rid of the black lines that I usually have in my work, and tried to use shape and color to define things. Hope you like it!

Bandits rob Poodles

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Keeping the Fantasy in Fantasy Football.

Week 3 in the AWFFL fantasy football league. The Penultimate Poodles traveled south to the home of the ferocious Chinese Bandits. As the Poodles traveled to the game in their lavish pink party bus, they psyched themselves up by painting their nails and using countless cans of hairspray to keep their poodle-doos in place. Entering the packed, bright yellow Kung Pao Stadium, the Poodles were overwhelmed. But then, the Poodles are always overwhelmed.

The game was a close one. The lead swapped back and forth the over and over. Late in the fourth quarter with the Poodles ahead, the Bandits pulled a trick play. At the snap of the ball, the Bandits pulled out trombones and began playing a John Philip Sousa march. The Poodles were so excited they forgot all about football and started doing their award winning marching routine. The Bandits strolled across the goal line. The extra point was kicked through the uprights (resembling giant chop sticks)... and the game was history. Final score Bandits 109 - Poodles 99.

Next week the Poodles travel to the home of the Mashers. Stay tuned.

Ferocious... NOT

Ferocious?... I think NOT!

You might want to sing this little song as you look at the kitty:

Soft kitty,
warm kitty,
little ball of fur.

Happy kitty,
Sleepy kitty,
Purr, purr, purr.

Mysterious

This image was inspired by the Illustration Friday word Mysterious. Magicians are mysterious aren't they? I tried to use some different colors than I usually do on this image. I am also trying to get the hang of texture. I have a lot to learn here, but I am making progress!

I have magicians on my mind because I recently read a really entertaining book, Carter Beats the Devil. It has collected 4 1/2 out of 5 stars on Amazon. It is a book that has a little bit of everything in it. You have good guys and bad guys, danger, suspense, history, romance, mystery, a lion and elephant, and pirates with a plot that keeps you turning pages. If you want a fun read, I would recommend it!

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obsession

Lately I have had an obsession with giving my website a makeover. A few times in the middle of the night I have had a really great or funny idea. The best idea ever! Then in the morning, I realize it was actually a really lame idea. Same thing happens here. I have what I think is a funny idea, then after working on it for days I start second guessing myself and wonder if it is a dumb idea. I guess that's the way it goes. Anyway, you can take a look at my crazy idea by clicking here and let me know what you think. Funny or Dumb? You be the judge.

friendly gesture

a friendly gesture on a hot day.

Winter is coming!

"Winter is coming!" was the cry heard throughout the land. Sir Denigejonz of North Weaselvale knew the remedy for the harsh, approaching winter... his Snuggie! "Yes," he thought, "winter bad... Snuggie good! Now make coffee..."

(click to enlarge)

Asleep

Here in my neck of the woods we are experiencing the 13 year cicada invasion. These cicadas lay eggs on small tree branches. The eggs hatch into tiny nymphs which drop to the ground. They burrow into the soil and live on tree roots for 13 years. After that 13 year long nap, they come out, make a lot of noise, mate, lay eggs and die... all in 5 or 6 weeks. A short, noisy life!

I like their little red orange bug eyes.

lesson

Some people have to learn their lessons the hard way.

bicycle

Even a fancy-schmancy recumbent bike can have a very painful seat. Painful seats seem to be standard issue on most bicycles.

Toy

Once upon a time I was a little kid. Hard to believe, eh? That was a looong time ago, but I still have a toy I played with back then. A sock monkey. That sock monkey was the inspiration for a character I designed that I named SocMo, which is a shortened form of sock monkey. I'm still trying to decide what to do with this character. He could be the next Mickey Mouse. It could happen. Right? I'm waiting for some direction on what SocMo needs to do. Where is my muse when I need him? Probably sipping coffee at Starbucks. I better get over there and buy him another round...

Cultivate

I only have time for a really quick sketch for the Illustration Friday word this week... and what could be better than CULTIVATING donuts in your garden?

Stir-man

So, the Illustration Friday word for the week is "STIR." I thought I would take a couple of minutes and see what I could do with it. The first thing that came to mind was someone who stirred things. A chef type. But also a Superhero type. After I had the guy mostly sketched out I realized that a super hero needs a cape... so I added a cape. Then I remembered that they all seem to wear their underwear on the outside of their pants. So I did that too... and stuffed his jacket into them. Nothing says Superhero like whitey-tighties. So now I kind of have a Captain Underpants with a spoon. I'm not even going to hazard a guess what he has been stirring...

Warning

This was inspired by the Illustration Friday word for this week - WARNING. I think this guy should turn around and open his mouth.

Swarm

This is what came to mind for the Illustration Friday word SWARM. And no... this is not autobiographical.

Layers

The Illustration Friday word of the week is LAYERS. I decided to have some fun with the word and this is what I came up with. Isn't it comforting to know that we all have a chewy nougat center?

Dusty

When things get dusty, SOMEone needs to get to work.

Chicken!

The word for Illustration Friday this week is CHICKEN. I kept thinking that I would do something special for this, but here it is... Thursday night and I've got nothing but excuses. Good excuses, mind you. But excuses.

So... I am dusting off and sprucing up an image from a calendar I did a while back. And here is a short story for an added bonus.

A few years ago when I saw that Facebook was open to us regular folks and not just college students, I decided to sign up and see what it was all about. As I jumped through all the hoops to get myself signed up, I came to the point where I could upload an image. I had nothing immediately available. I took a quick look on my desktop and found some artwork I had done for a calendar. It happened to have a National Chicken Day on it so it had a great big chicken with baby chicks, feathers and such for the days of the month. I liked the chicken so I cropped off the head and uploaded it as my avatar.

I never got around to changing the image... I'm lazy. Then later I signed up for Twitter and used the chicken again. Did I mention that I'm lazy? So then I was getting used to seeing the chicken around and decided to use it as my blog avatar. So gradually, without planning I have become a chicken. At least on line I'm a chicken. In real life I am an aardvark. But that is another story.

you've got MAIL!

You've got mail! A Christmas greeting from me to you. I gave the postman the day off and sent this out over the internets. I wish all a very merry Christmas and a new year full of possibilities. As Pedro says, "may your wildest dreams come true."

afterward

The word for Illustration Friday last week was "afterward." I was thinking of the Dueling Banjo Pigs site and thought I would show what happens AFTER a pig plays a banjo. Unfortunately, I only got this quick sketch done and then was distracted by other things and never got around to making a better image, or posting it on IF. Life happens. Anyhoo, I missed the IF deadline but decided to post this guy anyway.