animals 61-64

Today's cast is an otter, a chicken, a frog and a Guinea pig.

MOON

Bessie was the first cow to successfully jump over the MOON.

This quick gag is the only thing I have time for this week. It coulda been done better but... this will have to do. I am in the process of posting 100 animal sketches. To see what I have posted so far CLICK HERE.

Thanks for looking!

animals 57-60

It's Monday and sloth is still asleep. Had a hard weekend. Rat and salamander are doing their things. Caterpillar was HARD! Just TOO many feet to draw... and each foot has a shoe on it. I like my caterpillars barefooted.

animals 53-56

If you are puzzled, what we have here is a badger on a bike, a cat in a boat, an aardvark tossing a bean bag and a hummingbird. How random can you get? :o)

animals 49-52

Today we have a crab with number cubes, a hopping kangaroo, a dolphin with party hats, and a panther with a deck of cards. Oh, you can click on any of these animal posts to see them a little larger. It's good exercise for your finger.

animals 45-48

Almost halfway there! In case you don't recognize these guys, we have for your viewing pleasure today an opossum, centipede, moose and penguin. Moose and penguin doesn't sound right to me. It should be moose and skwerr-al. That is what is imprinted in my brain from watching too much Rocky and Bullwinkle as a kid.

Chuckles

A few days ago when I was spiffing up my header, the words "A little song. A little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." came to mind. It seemed like this would clue in visitors that they would be more likely to find something FUN here on JONESAPALOOZA than a deep theological discussion. I decided I was predestined to use this on my blog. For a deep theological discussion of the word PREDESTINATION, go to my deep theological discussion blog JONESATHEOLOGY.

Anyhoo... I was just thinking. There are probably some folks out there who don't know where this phrase comes from. Well hang on, cuz I'm about to tell you. One of the classic Mary Tyler Moore episodes was about the funeral of Chuckles the clown. It is one of my all time favorites. I thought I might find it on YOUTUBE and went looking. Sure enough, through the modern miracle of the World Wide Webby Internets we have that scene preserved for future generations.

If you have 6 minutes with nothing to do and want to laugh a little, just CLICK HERE and watch it.

animals 41-44

Today we have a wombat. Wombat? This is the first wombat I have ever been asked to draw. I had to look it up. I doubt that anyone would recognize this as a wombat. It appears to be some kind of Australian groundhog. I hope you can recognize the rooster, dragonfly and goat.

animals 37-40

For those inquiring minds out there.... the kids are to stomp their foot 37 times with donkey. Armadillo used 38 buttons to make the number. Elephant wants to collect 100 peanuts. She has 39... how many more does she need? Chimp counts to 40 by 5's on his hand prints.

Are you happy now? eh?

I certainly hope so... :o)

POEM

I learned this poem when I was in high school... which was a looooong time ago. I always thought it was by Ogden Nash, but I could'nt verify that on the internets. There seem to be other versions of it around... which have a bit different wording. They are WRONG! This is the TRUE, CORRECT, AUTHENTIC version. You guys deserve the best, right?

animals 33-36

I have first hand experience with skunks. Over the weekend one took up residence in my garage. I think it is gone now... I hope!

animals 29-32

So here we have a pig, panda, bat and porcupine. My problem with this job is that I want to design each animal as if it were a character in a Pixar movie. I want to research it and come up with a great character design. Unfortunately, the budget is small, and the deadline is short. So the only thing I am able to do is doodle on each a bit and then... JUST DO IT, as Nike says. Some turn out better than others.

animals 21-28

I was out of town this weekend so I am behind in posting my animal sketches. Here are two batches that will take care of Saturday and Sunday. The hardest one to do in this bunch was number 23... the anteater. He is supposed to be measuring his tongue with a tape measure. I just could not make it work in the vertical format till I finally thought to put him on a box. I don't know why he is up there, but there he is... what do you know.

24 was also a bit of a problem. The newt has lined up 6 toy cars. Another illustration that defies the vertical format.

The hippo was to be hopping 11 times on each foot. I put her in a tutu. I hope that is OK. I like the way she fills the space.

More tomorrow...

animals 17-20

Four more for Friday. I always like drawing snails... I like eyeballs on stalks... and no hands.

DISCOVER a new book!

Yes, the highly anticipated last book of the Hairy SocMo series is finally here! I will be at my local bookstore waiting in line to get my copy at midnight. I hear there are plenty of surprises in the book. The rumor is that two main charactes actually die... of embarrassement from being in this book! I can't wait to read it and find out.

animals 13-16

Bear... tiger... sheep... no problem. But the gecko touching his toes was a real struggle. I had a mental image of what this should look like, but never could quite achieve it. Oh well...

animals 9-12

Four more animals today. Some animals (like cows) I have done so many times I can just draw them, no sweat. But others, like the lobster, I have to look up. Not sure about what the tail looks like, or how many legs they have. I don't see many lobsters walking down the street in Tennessee. But I DO see cows a lot. :o)

The giraffe gave me trouble. I tried to have it standing like a giraffe holding the ice cream cone, but it didn't quite work for me. Then I thought, it's a cartoon... have him standing up. So I tried that... and I am still not reall happy with it.

My favorite of this batch is the monkey. What does this monkey have to do with the number 12 you ask? Here's the scoop.

Why can a monkey's tail never be 12 inches long?

Because then it would be a foot!

LOL... yeah, right. :o)

animals 5-8

So far... so good!

animals 1-4

So... I have to draw 100 animals and I will be posting some here each day. This will take a while to complete, so check in each day and see if I make my goal.

NEW DISCOVERY!

I made a new DISCOVERY a few days ago. I was in the art store and saw a new display for these pens. Is there anything better than a new pen to try out... with a new sketchbook? I don't think so. Click on these photos if you want to get up close and personal with them. You don't have to... but you can if you want.

So here is the poop on the pen. It is made of aluminum. This makes it more expensive (about 6 bucks) than the Micron pens I have been using, but these pens have points that are replaceable and you can get refills for the ink... which is waterproof. So it keeps on going and going.

I have a job that I have just started where I have to draw 100 animals doing various things for a 100 day flip chart. I have never drawn 100 of ANYthing before. The deadline is looming and I just started the job. I am a bit concerned that I won't get the sketches done on time. So I took my sketchbook (with brown recycled paper in it) and my new pen to the quiet library and spent a day doodling each of the animals for the chart. Really quick doodles just to get an idea of what each is doing. I think I will try posting these guys as I do them. So come back each day and you can DISCOVER what new animals are appearing here.

Click on the JONESAPALOOZA link on the sidebar to see what I have done so far.

DISCOVERY

SocMo made the DISCOVERY of what he would look like as a Simpson character. You can build a Simpson version of your own bad self RIGHT HERE.

To see the Simpson version of me CLICK HERE.

I have made the DISCOVERY of many talented artists through Illustration Friday. If you take a look at my list of COOL BLOGS you will find some of the folks I keep my eye on. Check 'em out!

If you give yourself a Simpson makeover, let me know... I'd like to see it.

Doug Simpson

If you go HERE you can assemble a Simpson version of yourself. I had to do a little Photoshopping to tweak mine a bit. Not much resemblance, here... but it's kinda fun to mess with all the variables and see what you come up with. If you give it a try let me know... I'd like to see!

national corn chip day!

I have been working on a calendar for a magazine. This is a part of it. Did you know that January 29 is National Corn Chip Day? Mark your calendars! Start stocking up now!

I wonder when National Dip Day is?

GEEKY

GEEKY is in the eye of the beholder.

CAMOUFLAGE

SocMo is a master of urban camouflage.


Bonus picture! I saw this along side the road on a trip. Maybe it is cheap, camouflage from China... what do you think?

Brother Mel

my daughter Erin and Brother Mel





I stopped by the Arts Company in Nashville recently and had a nice surprise. The entire gallery is filled with art made by a Marianist monk... Brother Mel. As I was told, Brother Mel has been making art for 50 years. He gets up every morning, says his prayers, and then makes art from 8 to 4 then says his prayers again. Six days a week. He is not interested in trying to market or sell his work. It goes into a warehouse. The gallery owner discovered Mel and is working to get his art out into the world.

What amazed me was the VARIETY of media Brother Mel works in. There are tons of watercolors, handmade paper, paintings (abstracts, portraits, religious, still life) sculpture (large welded steel and metal furniture) smaller painted metal sculpture... Brother Mel does it all well. What is inspirational to me is that everything he does is done well, and it makes you happy to look at it. I asked Brother Mel if he sketches out ideas for his work. He doesn't. He just goes to his studio in the morning and starts making whatever he feels like that day. It just happens. Looking at the pictures here doesn't give you the same feeling as walking into the gallery and actually seeing his work in person.

If you want to see more about Brother Mel at the Arts Company click HERE.

Brother Mel also has a website that you can visit. Click HERE to visit it.

SUIT

Chewbacca and SocMo save a lot of money on clothing since they both get by with wearing their birthday SUITS!

I watched a program about the making of Star Wars recently. I thought it was funny to hear that studio executives sat around and actually debated whether or not the Wookiee should wear pants in the movie. We can't show nekkid Wookiees, can we? I guess that is what SUITS do. They have no imagination. They count beans and make deals and have meetings in conference rooms. I'm glad George Lucas was able to stick to his guns and make his movie.

So... I bought a new sketchbook this weekend that is full of brown recycled paper. I had visions of white pencil showing up on it for highlights and such. I gave it a try on this and it works... sort of...

his PARADISE

Best I could do this time... so sue me. :o)

can art!

This weekend I flattened some Diet Coke cans and painted on a couple of them. I had seen this done out on the internets somewhere, and I figured I could do it too. Of course I can! I mean, how hard can it be?
Here is SocMo I painted on a can. Check out those blue eyes!

This is a happy carrot guy on a can.

There is a built in hanger on each can! Just put a push pin in the wall and you are ready to hang one. Sooooo easy!

One can be yours for only $30, (a steal) which includes shipping. Just contact me if you are interested. My email address is found in my profile.... doncha know...

CARS

Of all the CARS SocMo has owned, his favorite is the one he got from Roger Rabbit.

SIGNS

some people never obey signs...

CITRUS

a little monkey latin lingo...

NEIGHBOR

SocMo has a much worn sweater and a pair of tennies from his favorite NEIGHBOR...

"Would you be my neighbor?"

REMEMBER...

Lately, SocMo has been walking into a room to get something... but then can't REMEMBER what he was after...

... this NEVER happens to ME :o)

Well, I am back by popular demand. Sorta. Thanks to those who posted a note saying they missed me. Blame it on spring fever, cleaning the garage (a never ending task) and a big dose of the lazies. Your notes encouraged me to go another round...

... and REMEMBER... let's be careful out there....
(Hill Street Blues)

Aliens!

I have been a BAD blogger!

I haven't posted lately, have I? Well... I had a mower that refused to start... and a laptop that refused to boot up... and then there was the big freeze here that whacked all the blooming plants. I have been a bit distracted. After I tried all my tricks on the mower and the laptop, I had to take them to the shop to be worked on.

AND... I have been busy finishing up a couple of little books. Here are a couple of pictures from one of the books.

There! I posted something... (sigh of relief)

SNAP

What you DON'T want to hear when bungee jumping.

TOTAL

This idea just popped into my head so I did it. End of story. Not sure if it makes sense or not... but then, who cares... right?

HIDE

It's easy to HIDE when you find the right cover.

soccer

sketch and finised art for a little soccer spot illo.