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...