Busy busy busy...

...which is no excuse. Unfortunately, lots of things are coming at me so postings may be even farther in between. But follow me on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram. I get stuff on those pretty regular. And this page will be undergoing a MAJOR transformation sometime soon...stay tuned.

But quickly here are some things I've had going...

Firstly a record sale worthy of the history books:

My friend Travis asked for an ad. That is what I came up with.

Secondly, the internet auction for the Art Gone Wild work that didn't find homes at the reception will be over on July 31st. Bid now! Follow this link.

And lastly, I did this to get people to donate to a worthy cause. Follow this link to see details.

Enjoy and keep watching!

Alumni Weekend and Plein Air Practice

This weekend was alumni weekend at Young Harris College which is my spiritual home. I needed to get in some plein air practice for an upcoming event (details to be revealed very soon) so what better place and time than to go see old friends at my very favorite enchanted valley.

I got there right around 10ish so I parked and grabbed my gear and set out for the patio in front of one of the dorms.  I love the Susan B. Harris chapel but everyone always paints it from the same couple of places.  I wanted a different view so I chose the one that most people know but I don't feel they think of as often.

Here's the photo from where I set up...

And here's the painting I got from this vantage point...

So after this, I met up with a couple of friends and we headed over to the gym where we were being served lunch.  Had a lovely time chatting with friends and talking to some students about school and then it was back out into the sun for more painting!

I crawled up the back of campus (holy crap, I am not as young OR in shape as I used to be) and found what everyone pretty much said was the best view of the valley and campus.  After finally wheezing my way up there, I am inclined to agree.

The view...

And what I took from it...

So once again, I had a great time at my alma mater and got some pretty decent pictures out of it.  Not bad for someone who used to be TERRIFIED of landscapes.

Snow-cation 2014: The Icening

We're stuck inside for Atlanta's second go-round of wintry bluster this year.  Today's contribution is simple: snow makes me think of Young Harris College and my fantastic friends from there and getting to stay inside means I will inevitably start sketching.  So then I get this:

Easy connection to make!  Stay warm, everybody!

Time Constraints

Sometimes your life just gets in the way of doing all the stuff you want to do...like making cartoons with substance.  So you end up feeling (and making things) like this...

And just to show you I'm not COMPLETELY falling down on the job, here is the inked phase of a project I am doing for my alma mater...



So I guess technically this is a very successful Tuesday Toonsday.

Hope and Joy

I went to Young Harris today.  It was a complete coincidence that I had today off.  But once I realized what day it WAS...I wanted to do something positive.  I wanted to do something to make me and other people happy.  So I packed up the painting gear and headed out.

I got to the campus about noon and set up.  I worked for about 2 hours and in that time several of the beautiful, curious children stopped to talk to me about painting and the school.  (I am not using the term "children" in a condescending manner.  Quite the opposite.  I use it in the manner of wide-eyed children eager to take in everything.  They really were lovely.)  And during those conversations I realized something.  They are so proud of what they have.  They wanted to know if I liked the changes.  They were excited to talk about the changes and just as excited to hear about how it used to be.  And I told them truthfully that there were very few of us who would have gone anywhere else and we are actually a little jealous that they get to have four years there.  They seemed to appreciate that.

Then they went on to class and I finished up working on my painting.

As I left the school I realized that my day had been spent exactly the way I wanted...I went to a place that I hold very dear but it actually turned out better.  Change is inevitable.  But sometimes the best stuff stays exactly the same.

I finished my schooling at LaGrange.  I could've gone anywhere with a degree from Young Harris,  but it didn't matter where I went.  I am always a Mountain Lion at heart.

Grr!

Doodlin'...

This is what happens when I get bored. Either while at work, home, or "other"...I usually try to have a sketchbook or barring that...

...work papers that I may or may not need again.

Sometimes I get lucky and find a whole piece of paper (or the back of something to be thrown out). Let the doodling begin!

I recommend mindless doodling. It helps my thinking processes immensely. Just blank out, doodle, and let whatever answers you are looking for wash over you. It's like graffiti zen.