Archive for April, 2008
hoobie of burgundy
Yes, it’s true. I drew a portrait of my dog in Burgundian dress. Commence mockery. I can’t believe that this is my first D&H drawing of Hoob, after all this time. Well, here she is. And yes, she is a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece. I started this drawing to remind me that I’m supposed to be focusing on my studies these days. So, this post comes with an announcement: I’m scaling my D&H posts back to once a week (Sundays), while I prepare for my comprehensive exams in the fall. Since my topic deals with medieval portraiture, you may or may not be seeing more poor animals decked out like so many (ye olde) ren fair(e) attendees. I’ll try to keep it to a minimum, though.
4 comments April 27, 2008
squirrels do not need coffee
So, as I mentioned on Sunday, I recently had a request for some more squirrels. This one’s for you, Ygia. This squirrel knows how to start his day – with a coffee and the comics. I used to read the comics every day, and still do when visiting my parents. I guess I read a couple of webcomics every day or so, but it’s just not the same. For me, at least, part of the joy of reading the comics in the paper is reading the really bad comics and then complaining loudly to whomever will listen about how incredibly dumb it is. Notice, for instance, that this squirrel seems to be enjoying the Family Circus. You know he isn’t finding it genuinely funny, but is actually amazed that Dolly has managed, yet again, to impart some inane, mis-worded advice to poor PJ, or that Billy is still leaving those stupid dotted lines everywhere he goes, or that Jeffy is still blaming Not Me, or whatever.
Anyway, all this comic talk has distracted me from the real issue at hand: squirrels do not need coffee. Seriously. If the squirrels in my yard were any more hyper, I think my dog (Hoob) would have a heart attack. This squirrel, however, was obviously in need of an empty coffee can. So you can’t blame him for not wanting to waste it.
2 comments April 23, 2008
deep green sea, part 2
Watch out, Mr. Old School Diver! Giant squids are awesome. You don’t need me to tell you that, though. Squids are all the rage these days. Did you see that GS special on National Geographic? Woah – super exciting in a dorky scientist way (no offense, Dad). This drawing, again, is thanks to my husband, who sketched out the, um, rough version. I thought this would be an easy post for me, thanks to my helper, but it took a lot of squid research to figure out where to put those two super long tentacles (all the better to suction on to you so that I can chomp you with my beak, my dear). I still don’t know if that’s where they go. Pictures of squids tend to not make a lot of sense.
Coming on Wednesday – back to your regularly scheduled drawing! I recently got a request for more squirrels, so maybe I’ll comply.
1 comment April 20, 2008
deep green sea, part 1
So… this drawing is different from the usual because it came about in a weird way. My husband has been bugging me to do a deep sea diver drawing for a while now. His big inspiration is this little diver guy that Doodle plays with in the bath. Actually, it was supposed to be a drawing documenting a friendship between a diver and a green dinosaur (guess what else Doodle plays with in the bath). After weeks of me not producing a diver drawing, my husband took it upon himself to draw this one, which I then, um, cleaned up. Taa Daa! This drawing cracks me up because, when I look at it, I hear that song that Steve Zissou has piped into his diving suit. I love that song. Ooh! The other thing it reminds me of is when GP went down in that diving bell. Did he wear a helmet? I don’t think so, but his diving bell was so this vibe (but that’s another story…).
The other part of the story is that I got a print gocco for my birthday, and it’s on its way from Japan! So, I’ve been thinking about simple designs that I can put on stuff. I have a little blue fabric-bound sketch book that needs to be adorned with a diver, I think.
ps, and on another watery note – the new islands album may or may not have been leaked, and, although I would never condone any kind of thievery (especially if one were not to actually buy the album when eventually given the chance), rumour has it that it’s awesome.
1 comment April 16, 2008
a balloon for you
I know it doesn’t make much sense, but April certainly seems to be birthday season. I drew this chipmunk the other day because I was making birthday cards for a few of Doodle’s toddler buddies. I decided that it would be my next post before realizing that I would be posting it on my very own birthday! Happy birthday to me!
Speaking of birthdays… Doodle’s is coming up very soon, too. I put together a treasury last night that might help me choose what to get him. Check it out!
Now to seek out some ice cream…
2 comments April 13, 2008
how to recognise a gnome house, part 2
Apologies for the late posting. Distractions abound! Here are some tips to expand upon my PSA from Sunday. Good luck everyone!
NB: I do not condone gnome hunting, or any hunting, for that matter. These tips are intended to aid in unobtrusive gnome observation only.
ps: if you can’t read the tips, you can click on the pic for a bigger version.
Add comment April 10, 2008
how to recognise a gnome house, part 1
When I was little, I spent a lot of time in the woods (and still do, when I have the chance). Much of that time was spent looking for little houses belonging to gnomes and other small woodland inhabitants. I figure that I should really pass on what I have learned about identifying their natural habitats. A D&H PSA, if you will.
Check on Wednesday for part 2: the legend.
2 comments April 6, 2008
Ibeji has spoken
Today’s drawing is dedicated to Doodle’s (and my) brand new friends Finley and Euan. Welcome to the world! The twins were born last Friday, and we can’t wait to meet them.
So, I chose monkeys for this drawing based on the knowledge that Finley and Euan’s nursery already has some African jungle decorations. I also like the idea that monkey twins are just as rare as human twins. Then, as I was sitting here trying to come up with a title, and thinking that “twinkeys” wasn’t going to cut it, I read about the integral connection between twins and monkeys in parts of Africa. Myth has it that the souls of the first human twins were sent into their mother’s womb by monkeys, and some believe that all twins are still sent by monkeys. Neat.
2 comments April 2, 2008
