SO LONG AND GOOD RIDDANCE 2016!!!

Another year is about to pass and one I think a lot of us are happy to see go away.  I won't go into details about the obvious stuff.  We all got mixed emotions about that.  2016 will always be a mixed bag for me.  From a working standpoint, it was actually my best year ever.  After 13 years I finally reached the middle rung of the stagehand ladder.  There's still a lot of climbing to do though and a challenge I'm ready to take.  Creatively speaking I think I did some of my best work yet.  Granted, it's really more subjective than that, but I'm still happy with the art I made, and that's what matters most in the end.  The big black cloud that looms over for me is matters with the family.  My father suffered a severe stroke back in January and has not been recovering as well as we had hoped he would.  I've made peace with my father's past and the actions that brought him down his rocky path, but it doesn't really make things any easier.  All I can really do is pray for his comfort and recovery.

So yeah, 2016 wasn't a very good year, but you know what?  2017 is a clean slate!  So let's put all the bad behind us and make it a year to remember!  In a good way!  Lot's of good, CRAZY, art is heading your way in the next 12 months, so be ready for it!

Anyway, that's all for 2016!  We'll be back next time with a NEW year, NEW art and a NEW beginning!  Take care y'all and have a safe, fun and Happy New Year!  Catch y'all later!

MERRY CHRISTMAS CRAZIES!!!

Christmas is this weekend?!?  GAH!!!  Why must time speed up the older we get?  It just ain't fair I tells ya!  Pepper the Dragon has already opened his gifts but hopefully y'all will be a little more patient these next few days.  I'll keep it short today since it's likely very busy for all of us this week.  Travel, shopping, cooking, gift wrapping...  It's all a part of what makes Christmas such a wild and worthwhile experience!

Well, that's all for now.  I wanna wish all of you a very safe, wonderful and Merry Christmas!  May the day be fun and full of family, friends, food and presents!  And please, since there's still time, help out those that are in need.  Every little bit helps!  Take care y'all and again, Merry Christmas!

A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR... WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TREE?!?

Good Heavens!  Is Christmas really next week?  I must stop blogging and get all my gifts wrapped!  There's so little to do and so much time to do it in!  Wait, strike that, reverse it!  Anyway, since we're all very busy, let's get to the art!  Enjoy...

This is why you NEVER leave a partridge in a pear tree!  They're birds!  All those things do is eat!  Now I can't make any pear cider thanks to that bloated feather brain!  Oh well.  At least he isn't in my apple tree.  This was the last of the Daily Doodle "12 Days of Christmas" themes from a while back.  If memory serves, I did six or so of their 12 themes.  I think I might just go back and do the last few themes next year so my mind will be at ease!  This one was fun to draw.  Birds are cartoon naturals, so it's always a blast to draw them!  Oddly enough, I've never seen a wild partridge before.

Well, another week is down as Christmas approaches.  We'll be back next time with some super adorable art to celebrate the big day!  In the meantime please help out those that are less fortunate.  Food, toys, clothes...  There's always a need for them, so give today and help make the Holidays happy for all!  Take care and I'll catch y'all later!

TWO TURTLE... DOVES?!?

Well folks, we are now full on into the month of December!  Christmas is coming fast, as his the end of the year!  We still got a little time left to end 2016 on high note, so let's get right to it, shall we?  Enjoy...

Poor turtles.  They just wanna get in on some of the seasonal fun too!  Think about it.  These poor reptiles spend the holidays buried in mud until the Spring thaw.  Can you blame them for wanting a little merriment in their amazingly-long lives?  Today's art came from the Daily Doodle's "12 Days of Christmas" theme a while back.  Wasn't able to do all of them, but the ones I did have time for were a lot of fun.  And I relish the opportunity to draw a good turtle or two, so I was in when they said draw two turtle doves!  And yes, that's me making a rare cartoon cameo in this piece!  And never fear folks.  Real me would never yell at turtles.  I'd invite them in for some holiday treats!

And so concludes another week of the Christmas Rush.  We'll be back next time with a look at a pear tree that was visited by a hungry partridge!  As the holidays push closer, I'd like to once again urge all of you to please think of others this Christmas.  Food banks and toy drives are always in need this time of year and every little bit helps, so donate today!  On that note, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

TOOT YOUR HORNS!!! CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!

Ho ho ho my CRAZIES!!!  With Thanksgiving (Sadly) over, we can now properly get into the holiday spirit that most department stores have had displays up for since August!  That's right, I'm talking about Christmas!  I got so many things to do this month, I can hardly contain myself!  I love the festivities of the Holiday Season.  From food to movies and even ugly sweaters, I try to take it all in while I can!  And what better way to start Season's Greetings than with some holiday art?  Enjoy...

This is why it's important to be very clear while requesting props for your Christmas pageant.  Mixed communications can really get messy.  This theme came from the Daily Doodle a while back.  They picked random holiday staples throughout the month and one day settled on "Three French Hens," hence the reason it's out of sequence.  And me being me, I had to play around with which three objects actually show up!  This one was a lot of fun to come up with.  I really love how the kids' expression came out.  Maybe someday I'll do a book of Christmas art.  Could be fun!

And that's all she wrote for November!  Only one month to go in 2016, so let's end it with the best of holiday cheer!  Next week the Christmas CRAZINESS continues with more new art!  I would also like to remind you dear friends to think of others this holiday season.  There are many who won't get to have a tree or a nice meal this month, so if you have some change to spare, drop it in the Salvation Army bucket.  Donate a toy to a toy drive or food to a local food bank.  Spread the love and share the wealth this holiday!  As always, take care and I'll catch y'all later!

THAT BIRD IS FULL OF HOT AIR!!!

WOO HOO!!!  THANKSGIVING IS TOMORROW!!!  Boy oh boy how I've waited for this day!  Granted, I will be on my feet all day today making stuffing, pecan pie and a few other assorted treats and am probably gonna be beat up on the outside, but on the inside, I'm a kid again!  I won't leave y'all hanging.  Most of you got long drives to make today, so here's the conclusion to Tom Turkey's Thanksgiving escape!  Enjoy...

How d'ya like that?  He's slowly getting away!  If Tom can keep away from sharp objects, he might actually be in the clear!  How odd that the farmer would keep an entire tank of helium in the turkeys' pen?  It's like he's tempting them to take creative escape routes!  This art was actually from a Sketch Dailies theme from last November.  It was fun to finally ink and color this one.  With Sketch Dailies and the Daily Doodle both being less active lately, I had to come up with the other three turkey posts this month!  Luckily, I already had a "Big" payoff to work up to handy!

And that's all for this week folks!  Next week kick's off my CRAZY Christmas Countdown, so be sure to come back for some holly jolly fun!  Until then, have a fun, safe and happy Thanksgiving my friends!  Be careful out there on the roads and be especially careful if you're braving the Black Friday crowds!  Take care and I'll catch y'all later!

TIME'S UP FOR TOM TURKEY!!!

ONE!!!  ONE WEEK TO GO!!! AH HA HA!!!  Sorry, was channeling Count von Count there for a second.  Yup, next week is Turkey Day!  And I know how I'll be celebrating: Marathoning all my Joel-Era MST3K episodes for my own personal Turkey Day Marathon!  Oh, I'll also be eating my weight in turkey, ham, sides and pie, but that goes without saying!  Anyhoo, while visions of apple pies dance through my head, take a look at today's Turkey art please.  Enjoy...

Wow!  All that running away from the farmer must have worked off all that bread Tom Turkey gorged himself on!  Good thing that ridiculously large pumpkin was there for him to hide behind!  How will Tom escape from the hungry farmer?  How I ask you?  HOW?!?

Well folks, hate to leave y'all on a cliffhanger again, but that's all the time we have for this week's post!  Do come back next week to see if Tom becomes a free bird or the main course!  The finale may blow you away!  Until then, take care and I'll catch y'all later!