MOCKINGBIRD

I am a big mockingbird fan. I like their attitude. They're scrappy.

Here's a Work In Progress:

And here's a closeup of what might be the BEST eye I've ever drawn:

And here's a poem to work you into a bidding frenzy:

There once was a bird known for mocking
That I'd watch while the clock was tick-tocking
He took on all comers
Through winters and summers
With bravado at times quite shocking

Not my funniest, but accurate, I think.

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GAS TANK BASS PLAYER

There's a band called Split Lip Rayfield that I find to rock quite sufficiently. They have a bluegrass/punk/whoknowswhat sound. The bass player's instrument is made out of a gas tank. Enough said, I think.

I'm particularly proud of the subtle detail of his face, so here's a closeup:



One of my favorite lyrics:

It was just like a Gillian Welch song,
Except it was mine.

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GRACKLE IN THE GRASS

When traveling by foot, most birds hop. Some run. A few (of the non-water fowl type anyway) actually walk. Grackles have a stroll that I find quite satisfying. If you're lucky, you'll see one doing a grapevine (that's walking sideways, for those of you who've never seen an aerobics class).

I have to go to work. I'll update with a limerick or something later.

UPDATE: Obligatory poem

Here he is, the bird of the hour
Walking around his piercing eyes glower
His beak is set to make him look dour
As if he has eaten something quite sour
Or heard the phrase "junk bird" from some ivory tower

Rhyming words not used: flower, shower, power, our, wower (as in one who wows). Any others?

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ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: REMEMBER

My downstairs neighbor used to be in a band in the 80's. He asked if I would mind drawing some aceos of his past. Here's one from his trip down memory lane.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TIM: DOC WATSON

I'm not very good at drawing people in a way that ends up actually looking like them. This one turned out pretty good, though. So my good buddy and Doc Watson fan Tim gets this aceo.

Thanks, Tim, for making me take my guitar out of the closet and start playing again. Keep teaching me strumming rhythms and I'll return the favor with harmonies.

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NOBLE SAVAGE MYTH

Let's pretend that this is a portrait of an individual who lives in a society that is without all of the trappings of modern technology. It could be in the Congo, Amazon, Indonesia, wherever. Doesn't really matter. It seems like people either glamorize (noble) or demonize (savage) dudes like this. Me, I just see an opportunity for a goofy limerick.

There was a man on a mission
To give up his life filled with fishin.
He wanted more wealth
And much better health
And perhaps to be a beautician.

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SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS: (UN)ROOTED

The trees grow really tall around here in NC. And you know what they say about tall trees: big roots.

Yup, that's what they say.

"Trees have fallen and continue to fall," said the park ranger on a very windy day last week. "Enter at your own risk."

You can tell what kind of person you are by how you read that last sentence. Most people probably read "Enter at your own RISK." I read "ENTER at your own risk." But years of self-restraint/denial overrode my unhealthy desire to see trees falling, so I waited until the next day to see the carnage aftermath.

Here are a couple of non-paint pictures to show what I saw:




So I exaggerated the size of the tree a bit in the painting. Artistic license.

There they were, all the roots and inner workings of a tree on display, covered in red Carolina dirt.

The easy thing to do would be to draw some lesson from this - like the capillary action of the roots drawing water from the ground (too much analogy?) - about the impermanence of life and how all that once nurtured you will knock you down and leave you exposed to the world. But I'd rather say:

Dude. Big weather event. Destruction. Cool.

Does that make me insensitive? I hope so.

Sunday Scribblings.

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ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: OLDEST POLAR BEAR

Here he is, the man, the myth, the legend. Dude has been jumping in freezing waters wearing nothing but a speedo and a swim cap for like forever. I thought I'd spare you the the full figure image.

You're welcome.

The old man lived life by his credo
To only do things that were neato
Don't need to be hotter
To jump in the water
In nothing but swim cap and speedo.

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A DEER

A deer. Exchanged for a caulk gun and basic electricity lessons.

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JUST A GUITAR

I bring you: another guitar.

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TRUMPET

I enjoyed drawing this in art class. If it sells for the cost of that class, I'll be breaking even.

I guess you could say you're not paying me, but rather the Art Alliance of Greensboro.

Anyway, here's a trumpet for your enjoyment. You can't actually play it, of course, but that may be a good thing. If you are a terrible player, for example. Like the guy that was painfully honking a rendition (for lack of a better word) of Girl From Ipanema. I loved that song, once.

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CRAZY SINGER

There's a great restaurant called Hillbilly Hideaway. It's one of those one meal on the menu style places. They also have music in the barn out back (NO DANCING, DRINKING, OR CUSSING). There's an old man who I believe owns/previously owned the place singing in the barn every time we go. He'll forget words, sing a little off key, the usual stuff that will get you kicked of American Idol, but he's very entertaining. That's who I was trying to draw.

Instead, this crazy looking dude is what materialized. Funny how life can be.

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THE WIZARD

I had (and still do, actually) Ozzy singing "The Wizard" in my head the entire time I was drawing this one.

I don't know why he looks angry. I hope it wasn't anything I did. Not that I believe in magic or anything. I just don't want to get hit with that stick.

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ART CLASS: INSTRUMENTS

The mountain dulcimer I got for my birthday is making the rounds: here it is in art class, modeling with a mandolin, tamborine, flute, and one of those thumb piano things.

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Draft: crow landing

This is the India ink version of the crow below.

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CROW LANDING

Subtitled: LITTLE SPIKEY BALL

In North Carolina, little spikey balls fall from trees during fall and winter. When you're trying to clear the sidewalk with a leaf-blower, they roll in unpredictable directions. Tenants complain about the risk to injury they pose.

I hope someday they manage to genetically engineer a beautiful tree that drops NOTHING.

The crow couldn't care less. He just doesn't want to accidentally miss that branch, as that would be embarrassing.

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FIDDLER #2

Another fiddler.

I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all my days
I did farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised

For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasure here here on earth I find
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I have no friends to help me now

It's fare thee well my own true lover
I never expect to see you again
For I'm bound to ride that Northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon, this train

You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave

It's fare you well to a native country
The places I have loved so well
For I have seen all kinds of trouble
In this cruel world no together can tell

Maybe your friends think I'm a stranger
My face your'll never see no more
But there is one promise trhat is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore

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SECRET

Rooster Hanshaw plays a mean guitar. He's not a pro - pro guitar player anyway. He IS a pro auto mechanic. He just plays his guitar to get the sounds of drilling and revving out of his head.

He also has another hobby, one that no one knows about. He's not ashamed, mind you. He just knows no one would understand and he doesn't want to try to explain anyway.

He has a blog with his essays on the intricacies of Austrian Economics.

That's right. This dude from the mountains of western North Carolina engages in flame wars with both loony lefties from the left coast to wretched righties from the right. To them, he's a professor type from George Mason University who wears crooked glasses and a suit. They don't see his greased-stained keyboard. Or know that his friends call him Rooster.

And when the computer screen ceases to amuse, he goes back staining the frets with car guts.

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CROW VS OWL

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: FORTUNE

I had the fortune to see a great horned owl the other day.

The wife and I were walking the dog in the park and heard some crows going crazy. They were mobbing something. Looking up in a tree, we saw the crows hurling their anger at a nonplussed great horned owl. We ran back to the apartment to get the camera. Zooming in, the owl was looking right at us. Very spooky.

Did you know that a great horned owl has enough claw strength to take your face off?

Anyway, here's an ACEO to commemorate the event.

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MANDOLIN PLAYER

Here's a close-up:


My sweetheart is gone and I'm so lonesome
She said that she and I were through
I started drinkin for a pastime
Drivin nails in my coffin over you.

I'm just drivin nails in my coffin
Every time I drink a bottle of booze.
I'm just drivin nails in my coffin
Drivin' those nails over you.

Now ever since the day that we parted
I've felt so sad and so blue.
I can't help thinkin about her,
And I just can't quit drinkin' that old booze

--Jerry Irby

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THE FIDDLER

Come listen you fellers so young and so fine
Oh seek not your fortune in the dark dreary mine
It will form as a habit and seep in your soul
Till the stream of your blood is as black as the coal.

Refrain
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew
Where the danger is double and the pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's as dark as a dungeon way down in the mines.

I hope when I'm gone and the ages shall roll
My body will blacken and turn into coal
Then I'll look from the door of my heavenly home
And pity the miner a-diggin' my bones.

--Tennessee Ernie Ford

Here's the face:

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MONSTER GOLDFINCH

GIANT GOLDFINCH TERRORIZES CITY
by HarmoniousJosh

New York, NY (AP) -- A giant and angry goldfinch went on an angry rampage today on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

"No comment," said an obviously spooked Mayor Bloomberg.

Ornithologists are equally puzzled, both at the size and behavior of this particular goldfinch.

"They are usually such peaceful creatures," said Dr. Vent. "Of course, they are usually much smaller, too."

One person, Mrs. Birdcliffe, claims to have an explanation for the incident.

"I've seen it before, and, frankly, am surprised this doesn't happen more often. Birds are the descendants of dinosaurs. They ruled the earth with an iron claw. Now, they are called 'cute' and 'precious' and 'dahling.' People treat them like they're fragile little weaklings. Obviously, this goldfinch couldn't take the humiliation anymore."

And the size?

"Steroids, HGH, Creatine, and a workout regimen heavy on the weight, light on the cardio."

When asked what we should do about the current situation, Mrs. Birdcliffe looks askance and says, "What do you think we're supposed to do with a giant goldfinch? Obviously, whatever it wants."

For Sunday Scibblings

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PESKY SQUIRREL

The wife has been getting some great shots with here rifle. Like this squirrel, for instance. She was able to shoot that thing from like half a mile away. Look at how cute this little guy is, and my wife SHOT it. Can you believe it?

She's going around, shooting everything. Birds, hedgehogs, even our neighbors. I'm sure glad I got her a birthday present she enjoys so much. She can really zoom in, like this:



Oh, did I say rifle? I meant camera. Sorry.

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FIRST OFF-EBAY SALE!

That's right. Sticking it to the man. No transaction fee for this guy.

He was the Bob Dylan of hair bands - he went ACOUSTIC!!!

Here's the WIP sketch:

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MONSTER GOLDFINCH

Working on aceo ideas. This could be good.

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INDIA INK PRACTICE

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GUITAR JAM

I'm a mediocre guitar player at best. When I do play, this is kind of how I look in my head.

You know it's not me because I usually wear glasses. And I have a bigger nose. And, if Mick Reasor is to be believed, my left eye is two to three times larger than my right.

Do you like the Work In Progress thing? I sure hope so. It's not easy for me to remember to take picturesin the midst of aceo making.

Here's the initial outline next to a couple of sketches:


Finished inking:


Add color, and ta da.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL

This one is a birthday present for our friend Mel of whitebox weddings fame. Go to her site. You'll wish she had photographed every wedding you've ever had.

I'm really proud of this one and am glad it's going to such a cool lady.

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TREETOPS

Here's one I did for my dad for his birthday. We traded, since it was my birthday soon after: I got a mountain dulcimer. As much as I like this aceo, I think I came out ahead.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY UPDATE:
The topic is GREEN. Here in Greensboro, NC, GREEN is busting out all over. Looking out my window, I see a scene similar to this one.

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SUMO VS BIRD

Sumo vs Bird
Depends on the nerd
Obsessed with Martial Art?
Or do little birdies win your heart?
Oh what a treat, you don't have to choose.
The only disappointment is someone must lose.

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