A Tree is Born!

Well it took sometime and I needed to walk away from it for a few days but I am happy on how it came out now maybe I can focus on the rest of the story 

Two Days after

Here are some photos I took on Sunday & Monday after Irene blew through

Tree down

Same tree above different angle

just missed the house

One of the few cars I seen under a tree

Happy it passed by with little destruction I have family members in Long Island and Westchester that still have no power



Hurricane Irene

Frog’s Then & Now

As I still wait for my copies of “Ferdinand Frog’s Flight”

it has given me time to reflect on how far I have evolved as an artist.

 I had to dust off a very old portfolio for this first frog/toad it was done back in the 80’s; it also shows off my sense of humor the title is “Toad Stool” pen and ink with water color and color pencil

Toad Stool

The next one is a frog I never drew I just colored it, the title is "The Dancing Frog” it was an animation project done back in the day at Michael Sporn Animation Studio.  see (Clip)

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The Dancing Frog

The third I must of done around 2004/05? Not sure also pen and ink with water color (Tree frog) this one was once part of a stock art company I did a little work for.

Tree Frog

 

The fourth “Who Let the Frogs Out?” illustration done in 2007? for Stories for Children Magazine.

Who Let The Frogs Out?

 Also from Stories for Children Magazine "The Surfing Frog" 2009/10?

The Surfing Frog

The sixth is from “The Giving Meadow” picture book I illustrated for 4RV Publishing in 2010

The Giving Meadow

And of course Ferdinand himself who wants to fly

 if the picture book looks anything likes the PDF I have seen it should be stunning to look at.

Ferdinand Frog's Flight

Just a few pictures



I took this near friends of mine new home  

Almost face first in it's web
 that would been a mouth full

Well you can all rest easy now Bert and Ernie is not guy!

 

They are best friends according to the producers of

 “Sesame Street”.

As I was flipping through the New York post on August 12, 2011 I found this article titled:
 “BERT AND ERNIE GAY IT AIN’T SO” by Maxine Shen

I find it funny and sad that this is news I knew at one time people were convinced that they are guy, personally I never thought they were anything but Bert and Ernie I never saw them as anything more than characters on Sesame Street making me laugh as a kid and laugh some more as a college student (because in college you watch Sesame Street) ; I shouldn’t of been surprised that there was a petition or is a petition flouting around saying they should get married. In a world that is turned upside down economically people still losing their jobs this is what on peoples mind. Well I guess it is better than worrying about the stock market. The Muppets were/ is a part of my life, I still love seeing them on TV from time to time and I’m happy they are what they have been for me just two friends. Why complicate their lives, I’m sure if Sesame Street ever want to introduce guy Muppets they will do it with the same tasteful integrity they have always shown on their program and I will support it with all my heart.

David Kleeman wrote a tasteful article in the Huffington Post about this as well (full article).


You Tube post 1969 Debut
side note: Have you ever noticed that only Ernie can move his arms & hands?

Babar at 80

I love when I find things like this!!!

A hand full of things have gone on last week that I thought I would share in one post

1) I took these two pictures last Monday evening overlooking Central Park I was walking to a client’s home to give a massage. The pictures don’t do the clouds justice but Wow!

2) The next morning in Queens walking the dogs at 5:OO AM

3) This is funny I don’t believe in newspaper horoscopes but the first line of it rang true. Not too long ago I changed my kitchen faucet, well after I threw away the receipt and the box it started to leek from underneath the sink I doubled checked the hoses nothing. But from inside the body of the faucet it was leaking. I went to Home Depot told them my story and the women who was helping me was very helpful she gave me the number to the manufacture (American Standard) of the faucet and they in turn sent me new valves to replace the ones in the handles of the faucet . It seems to have worked all dry

4) I’m still working on my "Find the Faces in the Trees" idea I have done some sketches. This is my second color sketch it is not there yet when it comes to the coloring, but I’m not worried about it at this time.

second color sketch

5) You know that things are slow at work if I am looking through a Vanity Fair magazine. But I am happy I did I came across this article on Maurice Sendak that at the age of 83 and only 30 years later he has written and illustrated a new book called “Bumble –Ardy” yes he has illustrated other stories and worked on different projects in 30 years but this is the first book he has written in that time span.

Photograph by Annie Leibovitz

I am guessing like most we as illustrators get inspired by others

Those who have taken the time to be tortured by reading my blog know that Maurice Sendak artwork is one of those inspirations.

I picked up a copy of “The Griffin and the Minor Canon” by Frank R. Stockton with illustrations by Maurice Sendak.

I just loved how this book was illustrated with its spot illustrations mixed in with full two page spreads and simple wash of colors, just wonderful!

So when I started to read the text for “Ferdinand Frog’s Flight” by Marvin Mayer I felt I may be able to do something similar in style, I was wrong like most stories this book had a voice of its own and demanded something more from me; so I listened to it after a long struggle within myself to let go of my idea. I feel that it was for the better; I used two page spreads to illustrate Ferdinand and in full color from top to bottom.

This is not to say I was not influenced by Mr. Sendak artwork his Griffin and my Eric the Eagle do share some qualities with each other.

I also realized this format may of worked better for a book like “Libby the Odd Squirrel” well If I only bought the book a year or so ago, I’ll just keep the thought in the back of head for the next time.

I have not yet seen the printed version of the book yet but the PDF was looking good