L Is For Luke...

 

Let's end the year with a severed hand! Well, a moment before the severed hand, might be more appropriate for this image. 

L is for Luke

who lost his right hand.

This is from my unpublished Star Wars A-Z book that I was pitching around. Still do, occasionally. 

Happy New Year, everyone!

A Michigan To Texas Birthday Wish 2021

 

Happy Birthday to Sandra down in Texas who collects pics sent via the inter webs that started with a small group some years ago. Hopefully, the birthday pics are still heading your way!

This pic is from a hot day this past summer from the Sanilac Petroglyph State Park located in the 'thumb' area of Michigan. The Native American petroglyphs are some of the oldest in North America, carved some 1400 years ago. 

Happy Birthday, Sandra!

A Mesonauta Festivus (Flag Cichlid) Sketch

 

5x8

ink from sketchbook

This week's theme for #SundayFishSketch is one that involves fish with Christmas/Holiday names, such as the reindeer wrasse, for example. Last week, everyone pretty much did a yellow perch as the riddle for the theme was rather specific, but I wonder how many will go the Seinfeld route?

My choice is the mesonauta festivus, or the flag cichlid. All I could see when thinking about this fish was Frank Costanza yelling his head off. I think that this may be my favorite of the Sunday Fish Sketches that I've done.

Maybe one day I'll have to try doing a more scientifically accurate drawing of a fish. It may happen...

Happy Holidays 2021!

Whatever and however you celebrate, I hope that you have a blast!

 

A Perch Sketch

 

5x8

ink from sketchbook

For this week's #SundayFishSketch theme, it is another riddle. 

1. A fish found through north-central North America, from the Hudson Bay to South Carolina

2. Fished commercially in the Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie

3. Females spawn by laying eggs in long gelatinous strands

I sought out my expert at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit and he said none other than the perch.

So, since it's also a part of the 25 Days of Fishmas, are those gelatinous strands of eggs or Christmas beads? 

Ecuadorian Dart Frog

 

The Illustration Dept. has a critique group, usually held on Thursday nights and for yesterday's session it was suggested to a few of us beforehand that it would be funny if we did a bunch of frog related drawings. It didn't go over as well as hoped, but it was a fun idea and fun to do.

I even made a little backstory for my frog. This is Aguirre Fugeroa, the prominent Ecuadorian sculptor of turtles. You see, I was hired by the government of Ecuador to illustrate all of the famous artists of the country and who better to start with than the poisonous dart frog, Aguirre. At least his demeanor isn't poisonous. I'd like to think that he was a friendly sort of chap. I mean, he likes turtles. 

White Sucker Sketch

 

8x5

ink in sketchbook

For the 25 Days of Fishmas and this week's theme for #SundayFishSketch, it was another riddle.

A fish found in central to north North America and the Great Lakes, mouth is downward facing for bottom feeding and its common name is in the title of a Bing Crosby song.

So, I present (and so did so many others...) the white sucker. I think that they do wear Santa hats this time of year. The scientists just might verify this.

K Is For Kenobi...

 

K is for Kenobi

who lived in the sand.

The letter 'K' from my unpublished Star Wars A-Z book. 

Monsters, Aliens & Witches

 

Now that I'm seeing my cards up on eBay, it's now safe to show the cards that I did for the Monsters, Aliens & Witches set recently released through TB Unique. These cards are truly unique in that the majority of them are thick cards that will have coins pressed into the centers of them, as you can see by the empty circles above. There are also pvc cards and covid unique cards that will have separate imagery on the backs to set them apart. I will post my Artist Proof cards soon.

Pumpkinseed Fish Sketch

 

This week's theme for #SundayFishSketch is fish that are native to the Great Lakes, but are invasive most everywhere else, have black ear flaps and the males make the nests. So, I do believe that the pumpkinseed, a sunfish, fits that description. I cheated a little on this one and consulted the aquarist at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit. He was most helpful.

J Is For Jabba...

The next installment from my unpublished Star Wars A-Z book is the letter 'J.'

J is for Jabba who had

plenty of bounty hunters to buy.