Illustration Friday-Search

This is the second illustration completed for the exhibit LSC's ABC's the 2014 Faculty Exhibit. I had Q and S (seen here). This is for the letter Q and is titled “Quintessential quirky, quixotic, quasi quadrupeds quaintly questing with quarter-staffs, and queso, for quaggas and a quetzalcoatlus in a quagmire of quicksand to qualify for the quaich.”

I.F. Pattern

Just reposting my latest bow tie design for Illustration Friday's word of the week pattern.

Illustration Friday (Myth)

Ammut ('aemit)

This is the painted version of a posting for the 31 Creature Bow Ties. 
To reiterate what was said earlier. I find this amalgamation fascinating.  
Ammut is comprised on the three man eating animals in Egypt, of the head 
of a crocodile the torso of a lion and the hind end of a hippopotamus. 
It is the soul eater in Egyptian mythology.

Happy Holidays from Barclay-Studio (I.F. Snow)

Happy Holidays

Every Christmas I ask my children what they want on the family Christmas card. This year, one of my daughters asked for a snowman. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled about that. It is rather a common sight. It wasn't until my oldest son said I should give the snow man a jet-pack that I really got excited about the project. This also matches the Illustration Friday word of the week, “Snow.”

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. All I would ask is that we each find a way to lift someones spirits. There are many people suffering year round. it doesn't take much to bring a little joy into others lives.

Barclay

Days 20-22 of 31 Days of Creature Bow Ties (IF Haunted)

3 Ghosts

I've been playing around with the bow tie guy ghosts for some time. It is getting there.

Day 16 of 31 Days of Creature Bow Ties (IF Water)

Creature from the Black Lagoon

First I feel the need to apologize to Vincent Di Fate, but I could not resist putting my spin on the Creature from the Black Lagoon. I can only imagine what he would think of this if he saw it. Nonetheless, I had fun and it is a wonderful image for this weeks Illustration Friday, Water.

Day 9 of 31 Creature Bow Ties (IF Mirror)

Gargoyles (ˈgärˌgoils)

One of the places I love to go and draw is the Fairbanks Museum in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont. These two gargoyles are above the entrance to the museum. I added the bow ties, glasses and sweater vest. As they are mirroring each other I thought they would be a good addition to Illustrations Friday's word mirror. 

Day 3 of Creature Bow Tie Guys (IF Book)

Monster Book

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word of the week, book, and Harry Potter. It is amazing what a bow tie does to a monster.

Imagination (IF)

This summer I took some time drawing clouds and finding objects or creatures in the drawings. It was fascinating to see how one cloud evolved from one creature to another. It was an exercise I hope to continue with in the future.

Happy National Bow Tie Day! (IF Tall)

In honor of National Bow Tie Day, I thought I would repost one of my Bow Tie Guys with the most bow ties. I hope everyone enjoys the day.

IF Space

This is one I have been working on for some time. My initial thought about space was to do something about outer space and aliens. As time passed I came up with more ideas and thought about finishing this illustration which is about space and the lack thereof. The title is, “They realized they had a problem when the rhinoceros sat down.”  I had posted the black and white version a while back.

IF Faded

This is a minor reworking of an earlier post. The old tractor has faded and is not quite what it used to be, but it is beautiful nonetheless.

IF Sight (sketching at the Fairbanks Museum)

As part of the sketching class I am teaching we visited the Fairbanks Museum in St Johnsbury VT. They have a wonderful selection of taxidermic animals that are wonderful to draw. It is great practice and warms them up to sketching from life when everything is moving. Inevitably all the animals I draw their end up with bow ties, glasses and sweater vests. The owl seemed to screech “sight”

Illustration Friday Jump

This was posted a while ago as part of my 100 Bow Ties in 100 Days or less. It is one of my personal favorites. The name pygmy jerboa alone is wonderful and he's jumping.

Heights (Illustration Friday)

This is an illustration I did for the currently unpublished book The Twelve Elephants of Christmas. This one is 10 Elephants a-Leaping and they have reached new heights.

Puzzled

This is a reworking of one of the Bow Tie Guys that started it all. When approaching this weeks Illustration Friday word, puzzled, I couldn't help but think, “when in doubt have a robot with a bunch of birds around it.” It will work for almost anything.

LSC Presidential Candidates (IF Forward)

With all the hubbub about the republican candidates running for president, Lyndon State College had the four final candidates for the Presidential Search came to campus (this was for the colleges president). During the faculty meetings with them I took the opportunity to draw each one. It was the only time I had during the day to draw. Each one talked about how they would move Lyndon forward so I thought it was appropriate to post them to Illustration Friday for this weeks word.

I am looking forward to hearing the results of who is selected and I am hopeful that a good final selection will be made.

IF Twirl

This is an illustration I created a few years ago for a book I am still trying to get published. It fit the idea of Twirl well.

The title is 9 Elephants Dancing and it is for the book The Twelve Elephants of Christmas. The center elephant is a parody of one of Degas ballerinas. When I was in high school I had this dream of recreating Degas with elephants instead of women. Some Ideas just stick with you until you can get it on paper.

IF Prepare

Here we have a kiwi bird preparing for the difficult task of tying a bow tie. What makes it more difficult is that he has no wings and yet through the act of preparing through mediation or prayer we realize that he just might be able to accomplish the seemingly impossible.

I have found this to be true in my life as well. I find that when I make time in the morning to pray, to contemplate the day ahead of me, and to meditate in silence, I am able to accomplish a great deal more. I also accomplish it with more peace than when I go into the day without the proper preparation.

100 Bow ties on Parade (IF Highlight)

In looking back over the year, finishing this personal project was definitely a highlight. I learned much about myself and my art in the process. It really helps to set goals and then to stick with them. I have always felt that an artist should work on drawing everyday, but with teaching and other responsibilities it seemed impossible. This last year, I made it a goal and set aside time to do it. It has been rewarding in so many ways. I am less stressed, my drawing improved and I feel I became more creative.

After all that work this is what I did. It is currently being shown in the Quimby Gallery at Lyndon State College as part of the 100 year celebration of the school. It was a fun project.