Time to Break out the Scanner...

This lonely little fella was the result of me sitting on the trunk of my car for a few moments while I was waiting for a friend to return from an audition. I think he sums up a whole lot of things quite well.

"My Friends don't call me Tex..."

Every now and again, I tap into my inner Tex Avery. I've often admired cartoons and comic strips for the range of expression that can be rendered out of such simplified forms. It's deceiving. Everyone assumes that it's easy to pull off, but much like all comedy, it's the hardest to pull off. I don't think I succeeded.

Solid Lines...

One Handsome Devil...

The model for this image will never know that he was the model for this image...I so swear it.

A Moment in Whimsy...

When It Rains...

So you may have noticed a lapse in posting...but that doesn't mean there was a lapse in drawing. Well, not so much drawing as a whole lot of painting...and there's a lot more painting to be done. Be patient with me...guilt and having to rush give me the wicked jeebies...

Final Remnant of Wonderland...

In the world of nonsense, the Rocking Horse Fly is second only to the Bread & Butterflies...

In Memoriam...

This post is for the special birdy who flew free...

By Poseidon's Trident, we set up Hippocamp for the night...

Call it leftovers from my recent phase of preparation for the Wonderland themed art show I did a drawing from. I was drawing this rather poorly looking horse when it was suggested I make him a seal. I did that.

This Moment in "Awww....."

sketch1141, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

I meant to post my Alice image as the capper to that series, but discovered that I forgot to scan the damnèd thing. So as this little fella (which I did for another blog...admittedly) came at the end of the Alice series while I was still playing with watercolor and ink. After all, it is the year of the tiger...and come on...ain't he cute?

"You'll Never Guess. I Couldn't."

sketch1140, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

The next Alice test got a little more elaborate. The trick was to lay down some watercolor and then ink over it without it bleeding like the proverbial stuck pig (since even the most diehard ink seems to run with enough water washed over the top of it). I was also trying several different watercolors I had and some gouache to see what combo worked best. Funny, looking at it now, it doesn't look like more than a few minutes rough drawing...Anyhow, the lion...from Through the Looking Glass...who figures into my final Alice drawing...

"You mean you can't take LESS..."

sketch1139, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

The next test for Alice...and yes, I returned to the March Hare. Those who find rabbits cute and cuddly, tend not to be familiar with their cousin the hare. I'm used to seeing the strangely googly-eyed beasts in south Texas, and have always found them interesting for some reason. The interesting question is whether the March Hare of Alice is meant to have a sexual connotation based on the expression his name is extracted from, or whether Carroll was using the words very literally. Either way, here was a quick portrait in watercolor and ink of the kooky beast.

Time to Run a Caucus Race...

sketch1138, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

Wonderland week continues with my 2nd bit of play time with Alice characters, The Dodo. I later gave him a watercolor tinting and made him into a card for my mother's b-day.

The Hatta and the Haigha

sketch1137, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

This was the first 'Alice' sketch I did while explaining to a friend that i was to be part of a Wonderland themed show. I knew that the Mad Tea Paty was likely to be a popular theme that night, and so I think I was trying to get them out of my system. I love the characters like so many do, but I didn't want to retread the material for my piece...

Collaborative...

sketch1136, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

There's a reason I often carry about a sketch book: In the event that I happen to be with a very important and lovely B., we might have space to bring together our creative ideas. This was perhaps second only to our fantastic exquisite corpse from the same night. I'd present it to you, but I have no idea which member of our party that evening ended up with it...

Everyone's most beloved Uncle...

sketch1135, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

From perhaps the best b-day photo ever...

Sentimental Sea-Life...

sketch1134, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

It was requested that I draw something from Neptune's depths in the midst of emotion...and all I can say is...that's one sad squid...

"We Believe it to Be the Work of Thieves..."

sketch1133, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

I continue to play with quills, and somehow I ended up drawing Peter Cook again. It's sort of appropriate, as Cook played the Hatter in a filmed version of Alice in Wonderland, and I'm preparing a piece for an Alice themed show. More on this as news occurs...

Solarizing...

sketch1132, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

it wasn't always just a quickie filter in your Photoshop menu. Anyhow, I felt like sketching Man Ray, and oddly enough, I did.

The Look of Love...

sketch1131, originally uploaded by ryanjebelt.

"Who's got the look?
I don't know the answer to that question.
Where's the look?
If I knew I would tell you.
What's the look?
Look for your information.
Yes there's one thing, the one thing that still holds true!!!
What's that?
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love"

--Thanks ABC...