Dancing Bear

Just a little something from my sketchbook today. And no, it is not a self-portrait.

 

Sure it looks like he can dance, but he has absolutely no rhythm.

May the Fourth

Today is Star Wars day. May the Fourth be with you.

 

Considering most of the Star Wars and Marvel movies are animated and owned by Disney, would be nice if an actual Disney animated movie could set a new box office record.

Drawn & Quoted: Successful Failure

“Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.

– Coco Chanel (1883-1971)

 

The bear’s success comes at the price of the fish’s unknowing leap of failure. Perhaps not the intent of the quote, but certainly a truth from it.

 

Sometimes when I do these Drawn & Quoted pieces, I find a quote and do a drawing based on it. This time the drawing came first (ink in my sketchbook), then the search for a matching quote came after, which is usually the tougher way to go about it. I saw this image as having possible business applications, and started looking at quotes with that in mind. I also thoroughly enjoy utter silliness, so when this quote surfaced (pun intended), it made me laugh in the context of the drawing.

Why? Because the quote probably was meant to inspire someone to greatness by having them not be afraid to try something. However, it seemed to fit perfectly the goals and achievements of these two characters as they both attempted their goals in tandem. The bear achieved success at the price of the fish’s failure. Funny, right? Pain is often funny.

Fire-Breathing Sketches

I finished up a sketchbook the other day with a page full of dragons. Sure hope they are housebroken.

 

Hopefully they aren’t fire-breathing dragons. Fire does NOT go well with paper.

Respectable Reptile

After three caricature posts in a row, perhaps it is time to return to the animal world. How about this Respectable Reptile?

A little over a week ago I saw the original 1960s Doctor Dolittle on the big screen (Rex Harrison was the star – not Eddie Murphy), and came away with animals on the brain. This dapper fella is a hand-inked specimen that came forth in my sketchbook, then colored in Photoshop.

 

Don’t get too close, or he may be puttin’ you on the Ritz cracker.

 

By the way, if you ever wondered what John Hammond from Jurassic Park looked like singing and dancing, do yourself a favor and check out that 50-year-old version of Doctor Dolittle. He’s the circus ringmaster. You’re welcome.

One of the highlights of the screening I went to was that the author of the screenplay and writer of the songs for the movie, the legendary Leslie Bricusse, was there for a Q&A along with Samantha Eggar, one of the stars of the film. It was so great to hear their tales from this film they spent a year making oh so long ago. Below is my favorite photo of the two of them that I took that day. What a treat!

 

Leslie Bricusse and Samantha Eggar photographed at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica on March 3, 2018.

A Daughter’s Love

What better way to stay warm in the winter than by hugging your big daddy? Of course, here in Los Angeles we might have trouble relating to the frigid winters of Russia, but cold weather is not the only purpose for warm hugs.

 

Nothing can melt the snow like a daughter’s love for her daddy.

Flying Arrows

Word has it that today is Valentine’s Day. Be careful out there of flying arrows.

I have an aversion to being impaled, which might explain why Cupid hasn’t hit me and a woman at the same time. Either that, or Cupid’s aim is off.

 

Wonder if he has a permit to carry?

 

Pygmy Pachyderms

The other day I needed a little repair to my car, so I took a sketchbook with me to the waiting room. Who knows why such a scene came to mind in that moment, but it did. These pygmy pachyderms came out of my pencil at the shop, and then finished with a little ink and paint in the studio.

So weird.

 

Never tick off creatures who never forget and carry a spear.