Paper Quail

Still playing with the new technique. Here I drew a quail and added some drop shadows under each layer to give it a little depth, kind of like pieces of paper stacked up to make the picture.

Addition: I was originally intending to just post the above picture, but after reading yesterday's comment I thought I might as well post the picture with the drawn outlines as well.

Rainbow Turtle

Tonight I'm trying a new technique. I started by doodling a big, swirly block of color, imported it into Photoshop to add some additional textures and change the colors, then saved each color/texture block as a separate picture file. Then I drew a turtle. Finally I imported the colors, one by one, starting with the back layer and erasing all the parts that I didn't want to have that color. This is how it turned out:

Not too bad for a first try, if I do say so myself. It almost looks a little stained-glass-window-y. But then I hid the layer with the black lines and got this:

Not quite as much detail, and more emphasis on the colors. I think it looks a little Eric Carle-esque, which is never a bad thing. 

P.S. - Don't forget to vote in the new poll to the right! You've only got 2 more days to make your voice heard!

A Final Question

Here’s a question I must ask tonight:

With the end of my challenge in sight

Do you want one more year

Of these pics and poems here?

Please answer the poll to the right --->

Moon Rocket - The Return

A few days ago I posted a rocket animation for the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 8 launch to the moon. Today is the anniversary of their safe return, so I've updated the animation.

A Daughter's Gift

Technology is great, but sometimes it leads to unforeseen consequences, like, oh, I don't know, perhaps my daughter's Christmas present, for instance...

Her surprise was an iPod, it’s true

It’s all shiny and glossy and blue

Now she’s texting and tweeting

And sometimes skips eating

And soon she’ll know more than I do!

Another Successful Christmas

Good job, big guy! Take a break, you deserve it!

Christmas Clues

My daughter is getting a very special gift tomorrow - something she's been asking for for months (and has saved up a good percentage of the cost herself). Of course, we can't just make it easy on her and give it to her directly! Instead, I made up a series of clues for a scavenger hunt. Can you figure out where I've hidden her present?

Clue 1

No money here, instead the first 

    of many clues, widely dispersed

Around the house, so you must look 

    for somewhere Mommy hates to cook

Clue 2

Excellent! You found this one! 

    But we’re not even close to done

Next you’ll go where blue and red 

    aliens support your head

Clue 3

Back downstairs, the smallest room. 

    Your clue is hidden in the gloom

Inside a tube of brown and white. 

    You use it every day and night.

Clue 4

Hurry now, there’s just one more! 

    You’re looking for a little drawer

Open it, inside you’ll find 

    a hundred sheets, neatly aligned

Clue 5

Congrats! You’ve found the final clue. 

    There’s just one thing that’s left to do.

Pick each bold letter, then be wise. 

    Unscramble them to find your prize!

Happy Belated Haiku Day!

I am so ashamed

Yesterday was Haiku Day

And I just forgot!

To atone for this

I will write some haiku here

For you all to see

Are they any good?

Only time will tell, I guess

Then again - they’re not

Wait, what’s that you say?

They should have a nature theme?

I’ve messed up again!

Okay, let’s try this:

Trees and grass and birds and stuff

Rocks and rivers, too

Stars up in the sky

Shining brightly, kind of like

Stars up in the sky

See, that’s terrible!

I don’t think I can do this!

Similes are hard.

Can you do better?

Post your haiku down below

In the comment box!

Squirrel

Tonight, nothing fancy - just a quick digital sketch of a squirrel.

Moon Rocket

On this day (Dec. 21), way back in 1968, Apollo 8 blasted off on humanity's first trip to the moon. Although they didn't land, they went into orbit on Christmas Eve and made it safely back home on Dec. 27.