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1. Orangutans!

I did these for the Philadelphia Zoo last year for their Lorax/Orangutan exhibit. I had to combine my style with Dr. Suess' style which was a lot of fun. As you can see by the photos below (no, they're not out of focus), the illustrations were done in multiple layers and converted to 3D to coincide with the Lorax movie. Kids were given 3D glasses to view the exhibit signage in order to learn more about Orangutans and what they can do to protect them. If you ever get a chance go to your local zoo and sit for a good hour to watch the orangutans. I worked at the zoo for many years and would often eat my lunch while watching the primates. They really are fascinating.




















All images are copyright © The Philadelphia Zoo 2012




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2. Which Way USA? Hidden Picture preview.


Now I have to go to Montana.

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3. What's Wrong, Ducks?


I hope this brightens up everyone's day.

This What's Wrong? is on the back cover of this month's Highlights.
I was unaware of Rubber Duck races until I was asked to draw this one.

Right click and open in another window or tab to view this piece larger.

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4. Grumble grumble mumble.

I live near a NJ turnpike rest stop. It's a short walk from my house. Tonight I walked there to draw some folks because I'm angry, irritable and I love to do stupid things on Sunday nights I guess.























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5. Funny memories with my Dad.

My family and I each made photo collages for my Dad's funeral. I had a little fun with mine, adding some good, funny memories. I'll let this speak for itself....


You may have to right click and open in a new window in order to see it clearly. I would also recommend enlarging it in your browser a bit.

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6. That's Silly, Bumper Cars!

This piece was recently published in Highlights High Five. I had a lot of fun doing extensive research on retro bumper cars. I found that the modern ones were just plain ugly.

Make sure to get a Highlights subscription for the little ones in your life. They now have magazines for everyone from ages 2-12.

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7. My Dad.


In true Irish fashion my Dad passed away Sunday morning. The prior Sunday he suffered a massive heart attack. As a result his brain was damaged and, reluctantly, we had no choice but to let him go. After a very long night he finally passed on. It turns out that the last story he needed to tell was that he passed away on Saint Patrick's Day. 

My Dad taught me many, many valuable things. Among them his great sense of humor, gift of story telling and love of the outdoors.

He never missed an opportunity to tell someone that I was a "cartoonist"- something he was very proud of and, admittedly, could never quite understand. I can remember many times, at his request, drawing eagles on cocktail napkins for all of his friends- my first art commissions as I was often given quarters or dollars for the drawings. As I was growing up he would take me on fishing trips from the far north of Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario, to northern Maine, as close as our own Pennsylvania and, of course, his beloved Delaware River. Those are some of the most cherished memories I have to this day.

Anyone who knew him will miss him dearly. Thank you so very much for all of the prayers and notes of kindness. With Daisy away in Switzerland last week I have no doubt that it was God's answer to your prayers that held me together.


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8. Thanks, Dad.

I made this in honor of my Dad for Father's Day back in 1994. At the time I had a weekly comic strip in the Philadelphia Daily News. I gave this as a gift to my Dad the following Father's Day. He had it hanging in his house for many years. Forgive the quality of the scan, I did my best to clean it up.


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9. Dad & Me.


I drew this for my Dad when I was in the first grade at the age of 6 (1979). I specifically remember drawing Jesus in the clouds. Although I attended a Catholic School I wasn't instructed to add Jesus in. I can remember Ms. Kersey asking why I drew him there but I wasn't sure why I did at the time. I drew Jesus in jeans and I thought that's what makes him look pretty cool.


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10. Dad.

In true Irish fashion my Dad passed away Sunday morning. The prior Sunday he suffered a massive heart attack. As a result his brain was damaged and, reluctantly, we had no choice but to let him go. After a very long night he finally passed on. It turns out that the last story he needed to tell was that he passed away on Saint Patrick's Day.

My Dad taught me many, many valuable things. Among them his great sense of humor, gift of story telling and love of the outdoors.

He never missed an opportunity to tell someone that I was a "cartoonist"- something he was very proud of and, admittedly, could never quite understand. I can remember many times, at his request, drawing eagles on cocktail napkins for all of his friends- my first art commissions as I was often given quarters or dollars for the drawings. As I was growing up he would take me on fishing trips from the far north of Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, to northern Maine, as close as our own Pennsylvania and, of course, his beloved Delaware River. Those are some of the most cherished memories I have to this day.

Anyone who knew him will miss him dearly. Thank you so very much for all of the prayers and notes of kindness. With Daisy away in Switzerland last week I have no doubt that it was God's answer to your prayers that held me together.

These Highlights illustration clippings are just some of many that I have drawn my Dad in.








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11. Working

I'm drawing Philadelphia's Italian market which is terribly fun to do.



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12. Bugs. Bugs. Bugs.

And the strongest ladybug on earth.

I drew this on a scrap piece of paper while I was making dinner over the past two nights. They aren't the most accurate bugs but some are recognizable, such as the dung beetles holding out on the ball of poo at the bottom. All bugs like poo, right? For the sake of this sketch they all do, okay? Good.

Click here for a larger view. This blogger preview thing is terrible for artwork. Hear that blogger? Fix it.


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13. Christmas Card 2012


I forgot to post my Christmas card after I sent them out. The inside read, "Come, let us adore him."

I didn't send out many this year since I only finished it a few days before Christmas.

It's funny, I have no problem drawing a snow scene in the heat of the summer (and vice versa) but I find it very difficult to work on my card until the joy of Christmas sets in.

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14. I need your help.

A friend of mine is in need of your votes! Vote for her group, The Dolls by scrolling down this linked page. I would really appreciate it. Please vote daily until January 30th. AJ (the girl in the blue shirt) has been a friend of mine for years. Her Father and her performed at my wedding.

After you vote come on back and check out some sneak peeks of stuff I've been working on. Thanks so much!



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15. Doodles...

I was pretty bored tonight.



















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16. Downton Abbey.

My wife, a friend and I have been watching Downton Abbey. Aside from all of the annoying pompous characters it's a uh.... um...

Here are some sketches I do while watching the show (it's terribly hard for me to sit still for more than fifteen minutes without drawing).























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17. IF: Snow


It has been a long time since I submitted anything to Illustration Friday so I thought I'd post these three Highlights illustrations for the snow theme this week. Have fun finding all of the Silly/Wrong things!




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18. Crayons.

I'm coloring with my daughter. It's fun.



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19. Sketching with my students.

This afternoon I took my students down to the Bourse food court to draw some strangers. They were to focus on drawing realistic three quarter view heads. Drawing strangers also teaches them to be fast in order to get everything down before the character moves on or gets ticked off.











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20. What's Wrong? Mush! Mush, I say!


This is my latest What's Wrong? for Highlights' December issue which is available now. I had terrible fun with this piece in doing the research and in drawing it (see the first sketch below). The Iditarod Sled Dog Race ends in Nome, Alaska so I was able to use Google maps street view to view the finish line and even some of the buildings. The man winning the race is Dick Wilmarth, the first winner of the Iditarod in 1973. The woman pictured is Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod in 1985. The drums dispersed throughout the crowd are Eskimo (or Inuit) drums used to celebrate. Just for fun, here is a delightful video by the Inuit singing group, PAMYUA.

Please subscribe to Highlights Magazine for the important children in your life.
PS: They're all important.


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21. The Round Valley Grump

I had quite an adventure today. I just finished a big two month job so I took the day off and went up to Round Valley State Park just north of Flemington, NJ. It was a beautiful day. I arrived to some gray clouds but eventually the sky cleared up and the sun started shining.

Just before I went home I took a walk along the rocky shoreline to get some last shots of the leaves. The following took place during that walk...

*Warning: the following story has not been censored. There is cursing.








As a short person this has happened to me more often then you'd think. However, most situations took place as a child or teenager, not as an adult. 

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22. The Doctor

I drew some of the Doctors recently. Daisy and I are almost through season 6 and are really enjoying it. It's a wonderfully creative show.

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23. Philadelphia Weirdos part 379.

Yesterday I had 10 free minutes at 11th and Walnut so I sat and drew a couple of strange folks nearby. The last pic is what I call a sketchnote. Most of these people walk by pretty fast so I quickly take sketchnotes to help me remember for when I have time to finish up the sketch. For comparison, below is a photo of the guy who just stood around. See? I don't make this stuff up.



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24. Professional Bull Riding sketches

I took my wife to PBR for her birthday. It was a hoot.

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25. Priorities. Priorities.

I saw this guy about a month ago while making a right onto 5th street. I pulled over and took some quick "sketch notes" to finish it up later.

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