Emmalee's Art

Emmalee's drawing of "Dad and Emmalee riding Dad's motorcycle"

Sand Sculptures By Emmalee

John gave us the idea with his enormous "Sand Octopus" sculpture, so Emmalee and Daddy started making "Sand Dolphins".

Sand Sculptures By John

Not A Sand Castle, This Is A Sand Creature

Look at what I made!

Light Grafitti

Found a website with some cool photography using "long exposure" and a laser light.

The entire article, including more cool pictures, is here.

He worked for a long time on this and you can see why. He loves working with contrasting patterns like this.

Just for Daddy

My daughter created this work of art and gave it to me for Father's day.

The picture goes into a "create-a-mug" which is a plastic mug that holds paper or other decorations to make a custom mug.

She pulled the kitchen stool out to the garage, and studied her mom's Magna. Mine was not available for modeling since I had ridden it to work. She carefully copied the myriad of tubes and wires that comprise the engine.



You can see the detail on the tank including the Honda Flying Wing logo.



She embellished the "A" in "HONDA" to give it wings as well.



And the wheels are stylized with an idea of her own ... holes instead of spokes.



The only trouble with this whole arrangement was that after she had created this masterpiece she could hardly contain herself. She could barely hold back giving it to me right away, and it was only Tuesday.

Her conversations drifted toward hints about my gift. She casually engaged me in conversation about my Harley mug at work. She knew that folks see the mug and ask me about my Harley, only to discover that I don't have (nor want, at present) a Harley.

This line of questioning and conversation let me know what she had done for me, but we waited until Sunday for the unveiling. She was so happy to present it to me.

I haven't taken it to work, wanting to post this blog entry about it first. She sees it on my desk at home and asks, "When are you going to take it to work? Are you still drinking from your Harley mug?"

Illustrations

John's project during church - a mini etch a sketch drawing of Calvary. He also built a Lego version of it too. It's the John version of staying engaged with the lesson.

Happy Father's Day

Another John illustration ... for Father's Day. The motorcycle is wonderfully detailed ... and yes, it is launching vertically. It hit the ramp and is now flying straight up.

I love the rider, tongue out, helmet flying off.



This picture has what seems to be a signature of John's illustrations, the bird flying overhead, surveying the scene, wondering what is going on.


And there's a wonderful expression on this dude's face. The thought balloon requires some explanation.



The story goes, I bought an after-market seat for my motorcycle, because the stock seat hurt my back. I was looking for something with low back support.

When I bought the new seat, Carolyn asked, "Does it give you the low back support that you were looking for?"

I said, "It does. Well, really, it's more 'upper butt support' than 'low back support'..."

The kids, hearing this conversation, laughed aloud. Whenever we talk about motorcycles, motorcycle seats, riding motorcycles with a passenger, riding motorcycles with luggage, riding motorcycles long distances .. whenever that stuff comes up ... we invariably get a laugh about "Upper Butt Support".

John worked that into his illustration.



He was drawing the motorcycle, and Carolyn noticed he was drawing a Harley-Davidson logo on the tank. She gently suggested, "You know, Daddy actually probably prefers Hondas to Harleys..."

John gave it some serious thought, and said, "No, I want to draw what I want to draw."

Carolyn said, "Okay."

Gotta love that independent spirit. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Space: 1888

I'm no cartoonist although I really enjoy the single-panel cartoon format of cartoons like "Far Side", "Speed Bump", "Bizarro", etc.

I've been enjoying watching that 70's era science fiction TV servies "Space: 1999" with the kids. Reliving my own childhood.

I dreamt up a goofy spinoff concept -- combining space and time travel. "Space: 1888".

I drew a space-faring donkey pulling a conestoga wagon.

I showed it to John. It won't win any awards, but watching John's face when I presented it to him was priceless.

I deadpanned it. A completely serious, expressionless look on my face as I showed it to him. His eyes fell on the picture, then went back to my face -- hoping my expression would give him a clue. He studied the picture some more, then back to my face again. 3 times.

He wasn't sure what to make of it.

Finally his face broke into a broad grin. He laughed uproariously.

"I like it!" he said.

Outpost in the sky

John and Emmalee hanging out on top of the shed, which has become their fort.

This picture represents their afternoon's work. I see "My Little Pony" (from Emmalee) and rocket, and a Space 1999 Eagle (from John).

King Cobras

John drew pictures of several king cobras.

There's a hole in the bottom of the sea

There's a hole in the bottom of the sea.
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea
There's a hole, there's a hole, there's a hole in the bottom of the sea...

There's a log in a hole in the bottom of the sea...
There's a bump on a log in a hole in the bottom of the sea...
There's a frog on a bump on a log in a hole in the bottom of the sea...


John illustrated it, and took it farther than I've ever seen it taken.

Frankly, I'm lost after frog, but I pick it up again after "man"

there's a fly on a man...
there's a can on a fly on a man...
there's a snake on a can on a fly on a man...

Then what is that ...
there's an apple on a snake?

Could it be some biblical garden-of-eden reference?

There's a car on an apple?

I don't get it.

There's a Tree on a car?

Now I really am lost.

I lose it again after tree.

I do recognize window

There's a spider on a window...
There's a House on a spider on a window...
There's a Satellite dish on a house on a spider on a window...
There's a Bicycle on a satellite dish on a house on a spider on a window...

I need to track him down, sit him down, and make him explain to me what the details are that I'm sure I missed.

Black Horse In A Cherry Tree

Emmalee decorated a paper plate for the song "Black Horse In A Cherry Tree" by K.T. Tunstall. The back features K.T. herself performing the song, complete with tamborine under her right foot. As seen on youtube.

Emmalee's sand castle.

Emmalee's Art

Dad and mom.



Emmalee, flanked by two classmates.