Astrapple

As you can see by the date on the page this sketchbook doodle was a combination of random elements done awhile ago. I remember seeing a documentary of John Lennon and some stoned out hippie asked him about a curious lyric passage in one of his songs. He asked Mr. Lennon...What did you intend to mean when you wrote........."

Lennon just looked at him and replied...I just put some silly words together and was amused by the odd combination ( something like that ) no more and no less. I guess that's where I was at with this sketch.....


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New West Magazine

After I graduated Art Center in 1980 I marched my little body over to see an Art Director at the now defunct New West Magazine in LA Ca. You could actually show your book to a real live person back then. I was actually in the office the same time Matt Groening of Simpson's Fame was there. He was starting out at that time as well. Man was he scary looking...but quite the imagination inside that brain. Anyway I got hired to freelance and this was my 1st job for them.

Studio

Remember the days when you just brought in a picnic table from outdoors and it was the coolest drawing table you ever had?


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The Churchy Chap

Christianity is serious business but I have met some Saints who take themselves a little too serious. I was thinking of the Church Chap. The busy body who is the self appointed guardian of all things true and virtuous.

A doodle in one of my sketchbooks


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Self Portrait and Faces

This is a college buddy of mine from Art Center in Pasadena. We ended up being room mates on Oakland St . We went with a group of friends to a football game and on the way home we discovered that we were both going to celebrate our birthdays on the SAME DAY. It kind of freaked us out and we have had a strange kinda bond ever since. He is 1 hour older that me , adjusting for Mountain Time. He is an Art Professor at a Community College around St. Louis.



















Its been awhile and I have put a little too much energy into " On Being Frank ". This was a sketch Doodle that I did for fun in my sketchbook back in my Pasadena Ca. days. By my head was ol Gus dusting the studio with a mask over his nose and mouth.

The rest of these pen and ink drawings are in my ol sketchbook. One of about 30 such books. Most are quick idea scribbles and others are more thought out such as the ones I have posted here.

I think I will change the name of this Blog again. Finding the right Name is kinda important to me and holds a spirit in the words. One of my close friends who is Irish has always called me OrDoodle...I think I will go with that as it has a playful jest and feel. And I am comfortable hearing it .


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St. Malo

Assemblage






In the North of France is a fortified town accessed only by a draw bridge. St. Malo
( pronounced Ma -Lou ) was a pirate fortress until the French turned the town into a civilized village. One island , just a swim away, was used as a penitentiary for a short run. I stayed at a manor that was once a pirates home. The stoned walled structure had wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Rocker

I recently saw the DVD "the Rocker" which featured the actor who plays Dwight Schroot in the Office. It was suprisingly funny. His character played the drums for a hair band . He was unceremoniously kicked off the band " Vesuvius ". The rest is history and the band then went Platinum. The movie picks up 10 years later.

It reminded me of a doodle I did who knows when. What if my desk were a drum set and my sticks power brushes?

The Doodle

Is it rude to Doodle while someone is saying something important? How about doodling while listening to a dull message?








Validation at Last. Blasting over the airwaves was a result of a "study" ( todays version of Holy Scripture ...don't get me started ) and the results proved that those that doodled while they listened to a lecture or talk actually retained more comprehension and memory of what was said.

One of the Research Professor said:

"This study suggests that in everyday life doodling may be something we do because it helps to keep us on track with a boring task, rather than being an unnecessary distraction that we should try to resist doing."









Could it be that there are separate programs in our brain designed to multitask? Can this operation be trained? I know for a fact that I have caught myself daydreaming while driving and have " awoken " myself to see that I still am driving between the stripped lines on the road. How could this be!








So for today, if your teacher, pastor, motivational speaker or boss catches you doodling while an important message is being delivered just say "Studies Now Prove" that doodling while listening to a lecture improves comprehension and attention.

The above doodles were done at different periods but all were done at a Christian Conference or while a sermon of profound importance was being delivered. I have to say that taking notes also helps!

Here is the link in Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090226210039.htm

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The Adventures of Spike and Dick

Just one of many ideas that I started to develop...

Sedona Week

Plein Air drawings on location Sedona , Arizona . graphite



These drawings were originally posted " On Being Frank". I will be moving all of the drawings over here.

These were done on location a few years back. They bring back fond memories on the Sedona Vortex. I was actually making my decision about whether to marry Jana at the time. I look back and say...duh!!!!

For Drawing Inspiration

2 hour drawing session , graphite on cheap bond paper


This new Blog will be for drawings and notebook sketches and a forum of freeform expression. This is the maiden voyage.

I will post articles on artists that are drawing from the heart. I am very open to leads. Let me know who you have discovered out there in the Blogdom. I will also be using this opportunity to share my book resources and direct you to drawers past present and future. Like what Frank ?.....well in my travels in France I picked up some great Comic art by my hero's Moebius and Milo Manerra. That's just for starters. And I also get to show off the drawing Jim Gurney drew for my boys in one of his books he signed for them.