News

... Well, there's been a lot of news but heck if I can keep up with it all. Let's see what I can remember from 2011.

In the Winter I was commissioned to do a large full color caricature of Stephen King and his wife and dog. I drew them walking the Florida Beaches as they live here near Sarasota. It was commissioned by their personal assistant and was given to them as gift I hope is hanging in their home on Casey Key. 

On that note I was also commissioned to do a similar full color caricature famous local artist Richard Capes. It was presented to him at the 'Visionary Walk' held in April 2011 at Jungle Gardens in Sarasota. Richard is popular for his paintings of lighthouses so of coarse I drew a lighthouse in the final image.

I'm still looking in the Venice FL area for the actual 'Pet Protect' bus I designed. Not the bus itself but the art wrapped around it. Keep an eye out for a bus with a whole kabuddle of cats and dogs all over it. 

I went to France for 2 weeks in February 2011!!!!!!!!  I went with my Aunt Leota and we had a blast. I couldn't have done it without her so I'm so thankful it worked out. We spent one week in Paris and did all the museums and sites at a comfortable pace. I've been there before but it was especially nice to be there long enough to 'feel it'. Oh Paris! Then we headed down to Marseille where I bought me a new finely crafted black beret. Now I'm a real artist! I like the food and the bars in Marseille. It was a fun city, very young and energetic. We only spent one day before we headed on over to  Cannes where we spent the most of another week. It was cold and rainy that week but we had a car so we still got out to do some castle towns, museums and such. The French are 'round-a-bout' crazy so me driving around in circles trying to get somewhere. Over all it was fun. I'm still in love with the Chagal Museum in Nice and it was fun going to the Picasso Museum and of coarse back in Paris, the Louvre and the De Orsay rocked as usual. 

In the July of 2011 I taught 3 weeks of Teen "Illustration and Design"for the Ringling College of Art and then headed up to Little Switzerland NC to teach "Drawing in Color" at the Wildacres Retreat. After which I was able to spend a hot summer week with my family in the Rock Hill SC area. The biggest fun for me that week was an annual tubing trip my family tries to put together for me when I come home.

I got home from all that work and fun and almost immediately shot off again to Maine. I was blessed to spend 25 days there. The first part was in the Boothbay area then the last half was spent up in Machiasport. During my time in Maine I made it to Squirrel Island, Monhegan Island, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and even Canada for the first time ever. Weird street signs there.

In October I was back up to Little Switzerland NC teaching for Ringling College of Art at the Wildacres Retreat. I really enjoyed both times on the mountain in 2011 and I even got to spend some quality time with good friends for a Halloween Party in the Charlotte NC area and an early Thanksgiving party in the Atlanta area. Yea to deep fried turkey!

After all that I attended the annual ISCA 'Caricature' convention held in St. Petersburg Florida in November. I love that convention and it was nice to not have to fly to another state this year. If you are reading this and you are an artist you should check it out in San Antonio TX November 2012. Google ISCA to get details. I've been a member and attending cons for over 10 years. especially if you are an artist it will change your life. Caricaturing professionally is not for 'wimps'. 

December brought it's usual onslaught of freelance art commissions and caricature gigs. I had to cancel a lot of classes at the Art and Frame Shop over the holidays but I made it up by offering a nice set of makeup classes the week between Christmas and New Years.

On New Years I went down to Boca Grand FL to draw caricatures for the Gasparilla Inn. I do that gig every year but this year was special. It was a beautiful evening and the event was attended by both President Bush's and their wives. They didn't come over for a drawing but I got to see them and all the security. I just got rebooked for the same gig this coming New Year's Eve. 

In January I dodged as much work as possible and caught up with myself. Then I hosted Wendy and Steve Hern, the current president ISCA. They live near London in the UK. We have always been good friends and have spent many great times together in different at the ISCA caricature conventions. While he was in FL in November 2011 I had him at my home for just a day. That 24 hours allowed me to show him and Wendy and I think they liked it cause they came back for a week this time. We really had a nice time doing just about everything you can think of and then some. I wish I had a good art friend like Steve here nearby all year long. But then again he's so talented he might try to take all my work.  

The year ahead promises to be just about as much fun as last year. First I have to catch up with my freelance jobs over the next few weeks. One includes designing original art for a skateboard created by Blake at 'Califlorida' a very cool skateboard shop on Siesta Key. Some of the other jobs are a logo design, a portrait, some dog and owner caricatures (got lots of those for Christmas in Dec.) Then I especially have to put in some time in on a bathroom mural I started for LeBarge Tropical Cruise boat that sails the Sarasota Bay area every week. Sometimes I do live caricature on the sunset cruise. Look for me. Geeze, I better stop typing and get back to work eh?

... Well let me tell you the rest of the plan. I'm hoping to travel some this year if I can afford it. Looking at going down to the Dominican Republic for a local friends wedding at an all inclusive. It's actually pretty cheap so that may be possible in May. And or soon after that my Aunt and Uncle are in Hawaii and have invited me to come out. My uncle is contracted to be there so they live there for most of the year for the last few years and their stint is coming to an end. So if I can swing it I'm going to go while I have a free place to stay. In June I'll start a morning and afternoon Teen Studio art class for Ringling College's Summer Teen Program. That will go on for 4 weeks and bleed into July after which I'll again be teaching at Wildacres for 2 weeks this time. I'm psyched about that cause I usually only get one week. See details for that on my 'instruction' page. (but give me time to update it). Of corse as usual I'll see my family and probably get to take my chances with river snakes on a hot July tubing expedition. In addition to all that I've bee invited back to Maine in August. So I'm hoping to do that. I'd love to do that trip every year. I can teach or draw caricature while I'm there to make it pan out more economically. My calendar is already fleshing itself out for re-bookings to draw caricatures at annual events so I'm totally expecting to be just as busy in 2012 as I was in 2011. Wish me luck on all that.

I'll catch you up later as the plan develops and as the year unfolds. Have a good one yourself!