Death of A Perfect Mother by Robert Barnard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This doesn’t happen often with me: A book I couldn’t put down. I started the first page and, in between hundreds of miles of driving read this as much as I could. It’s not a dazzling story or full of action and deep mystery. It’s just a tale of a family and anticipation.
The title presumes a story that doesn’t happen as might be expected. That keeps the pages turning.

It’s the writing I loved. Barnard is new to me and I’ve been missing his books for too long. A new search has begun!
I found this very readable with terrific characters. The main character is written with many viewpoints. As the story moves along, what is anticipated becomes more and more intriguing as to how the book might end. All of the characters are given great dimension.
Most books today run 30 or 4 hundred pages with less results. This is a mere 222 page and accomplishes much, much more.
Also excellent setting descriptions.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of 10 points.




View all my reviews

Here’s the pencilling part of an illustration I’m working on. Can’t show the rest. A surprise, y’see.

This illustration is of another person who collects elephants. Elephants are a new wide spread collectible. I hear about folks collecting them now more than at anytime in my 40 years asking about collections.

Rarely hear about folks collecting much of anything anymore. Hardly ever hear of folks collecting comics, coins, dolls, etc. Elephants are an exception. Don’t know why.

Hope to show the finished version down the road.

Rob was AWESOME! Very personable and professional. My residents loved him! We will have him back again. Thank you!Review by Tammy D. FROM LARGO, FL ON 9/19/2019

birthday party (adult)

OVERALL  5 out of 5

This experience was far beyond my expectations. All of his pictures told a story about the person he was drawing. I had well over 75 people there and all who wanted to take advantage of this experience were able to. He even stayed a little longer without charge and I certainly appreciated it.Review by Elizabeth W. FROM ORLANDO, FL ON 6/29/2019

rehearsal dinner

OVERALL   5 out of 5

Rob is AMAZING! Everyone was pleased and impressed with his artistry …and their overall interaction with him. Rob is engaging and his eccentricity is absolutely endearing! We look forward to working with Rob again!Review by Ellen H. FROM TAMPA, FL ON 6/28/2019

birthday party (adult)

OVERALL   5 out of 5

Rob was AWESOME!!! Guest loved him so much, they didn’t want him to leave!Review by Alesha M. FROM FORT MYERS, FL ON 5/3/2019

christmas party

OVERALL   5 out of 5

Wonderful evening. He drew all 30 guests and everyone was pleased with the likenesses and the extra touches of adding personalized interests especially for each person. Great personality, so talented and stayed till the very last gues6Review by Denise G. FROM SAFETY HARBOR, FL ON 12/23/2018

wedding reception

OVERALL   5 out of 5

Hired Rob for our Veterans Day wedding & couldn’t have been more pleased. This man is an artist, a storyteller, a novelty, a one in a million entertainer! Our guests are still talking about him to this day & others framed & hung his art in their homes. He moved mountains to make it to us (drove 500+ miles, car broke down, & even had his home robbed!); we are so thankful that he did. His work left our guests amazed, and he provided a “favor” to our guests that cannot be touched by anything that we could write our names and the date on. I would recommend him to ANYONE having a get together, he does amazing work, and has a personality that lights up the entire event!!!(more)Review by Abby M. FROM MYRTLE BEACH, SC ON 11/11/2018

corporate function

OVERALL   5 out of 5

Rob was wonderful at our employee appreciation event on 11/5 & 6. We hired to artist for the two days and they accommodated 151 people on the 5th and 102 on the 6th. They were the hit of the event. I don’t know why we didn’t think of this before this year but we will Defiantly hire them again next year and even for other events we have for fund raising. I recommend these two artist, Rob Smith and Marsha Eaton for any event. They really are a hit and everyone enjoys what they bring to the day. Thank you Rob and MarshaReview by Barbara S. FROM GAINESVILLE, FL ON 11/5/2018

Plunder of the Sun by David Dodge

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


OK cat and mouse caper south of the border. Well crafted with good twists and a satisfying while leaving the trail open for further tales of the main character. Characters well drawn. Locations mostly done well.

Dodge went too far trying to cram spanish language in spots making reading a bit of a stumble at times. Not being a fan of the spanish language, german or french would have been easy to read through.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of 10 points.





View all my reviews

Reworking an earlier drawing for one item. I put this together for watercolor. I’ll be doing still another version Wednesday.

How to Succeed in Hollywood Without Really Trying P.S. You Can’t! by Melville Shavelson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a funny book full of tales of wrestling with Hollywood. The latter is pretty typical for a Hollywood book. Difference is, as others try, this one is funny.

This book does have a trouble throughout the entire book of very rarely noting the date or even year any instance happened. The reader is stuck having to figure out just what decade instances are helping. Not helping is Shavelson often bringing up flashbacks and then continuing the linear history. That’s when it’s tough to tell what time period he is writing about. Thus, the overall planning of the book is a bit slipshod. Luckily Shavelson is a good writer to carry through the troubles.

Shavelson revels that he can write whatever he wants due to, basically, self-publishing this book. That begs the question as to why he skips past many of his accomplishments. I’d guess this was his way of avoiding whatever it was he wanted to avoid. Those of us that knows he skips books and movies he worked on will feel short changed. Per chance this is a problem I have with Shavelson films. His films tend to be drawn out too long and seem to miss scenes to keep the film together.

A real plus is a very good index.

Bottomline: I recommend this book. 6 out of 10 points.



View all my reviews

Part two event for Saturday was a volunteer effort for charity.

The child in the photo is brilliant! At 12 he has aced the SAT with something like a 1600 score.
He excels in chemistry.
Of course, he was home schooled! Credit also going to his parents!!!

Then there’s Amy who spoke about her writings and ideas and stumbled into solving a philosophical issue I’ve grappled with for a very long time.

Here’s me and Carey Baker, Lake County (Florida) Property Appraiser. I wish I could always be do jovial! 🙂

2019-0914-RobSmithJr-Gig-A-ScottishHighlands-1

Back entertaining today! The first 2 are Florida History Royalty. Their family goes back to the days Florida opened up to settlers around 1830. They are family to Phillipe in Safety Harbor and the Turners of Turner Creek in Chockoloskee. I hope to speak to learn how that all connects sometime down the road.

This is part 1 of 2 today.

Working hard to clear a slew of projects by the weekend. Is it any surprise one project has kitties in it? 🙂

Here’s the color version of the super elephant I did a few days ago. Bouncing from one project to the other of a wide variety of entirely different subjects and uses. Some I can share and some I can’t. I’ll share what I can. More to come!