Rob's Blog

Author Archive

‘Song in the Clay Springs’. – A Commissioned Painting I did from 2015.

by on Aug.31, 2023, under Illusration

The painting setting is the Clay Springs in western Seminole and northwestern Orange County. Today commonly referred to as Wekiva, or Wekiwa, Springs.

This is being commissioned for Clay Springs Elementary School in Orange County, Florida. My first approach to this was to focus on the spring area and just decorate with critters. Then I rethought how little children today rarely see, something I grew up with, happy little animals. So I switched my approach. Tough for me because I want to educate about springs and water. I think children need to see happier pictures than so many images today that lean to the grotesque.

Christine did want me to include the Florida black bear, used as a mascot for the school. Here’s the bear, a bunny, a raccoon and to help tie into water, a turtle. Also included is the state bird, the mockingbird, and state butterfly, the zebra longwing.

More about the painting on the blog: http://swampysflorida.com/?p=13139

This will be available as a print soon.
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#Florida #Bears #BearArt #Schools #SchoolArt #Painting #Illustration #Watercolor #FloridaArt #FloridaBlackBear

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Unicorn girl caricature I did in 2016…..

by on Aug.30, 2023, under What's New?

Rainbows are very difficult. In this, I used color pencils to get the colors. I wanted to be sure the rainbow colors didn’t out flank the colors involving the main subject.

I drew and painted this caricature back in 2016 as a commission.
Please let me know if you would like one.
My prices are very reasonable.

Watercolor and colored pencil on 11″ x 14″ watercolor board.

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Watercolor I added for a painting from 2015 – ‘Music in the Forest’

by on Aug.29, 2023, under What's New?

Painting this on 21″ by 16″ Arches watercolor board.

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Pencils for a painting from 2015 – ‘Music in the Forest’

by on Aug.28, 2023, under Cartooning, Illusration


Penciled this on 21″ by 16″ Arches watercolor board.
I’ll soon post watercolor I applied later.
Since this painting, Arches watercolor board has ceased to exist. Today, I use the lesser quality Crescent board that is available.

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‘Friends along a River’. – I drew live & digitally colored.

by on Aug.26, 2023, under Cartooning, Illusration

I did this 3 years ago today. The pencil and inks drawn live during a program. Then i digitally inked it.

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My caricature of Charles lee of Audubon from 2012…..

by on Aug.24, 2023, under Caricatures


I did this watercolor caricature of Charles Lee, now retired from Audubon Society. He had been a speaker at a series of talks hosted, by a group I’m with, the Florida Springs Institute. This was a ‘Thank You’ made and sent to him.

This was 11″ x 14″ watercolor paper. I believe I inked this with a Markette marker. The Company that made markettes was bought and eliminated by the Sharpie/Sanford Company.
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#Art #Audubon #Watercolor #Painting #Paint #ArtLife #Caricatures #Cartooning

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‘Duck Dive’ – My live drawing from a few days ago.

by on Aug.23, 2023, under Cartooning

Drawn last week live.
I made this up as I drew it.
Next Live on my Cartoons by Rob Smith, Jr. page should be Wednesday at 7pm.
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#Art #Illustration #Cartooning #ArtLife #Ducks #Swim #Swimming #Cartoon #Illustration #Draw #Drawing #Artlife #DailyArt 
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‘Fish Comes Home’ – My live drawing from Yesterday.

by on Aug.23, 2023, under Cartooning

Drawn Tuesday live.
I’d pulled two cards from the Word Box: Fish and Home.
I made this up as I drew it.

Next Live on my Cartoons by Rob Smith, Jr. page should be Wednesday at 7pm.
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From my sketchbook 10 years ago….

by on Aug.21, 2023, under Sketchbook

Ten years ago today I was part of a group of folks discussing issues and philosophy. It was a Socrates Cafe.
I’d take a sketch pad page and doodle the back and forth of members, including me.
I love being a part of discussion groups.
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#SocratesCafe #Sketch #Sketching #Draw #Drawing #drawdaily

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‘Critter Card Game’ – I drew live last week.

by on Aug.16, 2023, under Cartooning

I made this up as I drew it.
Spurred by members in the chat area of the live program.

Felt tip marker on Miller paper.

Next live this evening at 7.
Next Live on my Cartoons by Rob Smith, Jr. page should be Tuesday at 7pm.
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‘Attack of the Snow Monster’ – From my live program last Sunday….

by on Aug.16, 2023, under Cartooning, Illusration


During the live program chat Sunday the subject of the hot weather crept in. So, I started drawing snow and this monster appeared. Then the interplanetary space travelers were added.

Drawn live and made up as I drew.
Ink of Miller Paper sketch paper.

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