It’s #MerMay and I’m looking to draw mermaids for May! 
Watch here for mermaid drawings galore during May!

Part of the fun is over at my Swampy’s Florida! Folks can make suggestions involving the mermaids!

Video of me inking a portion of the large 20″ x 30″ illustration produced a couple of weeks ago for the Florida Springs Institute during the Springs Celebration at O’Leno State Park just north of High Springs, Florida.

The inking was done using brushes with no pencils or reference and made up as Rob went along.

Hell is a woman by Garrett W. Deas

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For me, a predictable story due to one very obvious element. If you don’t notice it, you may be very surprised by the outcome. The story is set up generally well with the setting of the stereotype of the crooked Southern town. This being a stereotyped Florida Southern swamp town with the typical characters usually portrayed.

There are lots of technical issues in the book. Largest one being that the law enforcement characters are written as of the county sheriff’s office. However, the entire story approaches the law enforcement officers as municipal officers and not county. The writer clearly didn’t know the difference. I believe his effort to use stereotypes confused this.

The plot is still interesting and the bodies that pile up drew me into the story further. Still that one obvious element I noticed hovered over the book the entire time and proved to be true.

Side note: I love the cover art.

About the Florida setting: The setting is described as east of Tampa and Gator Creek is nearby. There is such a place in our state of Florida. Though the county name is not the same and there is no city portrayed anywhere near by. I believe the writer made use of a map.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 6 out of 10 points.



View all my reviews

I used no pencils for most of this illustration that is 20″ x 30″. I inked using brush pens mostly.

Busy day for me, and so many others who volunteered, at the Marion County’s 175th anniversary celebration. I’m exhausted! 

I was floored by the number of people I knew at the event covering a three areas I’m active in: History, environment and politics. It was great to cross introduce folks.

I was part of the North Marion County History area. There I work on an illustration of Marion County history using no pencils and working mostly with brushes. I only did two individual drawings for a couple of children there. Later I was the last of a series of speakers of local history.

Descriptions with each photo. More photos over at my Swampy’s Florida.

Been busy working around the house and attending meetings this week. Was even a speaker at one. 

Gotten back to pen on paper the last couple of days. Below are a couple bits of work. Have a lot more to do. 

I’ll be drawing lots Saturday at the Marion County’s 175th anniversary celebration in Ocala at the McPherson Complex. I’ll be speaking also. Come on by!

Back to entertaining! Celebrating Purim at a synagogue near The Villages tonight!

I don’t generally post this sort of thing, but the history side of me wants to share this. Please know your history.:

“You have 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 16 g-g-grandparents, & 32 g-g-g-grandparents. With an average of 25 years between each generation, this means that during the past 500 years, there were 1,048,576 people–all contributing to the production of you!”

(Twitter friend posted this marking it by an author, Diana Gabaldon.)

The Magic Crystal by Mœbius

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I am determined to try science fiction this year. Specifically the Florida based series by Piers Anthony. Thought i’d try this to prepare. If this is any indication, i’m not getting through Anthony.

The story is some kind of search for crystals with space ships and various typical fantasy creatures. Pretty clear that when the story needed to go some where, some fantasy device is used to move a space. All silly hocus-pocus nonsense.

The artwork is weak in all ways but in the depiction of landscapes.

Bottom line: i don’t recommend this book. 2 out of 10 points.



View all my reviews

Got 5 pages inked tonight of the Florida SpringsFest Weekend March 2&3, 2019 coloring/comic book. More to come!