Rob's Blog

Tag: Taylor Smith

#INKtober #17 – Caricatures in Georgia – October 17th, 2015

by on Oct.17, 2015, under Caricatures, What's New?


In northern Georgia and just finished drawing at a wedding reception in a great barn setting. Really feels great up here! Nice and chilly! Her are a few drawings!

 

 

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#INKtober #7 – Swampy’s Florida Happy Cartoon! – October 7th, 2015

by on Oct.08, 2015, under Cartooning

2015-1007-Inktober7-OctopusHere’s the inked art for tomorrow’s Swampy’s Florida cartoon.

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Book: ‘The Story Pole’ by Sherman Yeary – October 7th, 2015

by on Oct.07, 2015, under Books

The Story PoleThe Story Pole by Sherman Yeary
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For what is basically a self published book, this is excellent. Yeary writes very well. The focus is steady and the book is broken into chapters to help that.

There are some excellent photos included that really help illustrate much written.

I really liked Yeary’s description of growing up in 1920s-30s in a point by point way that is readable and very educating. Wish Rawlings and most others could so clearly present early life in a rural setting.

For someone just recording his history, Yeary does an outstanding job of starting at a point in life and building to the next turn, which becomes another chapter. Too many best selling author’s books get published without a cogent reason for a chapter break.

Probably the worst part of the book is the cover, as can be seen above. There is also not a map in the book. If the reader does not know Ocala, they will be lost.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of 10 points.

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Book: ‘Citra – Home of the Pineapple Orange’ by Faye Perry Melton – October 4th, 2015

by on Oct.04, 2015, under Books

Citra - Home of the Pineapple OrangeCitra – Home of the Pineapple Orange by Faye Perry Melton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Considering there is likely never to be a specific book about the history of the little community of Citra, this book is a Godsend. It has a ton of information for a shorter book. Lots of photos and documents copied in it.

Due to the rarity of Citra history, I really can’t complain about the mish mash approach to laying this book out. There are also hard to see reproductions and various typography used.

The history is well written and I like how each chapter-type covers specific points of Citra history.

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

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October 3rd, 2015 – Book: ‘The history of Astor on the St. Johns, Astor Park, and the surrounding area The history of Astor on the St. Johns, Astor Park’ by Albert Wass

by on Oct.03, 2015, under Books

The history of Astor on the St. Johns, Astor Park, and the surrounding areaThe history of Astor on the St. Johns, Astor Park, and the surrounding area by Albert Wass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is what a history book should be. Builds the history and reflects and refers back to keep the narrative in context. Through this book the author will break down a new occurance back to it’s origination. The reference is not done endlessly. Just enough to remind the reader where they are and what went on before. Especially helpful as so many generations of names of people are unfolded. How I wish all history books did this.

The writing is very good. I really like how certain folklore of the area has been completely separated from the factual history.

Drawbacks: As usual, maps would be extremely helpful. There are also only a few photographs included. I’m not going to mark against what’s missing considering the size of the book. How good it is trumps the drawbacks.

Bottomline: I recommend this book. 9 of 10 points.

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#INKtober #2 – Happy Birthday, Groucho! – October 2nd, 2015

by on Oct.02, 2015, under Caricatures, Celebrity Illustrations, What's New?

20015-1002-INKtober2-Groucho20015-1002-INKtober2-Groucho-Stuff

Today would have been Groucho’s 125th birthday and I am a fan! Have been since I was a wee child. I’ve seen all the films, listened to or watched most all of the radio and television programs. Got most all of the books (including different editions). Even Groucho toys! A photo of a small part of my Groucho collection below.

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#INKtober – Ist Entry! & an Offer of Free Art to You! – October 1st, 2015

by on Oct.01, 2015, under Cartooning

2015-1001-INKtober-HappyOlderPeoples

er – Ist Entry!
 
Here’s my first posting for the month long #Inktober, in which artists – if you want to call me that – exercise their inking muscles everyday. I’ll post something for #INKtober everyday here.
 
That got me thinking about presenting an offer: I can ink a drawing for YOU! No charge. I love being tossed a subject or situation and drawing it off the cuff.
 
So, you can give me a subject of an animal, basic situation, location, etc, and I’ll draw it and post it here. I might just take pieces and parts of what is described. Can’t get too complicated, which is why no caricatures. This is only for the month of October. I’ll try to get the original drawing to you. If noting else, you can get a good version that can be printed.
 
Go ahead and post in the comments section or reply here as you please. I’ll draw as many as I can. But likely won’t draw them all and will be posting other artwork I’m inking, too.
 
This drawing is the inked version, before color, for my daily Swampy’s Florida Happy cartoon. These cartoons are due to “INKtober 2 years ago when I saw, cartoonist – who should be called an artist, John Sanford‘s excellent inked cartoon posts. At that point I wasn’t drawing enough, or inking enough, so I joined in. Then i stopped and knew I needed to continue. Eventually, decided last year to start the daily Swampy’s Florida cartoons, which has me ink – and coloring – daily. Anyway, big thank you to John for unintentionally getting me to ink more!

 

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September 28th, 2015 – A few caricatures I drew Monday….

by on Sep.29, 2015, under Caricatures

I’ve gotten away again from posting here! Was caricature performing Monday and here are a few drawings:2015-0929-CAri-1

Monique tells of her family’s trip along the Silver River this past weekend. Including being terrified when she found monkeys along the way! I explained of how monkeys got loose during filming of Tarzan films in the 1930s and that their descendants live along the river today.

2015-0929-CAri-2

Dotty enjoys oil painting landscapes of her native Pennsylvania these days.

2015-0929-CAri-3

Jaime rescues squirrels, loves horses and hates spiders!

 

 

 

 

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September 27th, 2015 – Book: ‘Eternal Spring’ by Richard Martin.

by on Sep.27, 2015, under Books

Eternal Spring- Man's 10,000 Years of History at Florida's Silver SpringsEternal Spring- Man’s 10,000 Years of History at Florida’s Silver Springs by Richard A. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third or fourth book I’ve read of Richard Martin’s. It’s been years since I’ve read his work, but this is clearly head and shoulders above the other books.

This book is superior to so many histories in it’s layout, writing, organization and even images. Martin clearly lays out the early the vast history of the area that includes Silver Springs State Park. At the time of the books publication, 1966, the park area was still privately owned and not part of the state park system as occurred October 1st, 2013.

There is a lenthy list of fish & plants to be found. Much about indians and development of a multi-level attraction.

I will quibble with the amount of writing that is outside the purview of the subject. Martin leaves the tracks at times as he chronicles indians all over Florida, seemingly just because he’s listing indians. Instead fleshing out more in the lives of the indians in the area would have been more germane.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of 10 points.

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September 14th, 2015 – Book: ‘Murder Fantastical’ by Patricia Moyes

by on Sep.14, 2015, under Books

Murder FantasticalMurder Fantastical by Patricia Moyes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I do like this Tibbetts series and this one was as much fun as the last I read.

The mystery starts off very slowly. There’s meandering all over, in and out, up and down, ad around the Manciple family. The family is interesting, just, to me, not that interesting. All of the meandering leads to very well defined characters. Especially impressive due to a very large cast.

The settings are well illustrated. The locations are few and two major settings are particularly well told.

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

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September 11th, 2015 – Getting some painting done!

by on Sep.11, 2015, under Cartooning, What's New?

2015-0911-Painting

Back to painting after a week of broken down car and exciting projects involving Apopka, Florida! Thanks to Orange County School Board member, Christine Eckers Moore! Here’s a small sample of the overall painting. Hoping to have it finished Sunday.

So much going on Saturday, hope to get other artwork done!

Been hanging around this evening working and getting great vittles at Angel’s Soul Food. If you’re near Tavares, you need to stop in for their smothered chicken!

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