I attended the 102nd birthday party for my dear friend Lucile Fair in Orlando. Above is Lucile, me and the card I presented to her signed by the 8 other cartoonists (Jeff Bacon, Jeff Keane, Ed Steckly, David Mowder, Milburn Taylor, Bill Hinds and Rick Kirkman) who were also in San Antonio, Texas, the week before.

That afternoon had tea with James Saunders and Dena Wild (sketched by me above). Also there was a friend of Dena’s whose name slips my mind, as names always do. Knowing James for 30+ years and Dena for 25 years is the only reason I remember their names!

Later I met up with Ken Culotta at a Denny’s to gag some gags!

The Illustration Friday word is clumsy. As I drew this live on UStream last night, two viewers, Coffeeness & HotPopcornWater, suggested the critters. I then cobbled together the drawing. You can see the film by clicking here. It’s the last ten minutes.

Inked and ready to color! A portion of a magazine cartoon I’m working on right now.

From Sunday night.

Here are a few of the folks at the Suncoast Inkslingers Holiday wing-ding: Kurt Wright, John Stevens, Jim Fern and Ann E. Sabo. It was held at The Captain’s Italian Restaurant in Safety Harbor. Below is Dan Smith, caricaturist extraordinaire.

More caricatures! Here’s my good friend Claude Hunter above.

A color caricature from last nioght. The lighting wasn’t so hot.

Above is a caricature I drew of this Army hero, Jesse. I have Jesse as a hobbit trying to use his computer skills to defeat the dragon as Gandalf loses his patience with the slowness of the digital world.

Cartoonists gathered at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra, Florida, to welcome home 500 Army soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We were part of a Yellow Ribbon event put on by The Florida National Guard. The cartoonists attending were Michael Jantze, of the comic strip ‘The Norm’ and teacher at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Don Perlin, co-creator of Ghost Rider and at one time or other has drawn most of the Marvel superheroes, and Aaron Olson, National Guardsman himself and student at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Above artists Aaron Olson, Michael Jantze and Don Perlin draw for soldiers. Don’s wife, Becky is at the the end.

After the soldiers had gone Dana, Aaron’s wife, and Aaron Olson speak to Major Sarah McLevy, who did a great job organizing the huge event. Seated is Michael Jantze, drawing a Hulk cartoon for the Major.

Me, Michael Jantze, Arron and Dana Olson.

Here’s part of a gag cartoon I finished.

I wrapped this piece for a local group. All digital color.

Today is Jacob’s 15th birthday. Amazing but true, for those who know what this is about. I had lunch with my father at Steak and Shake. The sketch (First I’d done in the sketchbook for almost 2 months) is of gumball machines at the restaurant. Later I was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend some time and talk Orlando history with my 101 year old friend, Lucile Fair. Later Met with Tex Ann and Bob Buck to work on Orlando Remembered display. Still later met up with ol’ Ken Culotta and worked on gags at a Denny’s. Below is a photo from that meeting.