Tag: childrens illustration
September 6th, 2014 – Signing Books in Homosassa Springs State Park.
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Sep.07, 2014, under What's New?
On the #drawing board today: Signed and drew in lots and lots of Swampy’s Florida books today at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park for “Speak Up Homosassa Springs”. Here are a couple photos from teh event.
The young fellow was funny. I asked him about what he likes and found him very articulate. So as he spoke of how he would like to wash things, I asked what he would like to wash. A car. How will you be sure the cars get washed? Will you be a manager? Yes. And on it went. He’s a thinking youngster and hope he stays that way!
August 29th, 2014 – On the Drawing Board: Gators, Whale Sharks and Swampy!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Aug.30, 2014, under Cartooning
A brief hour and a half stop at a local coffee spot found me getting the above artwork done plus more. Rough sketches of baby gators, a sketch for a mural and a cartoon illustration for Swampy’s Florida. I also penciled and inked three editorial cartoons.
August 27th, 2014 – Book: ‘Last Seen Wearing’ by Colin Dexter.
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Aug.27, 2014, under Books
Last Seen Wearing by Colin Dexter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
‘Last Seen Wearing’ by Colin Dexter is a very good book of Inspector Morse that unravels the efforts it can actually take to get to the conclusion of a mystery. For that matter, the trouble to get to answers in life. False and hopeful conclusions. Deadends. Confusion. One of the most realistic in plotting of a fictional mystery I’ve read.
This book is not for those looking for a straightforward mystery with w twist or two. It will greatly frustrate those. It could be said Dexter went too far with the many bad leads to then present it to the readers out there. With that thought, I trimmed the star level. A writer should have that more in consideration when constructing a tale.
The real fun here is following Morse as he tries to figure it all out. Dexter does a tremendous job of building the character.
A note about other comments about the book I read on Goodreads and the televised version: The original book is from the 1970s without the typical censorship you find in today’s books about how people really are and think. The real contrast to time periods comes in the teleplay of the tv episode in which characters are spun into stereotypes of mean, powerful developers, sexual confusion and the like. The sensationalism of the episode is disturbing. I guess Dexter accepted it all.
Bottom line: I recommend the book – not the televised version.
August 24th, 2014 – On the drawing board: Pages of artwork done!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Aug.24, 2014, under Cartooning
Camped out in a coffee spot this evening and knocked out all this in two and a half hours. Have to wonder why I don’t do this more often. Since January when I blacklisted the coffee spot I had been going to, I’ve rarely stopped anywhere to chug-a-lug artwork out. Pressing needs are likely to get me back to coffee spots, or something like it. Sure to post more of the above and upcoming soon. Check out Swampy’s Florida each day in the next few weeks to see color versions of the bulk of the art above.
On the #Drawing Board: Illustrating Springs Experts at our event Tuesday night, ‘Sacred Springs’.
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Aug.06, 2014, under Caricatures, Cartooning, Illusration
I was part of the symposium about our Florida springs Tuesday night, named ‘Sacred Springs’. I was setup in the front of the auditorium and illustrated each speaker as they did their presentations to the audience. There were nine speakers this time and I couldn’t finish them all at the event. In the next couple weeks I’ll share some of the watercolor paintings I worked on. I didn’t get to finish as many as in other symposiums due to the limited time and the amount of speakers. I’ll be going back to finish the paintings.
‘Sacred Springs’ was a gathering of experts of our Florida springs. Speakers included Johm Moran, Dr. Robert Knight, of the Springs Institute; Guy Warwick, the Felburn Foundation; Jim Stevenson, Wakulla Springs Alliance; Doug Ray, Ocala Star-Banner & Gainesville Sun; Ryan Smart, Florida Conservation Coalition; Karen Ahlers, Florida Defenders of the Environment and Whitey Markle, Suwanee-St. Johns Sierra Club & Florida troubadour.
A surprise audience member was former Governor Buddy MacKay.
August 4th, 2014 – On the #Drawing Board: Swampy Days!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Aug.04, 2014, under Cartooning, What's New?
In the past week I’ve been illustrating the celebratory days of the week. For example Tuesday is ‘Work Like a Dog Day’. My art for that is on the upper left. Click here to learn what that is about.
Swing over to the Swampy’s Florida website and watch the rest of the artwork turn into color. Return each day so you can know what to celebrate each day on the Swampy’s Florida website or the Swampy’s Florida Facebook page.
July 23rd, 2014: Today on the Drawing Board: Swampy as Batman!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Jul.24, 2014, under Cartooning
Drew my Swampy, the Swamp Ape, as Batman for ‘Batman Day’. with him is Trilby, the baby alligator, as Robin.
July 3rd, 2014 – Today on the #drawing board – Birthday Gator!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Jul.04, 2014, under Cartooning
Here’s the third in the Happy Birthday card series for Swampy’s Florida. there’s more to come with images to include a flamingo and mermaid.
July 2nd, 2014 – Today on the drawing board: Turtle Birthday Greetings!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Jul.03, 2014, under Cartooning, Swampy's Florida
Another of the upcoming Swampy’s Florida birthday card series. this time with a turtle. Have another coming with an alligator soon. I’ll post when the cards will be available for purchase.
July 1st, 2014 – Today on the drawing board – Swampy’s Florida Birthday Cards!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Jul.02, 2014, under Cartooning
Worked on a bunch of very different projects today. Here’s one of the Swampy’s Florida new set of birthday cards coming soon!
June 24h, 2014 – Today on the #drawing board – Critter Run – Color Version!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Jun.25, 2014, under Cartooning
Penciled and inked this weeks ago. Thought I would be coloring not long after, but more car trouble and detours in life have kept me from being as timely as I’d like. Here’s the digital color version of the artwork. I’ll share the digital notice about the event as it approaches.