Quality Zombie

Aside from Garfield, another major influence in our oldest's cartooning life is Dilbert -- merely because I"ve got several Dilbert comic books that he enjoys pawing through. So here's our oldest's renditions of Adams' famous Quality Zombies.

Alas, Poor (Elder) Yorick

Missionary Mayhem, the caption says. Inspired by his cousin's mission presence currently in Mitchell, South Dakota, and the film "Quest for Camelot," our oldest turns out yet another odd work here, including a bug-eyed door opener and a modern incarnation of William Shakespeare. Where does he get his ideas?

Merry Christmas, from Santa and Bob

Here's one of my drawings, inspired by the following song written by Jeff MacNelly and based on Lawrence Marks' Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
had a very steady job
Santa had hired a new guy
flying mule whose name was Bob.

All of the other reindeer
used to wonder what Bob was.
"He'll make us miss our deadline,
ploddin' on the way Bob does."

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa made a call.
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him.
He got them out of their mess.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
flies a plane for UPS.

Jesus and Heavenly Father

Church doodles today. This one, from our youngest, kinda looks like a hippie Jesus. I think it's the big lips and boots that does it.

A more reverent montage here from our daughter. Aw bless.

Daddy and Baby

Suddenly our daughter is catching up to our oldest in her realism in her drawings. Here's baby and daddy -- daddy, I believe, is holding a can of root beer.

Loincloths?

So we've got some guys in loincloths. Someone's just told a whopper of a story and the other just can't believe what was said. But we've just come into the room and we have no clue as to what has happened here. And we're likely to remain in such confusion, too. Oh well.

Shapes and Colors

I remember doing things like this: Doodling to make math more interesting. But not as interesting as this. I'd experiment with other geometric shapes, but not our oldest. Scooter is now intruding on math homework. And I'm just fine with that.

Channeling Mr. Bean

Fans of Mr. Bean may find this drawing familiar, as the original appeared in "Mr. Bean's Diary," written by Rowan Atkinson in the early 1990s. Our oldest found the book and devoured it. Then, in his own inimitable fashion, decided to make one of Mr. Bean's drawings his own. Goofy kid.

A Little Perspective

Once again, a curious bit of art from our oldest. He hasn't taken any art classes. No one has told him what perspective is. Yet he figures it out, just, I think, by looking at things. He hasn't drawn many things like this, which tells me this isn't something he's learned in a school art class. Art class things he produces by the gross. So it'll be interesting to see how far he wants to go with his art. I love it.

Pretty Penguins

All the penguins are happy. All the penguins who want a fish have a fish. And that sunset, well, it's to die for.

While our oldest is going to be the comic book artist, our middle child is going to be the artist. Can't wait to see her working in chalks or watercolors.

Ryan and the Classroom of Doom

The dead, tongue-gaping, X-eyed smiley face on the wall I think is what did it for me. And I have to wonder where he's seen images of the Grip Reaper, let alone the Grim Reaper doing the "come here finger."

Farewell to Summer, Part II

Ordinarily, I might save drawings like this for the dregs of February, when spring seems too far off and fall is only a distant, snow-covered memory. But winter came early and often this year, so it seems apropos to post them now.

First, a calm summer scene from our daughter who, ironically, is scared to death of dalmatians. Not that I blame her. The only dalmatians I've ever met were barking brutes full of teeth.

Now a very serene scene from our oldest, who, ironically, doesn't mind a walk in the woods if we give him very specific goals to accomplish. Just telling him we're going for a walk just sends him into a frenzy.

I'm feeling better about winter now.

You're Late

Once again, a subtle comic from our oldest boy. Not quite sure where it all came from, but I'm glad it arrived.

Unshaven Daddy

I know as a kid I was much more used to seeing my Dad with a mustache than without. On the rare occasions he shaved it off, I felt like I was in some kind of Fred (Flintstone)/Frederick pod person type moment, and really didn't feel completely at ease until the mustache grew back.

Now I realize, with as many drawings my kids have made of me with a three-day-old five o'clock shadow, I probably disturb them as much when I give myself a full shave.

I will continue shaving, however. After three days, a beard really gets itchy.