Still Here

Yes, I am still here. It's been so long since I have posted anything that there is a 3 inch layer of dust on my blog page. I guess the creative juices just haven't been flowing. I get like that from time to time. I'll go for a long time with out the urge to draw anything and if I try to make myself it will turn out looking like I tried to draw it on the back of a run away rhino during an earthquake. Hopefully I will be able to come up with something soon. In the meantime, though, I have 4 of the coolest guest artists that you will ever find ready to jump in and take up my slack. So without any ado here they are:

Our first artist has graced this blog before with wonderful pictures such as Jimmy, Destructo, Moto BMX, Impala, Deadpool, and was the star of "Happy Birthday, Big Man!!!!".

Here he has drawn us his own character creation named War Hawk. He said that he got the idea from DC Comic's Hawk Man. I think he did an excellent job on this. He has actually came up with his own hero universe. I have seen his characters and they are very good. He puts a lot of time and thought into each of them. He gives them their own names, list of powers and weaknesses and whether they are a hero or a villain. He has even started drawing his characters in comic book form where a certain hero has a story line and villain or villains to defeat. I love to see his drawings. I love the fact that we share a passion for comic books and of all things heroic. We can sit a talk about it for hours. He recently informed me that he loves to read my blog. He said that he really enjoyed looking at it and that he spends a lot of time here, so because of that I will try to make at least one new post every month. Just so he will have something new to look at. Thank you, Big Man for letting me unveil your newest hero here. I hope you will always love to create the way you do now. Just so long as you DON'T DO IT DURING SCHOOL!!!

Our next artist has also made his own guest appearances on my blog. He has given us the wonderful, thrilling drawings of Horror, General Grievous, Wolf Man & 2nd Hulk, and was the star of "One Fast Hotrod!!!".

This drawing is of a phoenix bursting into flames and trying to fly away, but it is chained downed. He said he got the idea from a particular video game. I really like it. I like his use of colors here. He has always had an uninhibited imagination. He can take his mind anywhere. From shark invested waters to the depths of outer space if there is an adventure to have, he can do it. I like to watch him as he plays with his little action figures. How he matches them up, not concerned with what people say their powers are, just making it up as he goes along. I think that is so cool. So thank you Hot Rod for letting me show this picture to the world. I'm sure they will love it as much as I do.

The next person on our list is also a repeat guest artist. She has graced us with some of her earlier abstract art seen here on Guest Artist #3 and is the star of "My Little Dumplin". She shows us now her more fashionable side.

She received a fashion designer kit for Christmas and has been putting it to good use. As you can see she has created a wonderful ensemble that will undoubtedly rock the fashion world at the next big show in Paris. Everything is color coordinated and matched just perfectly. I love sitting with her while she creates her next outrageous design. She takes the time to look through all of her patterns and comes up with the best outfit imaginable. Whether she 'Just Woke Up', or is 'Going to the Pool', or even 'Going to the Prom' She is sure to put all the right pieces together to make a one of a kind perfect look. Way to go Dumplin and thank you for letting me walk your master piece down this blog's catwalk.

This will be our next artist's first contribution to the blog although she is the star of 'My Little Squirt".

This picture, which she affectionately named 'Kitty Cats Playing with Me" Was given to me on Saturday afternoon just before a stimulating game of 'Let's See Where We Can Bruise Daddy Next". It is fun to watch her color and draw. She sits there and hums a little tune or sings a little song or even makes up a story about what ever she decided to draw at the time. I also think its important to mention that she is very well rounded in her creativity. Not only is she very good at using colored pencils, which you see here, but she is also a master of crayons and finger paints as well. Well Little Squirt, I hope you like you blog depute, and I thank you for yet another beautiful picture.

My Little Squirt

Well it took forever, but I finally got it done. This is the last one, our little caboose. I have never had a picture so hard to draw before in my life, but it was worth it. I think it turned out pretty good. I will get the final and absolute opinion today when my little ones arrive and Squirt sees her picture. Then and only then will I know if it is worthy of her Highness.

I'm not sure what to say about our little relationship. I know it started out rocky at best. I wasn't allowed to be there when she was born, I was told she wasn't mine, and then she was taken over an hour away from me at the most impressionable time of her life. She never had the chance to know me like her brothers and sister did. That whole coming home at the end of the day and having me scoop her up and get some well deserved tummy sugar. Or having me walk into her class room and pick her up from daycare. I have missed her first words, her first steps, almost all of her 'firsts'.

I suppose we could dwell on that and have what time we do spend together to become uncomfortable and misused, but we don't. We have decided to take each other and hold on tight for every second we have. I love her with every beat of my heart and I make sure she knows it. I will never forget the time she was just sitting outside, playing in the dirt and looked up at me with a big, beautiful smile. I asked her what she was smiling about and she jumped up, ran into my arms and said, " I was thinking about how much I love you, Daddy." then went right back to her dirt moving. I thought my heart was going to explode right out of my chest. My head had filled so much with pride that I thought I wouldn't get it through the door. Yes sir, she has me wrapped, and she knows it. Of course, there was also the time when we were playing and I stopped and said, "I love you, Squirt." to which she simply replied, "I love me too." Ah yes, the witty things she says.

I am so thankful for all 4 of my children. I can't say that I love one more than I love then others. They are all so dear to my heart. But the fact that me and the Little Squirt are so happy together after all of the barriers we had in our way just feels so special.

I love you Squirt. I am so proud to have you as my daughter. I hope that one day I can return the favor and make you as proud to have me as your father.

Art and Conversation

I have been trying something different to try and break up the routine of being stuck at home EVERY single day. (No, not by choice). I have been walking down to a small park that is about 2 miles away from the house that I am living in. The park has a walking trail around a lake. It also has benches and tables where you can sit and just pass the time. I decided to start going there every day and just enjoy and good walk and the fresh air.

Yesterday, while sitting at "my" table a homeless man approached me and I was instantly annoyed. I was so sure that he was going to ask me for money or just sit and talk until my ears bled. I was wrong about both.

He introduced himself as Keith and offered his hand. When I shook his hand I noticed two things. First, that his hand was as cold as ice. Second, that he had the warmest smile I have seen in a while. He said that he noticed that I was drawing and just wanted to come over and sit with me a while because he was an artist too. I explained to him my "I'm not an artist, I just like to draw" theory to which he quickly replied, "Bullshit! If you draw then it is art and you are an artist!". I didn't argue anymore.

He began to tell me how he used to just keep a piece of paper and a pencil with him all the time just in case he had the urge to create a masterpiece. I offered him some paper and a pencil and we sat there and talked and sketched our pictures. I was working on this one at the time. Kieth drew out some landscaping from the scenery of the park, and I have to admit, it was really good. He would draw a little piece of a tree or a duck from the lake and then quickly stop to shade it with his finger. I offered him a little shading tool that I had made from just a torn piece of paper and he informed me that he didn't really need "fancy tools". I told him about this blog and asked if he would let me have the picture so I could post it here for people to see, (...that's if anyone actually reads this thing...) and he explained to me that he has art in museums all over and Florida and all around the world. Mostly he keeps them at his mother's house, but the really good ones go to a museum somewhere.
Our visit was cut short because they were giving away free canned food around the corner and Keith had to go. Whether or not he has drawings hanging in a museum is not for me to decide. I've never been in a museum, so how would I know. I only know that I enjoyed our conversation and I hope to have a chance to visit with Keith again.

Skull and a Snake

I have two versions of the same drawing here. After finishing the first one I took a look at it and decided that something just didn't fit. I discussed this with my oldest son and my girl friend and we all decided that the eye had to go.

After that, I was informed that I needed to add a glob of maggots or another snake, a ball of fire, or a cloud of poot gas coming out of the eye socket. After removing the actual eye I decided that was all the picture needed.

It took me about 3 days to finish this one because I took the time to shade in around each scale individually, something my scanner didn't find as important as I did. (I gotta get a new scanner)
Here is the second and final version of the drawing. I think it turned out very well.

I like dropping myself into a picture like this. While working on this nothing else was in my head. No matter what is going on in my life. All of it goes away when I am drawing. All that is left is me and the idea in my head. It is most definitely a way for me to get away for a while. At least until my 4 beautiful wonder bugs come back to see me. Then I get to watch them make their own little master pieces.

1st Time

Hello There. I thought it was time that I actually did some typing on my own. After all, this is called 'Gary's Greetings'. I've never really tried anything like this before so I would ask that you be a little patient with me until I figure out how this stuff actually works. I am sure there is going to be more that a few typos, misprints and misspellings before this is all over.

I have always loved to draw. It is a way for me to just get away. Just sit down with my pencils and paper and the radio on and make something take shape. I do not consider myself the be the world's greatest artist. I don't really consider myself an "artist" at all. I just love to draw.

The picture here was actually one of the most popular designs I drew while I was a resident of the Harvey Hilton. I am not really sure why. This is just another version of the 'Laugh Now, Cry Later' masks, but this little drawing paid for more than a few canteen orders.

Conan in the Snow

Another drawing from the archives: Gary drew Conan in the snow using pencil on white paper....when he was 14 years old! Due to the size of the drawing, some of it was cut off during scanning. The paper has also been folded, resulting in the lines in the center of the drawing.

Robot Drawing

This drawing is from the archives! During the 1990's, Gary drew this robot using pencil on plain white paper.

Personalized Hearts with Wings

Gary drew this trio of hearts with wings on plain white paper, using pencil, for his girlfriend. The color and texture were added after the image was scanned.

Guest Artist: Wolverine: Impala

Gary's oldest son stars as guest artist again today, with his rendition of an Impala. He created this car with pencil and colored markers on lined paper. He usually prefers Mustangs, but this Impala, with its flames and custom paint job, is also pretty cool!

Guest Artist: Wolverine: "Moto BMX"

Today's guest artist is Gary's oldest son, who drew this Moto BMX creation in pencil and colored markers on lined paper.

Gary created this glowering skull with black pencil on plain white paper.

Creepy Clown

Gary created this scary clown face in pencil on plain white paper.

Guest Artist: "General Grievous"

Gary's youngest son is stepping in as a guest artist today. After receiving a Star Wars toy of General Grievous, Gary's son drew General Grievous in his wheel bike. He created this drawing with orange colored pencil on plain white paper. Gary was impressed with how quickly his son finished this picture and with the accuracy of the details of the wheel bike.

Guest Artist: "Destructo"

Gary's oldest son is appearing here again as a guest artist, this time with his drawing of a superhero he created named Destructo. He drew Destructo with colored pencils on lined paper. Gary was impressed with the way his son drew the fists (with each knuckle individually) and the heels added to Destructo's shoes.

Sons of Anarchy Tattoo Design

Gary drew this Sons of Anarchy design by request. It was created on plain white paper with pencil.

Skull in Flames Tattoo

Gary created this tattoo design of 3 skulls in flames with pencil and plain white paper. The design runs more vertically than horizontally, making it better placed on the side of a leg or along the torso.

Doodle 4 Google

K-12 students are invited to "play around" with Google's logo and see what they come up with in Google's Doodle 4 Google competition. This year's theme is "What I Wish for the World."

Registration closes March 17, 2009, and entries are due March 31, 2009. Only teachers or school employees may register a student, so if you are a parent, please contact your child's teacher to register.

The National winner's logo design will go live on Google for 24 hours, and the National winner will also receive scholarship money, a laptop, a t-shirt with their doodle, and a trip to Google's New York office. More prize information can be found here.

Don't forget to click here for tips on designing a doodle, the Doodle history, and sample Doodles.

Down and Out

Gary drew this character, inspired by an individual Gary met in real life, in pencil on plain white paper.

Guest Artist #3: Sunflower: Abstract Art

The third in our series of guest artists, this drawing comes to you from Gary's 5-year-old daughter, who we will call Sunflower. She loves to draw, color, and hang up her artwork all around the house. This drawing was created in pencil on plain white paper.

Guest Artist: Wolverine: "Jimmy"

Our second guest artist is Wolverine, Gary's 9-year-old son, who enjoys learning how to draw comic book characters and describes this drawing as "sweet". It is a drawing of Jimmy Neutron.