But it FEELS like a Monday…

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Give Me Back My Awe, Dangit!

I can remember lunar landings. I can remember watching the Shuttle Enterprise take her maiden flight (without engines!!!) from the back of a beefed-up 747. I remember Skylab. I remember the Apollo-Soyuz Mission. I remember when we were all in a state of collective wonder over mankind’s first baby-steps into space. When we spent weeks at a time with such things dominating our school playground conversations.

But now it seems, as we enter into what could be termed our space travel adolescence, we have to choose. Like a teenager, we must make some “life choices”. Will we strive to hold onto that purity-that nobility of purpose-that inspires awe? Will we take the quick thrill route and become more concerned with shallow surface impressions and flashy presentation? Or, will we- worst of all-become uncaring and apathetic?

Recently, it was announced that Virgin would be performing the first wedding in space. Good for them, and many regards to the happy couple. But is this what it was all about? Did Yuri Gagarin and John Glenn risk their lives so that we could have super-expensive novelty theme weddings? Did the crews of the Apollo 1, the Challenger, and the Columbia give theirs so that the mesosphere could become the new Vegas?

I know that, like any frontier, there are going to be those who will capitalize on space by packaging it as glitzy and glamorous. I’m not against that. But let’s not lose sight of the original goals. Let’s not forget to sit down and watch a launch with our kids. Let us all still gasp in amazement as a brave astronaut floats weightlessly outside a shuttle’s cargo bay. Let’s not lose the awe and wonder.

A Sense of Direction… A Direction of Sense

This entire sketch sprang forth from the big guy’s nostril.

No, I’m not talking in the sense that Athena sprang forth from Zeus’ brow. I mean I started doodling his left nostril (an act which sounds much grosser than it really was) and it grew from there.

So, needless to say, I have no idea what the story is behind this scene. Once again, I must ask that you provide your own version of events. Where are they going? Why does the little furry fella get to ride in the backpack? And, is that little dog/centaur thingy wearing a hat or is his skull shaped like that?

How many snakes….

…could a snake sacker sack if a snake sacker could sack snakes?

Rob sent me a story about “the world’s greatest rattlesnake sacker”, and it’s been itching to be doodled. I was on vacation last week, so I didn’t have any doodling-advantageous situations. But this morning I was trapped in a room full of people with the lethal combination of an orator and a podium, and the ol’ pen got fired up REAAAALL quick.

And before some perfectionist starts wailing on me about scale patterns and such, let me just say that I know my rattlesnakes aren’t dead-on accurate.

I’m a doodler.

Not a herpetologist.

Pogo Pig!

Because what are Mondays really all about, if not pigs on pogo sticks?

A Blast from the Past: Whatchahoozitz

Dug out my old portfolio the other day, and-lo and behold– there were some freakish doodles in there. Imagine that! Hey, I’m just as shocked as you.

Anyway, I may post a few more of the tastier brain nuggets in the near future. I think they will serve to show that I’ve been caught in this doodle whirlpool for quite sometime.

That, and the therapy just ain’t working…..

Britt Spencer, YOU ARE A GENIUS!

 

I only recently discovered the work of Britt Spencer, and instantly fell in love with his style and skills. As I’ve stated before in regards to McCay and Herriman, I’ve always been drawn to playful surrealism, and Britt nails it….with a sixteen penny nail!

The man’s ink work and bold watercolors give his work a richness and texture sorely missing in today’s illustration market dominated by slick, digitally dependent art.

Bravissimo, Britt!  Keep up the amazing work!

Tiny-Handed Giddiness

A good Sanford Uni-ball Onyx Fine-Point pen gave its life for this doodle. Let us all pause for a moment of silent reflection……