Feeling Cartoonistic

Illustration Friday: Entangled

2009-11-29T21:18:00.001-08:00

Wow, it's been ages!
A while ago I got this book:

Although I enjoyed browsing it, I haven't got to use it, until today. Well, I didn't exactly use it, other than as a clipboard, but I certainly was inspired by it:

Not the most scary mythological beast, I know. But this goat-serpent creature just saw the hay stacks, and in its excitement got all entangled as it fell from wherever it is mythological beasts sit.

Wedding Card in Color

2009-10-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

I ended up coloring the card myself. You can tell I have absolutely no experience in water colors...

At least it looks a lot more colorful.

Toby's Wedding Card

2009-10-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

Recently I only draw when I feel I have to... Shame, I know. But a really good excuse came up in the form of an office-mate wedding. Even though we (me and the other office-mates) hardly know her, I thought it would be nice to give her little gift (and thus share the cost). Isn't it obvious that I should also make her a card?
She did her PhD on sharks, and her new husband (they're probably either already married, or in the process of getting married as I type) worked on coral reef fishes. Hence the theme:

What do you think of the expression on the fishes' faces? :)
By the way, the inside reads: "...but you can do it! Congratulations, Toby and Jeff!"

I'm quite amazed it came out so well, to tell the truth. I find it incredible that I had such patience for all that detail. As you can tell, I'm shamelessly proud of myself :)

Anna said she'd bring water colors on Monday. I think water colors will look better than markers or colored pencils, so I'm going to let her paint it. I will try not to forget the camera, so I can post a colored version of the card later.

Illustration Friday: Wrapped

2009-08-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Chicken Burrito

This is NOT how Harvey planned to spend the evening... :(

(Vegetarian Month is coming soon!)

Illustration Friday: Impatience

2009-08-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

Rongo couldn't wait to get home. His wife baked a delicious strawberry-mint cake for his birthday.

This is my first Illustration Friday drawing where the idea followed the doodle. That's probably why it's also different from my usual style. I like it.

Illustration Friday: Modify

2009-08-05T00:10:00.000-07:00

Sheldon decided to add an attic, so he can store all of his books (he likes to relax and read in the attic, as well).

You can probably tell I have to modify my own house... Such a sloppy illustration...

Illustration Friday: Tango

2009-07-20T23:46:00.000-07:00

They say it takes two to tango, but when you're a snake, a couple more may prove very handy.

Illustration Friday: Hollow

2009-07-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

- Everybody says I'm hollow...
- That's not true, you're just contently-challenged!

Illustration Friday: Worn

2009-06-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

Zebra problems:

It's been a while since my last entry (too busy buying a house) -- but here it is! In between looking for a house, packing, and designing a kitchen, I was finally more eager than ever to doodle...
All my drawing materials are already packed, so I just used a scrap paper and a pencil :)

Oh, and I have to share this too: What do you get when you leave a horse and zebra without a chaperon? A zorse, of course!

You can read Eclyse's amazing story here.

Illustration Friday: Hierarchy

2009-05-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Pecking Order at the Gallinskys:

... pretty much like any other family :)

Illustration Friday: Impossibility

2009-04-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

Madongo didn't realize the impossibility of his action...

... and that's how he ended up in Picacho Peak, AZ.

Illustration Friday: Fleeting

2009-04-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I wasn't very inspired to draw this week and last. But since I already missed last week's topic, I decided to do something, however uninspired I feel. So here's an Easter bunny. The sun only came out for a fleeting moment, but a rainbow appeared nonetheless, giving Bunny something to look for, now that Easter's over.

Illustration Friday: Poise

2009-04-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

I have to admit - I had to look it up. Did you know that it is also a measurement unit of viscosity? One Pascal second equals tens poises! :)

However, I decided to go with the more traditional meaning of the word:

This seal is lucky, because he lives in the Galapagos Islands. What a beautiful place. More importantly - protected.
Other seals are not so lucky...

Illustration Friday: Subtract

2009-03-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you subtract a lion?

- a sad lion...

I need to learn how to color more professionally...

Illustration Friday: Legendary

2009-03-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

The Legendary Chickalo

The chickalo is believed to have roamed the grasslands of North America in great numbers. Alas, due to its delicious wings - a favorite American dish - it has gone extinct.

Illustration Friday: Intricate

2009-03-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

The [imaginary] intricate connections in the animal kingdom:

Illustration Friday: Breezy

2009-03-03T20:15:00.000-08:00

I didn't have email access till last night, and so I had to draw this week's topic on the plane. It was quite fun, having to do it correctly because there's no pencil and eraser. So here you go, quite simple, but it came out pretty much as I wanted :)

Illustration Friday: Instinct

2009-02-25T07:18:00.000-08:00

It's Gail's instinct to stop in front of every shoe shop, and gaze...

... even when it wasn't exactly the right style...

OK, here I tried to create a more minimalistic style, but obviously, I failed. I feel like I always have too much details for it to be a clean, simple drawing, but then not enough detail to be a really nice, elaborate work. Any suggestions on how to work toward clean and simple would be appreciated!

Illustration Friday: Celebrate!

2009-02-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

Peste's celebrating while we're gone...

One day, many years ago, my sister baked a pecan pie and left it on the table to cool down before we left to my uncles to celebrate Rosh Hashana. When we came back, the pecans were scattered all over the table, and the rest of the pie was half eaten. Apparently, Peste, aka Pistuki didn't like pecans. One of the VERY few things she didn't like.

Pistuki died almost 6 years ago. I still miss her very much.
Oh, and by the way, Pistuki was a lot cuter in real life than in this drawing.

Illustration Friday: Time

2009-02-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

"Excellent! It's gonna be a LOOOOOOONG time till my next visit to the hairdresser!"

Illustration Friday: Flawed

2009-02-02T20:01:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE "SPECIAL" ZOO!

What's flawed in one may be the norm in another

Illustration Friday: Climbing

2009-01-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

The Wrong Shoes

Joey didn't mean to climb the refrigerator, he just put the wrong shoes on before trying to open it...

Elephant for Milly

2009-01-22T21:52:00.001-08:00

Illustration Friday: Pale

2009-01-18T21:20:00.000-08:00

Count Hippocula

Hippos look cute and harmless in their chubbiness, but they're actually one of the most aggressive animals in the world! So beware!

Illustration Friday: Contained

2009-01-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

Sasha the Snake Houdini

I'm glad I got a chance to draw a snake... As you can see from this drawing and others, I don't really know what to do with my characters' hands, and usually they just end up in pockets. With snakes this problem is elegantly avoided :)
If you have any suggestions and/or references to other hand postures, please let me know. Thanks!

Illustration Friday: Resolve #2

2009-01-03T17:55:00.000-08:00

I know it looks like a 5 year old made this drawing. Perhaps it's because I see this issue with a 5 year old's eyes. To me it's very simple: people should not fight. After all, we are smart enough to convey complex thoughts and ideas with words, so why not use this uniquely human attribute to solve problem -- why not talk instead of resorting to weapons and terror?
I know it's not realistic, but as members of my family either have to seek shelter when the alarm sounds or are sent to fight in Gaza a war that they did not ask for, I hope that in 2009 Israelis and Palestinians would resolve to stop fighting and resolve their issues once and for all through the only possible way: talking.

Illustration Friday: Resolve

2009-01-02T19:37:00.001-08:00

For 2009, just like the past 7 years, Georgie resolved to eat more and exercise less.

Illustration Friday: Clandestine

2008-12-31T19:56:00.000-08:00

Sooo, I told the pandas about our plan! They want in! Isn't that great?

Illustration Friday: Voices

2008-12-25T18:56:00.001-08:00

Joey thought he had a great voice, but that's not what Simon thought... Though Paula liked him quite a bit.

Illustration Friday: Rambunctious

2008-12-17T23:55:00.000-08:00

Rambunctious Glenn

Her outstandingly loud screams actually only mean: "I'm here! Give me some attention!"
She can be really sweet too, sometimes.

Illustration Friday: Similar

2008-12-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

Aren't they similarly cute?

This drawing was inspired by a wonderful movie I watched a couple of days ago, called "The story of the weeping camel".

Illustration Friday: Balloon

2008-12-01T08:56:00.001-08:00

Marty always wanted to ride in a hot hair balloon...

Also, this week's topic reminded me of this hilarious Don Hertzfeld's "Billy's Balloon" short animation. Hilarious!

Illustration Friday: Opinion

2008-11-24T08:42:00.001-08:00

Opinionated Benny

Illustration Friday: Pretend

2008-11-20T08:58:00.001-08:00

A Hummer is pretending to be green. Poor Joe-six-pack knows it's not working so well...

An extra image from my science life:

I made it almost 4 years ago for a research presentation. It features a German cockroach nymph pretending to be an adult female (so it seems, as adult males court it as if it were a female). Of course, the nymph doesn't dress like a female but wears a very similar perfume :O

Illustration Friday: Wise

2008-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Will glasses make anyone look wise?

This is the first time I'm using markers. I think I would do things a bit differently next time, like leave the space between the leaves blank. Oh well, live and learn...

The blue footed booby has the most adorable courtship. If you haven't seen it yet, or even if you have, check this out!
This is also to commemorate the 14th anniversary to my visit to the Galapagos.... Hmm... nostalgia...

Illustration Friday: Vacant

2008-11-06T09:04:00.001-08:00

That's why he's full of BS...