A lesser spotted Mongolian Tree Nibbler

When asked to explain my recent lack of creative fortitude, I complained of having been beset by Mongolian Tree Nibblers. Having told how those pesky fellows can so take up a fellas time such that he could most easily lack the artistic faculties necessary to indulge in such illuminatory endeavours, my muse called me out, accusing me of 'pure invention'. She went further to suggest that I'd been resting on my royal posterior watching far too much of some series she called deadwood. Forswearing such uncouth retorts as were itchin' to burst forth from my loins, I decided on illustrating my point in a manner deemed most appropriate to such a foul suggestion, in the hope that this dispell such sacriligious runours once and for all.

So here he is, my cuddly compadre.

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His name is AL

Family of Tree Nibblers

These lil fellas started takin over my life. That's why I ain't had much time for scribblin'.

Mongolian Tree Nibblers they is. Momma just gave birth to some young 'uns see.

and gods stay quiet

.

This place called Assam in the north east of India recorded its worst ever drought this year, so the paper told me.

Next to the story was this picture of a frail man, sitting in a parched paddy field, praying for rain.

.

.

Guess god ain't returning calls right now.

Irrational Fear # 2 - Henry and the Maggot

Following on from the last post, this one tells the tale of Henry and the maggot. I did a few with Henry in them, including one where he runs naked through a forest yodelling. He mostly - but not always - ended up dead in these tales, poor fella. Its all kind of sad I guess, but, on the plus side, don't we all end up dead anyway?








Let me know if you want to see any more of these.

Irrational Fear # 1

The theme for Illustration Friday this week reminded me of some cartoons I drew many many years ago when I was a disturbed teenager. I did a series of these called Irrational Fear. Now, having grown up into a suitably disturbed adult, I feel ready to share some of these with you. This particular one was inspired by a song by a band called Elephants for Breakfast:

There once was a small room which contained a collection of tablets.
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A man with big eyebrows offered me a selction of the best ones he had.
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He said they are all very good and that they would stop me feeling sorry for myself.
But I declined his kind offer and headed straight to the window. There I saw something much more interesting than a few
tablets.
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From the window opposite I saw someone looking at me.
He had such big, big eyes!
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He seemed to recognise me from somewhere, but I can't quite remember ever having sees such big, big eyes before.
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Then I realised that the man had no eyelids. That he must be able to see most everything that is going on.
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Seeing the man made me glad that I know darkness, for clearly he knows none.

Old photo

I went for a run earlier today and spotted this lying on the pavement. Its an old family portrait in a cracked frame. It had a eerie quality I liked, which I tried to capture on this:

Italy Field

Urbino

A view of Urbino from a hill opposite.

Shame that damn tree got in the way.