The Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party


Nibblefest this month is "Tea Time" so for me to paint the Boston Tea party seemed almost a little too obvious.

In this painting, Lola (our inherited Boston Terrier) and Mr. Wiggles are reunited for a little tea party!

The Boston Tea Party

This painting is 8x10 (I'm making an effort to work larger this year) and is oil on canvas.


Here's a link:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/231665069721?

As with all Nibblefest entries, this one starts at just 99¢, no reserve!  This is just a 3 day auction, it ends on Thursday, August 27.

A Very Soft and Very Fuzzy Owl

I've been terrible about keeping up here, sorry!

Soft and Fuzzy (and a little bit Shy) Owl

Painting: ~2.5" x 3.5"; Framed: ~3.5" x 5"

Oil on wood panel

Click here to see the eBay auction!

Soft and Fuzzy Owl (no relation to Soft and Fuzzy Johnson, if you can believe it) is a little shy so I promised not to reveal too much about her.  I think she probably is related to Owley Johnson though, they both have “that look.”  However, I can tell you that she feels more secure in her little forest home, which she insisted on having painted along with her portrait (hence the frame).

Soft and Fuzzy Owl comes in a cute little paper mache frame on which I’ve painted various plants and suchlike substances. If you would prefer to use a different frame, she’s just velcro’d in  and I’m sure would transition to a new home nicely.  Here’s a pic of her, sans frame:

Soft and Fuzzy Owl was painted for the Nibblefest Art Contest, our theme for October is "OWLS".  

Next month is giraffes, I can't wait! 

King Sparky the Somethingth

King Sparky the Somethingth
5 x 7
Oil on panel

Continuing in my series of “Great Wibbles in History” (see portrait of founding Wibble, Spinach Washington below), I present His Royal Highness, King Sparky the Somethingth.  Now in case you’re wondering about “somethingth,” the Wibbles have never been a race of mathematical geniuses.  In fact, I don’t think they can count much higher than four.  But they're cute, so who cares?

And in typical Sparky fashion, he’s oblivious to the Queen Squid lurking behind that curtain.  In fact, I don’t think he even realizes there even IS a Queen – she’s pretty subtle, that one is!

As with the Spinaches, the resemblance between King Sparky and today’s Sparky is truly uncanny.  Genetics is a fascinating science!  

 

This painting is my entry in June's Nibblefest Art Contest, to see the auction please click here

Spinach Washington

Spinach Washington  

5 x 7

Oil on Wood

(click to go to ebay Auction)

So Spinach and I were talking about genealogy the other day, and get this, it turns out he has a famous ancestor in his family tree – he’s even named after him - Spinach Washington!  Yes, THESpinach Washington - our first president and hero of the Wibblelutionary War!   I'm stunned too!   Now I know "Washington" is a pretty common last name, but you'd think I might have noticed the resemblance, I feel like such a doofus!  

Anyway, now that I know, it’s interesting to see how much Spinach looks like his ancestor in that famous “unfinished portrait”.  Those are some mighty powerful genes!

Spinach Washington is my entry for the May Nibblefest contest, our theme this month is "PORTRAITS".  Please click here to go to the auction.

Stumpy Runs Away

Stumpy Runs Away

5" x 5"

Oil on Masonite Panel

I don’t know if you remember, but the last time we saw Stumpy he wasn’t the happiest of tree stumps.  Well I’m happy to say that Stumpy has since taken matters into his own roots:  he packed up his knapsack & teddy bear, put on his Sunday hat and ran away to join the circus!  I’m thinking he might make a good lion tamer, or maybe even a trapeze artist!  Wasn’t there a song about that?  “He glides through the air with the greatest of ease, that daring tree stump on the flying trapeze…”

This is my entry in the April Nibblefest contest, our theme this month is TREES!  Please click here to go to the auction.

The Owl and the Pussycat for Nibblefest

My Nibblefest entry for February is an illustration of the "Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear:

The Owl and the Pussycat

8x10

Oil on Stretched Canvas

Please click here to see the auction!

This is for the Nibblefest Art Contest, our theme this month is "Nursery Rhymes"

I know this is last minute, but I realized I've been neglecting my little blog recently.

Five Random Things

Beach Buddies - the Next Generation

4"x6" 

Oil on Canvas

To view this auction, please click here

This month’s Nibblefest Contest is “Five Random Things.”  This theme was a little tricky for me because in Wibbley World, everything is random and therefore nothing is random.   Anyway, I put out a call to the Wibbles for a “mega-chimera” and look who showed up:  Sea Monstery!  I know, you’re saying “but there are SEVEN creatures* in that Mega-Chimera, not five!” but either Sea Monstery is an overachiever or he’s just not good at math.   Then I thought to myself, “but this isn’t truly random, and those Nibblefest administrators can be real hard-asses about stuff like this.  If I know what’s good for me I’d better throw some other random elements in this painting, pronto!”   So I added thePorthole (with concerned citizen), pink bunny in a cup with wheels, a spoon, a delicious orange lollipop, and of course a snowman.  Overkill perhaps, but better safe than sorry I say!   

 *elephant, giraffe, seahorse, sea lion, winged insect, poodle, and trees.  

Uney in the Magical Forest

Uney in the Magical Forest

3"x 9"

Oil on Canvas

I know you’re probably thinking, “How can that be a unicorn, I don’t see any hearts or rainbows!  Well I really tried to convince Uney to pose with a rainbow in the Magic Forest, but he wasn’t having any of it, he said that’s “sissy stuff” and I could count him out (his words, not mine!!)!  Apparently Uney is a “REAL” unicorn, not like what you see in those fantasy stories (plus it was night and there aren’t many rainbows at night anyway, fantasy or no).  He didn't want me to take this picture but I had to prove I saw him, right?  He was actually quite mad and stormed out, didn't see me snap this picture as he was trotting down the path with his flower and his basket of treats.  He'd be so mad if he knew I was selling this on ebay, but maybe he won't find out.   Unicorns can be so thoughtful and mysterious.

I don’t think that octopus was expecting to be caught on camera either, probably thought he was safe behind that tree, the sneak!

Uney is my October Nibblefest entry, our theme this month is Fantasy.  Please click on Uney to go to the auction (which ends p the 27th).

Pool Party

"Pool Party" I don’t know if this ever happens to you, but sometimes I’ll go to drink my coffee and there’s “stuff” in it, plus it looks like it’s been spilled. I quizzed the cats and they insisted they weren’t involved, so I set up a spy camera and look at what I found:

I know! I can't believe it either! I’m still in shock - Bloo and her friends go SWIMMING in my COFFEE when they think I’m not looking? What is this world coming to?!  And Bloo was supposed to be the "good one!"

Here's a link to the auction, if you're interested (it's only a three day auction since I got a late start on it).

This painting is 4 x 4, oil on masonite panel.

Battle of the Babies

I almost forgot to post my latest Nibblefest painting here!

"Battle of the Babies"

6" x 6" 

Acrylic on masonite panel

click to go to the auction!

Godzilla and Mothra go way back.  In fact, they’ve known eachother their whole lives!  Interesting, right?!   I didn’t know that either until I came across this photo of them together on the beach, it was from back when they were “two-toothers” in diapers.   It’s nice to see that Baby Godzilla’s parents were ecologically responsible even then – no disposable diapers for the future King of Monsters!  On the other hand, maybe Pampers weren't invented yet.

In this painting, Baby Godzilla is learning how to destroy buildings (using sand sculpture of Tokyo)  while spoil-sport Baby Mothra is swooping in to stop him Way to ruin a good time, Baby Mothra!

Crazy Hat Day featuring the (unrelated) Johnsons

This month's Nibblefest theme is Horses, so here's my entry:

Crazy Hat Day

(click to go to auction)

2.5 x 3.5

oil on masonite panel

Yay, it’s Crazy Hat Day!  Horsey Johnson and Soft & Fuzzy Johnson (no relation) both love C.H.D., it’s their favorite holiday.  If you ask me, their hats really aren’t all that crazy, but who am I to judge?  I’m just the photographer.  

This was painted with Genesis heat-set oils, I've talked about them numerous times here already so I won't bore you with that story again.

29 Faces Challenge - Day 20 + Nibblefest!

I'm being lazy today and doubling up my 29 faces with my Nibblefest entry for this month.  Nibblefest's theme is "Moonlight":

(click image to see the auction)

Face 20 

Oil on panel

2.5 x 3.5

"Reading by Moonlight"

Don’t you just hate when you’re sitting in your yard trying to read a really interesting story, and the stupid moon is reading over your shoulder?  It’s even worse when he starts making ridiculous comments and laughing at scenes that aren’t even funny.  

I so hate that! 

"Numbers" (a Lunchbox painting)

Numbers

So Lunchbox went for a stroll in the woods the other day and happened upon a nest of wild baby numbers! In this painting you can see him wracking his little brains, trying to remember the rules. You see, I was trying to teach him the dangers of the forest, and had recently read him the “Field Guide to Little-Known and Seldom-Seen Numbers” which has a whole section on what to do if you encounter a nest of wild baby numbers in their natural habitat. There’s a lot of info, but here’s the gist:

• Cute as they may be, do NOT attempt to touch or otherwise engage these creatures
• The mother is more than likely lurking nearby, and if she feels threatened, look out!
• Avoid eye contact and back away slowly; make no sudden movements.
• If the mother comes after you anyway, run like hell!

Remember, wild baby numbers do NOT make good pets. They may be cute now, but they grow into adults. As with most things, the bigger they get, the cuter they ain’t. And what would you feed them anyway??

Anyway, back to Lunchbox – fortunately all ended well and he got home safely (whew!). After all, when you have your lunch-pail and your diaper, what more do you need? Certainly not numbers!

Baby Pengy

Baby Pengy

2.5" Oil on wood

I've lost count (well not really, actually I never bothered to even start counting) but this is another installment in my "Baby Wibbles" series, in which I feature baby portraits of the Wibbles in all their diapered glory.

So here's Baby Pengy - as you might suspect it's a little cold in the Antarctic wilderness so for his portrait he's sporting a matching scarf and hat, and of course his little diaper as well! (no lunch-pail though, just a lollipop)

Still Life with Lunchbox

Still Life with Lunchbox

It’s that time of year again and Lunchbox had a fantastic idea for his Halloween costume – dressing up as a piece of Polish Pottery! Sounds like a brilliant idea, right? Unfortunately he did such a great job with his costume that Heather Sims, notorious hoarder of all things Polish Pottery, SNAPPED HIM RIGHT UP and added him to her collection! Now Lunchbox is in yet another fine pickle, I have no idea how he’ll get out of this one. But you know what? He still has his lunch-pail (maybe Polish Pottery, but still a lunch-pail nonetheless) and his diaper, so all will be ok. And as you must know by now, when you have your lunch-pail and your diaper, what more do you really need?

I made this painting for EBSQ's "Ripped Off" show. I decided to "rip off" a painting by my friend Heather Sims ( known for her Polish Pottery still lives) called “Polish Pottery LBXI,” and her Polish Pottery series in general. Her wonderful paintings can be found here.

I'm currently offering a print of this painting on eBay for the October Nibblefest contest. If you're interested in bidding, please click on Lunchbox to go to the auction.

Ode to Bloo

Ode to Bloo

(click Bloo to see the auction)

I was going to pull together a little poem for this painting since the theme is “Ode to Bloo”, but I changed my mind. Sorry.

Anyway, I feel compelled to offer some explanation, which is that this is just a little painting of Bloo going off to her first day of Kidneygarden. She was feeling a little nerbbis until I told her she could take her security octopus and (of course) her Lunchbox lunchbox. She’s a little shy so I hope that either Lunchbox or Soft and Fuzzy Johnson is in her class.

Draggy

Draggy
2.5 x 3.5 oil on panel

Look out! Draggy's on a fire-breathing, house squashing rampage - run for your lives everyone!

Draggy is my Nibblefest entry for April, the theme is DRAGONS! Click on Draggy to go to the auction, if you're so inclined.

The Circus comes to Wibbley World

This month's Nibblefest theme is Circus.

I'm offering something new this time, a miniature painting on wood, which (on request) can be converted into a pendant. I've painted quite a lot of these already but this is the first I'm offering them for sale - I hope they do well because I really love making them!

Micro Jumbo
1" x 1.25"
Genesis heat-set Oils on Wood

My other Nibblefest entry is, predictably, Lunchbox:

Lunchbox, Lost in the Circus
4 x 6
Oil on Canvas

Whatever you do Lunchbox, DON'T LOOK DOWN!!!

This painting makes me nervous just looking at it, I have a terrible fear of heights (unlike certain chipmunks!)

Halloween paintings!

I just finished (and listed) two Halloween paintings - one's for Nibblefest (our theme this month is OWLS).

First up, for both of you Star Trek / Halloween / Lunchbox fans out there:

LunchSpock
5 x 7 Oil and Chromacolour on Panel
(click to go to auction)

It’s that time of year again! We all know by now how much Lunchbox loves Halloween, but I bet you didn’t know he was such a huge Star Trek TOS fan. Actually neither did Lunchbox, he just came across this Spock costume at the Halloween Store – it was marked down because the Tricorder was missing. But you know what? Lunchbox doesn’t care – he has his lunch-pail and his diaper. When you have your lunch-pail and your diaper, who needs a silly tricorder anyway?

This painting is the third installment in my “WibbleTrek” series, and as well as the third installment of my Lunchbox Halloween series (I think).

* * *

Next is my Nibblefest entry:

Happy Owloween!
5x5 Oil and Chromacolour on panel
(click to go to auction)

“Trick or Tweet!” OK I know owls don’t say "tweet" but oh well.

So anyway, Shelly's taking her little brother Alex out trick or treating - she's kind of mad because she had other plans and her parents just dumped this on her at the last second. Poor Alex is really scared of all the ghosts and monsters too. ☹

The Moozles

The Moozles
(click to see the auction)

The spotted calf wants to know your name. Really she does, but don’t get too close! If you look carefully, you can see that those aren’t ordinary spots. Bossy has the moozles (not to be confused with their cousins, the measles) which (from what I’ve read), are super contagious and all kinds of itchy.

I painted this using Genesis heat set oil paints, about which I can't say enough good things. They very well might be my favorite paint now.