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.

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

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.

The Tarot of Wibble

Here's my most recent painting, I made this for EBSQ's Tarot show (click the card to see the exhibit):

This was an aggravating experience, I had a nice border around it which for some reason unbeknownst to me disappears whenever I upload it.  It was there in the thumbnail, but as soon as it got here or on EBSQ, it just disappeared!   I need to work on my Photoshop skills I guess.  Anyway, there were a few more things I'd wanted to do with it, but ran out of time as the deadline was last night at midnight.  I may still tweak it though.  That's what I get for waiting till the last second!

Here's my little "write up" that I had to include:

When I first heard about this show, I knew I had to participate because I love the artwork in Tarot and Fortune Telling decks, of which I have a small collection.  I didn't hesitate for a second about what card to create or which of my characters to feature, because of course the Fool already is Lunchbox, the true innocent, perpetually on a journey, teetering on the brink of disaster.  But everything always works out in the end (except for that kidnapping incident, but let's not dwell on that) because Lunchbox has his lunch-pail and his diaper, which, at the end of the day, is all any of us really need.

I chose the Rider Waite deck (with art by Pamela Colman Smith) as a starting point for this card because it is so well known, and the imagery is immediately recognizable.  In this card I have incorporated some familiar elements and symbols: happy-go-lucky Lunchbox stepping off a cliff, oblivious to yet safe from the sea of dangerous tentacles below; his lunch-pail containing all of his worldly needs, hanging from a stick over his right shoulder; the white rose (purity); Mr. Bones (instincts) trying to attract his attention; the yellow sky (optimism); the white sun (divine light); and the flying saucer (aliens).  There's more but I'm sure you know all that already.

29 Faces Challenge - day 11

All caught up! Yay!

Face 11

little bluish bird

This is another tiny painting, it's about 1.5 x 1.5ish, acrylic on YUPO. I think I'm going to do more with YUPO, I really like it!

fsd

29 Faces Challenge - Late to the party

I joined this challenge a couple of days late, the object is to create a face every day throughout the month of February. The real challenge for me won't be in creating the faces but actually updating this blog every day for the rest of the month! I don't think I've had that many posts in total the whole time I've been here!

Anyway, since I'm starting late, I have two to post today:

Face 1

This one's technically a WIP, I had started her as yet another experiment in my ongoing struggle with acrylics. I wanted to try something completely tonal and then maybe add color later, or maybe not - decisiveness is not one of my strong points!

Face 2

This girl is just graphite on an interestingly flecked charcoal paper, something I would normally not use. My issue with this paper is the placement of some of those flecks., it kind of makes her face look blotchy and I see some things I need to fix, but oh well.

Here's a link to the challenge:

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.

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.

Spam & Trout!

"Second Thoughts"
5x5 Oil & Chromacolour on Panel

Well the "big day" is finally here and Spammy is having second thoughts. Maybe it's not such a good idea for a slice of Spam to marry a trout - after all, don't trout eat Spam? Not that his beautiful bride would ever harm him, but you never know for certain about such matters. Besides, I bet he's really delicious!

Maybe mother was right, he should have married a nice slice of bologna after all...

I created this painting for EBSQ's "Spam & Trout" show.

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.

Tailey

"Tailey"

You know, it's bad enough when you have just one tail that won't shut up - imagine having three! Now imagine that those three tails are really bossy, always telling you where to go, what to do, who not to talk to, etc.! NOW imagine that those three tails are really stupid on top of everything else - I don't think I'd be too happy with that situation, would you?

Tailey was painted for the June Nibblefest contest, our theme is "Things With Tails."

Mr. FluffySpock

I feel like I've been talking about Mr. FluffySpock forever. Well he's finally here, the much-anticipated second installment in my Wibble Trek series.

"Mr. FluffySpock"
in
"The Trouble with Eyeballs"

"Sensors indicate an alien life form approaching ..."

That Mr. FluffySpock! Always futzing about with his tricorder, detecting alien life forms and such. In this pivotal scene, Mr. FluffySpock is about to make contact with an eyePod from the planet Oculus 5 (with results that are sure to send Pankirk and the crew reeling!!) I'm not going to give away the rest of the plot, but I tell you it's a good one!

Live Long and Prospurrrrrr!

The Secret Life of Toys

"I thought that kid would NEVER go to sleep! And where the heck is Andy, he was supposed to be here 15 minutes ago?!!"

Dolls these days!! I guess it's true that you just can't get good help anymore. On the other hand, at least she's not stealing the jewelry or breaking the fine china.

* * * * *

This is my latest Nibblefest entry, our theme this month is "The Secret Life of Toys." All entries start at just 99¢, no reserve!

Illustration Friday - Parade

It's been a long time since I participated in Illustration Friday, so I thought I'd enter this one since the topic is "Parade":

"The Parade"

3"x3", oil on illustration board

Mr. Sainesbury

Mr. Sainesbury
American Gentleman

Mr. Sainesbury is looking quite proper and dignified in his bowler hat, bow tie and pipe, it's easy to see why the nickname for the Boston Terrier is the "American Gentleman". Of course whoever came up with that nickname obviously never met Mr. Wiggles, the alter-ego of Mr. Sainesbury. In fact, if Sainesbury had gone to medical school, I'd venture to say that these two were the Jekyll and Hyde of Dogdom. In case you've forgotten Mr. Wiggles, here's a recent pic:

Mr. Wiggles*
Unspiration for this painting

Don't get me wrong, we love Mr. Wiggles dearly, he's just not particularly dignified.