The Think Bottle Blog was created to gather great art, ideas, and inspiration into one place. I hope you get inspired to take a chance and dive into something of your own. Plus it’s a great place to interact with me on a daily basis. Cheers!
Happy Holidays
I have certainly had my share of memorable Christmases. Like the year I got the plaid pants and seedy yellow sweater vest or the gift certificate to JC Penny’s portrait studios that just happened to arrive as a stocking stuffer that same year.
Or the year I got my official Sea Hunt scuba diving watch that stopped working as soon as I took it into the tub. Or when I got my very first sophisticated state of the art electronic device: a portable tape recorder with reel-to-reel spools and an erase button.
I’m sure if I had that machine today I’d have miles of taped bird songs and lectures on anticyclonic weather inversions in the Troposphere. But I was 10 years old for gosh sake, so what passed for highbrow humor was the simple gastro-intestinal statements emanating from any of the top-ten human orifices. Orifices by the way, I thought, should have had their own primetime sit-coms on any of the major networks. Imagine how entertaining Gilligan’s Island would’ve been with some flatulence. Gilligan would’ve had something funnier to do than swinging in his hammock trying to find a ballgame on the coconut radio. With a little gas, even a stupid show like My Mother the Car could’ve gone somewhere in the ratings.
Also seared into my brain, are memories of Christmas presents never realized. Like 1969 when I implored Santa to bring me a pair of Beatle boots and a Nehru jacket; I got a wood burner instead. This actually worked out just fine because all my friends who wanted Beatle boots got wood burners too. So instead of hanging out at the corner in our Beatle boots, we hung out with our burners creating marvelous landscapes and historical scenes in burnt pinewood. I know it was 1969, in fact, because it also coincided with another important event of that year: “The Great 1969 Port Huron Fire of the Century”. Golly, if I had my wood burner now I would love to recreate that historical scene in burnt wood, it would be a keeper.
Presents received or never gotten, it’s all history now and I grew up Ok, no residual effects; my ankles are the better for it anyway.
One special gift I’ll never forget was in 1996 when we got a new puppy named Bubbs; a Springer Spaniel. It was actually a very fitting name for this black and white panda-like puppy that had a name like one of those big Arkie fellas who was born wearing a ball cap and was everyone’s best friend. A fitting name, because even at eight weeks, Bubbs seemed to be in the same weight-class as a bag of Idaho potatoes.
Our son brought him home and introduced us to him. As soon as the pup was placed on the floor he promptly chewed the Christmas tree, ate the newspaper and peed in my shoe, whereby fulfilling 90% of the criteria required of any new dog. Since getting him, he found his way into my work as easily as he found his way into the yard to chase squirrels. He was my muse, confidant and art director for a few days shy of thirteen years and then he went away. To this day I can draw him in my sleep and even though I’ve drawn him thousands of times I still giggle when he stares back at me off the page. Needless to say there is still a big hole in my heart, which brings me to my present this year.
And being the artist I am (and the writer I’m not)---- I think it’s easier to just show you a picture.
Best Wishes to yall out there in the blogosphere!
Your Comments
Your Comments
hi ruth-i’m not scared- i’m flattered, really.
you enjoy my work, i’m assuming, and you understand i’m having fun as well. thanks for the nod.
all best.
Your Comments
Wow what a great looking puppy!
He looks like he is supervising your work already. Great Christmas present! Keep us up to date on him.
Your Comments
yes and he is refreshingly direct with his comments- when he doesn’t like the picture he chews it—-and when he likes it, he, (well) chews the picture. as you might guess we still have to get ourselves on the same proverbial page…
that said, he is feeling right at home- i’ll keep you posted.
thanks
Your Comments
What a WAY CUTE puppy !
Welcome back to being owned by a Springer. I have 2 of my own and they are my constant shadow.
Your Comments
we’re calling him Tubbie and he seems like a perfect addition to our pack- although, yes, he does seem to own everyone in the house.
Your Comments
What a cutie!!!! (The dog, Dave.)
Emily says Tubby is adorable! (Again, the dog…)
YOu’re going to have blast with him.
Talk to you soon.
Brian
Your Comments
This is actually a response to the bio page on your site. I’d just love for someone to sit that teacher down in the National Gallery in D.C. or the Air and Space museum for that matter and ask her what she’d see if everyone did everything the same way: empty buildings.
Wonderful bio, that spoke volumes about you as an artist. :0) Thanks for your inspiring illustrations! I might play around with point-of-view a bit more in my illustrations, you do it with such cinematic flair! I’m afraid if I leave your books open while I sleep one of your characters will hop out and set up shop in my room. Your dogs are so charming though I wouldn’t mind one bit.
Your Comments
thanks paige- i hope i don’t sound like i’m droning on and on/reliving that school experience. i’ve recovered now and grown up but i know there are lots of kids in classrooms that are
searching for their own voice ( in what ever key that might be) but thankfully i believe there are many teachers today helping them find it. by the way- you sound like an artist
Your Comments
As a high school educator, I can whole-heartedly confirm there are -in fact- teachers helping students find their own voice. Despite state test prep demands, it is my top priority to honor each child’s unique creative qualities.
Even outside the classroom, their written and artistic talents are encouraged. Through our Panther Pause club, students P-A-U-S-E to share their written and artistic expressions EVERY week.
These members organize monthly writing and drawing contests for the entire student body. Winners are recognized on televised announcements and in our literary magazine. These Pause participants are also contacting the city to initiate the painting of words and images in a neighborhood park. They beautify their classrooms, community, and of course…their fridge at home.
Your Comments
thank you christina- yes, i have met them personally as i travel about visiting schools and know there are many enlightened teachers now- i think things have changed considerably since i was in elementary school and discussing my upbringing i always run the risk of coming off critical and that isn’t my intention- the field is full of talented dedicated educators. best wishes
Your Comments
Thanks for your response David! No not droning at all, it’s very poignant—standing up for your creative beliefs at such a young age, I really enjoyed reading that! I also wanted to respond to Christina—because there were many teachers that were very supportive of my interest in writing and art (and creativity in general) - I think creativity has generally been accepted in the classroom more in recent years (I grew up the eighties). Which is a great thing!
Oh, and yes I’m an artist too - kind of recently broke into the children’s book illustration field these past couple years:0) I have my sights on being an author, but that part is a bit harder for me. Thanks again for the inspiring books, I own several that I look back on for reference on a regular basis for your colors, and wonderful compositions (among many other things).
Back to the drawing board for me. Sorry for the long post!
Your Comments
hi paige- congrats on getting published- what’s the title?
Your Comments
Thanks so much David! “Wow It’s a Cow” (Scholastic) is my most recent, and “The Little Green Pea” (Sleeping Bear Press) came out earlier. Three more are being released in the next two years—this may seem like a lot, but I worked hard without seeing much work for a long long time… hmm…..probably because my portfolio was so bad back then lol. Anyways, the grats from you meant a lot 
I appreciate it!
I love you, but don’t get scared because I’m 66 years old. ha-ha…..................