No passport needed.

I have always admired the work of Robert LaDuke and thought this would be a fun challenge to play around with his style. I was thinking of all the scenic drives my family and I have made here in the west that are now watched over by these silent giants. I am awestruck be the knowledge and work they represent and at the same time discussed at the sight of them breaking up God’s handiwork.

I was working on these guys for one of my books and I thought I’d let them outside to play for awhile. Well you know what they say, “Illustrated characters will be illustrated characters.”

I thought I would try something simple with just a few colors this time around.

Here is mine for this month. I am working on not using line work. Thanks for looking. David Ingalls SVS

Idaho just west of Boise.

Thanks for the great topic. Here’s my story. A few years ago my nephew and his wife lost there first baby late in the pregnancy. This was hard on them as it would be for anyone. I have been working on a series of books I had recently finished writing.
I decided to dedicate this series to there son. When I had enough of the artwork finished for things to start to make sense I showed it to them making sure the dedication page was at the end of the folder of artwork. When they reached the last page tears started to flow. They thanked me for remembering a life live for a very short time. Here is the title page.


The best part is last month I was able to give a mock-up for two of the books to my sister so she can read them to her new granddaughter born to them just last month.

On a lighter note, I have a book written I have titled ‘My First Bathroom Book’. To help in the potty training struggle. It is a rhyming book about how different animals might go to the bathroom. All in good taste of course.

@jason-kilthau Les Schwab country. I spent the better part of my childhood in John Day/Canyon City.

Laura A, I’m not sure which one I like better. The girl with the sausage is a very fun piece with so much movement and fluidity in it that you want to get caught up in the chase. But I like the old man piece for the opposite reason the stillness of the moment. You don’t want to move for fear of disturbing the moment. The difference in the two make the choice hard. On a side note, I do like the change you made in the old man sketch. I think his shadow connecting with the reflection make the piece read better.

Chris, I don’t think your being pathetic at all. I think your just asking a question only you can answer. I think your on the right path and have found what you want to do and that is art, so prepare to do art. I have always found this quote by Teddy Roosevelt helpful, “Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell’em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find a way to do it.” If you spend the next 5-10 years exploring your art and when you retire you are in a position financially take what you want and leave what you don’t your opportunity’s will be endless and may be very difrent then you think they will be now.
I also think that smceccarelli make a very important point, learn to manage your time. When you are self employed it is easy to say i can put that off till tomorrow but it is very hard to do two days worth of work tomorrow.

A book I have found very helpful is Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook by Helen Sedwick. Just in case David is not available.

Eric, what a wonderful concept. I like the old school travel poster feel and color pallet. The only thing I see is a funky tangent with the lighting on the drivers face and the back post on the car. Looks to me as if he has his hand under his chin giving it a “oh well another monster” fill. If you fill you need something more above the car maybe a pile of luggage and other “were on an adventure “ stuff tied to the roof.

I agree with Chip. Everything works great for me. I think your perspective, scale, and lighting are spot on. But as Chip pointed out the little bird plane although rendered well just dose not fit for me. I think the painting would be better served without it. Then you would have a spot for your eye to breath and also allow the dragon to make the connection between the cultures.

Very cool Larry!

Gary, great character sketch. I love the pile of leaves as her cape. I’m not sure which composition I would drop her in but I like the idea of #3. Every superhero need to have a nemesis or two.

Laura, I think that the 2s have the most potential for the “fun” factor. I very much like the pose and movement on 2a. With that being said I and intrigued by 3 and would like to see it developed further

I was working on these guys for one of my books and I thought I’d let them outside to play for awhile. Well you know what they say, “Illustrated characters will be illustrated characters.”