When I Can't Say 'No' (Lucky 13)

Well, it's been a weird winter. A lot of snow, dark and isolation. I must have read 40 books, played a couple hundred records (vinyl is where it's still AT), and worked more hours than I'd planned for my retirement years. Few and far between did I make time for art projects, because I really have slowed down. But most times, I just can't say "no." I did finish 13 pieces for friends, family or friends of friends. This little compilation serves as an update of where I've been and where I am AT. (14, really. No. 515, "Boys," got its own writeup a few months ago.) The little fuzzball at the top is Wyatt, a new addition last year not only to my art, but especially to a local family. He's No. 520 and was a Christmas present. He's at the top because he's so freaking cute, and also because I'm really proud of the delicate pencil work on his face and the detail on the fuzzy coat. He looks squeezable.

These kitties, Oliver and Dusty, No. 519, also were a Christmas present that got finished just under the wire! This one involved some arranging between Columbus and Warren -- and then a Christmas Eve pickup. The drawing was created from two photos; the cats are not posing together -- they just look like they are! Good hair(s) here. Speaking of fuzzballs:

Peanut here (No. 510) lived next door and was a maniac. He would visit us and I'd pick him up and play with his ears. I don't know if he liked that, but he kept coming back. He was so cute-ugly-adorable. He had to watch out for the groundhog in his backyard.

Odie is No. 511 and, ironically, was Peanut's neighbor. It was a tough year for the neighborhood canines. Odie would hang out under and around the dining room table when the humans would gather. I don't think he could hear very well but he knew when the food was on the table.

Megi, No. 512, is the last neighborhood dog standing. She looks like a little bear and is very shy, but has a bad habit of chasing cars. She loves me and runs across the field to say hello. The field is next to the road ... She gets yelled at about that.

"Lula," No. 508, was a commissioned drawing of a beloved pet (former neighbors). She is among several pieces -- canine and human -- that I have done for these friends in Cortland. Look at that happy face!

We got lucky with "Ellie," No. 509, because the original photo was kind of fuzzy and I ALMOST said NO. But she turned out swell and everyone is happy, especially my cousin Pam.

A lot of creative license was taken for No. 521, "Edge," an English Pointer with a Field Champion title. His owner had a particular way that she wanted Edge's ears, so we went through some photos and sketches of DOG EARS until we settled on a suitable pair to attach (really). And there he is!

Sometimes it's not a matter of saying "yes" or no. It becomes a "must." This one, No. 513, is quite large. See the little moon icon by my signature? That's because the last name is Moon and it's the second time that I surprised their daughter with a gift. She made this the centerpiece to a gathering room filled with memories in the big ol' house Dad had pretty much built. Sometimes, people don't have to ask me.

We had a wedding here in October. No. 518, "Two Brides," features my youngest, Emily, and her wife Maggie. No. 517, "Two Peas" (as in a pod) shows off my first-born, Kara, and my grandson Anthony -- who was the wedding ring-bearer. These, too, were both gifted on Christmas Eve. They are based on photos that I took at the ceremony, and funnily enough these were done before the actual wedding photos arrived. I have drawn many pictures of Kara, Emily and Anthony over the years. Kara will tell you that this is the first time that I didn't make her "look Chinese." I also "removed" Anthony's braces for the drawing -- some two months before the orthodontist did! I think the hardest thing to figure out here was Maggie's tattoo. Emily is a professional tattoo artist and I just don't know how she gets those designs down.

Young Anthony, for some reason, wanted a picture of Ozzy Osbourne, who died last July. Anthony got this -- No. 514 -- for his 13th birthday. It was funny because after he asked me to do this, he and Kara came into my music room and we blasted the heck out of Volume 4 (The Only Black Sabbath Album You Must Hear Before You Die), and his mother took my Ozzy CD compilation. My work is done there. I really love Ozzy's eyes behind those tinted glasses. He stared at me for a month before I could gift him. It got creepy.

Speaking of STARING at me, this one, No. 516, has been looking at me since October. I don't know much about Kevin here, except that a family member arranged for this portrait. I think the beard hair looks pretty good. Kev, wherever you are, you had a bitchin' beard, bro.