Pickledog

Go Pickledog Go Blog

2008-08-15T21:56:00.003-04:00

Pickledog has moved to a new blog!

I.F. Poof!

2008-08-07T20:40:00.005-04:00

A little magical roast beef on a roll would be tasty.. Poof!

With a busy work schedule, and such, it would be sweet to have a magic samich making spell. Really sweet. Abra-Ka-Mustard!

Foggy

2008-07-17T22:29:00.006-04:00

Holy-mollie, where have I been?! Hello my fellow Illustration Friday'ers, and friends of fun-times. I just couldn't bare the thought of missing another I.F. topic, so I'm sneaking this one in just under the wire.

IF - Horde

2008-06-24T22:42:00.004-04:00

Deep beneath the Go-Putt Miniature Golf and Arcade is the magical home of the dwarves.

IF - Punchline

2008-06-18T22:10:00.009-04:00

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get into the punch line of course!

Everyone loves fruit punch.

IF - Rock-a-bye Baby

2008-06-04T22:41:00.002-04:00

When the wind blows this baby rocks the tree tops!

IF - Worry

2008-05-29T21:53:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure what this little pig is so worried about. Maybe he forgot the cornbread for the beans.

IF - Wide

2008-05-21T22:55:00.004-04:00

Beep-Beep!

IF - Seed

2008-05-08T19:30:00.004-04:00

Seeds here! Get your seeds here!

It's a sunny day and the Jays are playing the Cardinals, so sit back, and enjoy some tasty seeds with the game. I'll take mine with a side of worms please.

IF - Wrinkles

2008-04-30T21:38:00.011-04:00

When Captain Bluebird-Beard had the idea of tattooing the treasure map to the back of his first mate Cannonball thirty years ago he never thought about wrinkles.

“Arggh! I can't tell if this is a river or a wrinkle even with me bifocals yaar!”

Sorry guys this one went a bit blurry after I uploaded it for some reason, focus blogger focus.

IF - Primitive

2008-04-20T14:09:00.004-04:00

In the future robot children will visit robot museums to learn about early robot life. What a glorious future it will be.

Spread the word!

2008-04-19T13:12:00.006-04:00

I just read a very disturbing post about illustrators works being stolen to publish a book called “Colorful Illustrations 93°C.” Do not to buy this book! The Publishers stole the illustrations and interviews. On-line the book is being sold for an outrageous $100 - of which none is going to the illustrators that created the work. Unfortunately this kind of theft is becoming bolder and I want to do whatever I can to help fight against it.

Originally I was going to re-post the full story from Luc Latulippe's blog, but instead go visit Luc Latulippe's site and read his post about this whole sickening situation.

I'd like to thank Holly DeWolf for passing this along to me, and I ask that everyone please help spread the word. This is an important issue that everyone in the industry needs to be informed of.

IF - Fail

2008-04-17T19:47:00.006-04:00

A stinky driver fails her road test spectacularly.

IF - Homage to Mr. Dressup

2008-04-03T18:35:00.003-04:00

Mr. Dressup was my favorite TV show as a kid, and it most likely my first artistic inspiration. Mr. Dressup was played by the late Ernie Combs. Along with Mr. Dressup is Casey and his dog Finnegan, who were brought to life by puppeteer Judith Lawrence.

The Mr. Dressup show was fantastic! He would tell stories, sing, and of course dress-up in silly costumes and put on plays. My absolute favorite part of Mr. Dressup was when he would draw, and I dreamed that one day I would be able to draw just like him.

IF - Homage

2008-03-31T18:17:00.005-04:00

My musical homage illustration is dedicated to Canadian musician Kathleen Edwards.

The original is 24" x 11.5" created in Illustrator and Photoshop.

IF - Pet Peeves

2008-03-27T21:28:00.003-04:00

One of my pet peeves - one that I am also very guilty of - is when people say "thingie" or some other nonsensical word to ask where something is. Like "honey where's the thingie that opens the thing?!"

The thingie is a multi-tool made up of mostly kitchen type items. It measures, cuts, opens both bottles and cans. The thingie is a beater, flipper, timer, temperature gauge, and your house keys all rolled into one. It's simply incredible.. now if you could only remember where you used it last.

IF - Heavy

2008-03-19T22:10:00.006-04:00

Hey Mac! Yous gotta lift sumpthin' but itz too 'eavy? Call Harry's Hoisting Co. at 555-HOIST-IT
Harry lifts all kinds of junk like:

Pianos
Fridges
Money safes
Cars & Trucks
Elephants
Houses
Boxes of stuff
Large industrial shark tanks
And More...

Late Blooming Garden

2008-03-19T22:02:00.006-04:00

I didn't get a chance to post to Illustration Friday last week which made me sad.. then I decided to post my garden illustration this week, which made me happy! Here it is sliced into three easy to manage pieces. Original 11 x 24 inches

IF - Leap

2008-03-02T16:09:00.006-05:00

When I think about the word leap, and leaping, I think of the Mario Brothers. Those heroic plumbers specialized in leaping, and giant coin collecting. With that in mind, I illustrated the cartridge of my most favorite Mario game never made "Pickle Mario Bros." It was basically Super Mario, but instead of mushrooms and coins, Mario collected pickles and pickle slices.

Now if you are currently singing the Mario music in your head (or out loud), you're welcome. Don't worry it should stop in about a week or two.

Multiple

2008-02-24T22:08:00.007-05:00

I choose to draw Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for multiple. Now I'm thinking that I should have used a more modern example like Fight Club, or Hannah Montana. Next time I guess...

IF - Theory

2008-02-20T23:34:00.004-05:00

I'm back, and I've brought a friend! Here is Professor Pickle to teach you all about the missing link in colour theory. Many believe it to be a myth like the yeti or free parking, but it's true Murpurple does exist!

Interview with Illustrator Neil Jeffery

2008-02-17T18:09:00.004-05:00

Posted at altpicks.com the featured member interview is with the talented artist/illustrator Neil Jeffery a.k.a "beep-beep." I have the privilege of knowing Neil from school back in London, and can say that Neil was scary-talented back then, and has only gotten better.

Neil started as a traditional drawer and painter and then made the move to digital illustration, naturally this made me curious about his thoughts on traditional vs. digital design. How he got started as an illustrator, how he developed his bold graphic style, and his plans for the future are just a few of the other topics discussed with Neil in the interview.

I don't want to give it all away so head over to Altpick.com top read the full interview, and see samples of Neil's colourful graphic style.

Illustration sample: courtesy of Neil Jeffery

You Make My Day

2008-02-03T20:47:00.000-05:00

I am very happy to have been given the "You Make My Day" award from the very talented Kelly Medina!
Thank you Kelly. : )

"You make my day-Award" works like this:
1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make me think and/or make my day.
2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3. Display the "You Make my Day Award" logo with a link to the post that I wrote. (Optional)
4. Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

The 5 people that have made my day recently are:

Jeff Brame

Holly DeWolf

ShakyMouse

Mike R Baker

Tofusquirrel

IF - Tales and Legends

2008-01-30T22:12:00.000-05:00

Melvin Fishguy had always been content. He had a successful shuttle-fish company, a condo in the exclusive Octo-Pod tower, but love had eluded him. His mother tried to reassure him that he was quite a catch, but parents always say that about their own spawn. The truth was that no matter how successful Melvin was, he was a boring cold fish. That was until today...

I totally loved this weeks topic, tales and legends. I wanted to take on a classic so the obvious choice was the lost city of Atlantis. I envisioned an organic looking city surrounded by the ruins of the ancient Atlantis.

IF - Plain

2008-01-22T23:03:00.001-05:00

Do you find the excitement of ice cream too complicated at the end of a busy day? Then try the new Plain Ice Milk from Aunt Beige. It's a frozen treat* made from ordinary skim milk with no flavour added.

*Serve at room temperature to avoid ice cream headaches.

IF - Stitch

2008-01-17T07:09:00.000-05:00

Ouch, runners stitch! A little retro gym class flashback... I remember that back in the day, some of the guys on the track team smoked. They would put a cigarette behind their ear, so they could light up right after a race, long-jump, or vaulting event.

IF - 100%

2008-01-09T21:45:00.001-05:00

Like being glued into the itchiest sweater ever! The only escape is to shave your way out.

Happy Holidays!!

2007-12-24T12:02:00.000-05:00

Wishing a safe and happy holidays to all of our friends from Pickledog and David.

See you in the new-year!

IF - Backwards

2007-12-19T22:55:00.000-05:00

18 randoms about David and Pickledog!

2007-12-17T22:43:00.000-05:00

I happy to have been tagged by the awesome illustrator Jeff Brame (5 random things), the wonderful artist Linda Silvestri (8 random things), and the hilariously clever Shaky Mouse (5 random things). As a result of my procrastination I now owe a total of 18 random things about Pickledog and I.

18 randoms things...

1. The real life Pickledog is a Jack Russell Terrier with maybe a dash of beagle.

2. On my desk I have a dash board hula girl, which I purchased on a business trip in Orlando. Totally Random

3. I have three cats. Honey and Sneekers are sisters, and Ernie is their cousin. Sneekers sits at my desk with me while I draw.

4. Hockey is the only sport that I like. The first NHL game I attended was in Philadelphia (Flyers vs. Canadiens).

5. Pickledog and I grew up on a farm with pigs, chickens, goats, guinea hens, ducks, geese, rabbits, and one turkey named George.

6. My favorite star wars character is Boba Fett. He was also my favorite toy.

7. I worked in a hot dog factory one summer. It was cold, wet, and everything smelled like spices.

8. I love coffee, and the darker it is the better! I take my coffee with cream/milk, and no sugar, but it extreme situations I will drink it black.

9. I have only ever wanted to be an artist, except for a brief period when I wanted to be a firefighter, because Santa brought me the Tonka Fire Truck that sprayed water.

10. My favorite show is Battlestar Galactica. The final season doesn't start until April. : (

11. Dark chocolate is my favorite chocolate. To me it is pure concentrated coco goodness!

12. I have one brother who is an audio technician, and a D.J.

13. I have a tendency to say really embarrassing things when I am nervous.

14. My cat's breath smells like cat food.

15. I have shoveled snow from my driveway six times already this fall. (Technically it's not winter until December 21.)

16. I don't really like roller coasters. I don't get sick on them, and I'm not afraid of heights. I just don't enjoy them for some reason.

17. I enjoy restaurants that have all day breakfast. Bacon and eggs for dinner is heavenly.

18. My favorite time of year is late August.

IF - Excess

2007-12-05T21:49:00.000-05:00

Hey kids, tell yer mom and dad to buy you a box of Ginger Nog, the official breakfast cereal of Christmas! All the taste, and nutrition of gingerbread, and thick egg nog packed into a bite sized cereal. Now with real candy cane bites!

Provides 110% of your daily nog requirements, and shreds the roof of your mouth at twice the rate of Captian Munch•.

The box isn't complete, but I wanted to post it for this weeks I.F. topic “excess.” I'm still working on the Ginger Nog logo, and such, but I will post it again once everything is just so.

• Mouth shreding results my vary. Ginger NOG is not a real cereal, (yet) so do not rush to your local grocer demanding “your sweet-sweet G-NOG.”

Pickledog's Top 25 Movies

2007-12-04T22:44:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks back I was tagged by my good friend and extremely talented artist Mike R Baker to list my top 25 favorite movies meme.

Keep in mind the list doesn't represent what I would consider the greatest films ever made. Gone With the Wind is great and all that, but when I'm sick, or want to chase the blues away I watch the Goonies. With that in mind I restricted my list to only include movies I have seen more than once, and/or own on DVD, VHS, or Betamax.

In no particular order here Pickledog's 25 favorite movies!

1. Star Wars IV
2. Star Wars V
3. Indian Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
4. Goonies
5. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
6. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
7. Shawn of the Dead
8. Hot Fuzz
9. Ghostworld
10. Groundhog day
11. The Princess Bride
12. Uncle Buck (I miss John Candy)
13. Fight Club
14. the Breakfast Club
15. Christmas Vacation
16. Ghostbusters
17. Beetlejuice
17. the Royal Tannebaums
18. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
19. 28 Days Later
20. Train Spotting
21. Wizard of Oz
22. Twelve Monkeys
23. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
24. Time Bandits
25. Bladerunner

In keeping with the spirit of the game I must now tag five others.

Jeff Brame: Champion of Monday Art Day, and maker of miniature masterpieces for ATC!

Princesstomato: Teri's whimsical paintings are so sweet, and full of super fun details.

Trevor Pitt: I'm so happy to see Trevor is back blogging, and mixin' it up!

Kelly Medina: Visit her blog if you like cute illustrations, cookies, and cats. I love the cat cushion btw.

Angelato: Angela Matteson's illustrations are soft, elegant, and fun.

IF - The Zoo

2007-11-29T18:31:00.001-05:00

The Zoo holiday party started early this year and there's no stopping 'til the New Year!
Ain't no party like a Pickledog party...

IF - Superstition

2007-11-20T21:56:00.001-05:00

Ethan knew he was about to have the unluckiest day ever.

Big fish, little fish swimming in the water

2007-11-15T23:28:00.000-05:00

For the Illustration Friday topic "Scale." Watch out for the mustache whales!

IF - Hats Remember, remember the fifth of November

2007-11-05T17:46:00.001-05:00

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parliament...

The fifth of November marks Guy Fawkes Night, and I think it is one of the most interesting celebrations. Guy even has his own Collectible figure!

I know what you are thingking, "what does this have to do with hats?" Well, in addition to having plotted to explode the parliament and the king, Guy Fawkes wore a hat, and oh what a glorious hat it was.

remember, remember...

IF - Trick or Treat

2007-11-01T23:12:00.001-04:00

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!

The Ghost Donkey of Gudgeonville

2007-10-30T21:40:00.000-04:00

The Zombie Board of Canada sent me out to research reports of a haunted bridge in Gudgeonville Pennsylvania. There folks tell of a ghostly donkey braying each night. The night air filled with the chilling sounds of a poor donkey who met a cruel end at the Gudgeonville Bridge.

The story...
We camped out at the bridge hoping to photograph the ghost donkey. The crisp air smelled like autumn leaves. In the distance an owl hooted "hoo-hoo?"

Already Pickledog was fast asleep. The clouds had completely covered the moon, surrounding us in the black of night. Then suddenly my flashlight died. I flicked the switch repeatedly. Foolishly hoping the flashlight would suddenly come back to life, but something supernatural had drained the batteries. So we sat in darkness with only the sounds of the owl, and Pickledog's snoring.

Time passed. I looked at my watch it was 12:59, plus forty-five seconds. As I looked up from my watch the clouds began to clear, and as the moonlight illuminated the forest once more, my heart lifted.

My heart sank right back down, like it was trying to hide behind my stomach. The moonlights return revealed the ghost donkey standing right between us! He glowed bright green, and floated two feet in the air. The gruesome green beasts blank stare sent chills down my spine. My hands shook as I reached for my camera, but in my panic I had forgotten that Pickledog had the camera bag, and he was still fast asleep on the other side of the ghost. How could he be sleeping through this?!

The ghost donkey opened his yellow teeth releasing the saddest, most terrifying "HEE-HAW!" HEE-HAW!" Pickledog awoke. Somehow he managed to snap a picture, blinding me with the flash in the process. I staggered blindly, my eyes buzzing with white lights as the ghost's braying rang in my ears. My foot caught on something. I fell, and then everything went black.

Happy Halloween!

IF - Grow

2007-10-24T21:55:00.001-04:00

What will we make with such a pumpkin? The worlds largest Jack-o-Lantern? One thousand pumpkin pies, or perhaps a delightful orange cottage?

Zombie, zombies, everywhere...

2007-10-23T23:34:00.000-04:00

Pickledog and I are back from our zombie trip. The bad news is, zombie sightings are way up at Lake Zombie. As seen in my photographic evidence, the underwear zombies are on the paths, in the water, and hiding in the trees!

However the Zombie Board on Canada did much to address the current situation, and it has been decided that Lake Zombie will now been know as Lake Friendly. Research determined that having 'zombie' in the name of the lake resulted in extremely high rankings in Google searches by the undead looking for vacation spots.

Zombies in their underwears!

2007-10-15T22:43:00.000-04:00

This week I have dug up something fresh. Zombies can be pretty scary, but if you remember that trick your mom taught you to get over you fear of public speaking, zombies aren't so scary at all.

Next time you see a mob of flesh hungie zombies chomping through your neighbourhood just imagine them in their underwears. Then you will realise the brain starved monster that used to be your corner grocer isn't quite so terrifying in underoos. That is until he bites you and then you become a zombie, and people imagine you in your underwears. :P

I will be off this week, away on special assignment for the Zombie Board of Canada.

Cheers everyone, and have a great week!

IF - Open

2007-10-11T02:39:00.000-04:00

With an open heart and an open mind you will go far.
Colourful craziness for the topic of open.

Cheers Everyone

IF - Blues

2007-10-04T22:55:00.000-04:00

Put your paws together for the one and only Blues Trunk! Blues Trunk plays the sweetest, loneliest, most heart wrenching blues. At the end of his set the animals have to swim home through the tears.

Rando thought.. I was thinking about the Blues Hammer scene from Ghostworld, and the horrified/annoyed look on Seymour's face. I love that movie : )

IF - Juggle

2007-09-23T12:03:00.000-04:00

This big guy only wants to entertain people with his juggling skills. For his big finale he lights up the oil trunk and adds a truck full of chain saws, but by then everyone has run away. Zilla is taking his show on tour to all of the major cities. Next stops are Tokyo, New York, Paris, and London. What a show-monster!

IF - Wedding

2007-09-19T23:02:00.000-04:00

Sweet romance. What coincidence the topic this week is wedding, because this week my wife and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary. The second anniversary is cotton, but guys remember, novelty t-shirts and tube socks are not very romantic gifts.

IF - Momentum

2007-09-12T23:50:00.000-04:00

This is a quick illustration of a Yeti on Rocket Skates. Rocket Skates are expensive items, especially on a Yeti's salary, but he needs them to carryout his important Yeti business.

IF - Alphabets

2007-09-06T22:20:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the original School of Rock!

‘D’ is for Dinosaur!

Learning is fun, especially when you can find ways to apply what you have learned in daily situations.
For example "look teacher there is a dinosaur in the window! Maybe she looking for this egg I found outside..."

Class please remember that your volcano assignments are due on Ugghday,
and I don't want to hear excuses like "a dinosaur ate my project and/or my family."

IF - Visitors

2007-08-30T22:02:00.000-04:00

I like to think that when it comes time for humans to be the visitors on alien planets we can all put aside the hurt feelings caused by years of probing, and be space buddies with the aliens. We'd be S.B.F's (Space Buddies Forever) and wear lockets in the shape of alien hearts that break in two so each S.B.F. has a piece to remember their bestest friend from light years away.

I'd want Yoda to be my S.B.F. but if he got too teachy with me about the force then I'd say "Yoda.. you're cut!" and replace him with my backup S.B.F. Chewbacca.

Who would your S.B.F. be?

Created in Illustrator, and Photoshop

IF - Captain

2007-08-21T23:47:00.000-04:00

Hoist the kitten mast! Swab the Lido deck! We're about to set sail..
Captain Jellybean is the brave captain of Thee Pretty Kitty. Jellybean and her crew search the seas for brightly coloured ribbons and candy. I was inspired by the great textures some of my fellow Scribble Guild mates have been creating, so this week I decided to add a bit of photoshop for extra jazz.

A larger illustrator version of the ship, and her pirate crew is posted over at the Scribble Guild.

IF - Emergency

2007-08-14T23:28:00.000-04:00

As a kid I did go through a short faze in which I wanted to be a firefighter. I think it was because of a book I had with super fun old fashioned firefighters complete with the old trampoline net. That is also probably where my "like" of retro styling started.. hmm.. all the pieces are coming together.

Not to go off on a book tangent, but I can remember my favorite story books as a kid were The Little Engine That Could, Scruffy the Tugboat (the book was shaped like a tugboat) and The Fire Engine Book. Of course that isn't including all my Richard Scarry books, or my Star Wars Record Books.

See? This is why it's a good thing that I am not a firefighter, my mind wanders.. well, it roams more like a pack of hungry hotdogs. Mmmm.. hotdogs..

Scribble Guild

2007-08-14T22:53:00.000-04:00

I am happy, and excited to be a part of the super new illustration group the Scribble Guild. So excited in fact that I needed an old time newspaper headline to announce it. I feel so lucky to be joining the wonderful and talented group of Andi Butler, Kathy Weller, Jacob Souva, and Valerie Walsh. Jacob did a truly amazing job creating the web site.

Andi Butler, who you may also know as Mrs. B has already posted on the newest CRAFT, and the talented Kate O’Leary. So go there, check it out all the wonderful stuff, and then come right back here. Pickledog and I will just hang out here 'til you get back.

IF - Missing

2007-08-09T20:05:00.000-04:00

When Pickledog and I were just young pups our stargazer friend Sam claimed that he was abducted by an alien one clear night. To Sam it felt like he had been missing for days, but time on earth had not moved more then a second. No one really believed Sam's story until all the postcards from Nebular-X5 started to arrive. Then everyone teased Sam because he had a girlfriend.

IF - Poem

2007-07-25T22:05:00.000-04:00

Peter Piper picks pickled peppers
If Peter Piper had a pickled pepper picker
How many pickled peppers could Peter Piper pick?

O.k. so Peter Piper is more of a nursery rhyme than a honest to goodness poem, but if you have am issue you can takes it up with Mother Goose. Yah, that's what I thought.. no one messes with Momma G.

The answer: five. Only five pickled peppers could be picked. I really thought it would be more than that too.

IF - Discovery

2007-07-19T22:19:00.000-04:00

A young pioneer on a journey of discovery. You can tell it's back in the olden days because he's wearing a fur hat, but now people know that fur hats are cruel and smelly.

Anyhoo.. wagons ho!

IF - Geek

2007-07-10T00:22:00.000-04:00

A married couple walks into a geek bar..

Let your geek flags fly this week my friends!

IF- Twist

2007-07-05T23:45:00.000-04:00

Oh my! I think I've missed Illustration Friday this week.

It really was no miracle what happened was just this, the wind began to switch and then there was a twist.. A twist!?

A twist to the Wizard of Oz.. what if Dorothy's house landed on the Lollipop Guild?

There's no place like Friday.. there's no place like Friday..

IF - Camouflage

2007-06-28T21:40:00.000-04:00

The seldom seen Scottish Tartan Lizard, is a reptile capable of camouflage in plaid or tartan environments.

Tarties as they are known in the Scottish Highlands can be identified by their plaid scales, and reddish-orange sideburns. The prefered home of the Tartan Lizard is of course the kilt, but they will also nest on bagpipes, and argyle socks.

Although Tarties are distant cousins to the chameleon they are only capable of shifting the appearance of their scales to match plaid or tartan patterns. Some Scientists believe there is also a strong link between the Tarties, and the Lock Ness Monster.

The Scottish Tartan lizard is also know to inhabit England, Wales, Ireland, Canada, and parts of the United States. During the 1970's in the U.S. a new breed of Tartie emerged. This new breed lived solely on the loud plaid jackets of used car salesmen, and t.v. anchormen. In the 1980's a drastic change in fashion patterns threatened to extinct the American Tartie.

Thanks to the work of television actor Frank Boner (WKRP's Herb Tarlek) the American Tartie was saved with the his "No Plaid Left Unworn" campaign which created Tartie awareness, and new habitats from secondhand sports jackets.

Thinking Blogger Award!

2007-06-26T22:18:00.000-04:00

Pickledog and I are grinning from ear to ear, because our mega-talented friend Mike R Baker awarded us a Thinking Blogger Award! Now we have the honor of passing it along to five other bloggers that make us think. It was difficult to narrow it down to just five because there are so many amazing artist bloggers that I could have given out a dozen awards easily.. but rules are rules so here are our five picks (in no particular order.)

Justin Parpan I first saw Justin's illustrations when his book Gwango's Lonesome Trail was featured on Drawn!, and I was blown away. He draws a mean monster, and far out fantastic backgrounds that are the giant mutant bees knees!

Jannie Ho (Chicken Girl) Her illustrations are fun, colourful, and super cute! It is impossible not to smile when you see her work, heck I'm smiling just thinking about them!

Brian Gubicza (Goobeetsablog) He pulls together the various images of his dreams to create the most beautifully designed illustrations. Sometimes wild. Sometimes spooky. Always terrific!

Kathryn Howard (Scribblesk) Her blog is named Sniplings which is just as super-cute as her illustrations. I just love the all textures, and fun brush strokes in her creative collages.

Elizabeth Siegel (Tofusquirrel) Her amazing work makes me want to turn off my computer, and break out my Prismacolors. Not only does she create the most wildly original drawings, but she also makes fantastically cute little creatures called "critters." Something tells me she will flooded with critter requests very soon if she isn't already.
critters © 2007 tofusquirrel.com

IF -Rejection

2007-06-20T21:37:00.000-04:00

Pickledog, and I are so thrilled to have been selected as the illustration of the week! I know it's random but it still feels like winning the illustration lottery. We want to thank everyone for all of the wonderful comments. Thank you so much : )

It is difficult starting out, especially when you don't have much experience. Tom Mayto's resume was impressive, but Farmer Higgins Catsup was looking for a tomato with a bit more experience, and Tom was still much too "green."

That's Higgins Catsup.. "made with only the freshest red tomatoes"

note: Tom Mayto, and Farmer Higgins are fictional characters. Any resemblance to real tomatoes living, or bottled is purely coincidental.

IF - Suit

2007-06-14T22:43:00.001-04:00

Due to various demographics combined with an increase in internet usage complied with a shifting trend towards, and away from consumer goods Pickledog's accountant has advised us to take on a proactive marketing strategy that includes (but is not limited to) brand orientated illustrations.

So.. this weeks Illustration Friday entry is brought to you by Slim & Shorty's BIG & Tall Mens Suits. If you're big or tall choose Slim & Shorty's for your next suit. With three convenient locations. Tell them Pickledog sent you, and receive your pants half off.

IF - My Paradise

2007-06-07T00:07:00.000-04:00

My paradise is the secret Isle of Hidden Snacks. Thee map's not quite finished but we shall tellz yer the tale..
Me first mate Pickledog, and I were caught in a storm on the Orange Sea. Our ship was way off course, the compass needle was spinning round and round. We though we wuz doomed to meet Davy Jones in the big orange drink. Huge tangerine waves (thirty feet high if they were an inch) crashed against our stout ship throwing us overboard. We grabbed hold of a giant orange wedge floating beside us, and held on to the giant citrus for dear life.

In the morning we awoke on strange sugary sand, we had unknowingly discovered the Isle of Hidden Snacks...

A detail of our secret map. We only show yee cause we're pirate friendz.

At the centre of the island we built a tree house in the Dark Chocolate Forest. Beware me pirate friendz of thee Root Beer Ghost that lives in the Licorice Lake nearby. He is very friendly, but kind of gassy.

IF - Cars

2007-05-30T22:06:00.000-04:00

And the Giraffe wins by a nose! VROOOM!

IF - Signs

2007-05-21T20:16:00.000-04:00

I didn't think of this while I was drawing, but I am sure this trick must have been done by Yogi Bear at some point. If so please forgive me Mr. Yogi sir.

IF - Neighbor

2007-05-10T20:01:00.000-04:00

Bonjour mes amis,

Ce sont les maisons de la poule rouge et du petit cochon rose. Elles sont de bons voisins comme le lard et les oeufs. Au cas où vous vous demanderiez pourquoi elles ont les berettes et les moustashes, il est parce que nous sommes dans le Frenchland mes amis !

Mais naturellement non ?

---

Hello my friends,

These are the homes of the red hen and the little pink pig. They are good neighbors like bacon and eggs. In case you are wondering why they have the berettes and the moustashes, it is because we are in the Frenchland my friends!

But of course no?

IF - Remember

2007-05-03T00:52:00.000-04:00

“It’s funny, the things that you think of in life’s truly defining moments. How will I be remembered? Will my children be proud of me? Did I remember to turn off the coffee maker before I left for work?”

IF - Polar

2007-04-23T20:29:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, we are back from the beautiful city of Chicago. While Pickledog, and I were visiting the Shedd Aquarium we saw a strange site. A polar bear swimming with the little tropical fishes. I'm not sure who was more surprised, the fish or us. Fortunately, Pickledog speaks fluent Polar Bear, (which he learned during his summer job as a sled dog in Nunavut several years ago.) The polar bear explained that he had always wanted to see tropical fish, so he had hitched a ride with an ice cream van from Manitoba to Chicago. We decided it would be fun to see the city sites together for the afternoon. We saw the Sears Tower, Navy Pier, the Field museum, and the Art Institute. In the evening the polar bear climbed aboard the ice cream van, and we waved “good bye.” Afterwards Pickledog and I both agreed that the polar bear was one of the nicest animals we have ever traveled with. Thank you Chicago for being such a great city!

IF- Fortune

2007-04-16T23:32:00.000-04:00

For this weeks topic I thought a Tarot card would be perfect. The Fool is often depicted by a young man, and a dog which is extra perfect as lately I have totally been fortune's fool. Tomorrow I am off to “the windy apple,” Chicago for day-time work business. Chicago is a super fun town, I just hope that I can see some of it while I'm there.

Have a super pickle-tastic week everyone!

IF - Green

2007-04-11T23:16:00.000-04:00

Get yer pick axes, 'cause there's gold in them thar noses! Green gold!
I was in the mood for drawing boogers, and booger related industries. Sometimes a boy just needs to be gross.

Boogies!!

IF - Snap

2007-04-03T23:18:00.000-04:00

A terribly happy-go-lucky lizard.

IF - I Spy

2007-03-29T21:53:00.000-04:00

Lady Spy: “Hail Spider!”
Henchman: (unenthusiastically) “Hail Spider..”
Lady Spy: “Are you sure that you were not followed?”
Henchman: “Relax, there's nothing around for miles, except for that pizza delivery van across the street.”
Lady Spy: “Do you have the vial?”
Henchman: “Here take it. All the bubbles give me the creeps.”
Lady Spy: “Spider will be pleased..”
Henchman: “You know.. it is kind of strange that a pizza van would be parked at the old abandoned docks.”

IF-Total

2007-03-21T22:40:00.000-04:00

Ring-Ring.. Ring-Ring.. “Hello Mr. President? Yes sir the giraffe is right here, one second please I'll put him on.”
When you are trying to beat the world record for the most animals in a phone booth at one time, don't tell the elephants.
Total Animals = 5

IF - Wired

2007-03-15T23:20:00.000-04:00

A strange feeling overtook Ned. Fastened with new braces, he is now more contraption than child. Surgically stainless bands clamped down to each rebel tooth. Ned is consumed by a restless assignment to cut all wires. Wires! He must be free of them.. Ned shall be wired no more! Hahahha..

IF - Hide

2007-03-08T23:03:00.000-05:00

It may have seemed like Pickledog has been in hiding this week, but we have been very busy moving the Pickle household to our new fabulous location down the street. We're still putting things together, and with any luck our refrigerator will be running this weekend. Yaaay.. cold food!

This little burger rustler on the other hand has been running for quite some time now, and is hoping that it's his trail that runs cold soon.

IF - Communication

2007-02-27T21:06:00.000-05:00

June: “So I used to think Billy was totally gross, but now he's almost kind of cute.”
Sally: “That's neat June, but did you know this is Pickledog's 100th post?”
June: “What ever Sally.”

P.S. Billy isn't gross anymore pass it on

IF - Gravity

2007-02-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

A little shoot for the stars/walking on the moon attitude.
“I'm a rocket maaaan!”

IF - Crash

2007-02-13T22:37:00.000-05:00

Drivers, are you ready?!! Smash up derby racin' is the funniest kind of crashing I know. If there is one thing I have learned as a kid it's that you always pick the old station wagon to win in a smash up derby. Oh, that and 12+6=18!

Tagged! Six Weird Things

2007-02-12T21:27:00.000-05:00

I have been happily tagged by Jules! So without further ado here are six weird things about me.

1. I don't put Ketchup on anything except for hamburgers, but only if they also have mayonnaise and pickles on them. I even eat french fries plain!

2. My favorite South Park character is Leopold "Butters" Stotch. Spooky Stuff!

3. In the evening I take the stairs instead of the elevator.

4. I like to stretch out the time between haircuts to let my hairdo get jumbotic, because I believe in the “golden hair week” when my hair reaches its optimum length and shape. (See profile illustration.)

5. I can (poorly) sing the words to Momas Don't let your Babies Gro Up to be Cowboys by Willie Nelson.

6. As a child I had a pet turkey, and a pet pig. Neither were eaten.

IF - Sprout

2007-02-06T21:45:00.000-05:00

Waiting for the warm spring air to say..

IF - Red

2007-01-29T21:25:00.001-05:00

Red sky at night sailors delight! Sweet dreams Captain.

IF - Super Hero

2007-01-21T20:41:00.000-05:00

Local Owl Scout Kyle Carson protects the neighborhood as Blimp Head the lighter than air crime fighter. With the power to inflate his head with helium from his super unique helium glands. Once fully inflated as Blimp Head he can float hundreds of feet above the ground, quietly foiling evil doers. Blimp Head's natural weaknesses are strong winds, seagulls, and sharp objects.

Wherever there is a kitty in a tree, or a frisbee stuck on the roof, Blimp Head will slowly drift across the sky to save the day.

IF - 80s

2007-01-16T18:28:00.000-05:00

The 80's had some of the best movies ever, like The Breakfast Club. How do you top a movie featuring a young Emilio Estevez dancing like an out of control windmill? The answer, you can't!

80s Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
The A Team
Different Strokes
Big Wheels
He-Man
Care Bears
Apple Computers 1984 commercial
Any music with synthesizers
Ewoks
Miami Vice
Ferris Bueller
Pac-Man

IF - Buzz

2007-01-10T22:07:00.000-05:00

Playing Hair Salon is never as fun as it's originally described. Unless of course you're the one holding the clippers.

An update of sorts.. This has been an exciting week here in Brautsville for Pickledog and myself. We decided to join the local Polar Plungers club. It's kind of like the Polar Bears Club, but there is less jumping into cold water and more drawing ; )

IF - Phoenix

2006-12-31T16:20:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and constructive new year. Happy New Year!

IF - Help

2006-12-21T20:16:00.000-05:00

Santa needs a lot of help this time of year. Happy Holidays!!

I've Been Tagged

2006-12-17T09:58:00.000-05:00

Yipe! I've been tagged, by benconservato.

4 jobs I have had (besides my current job):
Bet taker at a race track
Fast food grill cook
Steel mill (I pushed a series of buttons that cut and loaded steel into the mill, it was thrilling)
Hotdog factory worker

4 movies I would watch over and over:
Lord of the Rings
Fight Club
Christmas Vacation
The Royal Tenenbaums

4 places I have lived:
Hamilton, Ontario
Puslinch, Ontario
London, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario

4 TV shows I love:
Dead Like Me
the Office
Battlestar Galatica (Darn cliffhanger endings)
Southpark

4 places I have been for a vacation:
British Columbia
New York city
Chicago
Montreal

4 websites I visit daily:
My own Pickledog blog
Illustration Friday
Drawn.ca
cbc.ca

4 favorites foods:
Pizza
Chicken curry
vanilla yogurt with frozen raspberries
pretzels (stick not twisty)

4 places I would rather be:
California
Toronto
A house in the country
East Kitchener, the west side is nice but it's a longer commute to work.

4 people I am tagging:
John Coulter
Studio lolo
Digital Scott
Amanda Schmitt

IF - Mask

2006-12-11T22:20:00.000-05:00

My idea for this weeks Illustration Friday topic is based partly on a conversation I had with a friend over the weekend. My friend Derek is my oldest and closest friend from way back in grade number 3, and a talented writer. We were discussing the balance of working full time while developing a second, artistic career, and the polar-bear plunge into freelancing.

Pursuing a new career is certainly not a decision to be made lightly, but everyday Pickledog is persuading me to put away the ol' Graphic Artist mask, and put on a new Freelance Artist mask. How can I say “no” to that face?

IF - Might

2006-12-04T22:21:00.000-05:00

Whenever someone mentions the word “might” in Brautsville it is hard not to think of the greatest player to ever wear the brown, orange, black and yellowish white, Mighty Mean Macallroni.

Macallroni was the captain of the Brautsville Ice Brauts from 1985-91. In that span he was twice named MVP, and in 1990 led the Brauts to their first ever championship over their infamous Quad-City rivals the Kitchener Maple Kats.

Yes some would say Mighty Mean Macallroni possessed more might in his little baby toe than most people could hope to have in their entire body. Others would accuse Brautsville of shaving a bear and teaching to skate, but it still doesn't take away from the fact that Macallroni was the first player to almost successfully body-check the Zamboni.

Go Maple Kats!!

IF - Invention

2006-11-28T21:52:00.000-05:00

Milo is a kid genius and inventor. Maybe you have heard of some of his inventions like the Perpetual Lotion Machine (Patent Pending) which infamously ruined the Crunchy Bay Beach Party. It's a good thing he has a friend like Sidney to help him test his newest invention the Time Toilet. Inspired by other famous inventors like Sir John A MacDonald (as mentioned in my previous post) Milo has harnessed the power of the twin toilet to race backwards in time to 1994, but a leak in the flush capacitor has plunged them much further back..

A tinkle in time will save nine!

IF - Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-22T22:24:00.000-05:00

Here in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October so it feels like deja vu all over again this week. Canadian media is so enriched with American content it almost feels like Thanksgiving here again.

Besides the difference in scheduling there are some subtle differences in the way we enjoy our turkey-lisious holiday. Here Thanksgiving is a time when all Canadians give thanks to Sir John A. Mac Donald for defeating the giant squirrels, and creating maple syrup. A traditional thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, and maple syrup gravy which is generously applied to everything. In our home after dinner the kids would gather in the front yard to watch Sir John wrestle the giant squirrel to the ground. When we grew older we realized that it was really mom and dad in costumes, and not the real Sir John A. and giant squirrel.

Despite the lack of giant squirrels and maple syrup, I still think that Americans know how to do Thanksgiving right. The Macy's Parade, Pilgrims, yams, and a super long weekend! Pickledog and I have so much to be thankful for this year, and we would like to wish all of our American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving!

IF - Clear

2006-11-13T20:16:00.000-05:00

Yodel lay hee hoo! The clear mountain air helps Hans unwind.

IF - Smoke

2006-11-06T21:03:00.000-05:00

Do you like your buns toasted? I love the smell of a toasty camp fire, and roasting hot dogs. Just don't stand too close, hee- hee..

Forest of Happy Ghosts

2006-11-01T22:56:00.000-05:00

This is the artwork from my Black & Orange submission. I cropped the image for my submission, but as you can see there is a whole forest of happy ghosts.

IF - Wind

2006-10-31T23:06:00.000-05:00

It's a windy day for pirate balloon'n. Here's an ol' salty balloon shanty fer ye.

Would ye like t' ride in me beautiful balloon
Would ye like t' ride in me beautiful balloon
We could float among th' stars together, ye 'n I
Fer we can fly we can fly

Up, up 'n away me beautiful, me beautiful balloon

Th' world's a nicer ship in me beautiful balloon
It wears a nicer face in me beautiful balloon
We can sin' a shanty 'n sail along th' silver sky
Fer we can fly we can fly

Up, up 'n away me beautiful, me beautiful balloon

"Up, Up and Away" by the Fifth Dimension

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2006-10-31T00:46:00.000-05:00

Wishing all the ghosts, skeletons, pirates, and sorcières a safe and happy Halloween.

IF - Ghost

2006-10-23T23:19:00.000-04:00

I like to draw happy ghosts. This little fellow haunts the dusty attic of his antique address. Cheerfully he spookles the spiders, boos from the boudoir, and shrieks from the staircase.

Speaking of ghosts. There seems to be a little ghosty haunting my wire-less keyboard today. On, and off it goes, even with brand new batteries. The only thing that I can do for now is smile at their spirited games. Oh, the joys of working digitally.

Happy Haunting!

IF - Smitten - Bugs & Fudd vs. Pickledog

2006-10-16T20:46:00.000-04:00

Pickledog had a couple ideas for the topic this week, but in the end we both agreed this week could only be satisfied by a cartoon Mashup!

Hehe.. No one could reel the boys in like Bugs in drag. My favorite Bugs in drag is from What's Opera Doc? It's also just a really great toon.

Smitten Sketches

2006-10-16T20:36:00.000-04:00

Various smitten character sketches. Smitten Ape, Fudd, and Man-In-A-Dress.

IF - Trouble

2006-10-10T21:27:00.000-04:00

First rule of the streets, “never bring a dog to a cat fight.”

Hey maan, you lookin' for trouble? Well, you've found it! You're on Kitty turf, and that means you have to deal with Tuffy-Trouble-Tomkat!

One Year Of Pickledog!

2006-10-10T21:04:00.000-04:00

How time does fly when you're a Pickledog with a yellow bun shaped race car. It was one year ago Pickledog first raced into the Blogger world. Pickledog and I would like to thank everyone that has visited us, and helped to make our first year super fun!

Beep-Beep!

IF - Quiet

2006-10-03T20:46:00.000-04:00

Miss Molly’s class was so quiet
The most quiet she had heard
As far as Miss Molly knew, they hung on every word

Her class never caused a riot
Their heads were never turned
Little did their teacher know, her lessons went unlearned

Little Larry listened to his podcasts
Sally played Hilary Duff
Davey’s 30 gigabytes were full of video stuff

Miss Molly never noticed
The white earphones in each head
Or that her perfect listeners missed everything she said