Cartoonist Day Exhibit 2008

HAPPY NATIONAL CARTOONIST DAY!!!

Last month, I participated in a touring cartoon exhibit here in Sioux Falls. This is the second annual Cartoonist Day event and we had more artists then we had last year. It was (and is) a two part show. The first part was at a coffee shop in downtown, called "Michelle's". I was excited to show some of my recent work, but because of space, I was only able to put up two pieces. Here's a photo from the first phase of the show.


The exhibit is currently at Black Sheep Coffee in the western part of downtown Sioux Falls. We had more space, but to be honest, the show doesn't look as cool as it did over at Michelle's, but I was able to put up one other piece. This was the one I had put the most time and money into..so of course I wanted to make sure it got shown. and here it is. Believe me, it's better in person! Each image is individually matted. It's entitled "Imagination".

The "Imagination" piece, added to the second half of the show.

My three pieces installed at Black Sheep Coffee.

I really enjoyed participating in this show. It's fun to catch up with other illustrators and cartoonists. I really hope I can find a group like this in LA when I move. It makes the fine artist in me happy to be a part of shows like this. If your in the Sioux Falls area before May 11th, stop over and check the show out at Black Coffee. And if you'd like to see some pics from the show reception follow this link: http://sfcartoonists.blogspot.com/2008/04/cartoonist-reception-highlights-at.html

Until laterz!

The Last of the Nine!

A legend of animation has passed away yesterday. Ollie Johnston, the last of Disney's famous "Nine Old Men", died yesterday at the age of 95. Many Disney sites, along with many animation sites have postings about this sad news. Ollie, along with his friend Frank Thomas, created some of the most memorable animated characters and scenes in history. Many people may not know these men, but most definitely they would know there work on such classics as Snow White and the Seven Dawarfs and Jungle Book.

As an aspiring animator, I had hopes to get to meet Frank and Ollie, but that was not to be. Even though that dream didn't happen, I have been inspired and encouraged by there work and books. Just like many young kids interested in animation, Ollie and Frank's book "The Illusion of Life" was a staple of weekend reading for me as a child...and as an adult!

My thoughts and condolences go out to the Johnson family and friends. The animation community has lost a TRUE LEGEND!

SF Cartoonist Show

Hey all! If any of you loyal readers are in, or will be, in the Sioux Falls area the next few weeks, then check out the traveling Sioux Falls Cartoonist's Exhibit. The first stop is at "Michelle's" coffee shop, downtown at 12th & Phillips. Then it moves to Black Sheep Coffee at the end of the month. Go out and support us starving artists!! and it may not say it, but I'd sure be willing to let some art lover go home with one of my prints...for a decent cost, of course! :)

the DanDrea Wedding...pt 3

Then on Saturday, we all joined in celebrating Andrea and Daniel's uniting in marriage. It was a beautiful, GERMAN wedding! It was a small church, with tight parking. I'm pretty amazed at how Julie was able to find a spot in that ice/snow packed lot. Keeping in mind that she's not use to winter driving AND I think new to mini vans.

Mel and Jessie show off the PRE-WEDDING shoes. And here we have some of the bridesmaids...fellow ORTVers, Rachel and Linda. Don't they just look great!



The flower girl was hilarious from when she raced down the aisle to playing with her bouquet.

The father of the bride and the bride, Andrea. What a moment!
The Medeiros', Amy and Tom. A year and a half ago it was Amy in the dress!!
And the future "Mr." of "Mr & Mrs. DanDrea"

The wedding ceremony was beautiful. They had two pastors overseeing the ceremony, I believe the first one was the pastor from Andrea's parent's church (which I think is the same church the whole thing was happening at! ha!). Then the second pastor was Daniel's Dad. He was a funny, German pastor. He was entertaining...even if it did go over the original time he said he'd take! Our friend Amy read part of the scripture reading (using my Bible!! I knew I'd work my way into the ceremony SOMEHOW!!) and my very TALENTED brother, Campbell lead the worship time and shared a song while the couple were signing the paperwork. Speaking of which...has ANYONE ever gone to a wedding where the couple and the people standing up with them leave the guests in the pews as they go into a side room to sign what I thought was the wedding license, but later someone said it was signing something of a wedding record for the church.








To truly show how laid back and easy going Andrea must have been on this special day, you only had to see how at ease she was when a snaffu in the wedding itinerary happened. After the message by Daniel's Dad, the other pastor proceeded to skip over the vows and exchanging of rings and go right to the kneeling at the alter. But after something was said about the rings, everything got back on track. Andrea was DEFINITELY not a bridezilla!! She showed she was use to things not going totally on script! One of the many things I love about my friend, Drea!!!







...and introducing Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bastke!!!!

It was a quick exit for all the wedding party.




That's it for now..but there's more from the post-ceremony fun to come soon!!!

Until laterz!

the DanDrea Wedding...pt 2

So after a funfilled day at Niagra Falls, we then met up with the wedding party! It was another great reunion time for the past ORTV friends. After meeting Andrea's family and seeing the home she grew up in, we all headed over to this Canadian institution called, Tim Horton's. Has anyone outside of America heard of this place?? It's like our Dunkin' Donuts massed together with Bagel Boy throw in a bit of Starbucks and shake in a few morning sandwiches from Mickey D's and you have Tim Horton's. I do have to say, they have a french vanilla hot smoothie that was pretty dang good.
Adam (friend of Daniel's), Linda and Naomi

Julie, Melissa and Jessie (these guys are gonna be going to Montreal together after the wedding. Continuing the tradition of a fun filled road trip we started @ Amy's wedding. GRACELAND BABY!!)

In the next fun filled installment, we'll finally get to the big day! Here comes the bride....

Until laterz!

the DanDrea Wedding...pt 1

This past February, I went up to the Great White North of the Toronto, Canada area for the wedding of good Taiwan friends, Daniel and Andrea! This was part of what has become an annual Taiwan reunion time for those of us no longer together at ORTV. It's actually the third wedding that has brought most of us together each time. It was a wonderful time and a BEAUTIFUL wedding. I have noticed some others posting pics, but have been asked by several when I'd be posting more of mine. So here goes.


Here's Julie, a Cali girl, scraping off her first car load of snow from the night's storm the night before. She got a lot more chances to fine tune her clearing skills by the end of her time in Canada!

Jessie, Melissa, Julie and Naomi
Gabe and your favorite Blogger, ME!!

The day before the wedding, some of us "non-wedding party" peeps went with Naomi (our Canadian host and tour guide) and her mom, brother and sister-in-law to see the Niagra Falls

Here's the group (minus me) in front of the Canadian, and much more impressive, side of the Niagra Falls.
One of the best things about this time of year at the Falls was the game of ICE THROWING! It was a challenge to actually get the ice from the railings to hit open water.
Gabe doesn't read Canadian, I guess, otherwise I'm sure he'd follow the "Do NOT do this" sign!!

I'd seen Niagra Falls before, but this was by far a more memorable time at the natural wonder. And it was a blast to have some fun and make some "Sparkles", as Drea would say! After this, we went and had some Middle Eastern food and then the Taiwan group headed to the Taiwan reunion with the wedding party people back in Kitchner-Waterloo.

More to come!

a bit of my world...

Hey people! Thanks for checking out my blog. I'm gonna try to use this one for the many "Sparkles" and adventures that occasionally happen to this DakotaKid and his world!