January 10, 2012

Grounded...sort of

Here's another page spread from my Sketchbook Project--doing double duty here for the  Illustration Friday topic, "Grounded."   Another little drama plays out under the car seat... Mrs. Dumpflehimpfle's little pet is not liking Gator Guy, who is eyeing the pie....and who knows why the Bird Person is in trouble (methinks he/she's grounded)--maybe has something to do with the balloons?  Who knows?  Tell me what you think :)
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34 comments:

  1. ShirleyJanuary 10, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    GOSH, I love this piece..I think I am most drawn to your alligator guy..he's awesome, Elizabeth! I say, little bird guy/gal is in trouble cause he didn't take Mrs. D's creature out for it's walk today (which had a mess in the house) so she's got it on a leash as she's forced to go out and walk it now. : ) This is SO fun!

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  2. RajeshJanuary 10, 2012 at 10:01 PM

    Mrs. Dumpflehimpfle and her pet is amazing and also gator...

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  3. Ben ClantonJanuary 10, 2012 at 10:16 PM

    This is really quite bizarre and fun! I'm especially digging Mrs. Dumpflehimpfle's pet and the Gator Guy.

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2012 at 11:35 PM

    I have to go with Bird Person -- the demeanor brings back memories of a colleague from long, long ago. :-)

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  5. CaerphillyJanuary 10, 2012 at 11:55 PM

    Is the sketchbook project the one that many artists do and then the sketchbooks travel across the country? I love that idea. And I love this sketch, especially the balloons. You have a great coloring technique?

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  6. Janet Dibbydabby.com.auJanuary 11, 2012 at 1:30 AM

    I actually think Gator Guy is eyeing off bad birdie, not the pie. Bad birdies in strife because he tried to stick his finger in the pie to grab a taste

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  7. nellekeJanuary 11, 2012 at 3:20 AM

    Nice work again, Elizabeth, the dog and the Bird-Person are my favourites :-)

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  8. D. Isnaini FadhilahJanuary 11, 2012 at 4:07 AM

    Mr. Gator looks worried about Mr. Bird, looks like he'll share his pie somehow. Hilarious!

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  9. AHAviewsJanuary 11, 2012 at 4:36 AM

    This is so much more exciting than the wrapper, comic, lost glove and odd nickel under MY car seat... Love the Gator Guy's pants...

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  10. SarahJanuary 11, 2012 at 5:09 AM

    I LOVE this! These are all such fun characters! Bird Person is my favorite, although Gator Guy and his striped pants are a close second! Awesome work!! :)

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  11. helen tilstonJanuary 11, 2012 at 5:09 AM

    Brilliant work Elizabeth

    I like the empathy Gator Man has for the little grounded guy. He is casting an eye in his direction. He know the little guy is the most fun of the lot and perhaps the dog
    Helen

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  12. Katy NoelleJanuary 11, 2012 at 7:09 AM

    I don't know who to save first - the pie or the guy (the one on the left;)) or....I could steal his balloons. No! Never mind! I didn't have that thought - that's bad! heh.heh.

    With all of the silly real life dramas that constantly seem to unfold around me - this puts it all into a wonderful perspective and is just what I needed, today!=]

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  13. HeatherJanuary 11, 2012 at 7:16 AM

    yes! love it - Gator Guy looks oh so tempted!!!!

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  14. Cindy D.January 11, 2012 at 7:58 AM

    A tiny world under a car seat! Oh dear, I can see I missed a lot by neglecting blogging and blog visiting in December! Dangit.

    "Temptation of the Pie"
    This is how I see it. Gator Guy is struggling with a difficult choice. You see, until this moment, Mrs. D was considering making Gator Guy the little beast's official beast-walker. (Look at the little guy stretching out his arm in a plea to Gator Guy - who is a much more fun walker than Mrs. D.)

    However, both Mrs. D AND her little beast are allergic to pie. This means that if Gator Guy gives in to pie temptation, he will no longer be welcome in Mrs. D's home. (It's not fair, as life often isn't, but Mrs. D is rather bitter about her pie allergy and therefore pie eaters are not allowed in her house.)

    Bird Person is in trouble because he baked the pie to tempt Gator Guy! Bird Person was jealous that Gator Guy was spending so much time with Mrs. D's pet, so he baked a delicious pie to sabotage the whole official beast-walker plan.

    The man scolding Bird Person is particularly angry because the flour that Bird Person used for the pie crust was intended for a special batch of artichoke dumplings. So really, Bird Person is in trouble TWICE, and that is definitely a good reason for a grounding.

    (Meanwhile, Balloon Guy is an escapee from the Jeep Cherokee behind the car in which this scene is taking place, and despite his terrific bunch of colorful balloons, none of the players in this exciting drama have noticed him yet.)
    (Oh dear, apologies for length.)

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  15. barb bjornsonJanuary 11, 2012 at 9:47 AM

    I just love the alligator, actually I love all your characters. Great personalities. I love your website too. Thanks for commenting on my blog.

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  16. Rod MacGregorJanuary 11, 2012 at 11:42 AM

    Haha!! Very good...obviously the Bird person dug the hole which the balloon guy fell down!

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  17. denizJanuary 11, 2012 at 2:47 PM

    I love that you enjoy double-duty as well : ) think that s the best and love the pissed-off looking bird person! as a dedicated bird lover from rumisu... and love the whole composition : ) a whole lotta going on there : )


    http://blog.rumisu.com/

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  18. Ted BlackmanJanuary 11, 2012 at 3:31 PM

    I think it's perfectly clear that Gator Guy is completely embarrassed about his goofy pants. He's put off his laundry for far too long and this was the last article of clean clothes he could find. Mrs Dump's little pet is actually jealous of those pants, having no good taste when it comes to clothes, and is coveting them. Bird person is definitely in trouble here, but not for what you think; he's being told that his impersonation of a circus pinhead is not at all acceptable in this modern age. And legless ballon man watches in awe as The Red Balloon sails away in complete freedom (I loved that movie too as a kid). Green ballon will not be left behind, of course.

    But, if everyone can just calm down and get along, they will all get a piece of that hot apple pie. Yaaaay!

    How close was I ????

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  19. Andrew FinnieJanuary 11, 2012 at 3:56 PM

    Bird person? What a scream you are. For me the icing on the cake is the woman's expression. But it's such a good cake it doesn't even need icing.

    (But I love icing anywway - so I'm glad it's there)

    Happy 2012 by the way !

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  20. Sarah MellingJanuary 11, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    Oh, these are too wonderful! (I love the little dog.) These would be fun to use in a classroom of kids: hand them a copy and have them speak or write about what's going on. Fun!

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  21. ElisabethJanuary 11, 2012 at 6:45 PM

    This is great! I checked out your portfolio website too, and I love your work!

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  22. SuzeJanuary 11, 2012 at 8:08 PM

    When I first looked at it, I thought Gator Guy was eyeing Bird Person -- perhaps in sympathy. Then, I read about the pie.

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  23. robin cox walshJanuary 11, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    I got nuthin’! (So not like me! LOL) Great illo, even if I can’t come up with a scenario!

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  24. Otto von MünchowJanuary 12, 2012 at 6:50 PM

    I think the Bird Person is grounded because he tried to take a bite of the pie (which we can't see from this angel). And that's when the Gater Guy is eyeing the opportunity (but forgot about Mrs. Dumpflehimpfle). You have created such strong characters and what a wonderful line you have. Great work!

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  25. MrBibleHeadJanuary 12, 2012 at 6:51 PM

    This is great Elizabeth! Love that gator’s eye! Nice work. Happy New Year!

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  26. Rabbit Town ArtJanuary 13, 2012 at 4:44 AM

    Somebody has been naughty. tsk, tsk. I do like seeing glimpses of your sketchbook project. makes me happy and I love your style.

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  27. BeccaJanuary 13, 2012 at 8:55 AM

    Wow, I will be sending more time here...I really like your style! Thank you for your kind comments on my blog. I am still in the Seattle areas looking around at different areas, and yes you are right...it's hard to decide!
    Take care :-)

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  28. FrikoJanuary 13, 2012 at 12:23 PM

    Is the balloon holding person waiting to take off? If so, better tell him/her that his balloons aren't fastened properly.
    And the gator eyeing the pie is a greedyguts, little doggies need feeding up to grow into big doggies.

    I think this is at least a fairy tale story, there's too much going on to condense it into a line or two.

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  29. Cathy HoltomJanuary 14, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    It's amazing what goes on under the car seat! This is going to be such a fun sketchbook.

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  30. Curious ArtJanuary 14, 2012 at 3:32 PM

    The mysterious, yet unmistakable, scent of pie & the faint chirpings of discontented bird people would be enough to distract any driver. I do hope this one is careful not to stop too suddenly & topple all these delightful beings!

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  31. 24 CornersJanuary 14, 2012 at 3:57 PM

    Happy New Year Elizabeth Rose!!!
    I hope with all of my heart that the wee ones living under my car seat are a cute as these clever ones!!
    Now you have me wondering...
    xo J~

    (I'm somehow enjoying the snow...)

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  32. CarolynJanuary 14, 2012 at 8:43 PM

    You're lucky. Nothing like that goes on under my car seat. I'm concerned that there is a great deal of strife...lost balloons, finger wagging, eyes longing for pies, and mean dog eyes. I hope the next chapter has a happy resolution for everyone.

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  33. AtelierBrigitteJanuary 17, 2012 at 12:24 PM

    Never knew so much is going on under the car seat!
    Fun illo's.

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  34. crazyladyFebruary 27, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    Thanks for the comments on my blog. I really love your critters on your website. I also find this illustration particularly wonderful :) The colors are fun, the details nice, and the alligator and the woman have great character!

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