August 6, 2012

Bounce. Not.

Illustration Friday topic:  "Bounce"

Bouncy puppy and the very recalcitrant Mr. Ball:

90 comments:

  1. Hello Elizabeth:

    Someone is just not going to play ball here.....but if those melting eyes of the playful puppy are anything to go by, surely even the hard heart of Mr Ball cannot resist for long!!

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    1. I'm not so sure. Mr Ball is a bit of a curmudgeon--and definitely NOT the bouncy sort ;)

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  2. Tar just dismembers and disembowels balls that don't cooperate.
    Amazing how many pieces a ball can be reduced to...

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    1. Wellll...since Mr Ball has members to dismember, I suspect Tar would find said action particularly satisfying.

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  3. Ha ha! That's what my "tomato family" needed...faces! Nothing nicer than a beautiful pencil sketch. Love the crossed arms, too!

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    1. Yes, Sarah! They need ARMS, too--and don't think the thought didn't cross my mind when I saw them in all their familial orange-ness :) ;)

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  4. I don't blame MR. Ball. All those teethmarks, and bouncing from one wall to the next. Then you sit there while puppy sleeps, all sticky like a glazed doughnut.

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    1. Ewww...all sticky like a glazed doughnut. I think Mr.Ball should make a preemptive strike, don't you? Mr.Ball = armed and dangerous.

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  5. That ball is mean, how could you not give the puppy a more cooperative one? Just look how the puppy pleads, how eager it is.
    Come on, bounce, you cross old ball, uncross those arms and bounce, damn you.

    Right, any minute now I'm coming over and I'll bounce you myself, if it's the last thing I do . . . . . . .

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    1. I have no doubt Mr Ball will straighten up and bounce right when he sees you coming, dear F. You could grab his little arm and give him a good shake! It would serve him right, the little party-pooper, puppy-teaser ;)

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  6. I feel the ball's pain! I have a demanding pup that would play 24/7. Sometimes I become a little obstinate and stubbornly refuse to play. I connect with the ball. Oh go on then, I will throw myself one more time ........ Fetch!
    D
    Xxx

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  7. OH MY GOODNESS......THIS IS WAY CUTE.....and to think that YOU bought my Count Sealyhams.....thank you my dear and he is on his way back east? SPLENDID!!

    Really Elizabeth, this illustration is just fantastic! I can almost feel the softness of his chubby little puppy body!!! Anita

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    1. Thanks, dear Anita! I think little chubby little puppy doesn't know what he's in for
      ;)

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  8. He teases out all the fuzz. More like he shaves it with his
    teeth I guess. It's rather disturbing.

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    1. We used to have a dog that we referred to as the "Toy-Disposal-Unit." My kids learned pretty quickly the wisdom of picking up their playthings when done. Perhaps he and Tar were related ;)

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  9. Is that a ball or a perturbed orange? It's difficult to tell. ;-)

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    1. I think "perturbed sphere" would cover it. Perturbed. I like it.

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  10. Hehe! I knew a cat like that once.

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  11. 'Armed' and dangerous! Hahahahahahaha

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  12. That cranky ball looks like she is peeking over your blog banner making sure that puppy is gone somewhere else making trouble!! Cute!

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  13. Hi Elizabeth!

    The illustration is incredible but I gotta tell you that little ball put a smile on my face.
    Lovely work!:)

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    1. Hi Marisa. Yes, there's nothing like a cranky ball to tease out some smiles :) :)

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  14. i like the non verbal eye- communikation: the sweet innocent look versus the almost lordly arrogantish look (which by the way i find
    somehow cute so i want to cuddle this little ball...) they "talk" more than thousand words... very nice!!

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    1. Tanja- I'm so glad this little illustration "speaks" to you. Thanks!

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  15. "If you think I'm gonna bounce and roll and do all that other ball-y stuff, you've got another thing coming, dog".

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    1. Well put. There's nothing like a ball with an attitude. Thanks for stopping by!

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  16. Hi Elizabeth,
    love the expression on the ball, very funny. I'm sure it's the slobber that puts balls off playing with puppies... :)

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    1. I think you are right, Catherine. As Ted(comment 4th from top)put it so well, "all sticky like a glazed doughnut." Mr Ball is tired of getting slimed.

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  17. Hilarious ball Elizabeth!!! And a super sweet puppy! I'm sure that's exactly what all the tennis balls in the whole world since time began have felt like...and I'm sure the are all saluting you this very moment!
    xo J~

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  18. Replies
    1. Oh...Gerard obviously forgot to tell you that he rolled on over to see the new puppy. He was tired of being bounced around on your blog. He soon realized, however, he had gone out of the frying pan and into the fire...

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  19. hihi, very funny! the puppy is so sweet but I can understand the ball....

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    1. Hi Celine! Yes, Mr Ball has reached his limit on bouncing. I don't think he's going to budge.

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  20. I don't know, Elizabeth..... the look on the puppy's face.... is it possible for a puppy to lose optimism? and, no wonder! who wants their face stuffed in a slobbery mouth?!!! and those sharp puppy teeth... Never saw it from the balls point of view, before, I'm afraid. Poor things!

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    1. I think, indeed, Mr Ball's outlook stems from knowing that puppy optimism (translation = slobbery mouth and sharp teeth) is perpetual and enduring. Mr Ball appreciates your empathy, Katy ;) :)

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  21. SO awesome, Elizabeth! Love this..it says so much!!

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  22. the ball poses as if demanding the puppy brush its teeth before commencing with any variety of fetch, and who can blame him?
    ~~puppy doesn't speak the language.
    nice.
    .

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    1. I think the only words Puppy understands are "play" and "treat." Since poor Mr Ball represents the former, I have no doubt your observation about his body language and puppy oral hygiene are right on target.

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  23. I called my daughter over to look at this and she smiled then shook her head saying, 'How is she SO good at drawing?'

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    1. Tell her, "practice, practice, practice" -- sprinkled liberally with determination and fear ;)

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    2. LoL! May I quote you on that?!!! =D

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  24. So many broken balls here in my neighbourhood... we need some of these.

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    1. Yes, I think we could all use some :)
      Thanks for stopping by, Pia!

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  25. Hahah! Super cute yet confused puppy. Humorless, obstinate ball. How will this standoff end? Actually, my question is: Does the puppy just *imagine* the ball as a little critter glaring at him, or is it ACTUALLY a little critter glaring at him? Once we know the answer to this question, we can make a much more educated guess about the outcome. :D

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    1. Very good question, Cindy! Of course, it is ACTUALLY a little glaring critter--I'm afraid he is a cute, but unimaginative, puppy ;)

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  26. Man!!! that ball has ATTITUDE!!! Does the pup know what he's getting into??? Love the sketch, Elizabeth.

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    1. Thank you so much! I doubt puppy knows what he's in for ;) ...and thanks for stopping by!

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    1. Cheeky! I like that! Thanks for stopping by, Claire :)

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  28. I can feel the puppy energy in this! Great illustration!

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  29. This is great! I wished I had a ball like that. That way my dog could learn that balls do not allways bounce. Great concept and beautiful simple sketch.

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    1. Yes...I wish I had a ball like this, too. Maybe he would walk the dog for me--he could hold the leash ;)

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  30. Such a fun little piece. The ball has so much attitude to him.

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    1. Thanks, Betsy! I think Mr Ball has had it with being pushed around ;)

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  31. It's fantastic,love the little dog and the ball is too funny!Great concept:)

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  32. It seems two worlds have collided here. The puppy pose is super cute and playful – Mr. Ball seems to have just bounced in from the Land of Henny and he's not about to be airborne again. No way, no how. I had a super fun time last weekend meeting Nancy at SCBWI, and learning more about life in Seattle and you!

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    1. Hi Mardi! Thanks so much. I saw Nancy yesterday and she told me how much fun it was to meet you :) Wish I could have been there, too.

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  33. That cute puppy doesn't seem to be going anywhere so I think the ball is out of luck. Great idea to make the ball a character. I love it!

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    1. Thanks, Laurie. Yes, Mr Ball is in for it...regardless of his stance ;)

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  34. That's an adorable puppy and I love the ornery ball. Wonderful drawing :)

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    1. Another great description of Mr Ball...ornery...I love it! Thanks, Karen!

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  35. The ball vaguely reminds me of the man in the moon! Love him!

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    1. Given the circumstances, I think he wishes he were the man in the moon ;)
      Thanks for stopping by.

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  36. BWAHAHA!! Love the attitudinal ball!!! Such great expression! Thanks for the smile!!

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    1. You are quite welcome, Mit! Thanks for stopping by and saying so :)

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  37. This is such a cute drawing! I just want to play with him/her :)

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    1. There's nothing like a puppy! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  38. haha, I love the look on the ball...so cute! And love last week's lonely. WOW. You are so talented!!

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    1. Rita! You are so kind to say so! Glad you like them :)

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  39. Ow, this is soooo cute! That puppy (and that 'angry' ball - hahaha)

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