Here is the result of my sketches.  The illustration was inspired by the questioned asked by the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.  It was said that Lewis Carroll, never intended for the question to have a solution.  However, according to Wikipedia he later offered this solution:

“In a new preface to the 1896 edition of Alice, he proposes several answers: “Because it can produce a few notes, though… they are very flat; and it is nevar put with the wrong end in front!” (Note the spelling of “never” as “nevar”—turning it into “raven” when inverted. This spelling, however, was “corrected” in later editions to “never” and Carroll’s pun was lost.)”

If you like this design, it is now in my Zazzle shop.  Thanks for looking and have a wonderful week.

Here is a look at my sketch book from the perspective of working through the concept drawing in my mind.  Often I go through several versions of a drawing, before I settle on one that I like.  I believe that there is a method to my madness, but to quote the Cheshire Cat, “We’re all mad here.”  I leave you with the sketches behind my concept of why is a raven like a writing desk.

New sketch.  Have you ever been so happy that you malfunctioned?  This little robot has.

Here is a new winged critter/monster sketch.

Today His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama joined Twitter( http://twitter.com/DalaiLama ).  I had the opportunity to see and listen to him speak on Sept. 24th 2009 in Memphis, TN.  It was a small auditorium that seated only around 3 or 4 thousand people, so the tickets were expensive.  I decided at the last minute to go, due to only finding out he was in town the night before because of a blunder by one of our local elected officials in greeting him.  I rarely watch the local news.  I have an unpredictable work schedule and very limited extra funds these days.  So many things worked out just right to enable me to get the opportunity to hear him speak in person.  I released all attachments to the outcome of being able to find a last minute ticket at the venue, especially the afternoon of the event(they had already quit selling tickets for the event on line).  I was able to get one of the final 20 remaining tickets, and had brought just enough money to pay for it, since it was one of the more expensive ones.  After heavy security checks, we all took our seats and waited.  I again decided to release any attachment to expectations of the speech.

He spoke in a very casual manner.  The Dalai Lama at once puts you both at ease and commands your utmost attention.  His laughter is infectious, and you can not help but smile with him.  He would make a point, and often it seemed like I had at once know it all along to be true.  He says that we all want to be happy and avoid pain, both physical and emotional.  He also adds that you should not read anything extra into his words, because he is just a simple Buddhist monk.

I drew the sketch above later that same afternoon.  On the drive home, after his speech, there was a rainbow.  I did not turn the radio on, but rather just enjoyed the sounds of the city, and was thankful.

I hope to be a simple artist one day.

]]> http://www.andymcnally.com/2010/02/22/dalai-lama-twitter/feed/ 0 http://www.andymcnally.com/2010/02/18/427/ http://www.andymcnally.com/2010/02/18/427/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:05:50 +0000 Andy http://www.andymcnally.com/?p=427

Here is my latest illustration.  It originally started out, when I saw a box with an “x” on it.  I’m not much of a video game player, but it did make me think of an Xbox and how disappointed a gamer would be if they received a box with an “x” on it rather than an Xbox.  The original drawing(below) was meant to be sad, but I ultimately choose to create a happy ending.  Instead of a case of mistaken boxes, the young man is making the free association of his beloved gaming console.

Here is another character sketch that I’m working on.  I’m working on several ideas right now, but some of my favorite characters are my bird drawings.  What could possibly make a bird better?  Make it a ninja bird.

I created this pencil drawing for the “Draw a Dinosaur Day” Group/Set on Flickr.  I will be developing the sketch into digital art over the next couple of days.  Check out my friend Sara’s drawings on Flickr or her blog.  She is the creative force that invited me to the group, a wonderful artist, and a friend.

“road trip” – a collision of animals, rubber bands, sharpies, and imagination.

Here is the short bird animation that I created on Career Day, after I ran out of the drawing paper I was using with my handy Sharpie marker. I was already using my laptop to display a slide show of drawings, paintings, and illustrations, so I got out my Wacom tablet, opened Adobe Flash, and created this rather rough looking animation. Thanks again to everyone who stopped by my table at Career Day.