Evolution as an artist

If you only read the Blue Skunk blog in your RSS feed aggregator (GoogleReader, Bloglines, etc.), you are missing out on a treat.

My son Brady has been creating cartoon "blue skunks" for me since the inception of the Blue Skunk in 2005. His creations appear in the blog heading. I have enough now on file to change them twice a month - or as I remember. And yes, I stole the changing logo idea from Google.

I've found it interesting to see how he has grown as an artist. This cartoon was one he created 4 years ago for our book Machines Are the Easy Part: People Are the Hard Part:

 

Not bad.

 

But check the latest that will be appearing in a blog header soon:

 

His experiments with watercolors seem to be working.

 

Anyway, if you don't look at the Blue Skunk site itself now and then, you are missing out on one of its best features.

Comments

[Cathy Nelson]

Hope you are compensating him monetarily--he is afterall a budding artist.Perhaps I'll as my son to create me an animated header for my blog since that is his major in school.

[Jerrie]

Hey Doug,

I have been enjoying Brady's creations since you gave me a copy of your book, Machines Are the Easy Part: People Are the Hard Part. They just keep getting better and better! Loved the "Tomato" one in this post, as I am a tomato addict. Am having withdrawal symptoms at the present time! :)

Best, Jerrie

[Doug Johnson]

@ Cathy,

Brady's old man helps him out a little every month. Not enough so he can not work, but enough to buy video games and live in his own apartment. He's a pretty good kid!

@ Jerrie. I am a fresh tomato fan as well. (With a little sugar on them.) And cherry tomatoes just aren't the same. Salmonella or not, I'm eating the tomatoes from my own garden this summer!

Thanks for the comment and all the very best,

Doug

[Jane]

Oh, I almost always click from the Google Reader window to the real thing, because it's so much better! Thanks, abd very best wishes to Brady! I love the colored versions, and don't you love the recent Google contest for kids? I wish they'd use the images more than once each! (And I haven't forgotten your meme -- my first tagging! -- and will get to it. I'm slow, and have been travelling here and there a lot this month. Don't give up hope -- seeds take a while to sprout!)

[Keith Johnson]

Sorry to say Doug, but I never read your writing . . . I just look at Brady's pictures. Whether it's a book or a blog, it's just plain easier too look at the pictures. Your writing is too deep and complex for my busy life. It causes me to cogitate too much, which, if I'm not careful, leads to regurgitation. Actually, Brady's illustrations are a perfect, tasteful complement to your writing. This, of course, shows that the blue skunk-striped apple never falls too far from the skunk-striped banana tree. Pay Brady more, and deduct it from the blogger/writer's too-bloated salary. Sorry, but that's just my humble opinion.

[Doug Johnson]

@ Jane,

Looking forward to reading your meme! Thanks for the kind words about Brady's artwork.

Doug

@ Keith,

I am beginning to think I am a magnet for smart-asses!

I'm guessing that my blog writing and your music videos pay about the same!

Have a great summer!

Doug