Anatomy of a Dad.

Happy Birthday Jett!

It's Jett's second birthday today. My how time flies!

Last night, we shot this video of Jett reading some flash cards. I know I brag about my kids a lot, but this is flat-out remarkable.

My trip to New York: A review.

And now, at long last, is my report from my first trip ever to New York. Sorry for the delay!

Last week, I attended the International Toy Fair in New York. I was the guest of Angela Larson, the founder of Fierce Fun Toys.

 

 I was working in the Fierce Fun Toys booth, promoting their Zoo Tales line of story books and plushes. I was sketching live and drawing caricatures of the attendees. 

That's my easel on the right side of the booth. It was such a blast to see my creations in so many different forms. I designed the plushes for Harry Hiccers the koala and Ben Kachoo the hippo. I also designed the plush and provided artwork for the packaging for Oops the mouse. You can even see a few of the Norman Phartephant books I illustrated. I worked the first two days of the four-day convention.

The convention was a bit different than what I had anticipated. The attendees were mostly buyers, manufacturers and press. The public was not allowed to attend. I, as an exhibitor, was also not the target audience, so the entire top floor of the convention (that housed the big companies like Hasbro, Mattel, Lego, Melissa and Doug etc), was unable to be viewed by the likes of me.

 

But I wasn't there to look at toys. I was there to draw; and draw I did. I had the subject choose their favorite Zoo Tales character and included it in their caricature.

A valentine's day gift for Sarah..

 Easy one, and fun too!

Propeller hat! Propeller hat!

Santa showed up doing some toy shopping, and posed with Angela and Oops.

The first night of the convention, I attended the Women in Toys awards ceremony with Angela, who also happens to be the organization's New York chapter head.

I got to feel like a big shot for a change. I was able to attend a lovely dinner party and actually PARTICIPATE, (and not just draw caricatures off in some corner). The hors d'oeuvers were amazing, the open bar flowed freely and I met folks from Mattel, Hasbro, Disney and even Dreamworks.

 I drew Sunday and Monday at ToyFair. Tuesday was my big day to see the city. I started in the morning, walking across Central Park.  The first thing I wanted to do was visit a tribute to my number one influence.

Next, the Guggenheim.

I got a pretty early start, and it wasn't open yet, so I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As luck would have it, there was an exhibit called, "Infinite Jest: Caricature and Satire from Leonardo to Levine". I got some "breakfast" and waited for the museum to open. No photography was allowed at the exhibit, however I was so impressed with it, I purchased the accompanying book in the gift shop on the way out. I was thrilled to see work from Da Vinci and Hirschfeld up close, and I learned a lot about caricature that I didn't even know.
I was able to take a few pics of some of the permanent exhibits, just some pieces I find personally inspiring but one description of a certain exhibit really caught my eye.

"the artist who invented the most outrageous and fanciful creatures was often deemed the most capable".
I like that.
Next I walked south down 5th Avenue.

 Gorgeous even in the winter.

My next stop was FAO Schwarz, where I did something I've been wanting to do my whole life..

Build my own Muppet!

The Muppet Whatnot Workshop is a recent addition to the toy giant.

 At the workshop, you pick the body type of Muppet among the three they provide. Next you choose eyes, noses, hair and clothing to customize your Muppet.

 I agonized over my decision, first trying to make one that looked like me, and then I completely changed my mind and made a monster instead.

Meet Vito. He talks in a loud New York accent. But deep down he's a nice guy.

 FAO is a toy lover's dream. Among the sights was the piano from the movie "Big", but...

... I couldn't keep my eyes off of the life-size Indiana Jones in Lego. I reckon Alex has enough Legos on the floor of his room to build this for me.

Next stop, food! So I stopped off at the famous Carnegie Deli.

I ate a corned beef sandwich the size of a Buick. I went back later for the cheesecake.

So many sights to see in NYC.

 Here's Trump Tower.

NBC Studios.

The ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center.

The view of New York from the "Top of the Rock"

Central Park.

The Statue of Liberty.

Next, I walked over to the New York Public Library and then...

Times Square!

Visiting Times Square is the equivalent of sticking your head in a pinball machine. There are so many sights sounds and PEOPLE, trying to grab your attention. I ducked out into a few stores and then went to a place I couldn't resist.

It was there that I met Harrison Ford,

Matthew Broderick,

Samuel L. Jackson

Susan Sarandon,

  Robin Williams

 Denzel Washington

 Jack Sparrow

 even Oprah.

Yeah, it was Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. I remember seeing a feature on Madame Tussaud on 60 Minutes when I was a teenager. I thought the process of replicating someone as a wax figure was fascinating, and I always wanted to visit a location if I ever had the chance. My favorite part was seeing WHY certain figures succeeded and why others fell short of a likeness. For example, Jimi Hendrix looked great, Elvis, not so much. It was an interesting study for sure.

After Times Square, I walked back over to the Carnegie Deli for some cheesecake and then walked back to where I started. The next day I hit the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Folk art. Then it was on the plane and back to Florida.

While taking photographs, I also took some video. The following is about 10 minutes of footage that I shot of New York. A few notes: I narrated in the beginning, but after a while I stopped because I was getting weird stares from people watching me talk to myself. There is a crack in the lens, try to ignore it. Try to ignore the huge bags under my eyes as well. The first few shots are from the first day in NY, when I walked Central Park, then it transfers to a few days later while starting my day in Central Park again.

Something unexpected happened on that trip, I completely fell in love with New York. There's so much history, culture, community and character there. You can sense an unmistakable vibe. It was quieter and cleaner than I expected. The places were more inviting, the people less abrasive. And although I saw a lot, I merely scratched the surface of what that great city had to offer. I can't wait to return!

Thanks to the amazing Angela Larson for being such a generous hostess. You've given me an experience I'll never forget.

I'm going to be at Toy Fair 2012!!

I will be attending the International Toy Fair in New York February 12-15. I am going to be drawing at the Fierce Fun Toys booth Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th. I'll be promoting their Zoo Tales line which includes books illustrated by me and toys designed by me. I'll be doing caricatures so be sure to drop by!

I'll be in smack-dab in the middle of the convention hall, booth #5547 in the Infant and Preschool section (appropriately).

The Pee-Wee Herman Art Show.

This is my piece for the upcoming Pee-Wee Herman Art Show in Orlando.

 

  The piece is approximately 16X20 and is acrylic, canvas, wood and found objects. VERY fun piece to do!

The Year of the (Durkin's) Dragon

I have several books planned for 2012. This is is the first:

As the cover states, I'm taking every single Durkin's Dragon I've ever published, including the calendar in the book. I'm also putting in additional dragons I've done like gifts and commissions. Finally I'm showing a peek into my process with a step-by-step of how I made the cover. I'll have notes, anecdotes and even the cover art from the previous Durkin's Dragons publications. Stay tuned, it's coming soon!

"I think I'll be an artist for a living..."

Sponser Durkin's Dragons in the Valentine's Bowl-a-Thon.

Our local Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida is having their 2nd Annual Tour of Champions Valentine's Bowl-a-thon event this February 12th. The Foundation is all about "striking" Down barriers to inclusion and I'd LOVE for you to sponsor our bowling team, Durkin's Dragons!

 

Simply click this link to sponsor us:

http://bowlathon.net/event/DSF_Florida_2012/donate. 

All donations are tax-deductible.

Last year Durkin's Dragons raised over $1,000, and we'd love to do it again this year! Especially since each team that raises over $1000 is eligible to participate in the grand prize drawing for an iPad!

 

 Jett would greatly benefit from having an iPad (and maybe have some fun with it too!).

The Foundation is run 100% by volunteers so all proceeds go directly to families for scholarships and programs!  Last year they raised $50,000 -- $34,000 went towards scholarships and $13,000 went towards programs.  It is their goal to raise more money this year so they can support the growing number of scholarship requests and implement some additional programs such as Lose The Training Wheels and iCan Work program.
  

Jett has gotten many scholarships from DSFF for his speech therapy evaluations, swimming classes and therapeutic Gymboree classes. 

We're currently at $325, about a third of a way to our goal of $1000. If you can, please sponsor us. We'd appreciate it!

Bra boy.

MLK

A few items about Martin Luther King, the first by the greatness that is Readeez:

The second, via Amy Julia Becker:

"I share Dr. King’s dream. It’s a dream about what Jesus called the kingdom of God, the place where heaven comes to earth, where what is good and right and true overcomes jealousy and corruption and selfishness and greed. I share this dream as men and women continue to work for reconciliation among the races. I share this dream as women and men address the concerns of inequity among the social classes in America. I share this dream as women and men fight for the rights of fellow human beings trapped in slavery and oppression around the globe. Finally, I share this dream for my daughter with Down syndrome, and for all the other sons and daughters in this nation and around the world who live with a disability.

I have a dream for them.

I have a dream that individuals with disabilities, be they cognitive or physical, will be seen as a normal part of the human community, with needs and with gifts to offer.

I have a dream that one day, little girls will not be denied a kidney transplant from the best children’s hospital in our country as a result of being labeled “mentally retarded.”

I have a dream that the systematic abuse and degradation of people with disabilities in state institutions will cease.

I have a dream that the word “retarded” will fall out of use by comedians and that major news outlets will begin to use people-first language. I have a dream that the way we talk will reflect the reality that individuals with disabilities are citizens with equal rights and equal value to every other member of our society.

I have a dream that our government will provide the 25 million dollars promised in funding

to support the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Awareness Act (also known as the Kennedy-Brownback bill) to provide women with up-to-date and accurate information about prenatal tests. For four years, that Act has remained unfunded while at the same time the government has provided millions of dollars to research and develop prenatal tests which often lead to the abortion of fetuses with disabilities.

I have a dream that parents of typical children will desire the inclusion of children with disabilities in classrooms across the nation because of the mutual benefit to all children involved.

I have a dream that abortions based upon a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome will cease not because they have become illegal but because mothers and fathers feel empowered and encouraged to choose life, because doctors and genetic counselors see the great potential of individuals with Down syndrome and communicate those possibilities to frightened family members.

I have a dream that the children with the most severe disabilities will be received as gifts by our entire community, that we will learn to care for, and receive from, everyone in our midst, regardless of cognition, strength, or skill.

I have a dream that we will stop asking, “What can s/he do?” and instead ask, “What does s/he love?” I have a dream that we will learn to love one another regardless of ability.

I too have a dream."

Boys and their toys...

Just kidding (sort of)...

Throwback Video Game Art Show

I am one of the artists contributing to the Throwback Video Game Art Show at the Belle Isle Yacht Pub in Orlando FL. 

The show opens this weekend. My submission is based off of a piece I did for a collaborative pinup book I published with Mike "Locoduck" Duron.

For the art show, I wanted to revisit this theme, but instead of traditional line and digital color, I wanted to make the artwork larger and more dimensional. I used foamcore and acrylic paint and cut the shapes to create layers. The final piece is roughly 24" X 36".

I liked working with the foamcore and cut paper. I learned a lot with this piece and I think you'll see more stuff like this from me in the future.

To learn more about the show, and to see the piece in person, go to:

http://bssart.com/post/13549660239/throwback-video-game-art-show-belle-isle-yacht-pub