Blue Moon Blog

Merry Christmas from the Blue Moon Crew (Emily, Laura, Mary & Paul) and the Bedbugs!

Our daughter, Laura made these figurines and ornaments using Sculpy, as gifts for friends and family. Look closely and you may recognize a familiar little character!

My daughters made this video after learning of it from friends. A free service called Elf Yourself to share and view brought to you by Office Max via JibJab. Tons of fun and easy to do, it’s good for a laugh and a way to customize something for Chrsitmas. There are many variations, so have at it! Only $5 to download a generated copy for posterity.

On this Thanksgiving weekend, I want to extend the thanks we gave as a family ’round the dinner table on the holiday itself. So, I want to give thanks:

• …for my life, especially after hitting that tree while snowmobiling in March.

• …that I’ve been healing since both body and mind, with the help and care of my family, the patient and kind attention of many doctors and nurses, and the thoughtful support of my many friends, extended family and relatives.

• …for my wife, Mary, my cornerstone, without whom I’m not sure what I would have done or how I’d make it through my most desperate and anxious moments. She’s been loving and super-patient during my sickness, in ways she couldn’t have anticipated even when saying her vows now over twenty years ago. It wasn’t the ideal 20th Anniversary, Sweetie, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.

• …to my daughters, Laura and Emily, whom I’ve no doubt given quite a scare. Thanks for all the hugs, kisses and other various subtle and overt expressions of love. You gals make me smile, keep me on my toes, and challenge me to strive to be a better Dad.

• …that Blue Moon Studios has had enough work to get through a difficult time personally, during rough economic times. What a blessing that Mary and I can work together at home, in studio, drawing away for most of the last twenty-five years. Seriously, we get to draw and color and paint and do what we love for a living! Through all the ups & downs, the roller coaster freelance lifestyle, we consider ourselves fortunate.

• …that the children’s book I’ve worked at on and off for years, Night of the Bedbugs found a publisher in Image/Silverline. Thanks to Jim Valentino and Kris Simon, and the advice of Alex Grecian, Larry Marder, and once again, my wife, Mary, (who I really should listen to more).

• …to my creative collaborators, past, present and future, as there is more work to be done, more comics to make.

• …to all of you readers, fellow artists, fans and friends. Thanks for being here, there and everywhere.

Paul

I know it’s about a week after Veteran’s Day, but given what happened at Fort Hood recently, and that our troops are engaged abroad, I was moved to draw up another vet sketch.

For all those brave souls who’ve sacrificed life and limb. Today, at least, let’s remember, thank and salute them.

A quick sketch of reggae/rapper Matisyahu, blowing the shofar, or ram’s horn at the wailing wall. Executed with the Copic Multiliner and a pretty dry Pentel Pocket Brush. I need some new ink cartridge refills.

If you haven’t heard it, check out his cover of John Lennon’s “Watching the Wheels.”

Best wishes to all of the Jewish faith during these High Holy Days!

The girls broke out the sculpy again this holiday, and made little decorative gifts for friends and family.

Emily made the detailed Eggs in a Basket, the magenta Easter Bunny and the Opposite Egg Basket on the far right. Laura fashioned the Three Little Chicks. Cute!

And here’s Laura’s little Curled Eared Bunny, which she presented to friends last night:

Li’l Mrs. Sweetheart got dolled up to pass out gifts on Easter morning. She loves to poof up the dress!

Happy Easter, every one!

From a few years ago, here’s a Christmas card I did for Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que restaurants.

I pulled this out of the archives since I’ve drawing more of Wilbur the Pig again lately, though he doesn’t usually have wings.