The Sleepdog Show's Virtual Gallery!

I'll add to this throughout the fall, but everything is live and ready to go. Enjoy!

www.sleepdogstudios.com

Harts Pass No. 116: Back to School!

The Sleepdog Show!

Sunday, September 2nd. Today. In just three hours even!

Visit www.sleepdogstudios.com for the virtual version later next week.

Harts Pass No. 115

Summer road trip explorations into Idaho... Check out the signage on your next visit the Gem State and see for yourself! The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness area IS excellent wolverine habitat however.

Harts Pass No. 114

Melanie is relaxed and I was on vacation. A great trip to another mountainous and wild place, but its always great to get home!

Harts Pass No. 113

Running in the woods last week -- in the heat of the day no less -- I was frankly shocked to cross paths with so many rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks (even a black bear) etc. at various trail junctures. Apparently, the summer "crush" of traffic extends beyond downtown Winthrop!

Harts Pass No. 112

Mega-commercialism and the Olympics. Hand-in-hand since 1984 -- or at least that's when I'm led to believe that somebody REALLY started cashing in :) When you might be crossing a line by displaying the Olympic rings (freshly made no less) in your bakery window or other such grass roots celebratory efforts, then things have probably gone too far.

And please stop showing the professional athlete "Olympic Dream" commercials. THAT is never the story here people!

Harts Pass No. 111 - The Olympiad Edition!

With no television reception, and limited online viewing access, the critters at Harts Pass are a bit disgruntled over their capacity to follow The Games of the 30th Olympiad. Thor considered a border hop north to Canada, but Kit and other young animal friends have taken the Olympic Spirit and run with it... Bring 'em on!

Harts Pass No. 110

Last week's Harts Pass, plus a couple of the final images from Arts Fest! Just a little touch-up work on these to bring the back the black line after MANY hands, brushes, and puddles of house paint!

Harts Pass No. 108 & 109

 

HOT days in the North Cascades last week, and that (plus a 4 day backpacking venture) be my excuse for posting No. 108 a little late. Methow Valley News subscribers had their weekly dose of HP right on time -- with plenty of newsprint to spare for fans and paper sun hats!

Mazama Festival of Books Update!

Mazama's first annual Mazama Book Festival continues to make news with recent mentions in The Seattle Times, Publisher's Weekly, and the LA Times.

On Sunday, August 19th I'll be sitting down with veteran public radio host Katherine Lanpher to talk children's books and book illustration in this fabulous mountain setting that I call home.

Methow Arts has the most current schedule and I will post additional news as I have it as well. Until then, happy summer!

Heroes of the Methow!

If you missed the fun at Arts Fest...

 ...here are some pint-sized coloring book pages for your downloading pleasure:

Harts Pass No. 107: Independence Day!

With the July 4th holiday, Harts Pass gets an early release. Fireworks baby! (But not in the Methow, please!!!)

Harts Pass No. 106: Hog Heaven

Tough looking guys on tricked out bikes are a lot less intimidating once you get to know 'em. Tough looking pigs on tricked out bikes are fun to draw.

Harts Pass: The Summer Solstice Edition

It's the first day of summer... and fall will be here any day! I've always been partial to winter anyway, but summer seemed a little more luxurious when I was a kid.

Back in Action!

After numerous production delays involving material and labor,

the Sleepdog Studio is back in action!

Harts Pass No. 104

A busy week again with the school end - summer begins transitions underway. For some reason I settled on this Don Draper (Mad Men)/Beaver Relocation Project mash-up as the theme for this week's strip. I'm pretty sure the concept flopped, but I DO really like the suave beaver and his stylin' suit!

May Sketches

I'm a little late to posting these, but after an urgent April deadline I returned to consistent daily sketching in the month of May. Many small projects heading into summer, but the sketching will continue. Enjoy! 

Harts Pass No. 103

It's graduation week here in Harts Pass country. Congratulations class of twenty-twelve!

Harts Pass No. 102

Spring Cleaning: Long-delayed and never ending!

Harts Pass No. 101

Bigfoot again: This is the Squatchie's second appearance, thusly qualifying him as a regular guest!

Pipestone School of Music T-Shirts

 

I'm pleased as punch with these new shirt designs for the Pipestone School of Music. They sold like hotcakes at "Music Days" last weekend, so get one while you can! The screen printed colors are a little different -- including the blue of the tees -- so I'll try to get a "live" shot posted soon.

Harts Pass No. 100!

"Sweet Wolverines!" Amazingly, I have been drawing Harts Pass for 100 weeks - almost TWO years!

Last weekend, the ever-fantastic Methow Arts hosted Ten Tiny Dances at the Twisp Community Center. In today's strip, the "tiny" among us give their own rendition. Take a closer look if you can, because the devil is in the details...

Harts Pass No. 99

Today's strip is no where near worthy of it's penultimate (almost 100 weeks!) status... but the locals will probably get it. Giddy up!

Harts Pass No. 98: "Bearnica"

On the heels of recent bear baiting charges and the ongoing drama of wolf recovery (both at home and beyond), Melanie's inner Picasso takes a stand. Click to enlarge as usual!

Portfolio Twenty-Twelve

As usual, the final sleep-deprived push towards an impending deadline has my mind pinwheeling in about a million other creative directions... siren songs that can seem even more enticing or justifiably important than the actual really important deadline. Fear of failure induced procrastination -- or something like that.

Anyway, this plaintive lab is begging me to stay the course and finish up in style. He's also a good reminder that one of my twenty-twelve creative desires -- pressing needs even -- is to update my portfolio pages. I've done some of my best work in the last 2-3 years and I have some brand new images and stories that are ready to share. I need to get them out there!

Harts Pass No. 97: Fast Marmots?

Watching marmots run. It got me thinking...

On the Drawing Table: Late April 2012

I'm putting the final watercolor and colored pencil touches on my first illustrated poetry collection, Sea Star Wishes by Eric Ode (Sasquatch Books, 2013). Eric is a poet and songwriter/musician from Bellevue, WA and I'm already looking forward to joining him for a few joint book events in 2013. Back to work!

Harts Pass No. 96

The "science fair" of Life.

More Awards News for Polar Opposites!

Polar Opposites is a 2012-2013 nominee for the South Carolina Picture Book Award. Again, in lots of great company with the likes of Art & Max (David Wiesner), City Dog Country Frog (Willems/Muth), How Rocket Learned to Read (Tad Hills), and Fair Cow (Leslie Helakoski) among others.

I'm thrilled to know that the book will be getting read and shared no matter what!

Harts Pass No. 95

 Elementary school visits in Puyallup and a levy vote at home. "Yes" for Schools!

A Bank Street Best Book 2012!

Awesome schools visits in Graham, Washington this week were made even better by the news that WHO HAS THESE FEET? was just named a Bank Street Best Book for 2012. You have to dig a little deep -- into the 5-9 year old science selections -- but its nice to have such excellent company.

It also appears that FEET? will be a part of the Scholastic Book Fair in fall 2012. Crossing my fingers for participation of the hardcover variety, but no matter what LOTS of kids will get to see the book!

Harts Pass No. 94

A pile of final book art has been looming large of late. Spring "break" is thusly oxymoronic over at Erik Brooks Illustration for the entire month of April. A fitting launch for my 5th decade? Lordy Pete... Enjoy your Sudoku!

Slam Dunk Sleepdog!

Long live the underdog. Go Kansas!