An elephant this afternoon...

Drawing elephants and other things this afternoon. Including this one. More on the way...

Harts Pass No. 150

Dear Melanie,

Why do you insist on using such a small font when posting to your blog. Sincerely yours, Nearsighted Nellie. 

Dear Nellie,

These are always easier to read when you click on the image to make it bigger! Much love, Melanie

Harts Pass No. 149

A little late on posting last week's strip, but here it is... Kid logic. You gotta love it :)

Harts Pass No. 148: For the 2013 Boston Marathon

As a runner, coach, and human being, I grieve the losses of Monday afternoon. As an artist and cartoonist, this is my simple plea for healing, justice, and resolve.

Art on My Desk: A Silent Auction for Arts Education

I'm finally finished (or nearly enough for photos anyway) with my contribution to Sage Abate's ART ON MY DESK PROJECT:

Complete with a fully functional chalkboard top. Chalk & eraser included!

Underside features nearly twenty wallpapered comics strips including the very first issue!

GRRR!

Not suitable for outdoor use, but your kids would love it in their room!

Featuring Melanie, Thor, and Kit from my Harts Pass comic strip, this desk has a bargain-priced opening bid of $100. Or you can buy it out right for $800 :)

Help me help Sage support Arts Education in our local schools. See the desks in person at Saturday's Reveler's concert, or keep bidding online and drive up the price until as late as 8:00pm on Saturday night (April 20).

AND SEATTLE-AREA FOLKS: I'M IN THE CITY NEXT WEEK AND WOULD HAPPILY HAND-DELIVER TO ANY SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS!

Harts Pass No. 147

This loses a little context when posted so late in the week, but if you're a fan of March Madness you'll still understand. GO BLUE!

Sea Star Wishes: Reviews

A few nice reviews for the new book. I couldn't resist placing them with the decorator crab, one of my favorite pictures in the book. Click for a larger image and reading that' be easier on the eyes.

You're Invited!

Join author Eric Ode and I for a SEA STAR WISHES publication party on Thursday, April 11th. 7:00pm at Secret Garden Books in Ballard. I'm posting this official invite today but will send a reminder or two later in the week.

Cheers!

Harts Pass No. 146

Spring break in the North Cascades... and else where. Small wonders!

Harts Pass No. 145

One word... "Marmageddon!" 

Harts Pass No. 144

A win, is a win, is a win!

This Creative Life: A podcast with Sara Zarr

Sara gave a fantastic keynote speech at the Winter 2010 SCBWI Conference in NYC. I hadn't taken a look at her website since but something flashed on the twitter feed and here we are...

Six episodes in (whilst working on my taxes last weekend) and I'm hooked. Great interviews and a nice insight into so many ways that people, write, draw, dance etc.. These are some fine, accomplished folk who are also real people.

Don't stop what you're doing, but put this on for some company in the studio. And thanks again nudging the creative muse:  THIS CREATIVE LIFE

Many Hands...

I recently illustrated a story for my local paper's "building guide", the Methow Valley Home. It was kind of a tongue-in-cheek article about the do-it-yourselfers of the world and I got stuck on this image of the many-handed task master. I'm not sure why exactly, but they chose to run a draft image in a rather unfinished state. Editorial decisions can be like that, but I was a little more excited about the finished piece and its truer Bodhisattva references... Enjoy!

Harts Pass No. 143

Spring is in the air...

Harts Pass No. 142

They're always keeping things in perspective up at Harts Pass!

Harts Pass No. 141

Alas winter weather watchers, I fear an early spring. Can we do this?

Sketches galore!

Although I haven't posted any in a while, I'm still hanging in there with a daily (or almost) sketch routine that seems to be doing the trick. So many story ideas spring from these generally spontaneous drawings. And the surprise factor is always nice -- be it ninja raccoons or something more subtle like an arm curled around a favorite pal. Enjoy!

Harts Pass No. 140

As per usual, Melanie is diligent, steadfast, and clever. Thor let's his general enthusiasm get the best of him :) The wolverine/Endangered Species Act part is spot on, however. Check out the recent national attention in places like Salon.com and the NY Times.

Harts Pass No. 139

Not really on the mark for the lovey-dovey day at hand, but a Happy Valentine's to one and all nonetheless!

Harts Pass No. 138

OK. Since my wife and daughter couldn't decipher this: Thor (the wolverine) doesn't want winter to end -- so he eats the marmot (pseudo Cascadian groundhog) before he can properly prognosticate. Thusly, the happy ending with a grizzly middle. Six more weeks of winter!

Note to self: I probably should have drawn some flailing limbs, snarling wolverine teeth, or a flying marmot hat to make it more clear that the little guy was eaten alive. Learning something new with every edition...

Harts Pass 1.30.13

Introducing Logan! Who is a little chagrinned by the results of his first experience with record keeping...

Sleepdog Sightings!

I painted 15 Sleepdog commissions in the month of December. Now that I won't be spoiling anyone's holiday surprise, I'm finally getting around to posting a few of them here on the blog. In no particular order we have: Smokejumper Sleepdog, Soaring Sleepdog, Schoolhouse Brewery Sleepdog, Still Shreddin' Sleepdog, Science Teacher Sleepdog, Saddle Up Sleepdog, Skipper Sleepdog, Sun Salutation Sleepdog, and Social Studies Sleepdog. Match 'em up to the right title if you can!

The Slow Days, Fast Friends eBook!

SLOW DAYS, FAST FRIENDS went out of print in early 2012. However, through the wonders of modern technology (and the reversion of rights clause in these older boiler plate contracts of mine!) I can now self-publish for fans of the Barnes & Noble NOOK.

OCTAVIUS BLOOM & THE HOUSE OF DOOM met a simliar fate in 2010, and is currently selling more than every before. Three cheers (for this part at least) of the eBook revolution!

GRRR!

OK, so perhaps this is only really "excellent wolverine news" in a limited circle, but I had the good fortune to ride along on a wolverine capture in the North Cascades last week! It was truly a privilege to watch the biologists and "wolverine crew" staff in action, and it is very clear that all involved are caring, compassionate, and professional about what they do. If I ever needed that extra little push to write my wolverine story...

And here are just a couple of photos to document the day:

Here is the yet unnamed wolverine just before taking a few hours nap.

I was a little bit in awe and unsure about holding a sleeping wolverine...

...while the pros were a little more at ease!

    

And finally, every good wolverine scientist has the appropriate wardrobe of GRRR! Gear. Good for measuring height and weight, inspecting radio collar placement etc.

Plus a link to the King 5 News segment that appeared later that night!

Harts Pass No. 136

For days (weeks even!) its been warmer up high that it has been on the valley floor. These occasional mid-winter temperature inversions make life a little easier for the gritty wolverine. And thawing marmots -- of course -- make for excellent fun n' games!

Stay tuned for some truly excellent wolverine news in a post later today...

Harts Pass No. 135

Here is last week's comic -- to be followed later today by the most current strip!

Harts Pass No. 134

Everybody needs a "signature move". Thor might still be working on his, but I'm going with GRRR!!!

Fresh snow and a New Book!

A surprise FOOT of new snow yesterday afternoon and a semi-surprise package in the mail! SEA STAR WISHES (Sasquatch Books) doesn't come out until April 2, but my requisite illustrator copies arrived in a whirl of white. Written by celebrated singer, songwriter, and poet, Eric Ode, this book was incredibly great to illustrate. The designers at Sasquatch did a fantastic job with the scanning/layout, and I am seriously pleased to report that the colors haven't lost an ounce of punch. Hooray!

Not to mention the double whammy on the Eric & Erik thing... It's going to be fun to show this off in the spring -- whenever that eventually arrives :)

Harts Pass No. 133

This is what happens when you drive 60 minutes each way over a snowy mountain pass to see the late showing of The Hobbit on the day before your comic is due... Happy New Year!

Harts Pass No. 132

Happy Boxing Day!

Harts Pass No. 131

Happy holidays from Harts Pass Comics! The strip's a little different this week as it moved right on up to the newspaper masthead. With 12-16 inches of snow 'round the valley last week and the lights finally lit o're the Methow Valley News, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Harts Pass No. 130

If predicted weekend snows come true, then the sledding (or non-sledding, sliding) can begin in earnest!

Who Has These Feet? in today's Seattle Times

Librarian Stephanie Dunnewind has a nice things to say about Who Has This Tail? and 6 other locally connected books in today's Seattle Times:

7 books for kids with Northwest connections | Books | The Seattle Times

"A peacock is an easy one, but young readers might have a harder time answering “Who Has This Tail?” (Henry Holt, 40 pp., ages 2-4) as they look at the ends of other creatures in the newest picture book offering by author Laura Hulbert and illustrator Erik Brooks, who lives in Winthrop. Brooks shows a tail — some bushy, some scaly — against a white background, and then the whole animal in its habitat on the next page. A simple sentence explains how the tail is used, but the highlight is the detailed illustrations."

Ad 'em all to your Holiday shopping list and support your local bookstore!

Seasonal Sleepdog Calendars for Sale!

After a great weekend of GRRR! Gear, and Sleepdog Calendar Sales at Winthrop's "Reason for the Season" Christmas Bazaar, I wanted to set up and option for online sales.

Stay tuned for the GRRR! Gear option, but for $12 plus some minor tax and shipping charges you can get your limited edition "Seasonal Sleepdog Calendar" right here!

PS Orders placed by 12/18 will be guaranteed by Christmas or your money back :) I am happy to gift wrap, address with a "Seasonal Sleepdog" gift tag, and ship directly to a recipient with a proper address provided at the Paypal site.

To learn more about the Sleepdog Project and to see all 44 (and counting) of the Sleepdogs created to date, visit www.sleepdogstudios.com. Thanks so much and Happy Holidays!