No Place To Hide / Terri Schindler Schiavo Memorial Illustration

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The Official Anne Frank Website

The Murder of the Handicapped - The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Obviously this isn't the Communion of Saints toon (or is it?) that I promised earlier yesterday. That toon is in progress and will follow immediately after Sunday's regular Stop The ACLU toon. No head fake intended, I just felt suddenly compelled (see comments) to complete this one first. Answering my strongest motivations usually results in better work.

Navigating on the Anne Frank link as follows; Museum/History of the House/The Hiding Place (page 6) will lead you to the interactive Quicktime movie which I used as reference for the above illustration.

Thanks to Thomas at American Papist for posting this toon, as well as Stacy Harp at Writing Right. Tim has posted the illustration at Pro-Life Blogs, which in turn has been linked to by faithmouse fan Timothy at TruthSeeker24's anti-N.W.O. corner . Very proud to have the cartoon displayed on Blogs For Terri. In unrelated linkage, Dave has given the faithmouse a link on his My Muse Is A Nerd.

Oklahoma Trooper Steven R. Smith Memorial Illustration, Revised

After being shot by a suspect, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Officer Steven R. Smith lived for the next seven years in a nursing home as a quadriplegic. He is survived by a son and a daughter.

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I posted the original memorial illustration of Trooper Steve Smith a month and a half ago, and was honored when his son Blake recently discovered the drawing and requested a copy to display next to his father's flag. I thought the drawing needed a little more work, which included better defining that the hands depicted belong to Trooper Smith's children, who in the drawing are packing up their father's belonging after his passing at the nursing home. I also suggested to Blake that I add a wheelchair to the drawing, to which he agreed, but the attempt failed.

I think this is a pretty good example of my almost destroying a good drawing after the fact by 'overthinking' it. Thanks to the Holy Spirit for stepping in and protecting the final version from myself.

Original version.

Krazy Konvert

Click cartoon for larger image. Largest.Group Says Rahman One of Thousands Awaiting Death Sentence for Accepting Christ - Agape Press

Had a lot of fun with this one. I saved the larger versions for the web with a purposefully lower resolution so they'd have a little of that older 'CMYK' newsprint look.

I've traded a few emails with Gail Nobles, who has a very creative and original collection of spiritual cartoons posted at her Little Benny site. Gail brings the world of Little Benny to life by way of illustration, animation and sound. Gail has created an engaging personal ministry, one which I think African American youth in particular may recognize themselves in and find inspirational.

This is one popular cartoon, judging from how regularly it shows up in adult oriented forums. The cartoon is a parody of the Hunter S. Thompson post suicide party, a highbrow private affair complete with champagne, fireworks and the graces of Johnny Depp, John Kerry and George McGovern. I've taken some time to revise the cartoon, which includes giving Faithmouse a new expression and making the McGovern/Eagleton button and John Paul II's The Place Within a little more readable. Well, perhaps not as readable here as it is in the forever hypothetical print version.

I've neglected my hat-tipping (trying to follow Salvage's advice and produce more toons and all that) but here are a few kudos-to SuaSponte for posting the recent Hillary cartoon in a forum at Debate Net as well as to Dog10025 for the post of same at our local Twin Cities forum. Thanks to Karen for her plug of faithmouse on Karen's Korner. New links include New Media Journal (under 'blogs and commentary sites,) Northland Catholic, Memphis, etc, Link Filter, The O! Antiphons, and The Earthen Vessel. Blogs for Terri has posted a Terri Schiavo toon from last year, which reminds me that the anniversary of Terri's murder is this Friday. A memorial illustration is in process.

Stop The ACLU / Reaping The Windfall

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For the Sunday Funnies at Stop The ACLU.

Tijuana Bible?

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Reversity

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'Diversity Day' canceled over 'gay' speakers: Homosexual couple didn't want Christian viewpoint represented - World Net Daily

Previous version of this cartoon. Click cartoon for larger image.

Pasadena, California Police Officer Kyle R. Ballard Memorial Illustration, In Progress

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Police Officer Kyle Ballard - Officer Down

Funeral Services Held For Pasadena Police Officer - CBS2

Decherd, Tennessee Police Officer Michael Keith Buckner Memorial Illustration

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Crash kills Decherd Officer - City of Decherd, Tennessee

Officer Michael Keith Buckner Memorial Page - Officer Down

Vatican Kitty, In Progress

A preview of the 'Vatican Kitty' cartoon promised a few months ago.

Stop The ACLU / ACLU Lawyer Comedy Night

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For the Sunday Funnies at Stop The ACLU.
Revised version of the cartoon posted Sunday morning.

Decherd, Tennessee Police Officer Michael Keith Buckner, In Progress

Crash kills Decherd Officer - City of Decherd, Tennessee

Except for Sunday's regular Stop The ACLU cartoon, I'm going to take a hiatus from the cartooning for a week or two and concentrate on producing a few more memorial illustrations like the one (in progress) above of Decherd, Tennessee Officer Michael Keith Buckner.

There isn't a culturally significant 'angle' to my choice of Officer Buckner for an illustration, other than the fact that he died last year on this date. Holidays are an especially difficult time for surviving family members, especially if the loss of the loved one becomes forever 'married' to a day when the rest of the world seems happy. Unlike many other alcohol related March 17 fatalities, Mike Buckner's accident was due only to poor visibility and a snow covered road just on the other side of a bridge. He wasn't wearing his seat belt, probably the result of having a lot on his mind at the end of a day as a narcotics investigator. I've seen a photograph of his department SUV following his single vehicle crash; in his defense, it may not have made a difference.

One of the reasons I enjoy these memorials illustrations is that they are routinely discovered by those closest to the subjects, who in turn contact me with messages of encouragement. For a person who hosts the 'dark night of the soul' this sort of positive feedback is deeply appreciated.

Jeanne Murphy, the sister of Buffalo firefighter Donny Herbert writes-

Donny was the third born in a family of seven children. He was the first boy. The order of the family is Sue, Terri, Donny, Mike, John, Marie and then me, Jeanne. He had wonderful, loving parents, Don and Gerry Herbert.
He was the greatest brother but more importantly an excellent husband and father. He lived for his wife and children. (wife Linda, boys Donald, Thomas, Patrick and Nick) Rarely seen without at least one of his kids. From early in childhood Don wanted to be a fireman. When he passed the test and was officially hired he was the happiest man alive. He always choose to be placed in the busiest section of town and therefore was put with Rescue 1. He did not want to sit around, he wanted to be involved and help anyone and everyone. Both at work and at home. He never said no to anyone. If you had something you needed help with, no matter who you were or what you needed, he was there. Never expected anything in return.
He loved to hunt and fish. He coached his kids teams. Always involved. I know that being his sister, I would be considered biased toward him, but I can honestly say whether I was related to him or not, he was one of the very rare truly good men in this world. He truly was a gift from God. He is terribly missed but his pain and fight is over. He loved the Lord and now he has eternity in happiness and peace as he waits for the rest of us to join in his celebration.
Thank you for your kindness.
In His love, Jeanne.

Firefighter Donald Herbert memorial illustration.

Wholey Family

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Sorry to keep everyone waiting so long. They are, clockwise from the door: Solomon, Talitha (a girl bear with Down Syndrome), Blackbear, Faithmouse, Samson, Mary and Martha(the twins), Deborah, Father Augustine and Timothy A. Bear.

From July 2005. Click cartoon for larger image.

New Cartoon, In Progress

Here's a preview of the last promised 'surprise' of the current series, which I should have completed and posted later this afternoon.

I believe fans of the cartoon will enjoy this new 'expansion.' Six new characters are being introduced.

Praying Woman With Deformed Hands

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Tu Aveo Domino Pizza?

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For the Sunday Funnies at Stop The ACLU.

Ave Maria's leaders separate town's fact, fiction - Avemaria.com

Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan - Wikipedia

Communion With Ted

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This is a revision of the sketch posted yesterday morning, which I rediscovered in an older graph paper pad while searching for a blank sheet to draw on. It was only a sketch, so I threw two hours of detail at it during the day using some of the newer nifty drawing implements I recently purchased at our wonderful Wet Paint.

Take it as a commentary on the recent Catholic House Democrat's 'Statement of Principles.'

Been awfully busy (which includes finally printing and mailing those Pro-Life Blogs and other cartoons I've promised to people over the course of the past, oh, twenty years) so I haven't taken the time to scour my list of referrers for new posts and links.

Here, though, are acknowlegement of some of the un-profane-

Bay Ridge.net forum
Under J.C.
Quality Fishing forum
MAC Bigot
Ladeeni.net forum (Islamic)
Stuff I've Heard
Weather Underground forum
Twin Cities.com forum
Politically Incorrect
Rambling GOP Soccer Mom
Walter Dimmock
Truthseeker 24/7 works 365

At The Door Of The Domestic Church

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At The Door Of The Domestic Church, In Progress

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House Call

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Father Augustine The Cat

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Father Augustine The Cat, In Progress

Cartoonist Matt Bors (an excellent illustrator from the other side of the political tracks) once commented on his blog regarding my habit of posting unfinished cartoons, or as I like to call them-cartoons in progress. Something I learned from my many years drawing and painting in the front lobby of the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas is that folks who can't draw a stick figure remain forever amazed by those who can. As an artist it's all too easy to discount this fact, as most artists are usually never happy with their own work as it is (and goood, I say). My regularly drawing and painting portraits from photographs upside down (helps to see the spatial relationships; and the canvas and photos were upside down, not me) usually flipped people out. The attention was embarrassing but it all helped to pay the bills. George Foreman was one of my most appreciative celebrity admirers, but he kept me and my faithmouse fiancee Chris waiting a few hours for a photograph which never arrived, so we gave up and went to the Maxim for a $3.95 chicken dinner instead. I still feel a little bad that Nancy Sinatra didn't have a better photograph of her with her father to work from, but it's hard to draw a portrait from a photo where you can't see the eyelashes. Probably the sweetest celebrity I ever met was Dana Plato; I've thought often of using her as a character in the cartoon, but I feel too sad about her life and death to do so.

Here's a cartoon in progress which is part of the Gaybear/Francis series, which following the news of the suppression by Archbishop Harry Flynn of the homilies of local priest and celebrant at my wedding Father Robert Altier I feel strongly inspired to get back in gear. For those who enjoy prattle, I've added some extensive comments to the 'Barebutt' blog post. Needless to say, there probably won't be an update to the current ACLU toon, which really deserves more life that the time I had available for it; my idea to reposition the bottom text as writing in the snow may have to remain in my (and your) imagination.

Stop The ACLU / I Can't Seeee You!

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For the Sunday Funnies at Stop The ACLU.

Rutherford Institute Attorneys Plan to Appeal District Court Dismissal of First Amendment Lawsuit Over Removal of Teacher's Christian-Themed Posters - The Rutherford Institute

Anti-US Taped Teacher Hires ACLU Attorney

Barebutt Mountain

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An act of social cruelty: South Dakota bars abortions for victims of rape and incest - World Socialist Web Site

A cartoon based upon the Brokeback Mountain movie, which stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as Gay cowboys.

Operation Iraqi Freedom / Mitchell, Chen, Arsiaga, Hiller, Cason, Garza, Jostes and Sheehan Memorial Illustration, Alternate Version

Here's an alternate version of the 'Sadr City' memorial illustration. I think I'm partial to finishing this version instead of the previous post, which has the finished cameo of Spc. Robert R. Arsiaga in the upper left hand corner. I think this demonstrates my methodology of creating choices and problems in order to resolve an image themeatically. Sometimes I'll have a very settled idea of how to approach a drawing or a cartoon, and the image will be exhausted of energy before I start. This is the challenge of creating a portrait from photographs; imbuing an image with life while still acknowledging that the client has the right to a likeness.

Like anyone else, I abhor a bad portrait. I've traveled this road before though; in my years working an open air studio at the Rio and creating role model portraits for Saludos Hispanos magazine, I've drawn or painted close to two thousand portraits. For the last seven years (the lifespan of my cartooning work), I've been repelled by the idea of creating portraits. Now I feel called back to doing portrait and figure work again.

Casey Sheehan and Ahmed "Mel" Cason detail.
Maintaining a spiritual sensibility towards drawing I think can bring this sort of work to a different place. Also, I rest all of this work on prayer. Chris and I visited the perpetual adoration chapel at St. John The Baptist in Jordan yesterday evening, and what I took away from there was a sense that I shouldn't be too sure of what I'm doing, and instead allow God to guide the finished product. I'm never too sure of what I'm doing anyway, so I thought that was pretty good advice.

Operation Iraqi Freedom / Mitchell, Chen, Arsiaga, Hiller, Cason, Garza, Jostes and Sheehan Memorial Illustration, In Progress #1

Firefighter Donald Herbert Memorial Illustration

Firefighter Donald Herbert memorial illustration.Click for larger image. Largest.

Farewell To A Hero - Buffalo News