Dynamic Duo

I'm sure this is not the last twin set, because: 

A) Anyone with two children of approximately the same age knows what happens when they are given two choices, and they both demand the same choice, and 

B) Lack of creativity is often the first weapon deployed in the war of phoning it in.

Robinx2

The Tinkerhunch of Notre Bell

Also known as "The most recent Disney properties that have been discovered on Netflix".

Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame and Tinkerbell

Monstery

These went out on different days, with different kids, as they've decided to complicate my lunch bag duties by not always having hot lunch on the same days. Greenie came about from a work project to create a mascot for an app. Orangie came about when I wanted to have some symmetry with the kids bags. Orangie was significantly less inspired.

Mahna Mahna

The first diptych. Probably not the last. Although. the kids don't do lunch together, so these do involve some thought to make sure they stand alone well.

Mater and Ballerina

2nd day of school, and already I'm taking requests, phoning it in, and falling behind in the posting.

Just as G tested my artistic comfort zone with automobiles, T is pushing me outside my realm of familiarity with her own brand of gender-based preference.

Mater and Ballerina

New school year. New rules.

Last year was a fun experiment. This year, the ante gets raised.

With my daughter starting kindergarten, I've got two times the bags to illustrate. Also, I'm taking the time to post them online now. And I know that I'm able to accomplish a little more in my half hour time restriction than I would have thought (sometimes). So my expectations are a little higher.

For the next year, I'm pushing for some more stringent goals:

1- 25 minutes per bag. With the blog thrown in, that gives me an hour for each set of bags. (Conveniently, an episodes of The Daily Show and Colbert Report with minimal commercials on Hulu last about 25 minutes each. A single episode became my rough measuring stick last year, so I'm just holding myself tighter to that).

2- More original work. Less simply copying someone else's drawings.

3- More surprises and experiments TBD. I think in October may see the development of a serialized comic story.

As for the kids first day - it seems like it went great. T was a little apprehensive entering school, but ended the day happy. G had to shoo us away; he's an old pro, now. Nobody cried. Not even the parents.

2 more days

G decided on hot lunch for his last day of kindergarten, so this was the last bag of his first year. It was a fun year. And many more to come.

Second to last day of school

Kindergarten graduation

I think I've mentioned how portraits of my son tend to go askew. Well... exhibit A.

Kindergarten graduate

Epic

One of my kids favorite (not seen) scenes from Epic.

Epic

Grandma Spoor

In my defense, this was rushed, and my photo reference was the size of a postage stamp. It was, at least, recognizable. So it served its purpose as far as G was concerned.

Grandma Spoor

Banana who?

Orange you glad I didn't do the banana knock knock joke?

Knock knock joke

King of the lunch bag

G was going on a field trip to the zoo, so I thought I'd give him a corresponding bag. It turns out, he did not see any lions except this one on that trip.

Lion

Cash who?

I discovered that knock knock jokes are great bags when I'm short on time.

Knock knock joke

Yoda

Since the kids had been introduced to Star Wars, I'm surprised I wasn't take greater advantage of it.

Yoda

Superman

Adele

Rumor Has It is my son's jam. As is Turing Tables. And Set Fire to the Rain. OK, the whole album. He will belt those lyrics out like a drunk frat boy singing AC/DC on Karaoke Night. Except he'll get all the words right.

I was told that his teacher took a picture of this one. It was nice to know the bags where getting milage beyond my boy.

Adele

Scooby Doo

Scooby Doo

What may or may not be a Toyota Camry

Again, car of now-unknown classification. I'm going to guess Toyota Camry.

Toyota

Half a yellow sports car

I now have no idea what make and model this car is. I should have consulted my son before posting it. At the time, his response was "why is there only half?" He may have the heart of a poet, but he has the mind of an engineer.

Car

Bubbles

Bubbles

Pitch

Throwback to Rise of the Guardians. In honor of the DVD purchase, I think.

Pitch

Spring Break at Camp Grandma, vol. 3

Nothing says spring break like snowballs and being pulled through the snow in a sled.

Spring Break at Camp Grandma

Spring Break at Camp Grandma, vol. 2

This was the kids looking out at LakeHuron. This is spring beach weather in Michigan.

Spring Break at Camp Grandma

Spring Break at Camp Grandma, vol. 1

This bag (and the two that follow) came after the kids Spring Break trip to "Camp Grandma". They came home with a cute little 3-picture frame they had painted, filled with photos from their week. I went with a different look for these. Kind of a loose, sketchy style that reminds me of a lot of illustration from the 70's.

Spring Break at Camp Grandma

The Mummy Wipes

I think about that much paper ends up *in* the toilet after each use by either of my children.

SuperToddlers: Odd Men Out

Being the 7th Justice Leaguer is like being the 5th Beatle. Outside of fandom, most don't even know you exist.

J'onn J'onzz and Cyborg

SuperToddlers: World's Finest

After the last two, it was sort of mandatory.

Batman and Superman

SuperToddlers: King and Queen

I really enjoy the way Aquaman turned out. My favorite of the bunch.

Wonder Woman and Aquaman

SuperToddlers: The Brave and the Bold

The explanation as to what inspired this weeks worth of bags is long and probably not worth the effort to any but comic geeks. So here goes.

The comic Invincible by Robert Kirkman is a fun read. If you are unfamiliar, you should go change that. I changed it via a large, impressive hardcover collection from my local library (The Omnibus Edition, or Absolute, or Ultimate Collection or some such superlative description). In the back where a number of extras, trying to justify the oversized uber-format. One of said extras was two(?) pages of the entire cast of the series drawn in this kind of hip "Peanuts" style. Short story long, the prompted the next few days worth of bags.

Green Lantern and Flash

Mystery Machine

I rounded out car week with something more in my comfort zone.

Mystery Machine

Mustang Sally

Day two of car week. I think G identified this as a Mustang after some lengthy consideration. And possibly a hint. I think it looks like a Mustang mated with a Volvo.

Mustang

Drive my car.

Having tested myself with how much photo real type work I could do in my half hour, I upped the ante considerably. Cars, architecture... really anything that was industrial designed, I find difficult. I just don't see the world in straight lines and geometric precision.

But my son loves cars. And I could really stand to exercise my weaknesses.

My real test of accuracy would be wether G recognized the make and model of the car. This would have been a slight challenge - he has no "connection" to Fiestas (I referenced a nearby magazine). He did call it, but I think he read my note in the bottom right.

Ford Fiesta

Fox in Sox

Let's play tricks with sacks and bags, now.

This slick sack has fox in sox, now.

Fox in Sox

A very manly muppet.

Very manly muppet

That'll do, Donkey.

One of my personal favorites from the year.

Donkey

Shrek

Fun with layering marker strokes to create depth and shadow, texture, and wavy bag feature-distortion.

Shrek

Hulk smash puny paper bag!

I think this interpretation came from the cartoon "Super Hero Squad". It was a lot of fun to draw, what with the molded shadows and forshortening.

Hulk

Does whatever a spider can.

Anytime I draw Spiderman, I am reminded that the artist who designed the all black Spidey costume (Mike Zeck?) was a genius. Must have cut his work time down considerably.

Spiderman

Spiderman and his Amazing Token Character

Marvel is severely lacking in iconic female superheroes that my son might recognize. As a geek parent, I suppose I should accept at least part of the blame. Thank you Netflix for having 80's Spiderman and his Amazing Friends available.

Firestar

The other head of the household

In fairness to her this sketch and her hair, she was laying down when the photo-ref was taken. So gravity is having a little fun at her hairs expense.

My wife

Ms. T

This portrait of my daughter turned out very nice. I'm disappointed that I forgot to shoot it before school. And that I didn't think/try to iron it out. I'll not make the same mistake this year. As much.

My daughter

World's Finest

As sketches go, this feels like World's Meh-est.Although a big part of that is probably that it is sandwiched in the middle of some much better work.

Superman and Batman

Mr. G

For some reason, every time I sketch G, the results are always just slightly... off. Unless I am doing a throw-away doodle on a scrap paper in front of me at work. those end up being little masterpieces every time. I should take lunch bags to work and sit them at my work station.

My son, Mr. G

Un Chihuahua Chido

I think I shall name him Carlos Danger. A name which I will not explain to my son when he is old enough, because I will no longer recall the reference.

Chihuahua aviatrix

Tamaranean pet's pet

Tiny Titans Starfire with her pet silky, and what is either Silky's pet or lunch. I'm not sure which.

Starfire and Silky

Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

The only thing that likes the kittens more than the internet is my son.

Cute Kitten

President Obama

I'm not sure what prompted this. The election should have been a memory by this point. Maybe the inauguration?

I was reminded about how proud I was that the first (non-animated) TV personage that Grayson recognized/ identified my name was Barrack Obama. 

This was not even necessarily political pride. I recall being in first grade when the Carter vs Reagan election was forthcoming, and I didn't know who either of those guys were. Meanwhile my son, at age three, recognized the president. Knew his name. And at least by age four, had a decent sense of who the man was (and what that meant).

President Barrack Obama

Puppy

 I thought I'd try my hand at something a little more real again. I was (am still) pretty pleased. I had definitely found my groove by this point. And I didn't go over my half hour by too much.

As a bonus, this pup's coloration is exactly like G's favorite (only) bedtime stuffed animal. The moment Gayson saw it, he got a big grin on his face and said "Sparky!" This was completely unintentional on my part.

Cute puppy

Bonus feature: fun with alternate lighting styles.

Cute puppy (flash off)