Illustration Friday: Soar

Illustration Friday: Soar

Acrylic Paint

In August 2004, my 3 1/2 year old niece Hanna died of cancer (http://www.caringbridge.org/ms/hanna/). In November of that year on what would have been her fourth birthday, her friend Eli was with his family at DisneyWorld. He had the Disney Princesses sign a balloon with messages for Hanna and they released it in front of Cinderella's Castle. Eli's little brother was a patient with Hanna at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. You can see the photos from his balloon release at http://www.bens-story.com/disney.html.

Illustration Friday: Excess

Illustration Friday: Excess (The Allens)

Acrylic

The theme for Illustration Friday was "excess". I just finished painting this picture and it kind of went with the theme so I posted it. It is actually a joke. The middle school staff at my school had a White Elephant Gift Exchange (where you give each other tacky, weird presents). As a joke, I painted a "portrait" of two of our teachers (who both happen to be named Allen). It was a big hit at the party. On the left of the seated Allen is a blonde wig (he always jokes about his long flowing golden hair). On the right of the standing Allen is a picture of his parasite. At the party, someone took a picture of the two Allens in this pose holding the picture. I will try to post it when I get a picture of it.