Dale's Doodles

Middle Age Spread

2010-05-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

Well, the belly is back. I guess it comes with age and lack of exercise. It did keep me warm over the winter and has prevented colds. So, it's not without its benefits. I've been busy with work...which is nothing to complain about. Some may choose to say that I have been blessed with work. Then again, they say a lot of things "they" don't have to do. I am still working on a preschool show for Nick Jr called "Team Umizoomi". I have been working on this show for about 2 years, now. It started at the Nickelodeon studio, and after that studio shut down, the work is continuing at another studio called Curious Pictures. Along with this day job, I have had the good fortune of some fun freelance work, as well. I did some work on a music video for They Might Be Giants ( a small clip is on this blog in an earlier post). This video just got a second place award at the ASIFA animation festival for the director. He even thanked me in his acceptance speech. Another project I worked on, also got some awards. It was an animated open for a horror comedy movie called "Hysterical Pyscho". I am just starting another round of "Big Baby" cartoons which aired on Cartoon Network last year. I have also been working on some educational animations about the presidents. So, busy...but, enjoying. I haven't done any major traveling in awhile. I went home to Virginia this past Christmas, and on a ski trip with some friends from work over my birthday this year. The extra fat was good for padding and heating up there, but made getting up after a fall a lot tougher. I guess I will have to start doing something about the belly soon. Even my landlord, who I hadn't seen in 10 years, said "wow, you got fat". Then he raised my rent. I guess he is charging by the pound.

samples for Dominie pt 1

2008-12-16T12:29:00.000-08:00

samples for Dominie pt 2

2008-12-16T09:56:00.000-08:00

samples for Dominie pt 3

2008-12-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

Samples for Dominie pt 4

2008-12-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treating in Jamaica 2008

2008-11-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

This year, I decided to do something fun and scary for Halloween. I combined two things I almost never do; vacations and dates. I went to visit Sheika in Jamaica. I had been periodically checking flight costs over the course of the three months we had been having our nightly chats (idiot conferences). And while on a sick day, I happened to chat Sheika while she was at work and suggested a visit. Before our chat was done, the tickets were bought and the count down began. One week in advance. But, Halloween is supposed to be fun and scary combined (just like Sheika).

October 30, 2008

The night before the flight, I got home and ate my dinner while watching Smallville and called for a taxi in the morning. I logged on to the computer to speak with Sheika (who had not come on camera for the whole week) to confirm all our arrangements. She told me she would be wearing a white shirt, jeans and driving a white car. I on the other hand, took a photo of myself and used it as a profile picture (to be as accurate as possible. I stayed up after she logged out and finished my packing.

October 31, 2008

I got up at 3:45 am, showered and finished packing before the taxi arrived at 5 am. I arrived at JFK at 5:30 am. After clearing through security, I spoke with a lady on her way to Jamaica, as well, and assisted her in the direction of the terminal. We made our way down the stairs together, and as I neared the bottom, I noticed an elderly lady in the escalator to my left falling down at the bottom. I ran over to assist, and the two older men with her began falling over the lady and stepping on her. I managed to get the egg-shaped lady righted again, before they completed any more of their Humpty Dance on her.

I boarded my Air Jamaica Flight about 40 minutes before take off. Other than a smelly seatmate, the flight was great and fast. By the time I ate my french toast, watched "Meet Dave" and nodded off a bit, we were landing in Montego Bay Airport. We landed a little early, and after going through customs and getting my bags, I was at the front gate waiting my ride at 10:35 am. I was pestered by cab drivers (legal and not) to let them drive me or use their phone for about an hour before I finally used the phone to call Sheika (my phone did not get service). I told the cab driver I would give her until 12:30 before leaving the airport. At 12:25, I heard the honking of a car and I leaned over to investigate a white car that had slowed in front of me. It was the 400th white car to do that. As I peered into the tinted window, I felt something tug my sleeve from behind and I heard, "Come on, idiot!" Sheika led me over to her blue car. She was wearing sunglasses, a pink shirt, black floral print skirt and had colored her hair red. I was tricked by a treat!

She had to work that morning unexpectedly, and then had car trouble. But, we caught up on the mornings misadventures as she pointed out sights of interest between Montego Bay and St. Anns Runaway Bay. We stopped by her factory and I met her mother. She commented on what a pretty white boy I was and how soft my hands were (so, I liked her right away). We then drove over to Piper's Cove Hotel where I checked in (at a discount thanks to Sheika's contacts with Miss Daisy Chin, the owner. I changed into shorts and we left to have lunch at Coco Brown's, where we had the place almost to ourselves. Which made it easier for me to be foolish and confuse or waiter, James with our silliness. James accidently spilled Pepsi on Sheika...and she apologized to him. Good thing she was only drinking soft drinks. While we ate, the rains got heavier and heavier. A tropical depression had come over, and caused some flash flooding.

We drove back in the heavy rains, unaware of the storm adivsory. We picked up Sheika's mother at the factory. Sheika typed a quick message to Keelmy on Facebook to let him know that the idiot (me) was in Jamaica. Keelmy had expected me to come dressed for Halloween at the office...but, that was the trick I wanted to play on him, Dan and Jose. Surprise, I'm in Jamaica. After dropping her mother off at their home, we took her helpers to a local market. We got back to her place and visited in the kitchen over cake. Her little girl, Noorie joined us and her mother retired to her room for the night.

Noorie, despite her cute face and sweet smile, is possessed by a demon. I am certain of it. I have scratches to prove it. They drove me over to Piper's Cove at 10:30. I watched television for a little while before the cable went out, then I went out, too.

Versus T-Shirt Contest Design...Custody

2008-10-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

I realized Keelmy was back in town from his trip, and knew he would be disappointed if I didn't do my homework (entering the contest). So, this is the latest I've ever entered...and the fastest design...and it shows.

Wallflower Revealed...T Shirt as Costume Entry #2

2008-10-20T21:39:00.000-07:00

So, Keelmy talked me into entering my other idea for the contest...and to try using some halftone shading.

Measure Up -T Shirt Contest (shirt as costume)

2008-10-18T22:10:00.001-07:00

You must be this tall to party with me. Well, at least an attempt at this contest.

Fetch my Slippers

2008-10-13T19:41:00.001-07:00

T shirt design for "Pets" theme

Art as Text -"hold 'em" entry

2008-10-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

I almost gave up on this one....and I thought of how disappointed Keelmy would be in me, and at least made an effort at it, tonight.

hold'em rough

2008-10-02T19:37:00.001-07:00

Here is my rough idea for the next t shirt contest. The theme is making text out of art. I lost the poker game last night...so, maybe I can see if it will bring me luck on a t shirt.

Panic- Take 3

2008-09-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

More Keelmy encouragement. And to hopefully flood the voting market.

Panic- Take 2

2008-09-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

My second submission. Keelmy's are better...but, I'm just trying to force him to do more entries.

Panic- Take 1

2008-09-28T08:10:00.001-07:00

Here is one of my ideas for the Panic T shirt Derby

Heroes and Villains

2008-09-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

As Keelmy stops to consider if his camouflage is working as intended, Jose runs up from behind to steal his thunder!

still tormented

2008-09-18T19:37:00.001-07:00

Tormented by yet another....even Sheika is a part of the torture.

Tormented

2008-09-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

Keelmy introduced me to blogging. I think he must like to torment as much as he likes to be tormented. The sick devil.

Sheika

2008-09-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

Here is another request. Sheika, a la Veronica from Archie comics.

Desktop for Keelmy

2008-09-14T23:23:00.000-07:00

Here is my attempt at Keelmy's assignment. Although, I left off the mustaches and Samurai swords. He may deduct points.

Forbidden Love

2008-09-13T20:55:00.000-07:00

Another from the Secret Snowman video. This one references the fact that in every episode there is a snail character that appears 3 times in the show ( a little unspoken bonus game for kids and parents). I thought it would be fun if the 3 snails sang about nature and forbidden love.

The Power Pups

2008-09-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

Another section of the Secret Snowman video. This was introduced as being from the Blue's Clues international division. This is what the mail time segments look like in Japan.

A Heart Felt Xmas

2008-09-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Here is another portion of the Secret Snowman video. I had to re-render it to post it...so, I rendered the full piece. Apparently, I had done lipsynch for the whole song. The song is cute...and she even goes into sad mouths singing...so, I left it.

Sun Shine Day

2008-09-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

Another portion of the Secret Snowman video. This section was introduced as Blue's Clues' experiment with 3D, which I said failed because Subway forgot to give away the 3D glasses with the kid's meals.

Greenbacks

2008-09-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is another of the Secret Snowman animations. This one is from the second year I did them as a gift. That gift was actually several little animated songs strung together by a host called Skidoo (a piece of poo that looked like Mr. Hankey from South Park). We had just finished our direct to video movie, in which, Ray Charles played one of the special guest voices. This spoof shows how I would have designed his character of a G-clef.

The Archivist

2008-09-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Here is another Secret Snowman gift animation. When I drew John's name to give him a gift...I abandoned the animation I had started several weeks earlier, and made one specifically about him over a weekend. I wanted to add things that I had noticed about him. I imagined him as being a secret agent of some sort. One who loved playing guitar and burning popcorn.

Gopherz

2008-09-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

Keelmy's request for me to draw some of us as a band reminded me of a little spoof animation I was doing around September 11, 2001. I never finished the project, but, I recently found where I had left off on it, while moving some files around. These little assignments I gave myself can have a new life on the blog.

In Progress

2008-09-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

Today, Keelmy gave me an assignment...so, those always take longer. But, I thought I should show the progress.

Grilled at Lunch

2008-09-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

Keelmy dragged me over the coals, today at lunch, about Sheika.

A crumby thing to do

2008-09-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

"Don't you...'now, Pat', me. After I catch you spreading with another stick ... And in my basket!!"

Keelmy's religious experience

2008-09-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

Today, after lunch, Keelmy treated me to a milk shake from Cold Stone Creamery. He commented that his was like Heaven had an orgasm in his mouth.

2008-09-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

My friend and former charge, Raymond, is turning 12 this year and is having his party in a maritime museum on board a submarine! Unfortunately, it was postponed due to bad weather.

2008-09-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

The weather postponed the birthday parties for my friends, Seth and Eli. They are turning 8 on October 2. They share the same birthday as their older brother, Raymond. My present to them is to do their birthday invitations each year.

Buttery Poptart

2008-09-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

This is the avatar for my Fantasy Football Team.

Keelmy's Lil Dutch Boy dream

2008-09-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Keelmy Carlo urged me to set up a blog today as we had lunch. So, my first post is of a silly sketch of him as a 10 year old Dutch painter.