her big 3-0!

The Mrs. is turning thirty in a few days. She is looking forward to her next decade on the planet. To celebrate this big event, I've made a series of frame-ready cards. I created eleven 8x10 designs by the time it was all said and done. I then disposed of four of them due to massive shortcomings. I chose to make seven so that they could be hung in a 2-3-2 arrangement on the wall. The "30 sure is something" design was intended to be hung in the center of all the others. These are the seven survivors:

Happy 30th Ash!!!

free art time struggles with young students



When my students finish a project, they are allowed the opportunity to create during "free art time." They finish their work at different times. This may have certain students with quite a bit of time on their hands. The result is a big problem for many youngster. WHAT-TO-MAKE!?!?!?!? I'm 42 and surrounded by creative inspiration and I often look puzzled at the flat white of a blank piece of paper. My job has me on the offensive in this battle against creative block. I am battling youth and it's inexperience as well as the clock (I see students 45 to 55 minutes a week).

 

Today, I sat down for about 10 minutes and showed my struggling first graders how I could brainstorm a silly short story. Note to taxpayers: We use the cheapest of materials during free art time (printer paper, crayons, old markers, etc.). I took a 9x12 piece of manila paper and a piece of printer paper and folded them into a "book". Three staples close to the fold and began the brainstorm. Thanksgiving time mixed with a long held love of drawing fried chicken/turkey wings had me sketching up this little wing guy. I thought (out loud) about what the wing could be doing. He could be dreaming of feathers. He could be dancing with the other foods at the table. He and the other food could devise an escape plan to get off the table....and about three other ideas. The book below was one of those other three. 



 



I had to revise the story as the black crayola marker could be easily seen through the white paper. This allowed me only four pages to work with!

angry strongo #36 tarzan

senior pictures....yikes!!!!

I was asked to take some pictures of my sister-in-law Sarah. She needed some senior pictures and I said "sure!" ..."but I've never done such a thing before." Her boyfriend, Luke, threw his name into the ring as he also needed some photos taken. Like any other challenge in my life, I was both dreading the process and stressing out completely. The Angry Strongo comics have been on hold as I have been knee-deep into Photoshop the past few weeks.

I chose a few of the picts to post....so...

that's my boy!

My son is at the stage of his education where words, language and lettering are overtaking his senses. He seems to be learning at an amazing pace. He is wandering around the house copying book covers, dvd packaging, mail and anything else that has words. His love of letters sure is fun to watch. Along with letters, he thinks very highly of his aunt's boyfriend, Luke...

When you combine the two, this is what ya get! 

things people carry

My daughter, Clare Louise, has many qualities that I thoroughly enjoy. One of the most interesting of these are the things she chooses to carry with her on life's journey. Car rides, walks, playing in the driveway and general around the house time has her holding onto 1 to 4 items that are of extreme importance. These items are not allowed to travel into the bathroom. Thus...

These treasures must always remain in plain sight.

angry strongo #35 the thinker

angry strongo #34

to be a good school, you need a great secretary

I found this drawing I had made a few years ago. The school that I work in is blessed with an amazing woman who deals with all the problems, paperwork and craziness that we can throw at her. I personally throw piles at her as I am all but helpless when it  comes to paperwork.....a real zero!

I just wanted a public "thank you" to be recognized....

My apologies for the bottom being cropped off the picture and the fact that the card is a Christmas card....

Thanks anyway, Nancy....YOU'RE AWESOME!!!!!

two more awesome warning stickers

Nothing gets me more excited about designing and art in general like this rounded guy gettin' squashed, chopped or pelted with rocks! Enjoy these to gems!

 

The feet up, arms out and the extended fingers work very well. It fits beautifully around the machine that's doing the squashing.

 

Bonk!!! 

angry strongo #33 cereal commercials