Grandpa and granddaughter

Grandpa and granddaughter, originally uploaded by speartoons.

This is a sketch I did on Christmas Eve. Grandfather and granddauther were watching Christmas specials.

I drew this in pencil with a ball point pen

Sketch of father and son sledding

Sketch of father and son sledding, originally uploaded by speartoons.

Pencil sketch of a father and son getting ready to go sledding.

There is just enough snow on the ground to get a guy thinking about sledding. I drew this in pencil within my sketchbook.

Illustration Friday: Santa's Balloon

Santa's Balloon, originally uploaded by speartoons.

Santa takes a trip around the North Pole. He can't use his reindeer all the time, can he? This is what he does for free time. The big guy has to get away once in a while.

I drew the line art with Pitt Artist Pens. The color is in Photoshop.

Santa Makeover?

3454 Cartoon, originally uploaded by speartoons.

I wonder if Santa gets tired of his wardrobe? What if he looks better in spring colors? The poor man!

Yuletide-Celebration-tree

Yuletide-Celebration-tree, originally uploaded by speartoons.

I illustrated this for the local, high school Christmas concert. As luck would have it, it works with Illustration Friday's topic of "excess."

We go to excesses at Christmas, don't we? We shop and eat until December 26th, then we make resolutions to get back in physical and financial shape.

Merry Christmas, and pace yourselves. All those excesses can weigh on a person.

An Angel visits Zechariah

This is part of the Christmas story. An angel visits Zechariah and tells him he will be a father.

Zechariah says, "How can this be true? My wife Elizabeth and I are too old to have a baby."

There are five items to find in the picture: a teddy bear, baby bottle, rattle, spoon and Bible.

This is part of "My Very Own Bulletin," and is available through Warner Press.

Illustration Friday: Buzz

The word, "Buzz," got me thinking about a project I recently illustrated. This cover is for a story on an audio cd. It tells the Christmas story from the perspective of "The Glory Bugs."

It's a cute story. You can see more at Omni-Seven Productions.

They will have a second story coming called "All Fired Up." This one will be about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

Illustration Friday: Peace

When this theme came up this week, I pondered what is the most peaceful time of this year. Last night, we had a candlelight service. It was serene seeing all the candles across the sanctuary. Amazing how something as dangerous as fire can seem so peaceful when it is a tiny flame.
I hope in the frenzy of this holiday season, you will find some peace. It's late on Christmas day, and I'm feeling it. It's either peace or fatigue. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference!
Kevin

Silent Night

Anybody who thought it was a silent night has never been in a barn.

We gloss over the nativity story so many times and have romantic notions of what it may have been like. But if it was like any of the barns I've been in, there was nothing romantic about it.

What a way to enter the world. What a sacrifice to make!

Stinky, Lowly Shepherds

God works in mysterious ways. I have found it funny He would use shepherds to begin the birth announcements. But He always has a way of making things interesting. Merry Christmas.

Illustration Friday: Help

This time of year has been a little crazy. Surely you can understand, right? I've been wanting to do an illustration for this week's Illustration Friday theme. I've settled for something right out of my sketchbook. Here it is in its unedited form. Well, okay, I did erase the acne from Santa's forehead. Other than that, this is right out of the sketchbook.

I was thinking what poor Santa would do if he had mechanical trouble on Christmas Eve. What if that old sleigh has seen one Christmas Eve too many?

Everybody's gettin' nuttin' for Christmas?

I was at a work luncheon and Santa Claus showed up. He was roasting some key employees because they've been naughty this year.

I started thinking, "Wow! nobody has been nice this year." So Santa gave me gift in the form of this cartoon. Thanks, Santa!

Christmas Lights

It has been warm for an Indiana Christmas. I was able to put the Christmas lights on the house and wear a short-sleeve shirt. This time, my kids didn't have to wait for me. You know how impatient they get!

Caption reads: "Get Dad! Tell him I'm sorry I started putting up Christmas lights without him and I could really use his help!"

Illustration Friday: Masks

The word for this week at Illustration Friday is "mask." I was thinking about all the masking that goes on during the holidays. This is straight out of the old sketchbook.

Monster Christmas

Monsters says, "The great thing about being a monster around Christmas is it's the one day I can wear a red outfit with my green skin."

I did this cartoon a few years ago. I'm pretty sure "The Nightmare Before Christmas," had something to do with this cartoon. It's either that or one particularly moving episode of "Sesame Street."

Kevin

Complete the caption: Santa Jam

This week, I saw a traffic jam on our local freeway. I thought about how this affects the Christmas spirit.

The next thing you know, this image popped into my strange, little mind.

I am using it for the Christian Humor Writers' "Complete the Caption" exercise this week.

You're invited to try your own caption in the comments as well.

Merry Christmas,
Kevin

Christmas Music

Well it's time to hear those Christmas songs and carols over and over again. The radio has gotten a head start this year according to A Racine, Wisconsin article.

"Listen Up" in USA Today has a blog on Improving Radio's Christmas playlist.

I love Christmas music. At least now I do. Ask me on December 24 and see if my opinion changes.

I'm seeing the elves and the scrooges already. How about you?

Running in shorts in November

Some of you southern guys may not see the big deal in this, but I was excited this morning. I ran in a t-shirt and shorts and it's late November! There was some puddles and mist, but I'll take that. This kind of thing doesn't happen in Indiana-at least not without some kind of permit.

The weather is changing today and tomorrow. They're talking temps in the thirties, snow and ice. But for this morning, I could run and feel great. God is good.

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!
Yes, there is nothing like a holiday to bring out the true nature of people. I hope you will have a blessed Christmas season.

Sunday Sermon: Advent & Isaiah

Yesterday, My pastor, Jim Lyon, preached on Isaiah's prophecy about Jesus. He said we needed to accept the gift Christ gave us when He came to earth. So here are the notes I took for this week. By the way, only twenty-eight days until Christmas!