Polo!

The llama has got his leather boots on and is bravely carrying Bob through a game of Polo.
This is the third illustration in my series of 5"x7"cards and will be embellished with sparkly gold glitter. 

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Bob and his llama do love to dance. The llama prefers not to perform many complicated steps, but he can dance a solid Tango.

This piece was inspired by all the gentleman dance teams that tread the Vaudeville boards, and nightclub floors of yesteryear. I also took inspiration from The Macana Brothers, who's impeccable and comedic performances are so much fun to watch.  

This is the second illustration for my new collection of 5x7 cards.

The Time is Always Right for Snappy Shoes

No hoof no horse, as the saying goes. A fellow needs the right shoes for the right occasion, and he feels just that much more confidant and self-assured if those shoes are a thing of beauty. 

This illustration is the first in a series of larger greeting cards. They will be 5"x7," and this one will be lightly embellished with silver glitter. 

Happy New Year!

In the Snow

December in the Northeast is full of beautiful blues and grays and dark greens. Bob and his llama are enjoying a ride through the crisp air and soft snow.  

'Where'd he get those eyes?'

There has been a little confusion over Bob's eyelashes, so I've decided to clear it up to the best of my abilities. Bob does indeed have big black eyelashes and blond hair, which I realize might look a little strange to some folks.

 

However, Bob's look is inspired by men's makeup from the Art Deco era, especially the 1930s. The stars of the silver screen were not averse to wearing big, bold, goopy levels of mascara that went beyond simple stage makeup and into the realm of fashion statements. Here are some examples:

                  Tyrone Power                         Gary Cooper                           Gary Cooper again             

 

                        James Cagney (known for rocking fair hair and dark mascara)                             

Makeup trends also influenced Golden era illustrators like Kaye Nielsen, J.C. Leyendecker, and one of my favorites, John E. Sheridan. Sheridan often gave his young men a dramatic look, like the one below.

 'Gridiron Great' By John E. Sheridan

Thus, Bob's eyelashes tie in with his wingtip shoes, plus fours and trench coats. They are retro and quirky, and fun to draw. And of course, they match his llama's. 

The Book!

Bob & His Llama is now published and available at a number of lovely shops around the Champlain Valley in Vermont. The latest shop to carry the book is the wonderful yarn store: Yarn & Yoga in Bristol. They even put one of their copies over a shelf of local llama yarn! (And, of course, they carry all the supplies needed to make a sweater just like Bob's).

If you live in Vermont, you can also find the book at Phoenix Books in Essex and Downtown Burlington, at Battery Street Jeans in the South End of Burlington, and at The Flying Pig in Shelburne!

If you are not able to visit one of these wonderful stores, you can still get a copy on the Bob and his Llama website.