Rasta No Born

Pencil drawing, Calbayog City, 2024

I kid you not, I think about those guys on the HMS Bounty, a lot.

They had been on Tahiti for six months, living with the Tahitians in what must have been, for them, paradise. And then suddenly Captain Bligh told them they had to pack up and sail back to England.

I would have mutinied too!!

Tahiti

pencil drawing, Calbayog City, 2024

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The Little Dog

black sharpie

Hollywood 2017

I used to draw this little dog. I just thought he was cute that's all. Then one day I posted the above drawing to a Facebook group and not only did the drawing get removed but I got kicked out of the group! It was kind of funny 😎

Here he is again!

The Little Dog again

black sharpie

Los Angeles 2017

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American Tune

Paul Simon - American Tune

"The best laid schemes o' mice and men,

Gang aft agley."

-- Robert Burns To a mouse

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He's holding out on us

Sean, my son.

"Daddy," Sean asked me, "are cemeteries frightening places?"

I never know where his questions are leading, but I know his mother is afraid of cemeteries so I said,but

"Yah.." and waited.

"Then why," he asked, "do people cry instead of getting scared?"

"Good question." I laughed and looked for a piece of paper to write it down on.

Later he came up to me and asked,

"Daddy, why did God even think it was a good idea to create mosquitos?"

We live in the Philippines.

"I have no idea why God created mosquitos." I answered him honesty, "In fact," I said, "I bet even God doesn't know why he created mosquitos."

We both started laughing and he said, "I bet if you asked God why he created mosquitos he'd be like, 'Gosh, why DID I create mosquitos?'"

Sean was playing Roblox while we talked and laughed.  He can do that.  His little fingers ran over his iPad screen directing characters while he spoke.  Kid energy.  Then he looked up and asked,

"Daddy, who created God?"

I kid you not.

That is a question I've been waiting for without any plans for a good answer.

"Sean," I started, "That's a very big question.  No one really knows the answer."

"What?" he was astonished. "Can you look it up on the internet?"

"Nah," I said, "it won't even be on the internet.  Nobody knows who created God."

"Nobody?" he asked in disbelief.

"Nobody," I replied.

"Not even God?"

"Well," I said, "I suppose God knows who created himself."

"He should tell people!" Sean demanded.

That one made my sit back in my chair and look up for a moment.  Not gonna lie, I had to agree.

"He probably should tell people." I said, "But he's holding out on us."

"Humph." Sean said with no small amount of displeasure. 

And then he went back to his Roblox,

Calbayog City  2023

black pen & colored pencils, los angeles, 2013

Lines go where they want to. That's life.

There is no such thing as an incorrect line until another line is drawn next to it.

Colors, on the other hand, are like flavors.

Alpha Blonde - Jerusalem

black pen & colored pencils, los angeles, 2015

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to dust we return

pencil drawing, calbayog city, 2024

By the sweat of your brow

will you have food to eat

until you return to the ground.

from which you were made.

For you were made from dust,

and to dust you shall return.

-- Genisis 3:19

pencil drawing, calbayog city, 2024

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RECENT DRAWINGS

Pencil drawing from my moleskine.

Calbayog City 2024

Leonard Cohen - Joan of Arc

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once ago

black sharpie in my moleskine

Hollywood, 2017

I drew this at work between clients.

Kendrick Lamar - LOVE (feat. Zacari)

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felt tip pen on cardboard

Alhambra 1988

I drew this at a party one night in 1988. There was a pen and a piece of cardboard on a table so I sat down and drew this, with everyone partying around me. It's filled with nervous energy because I was.

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Beautiful things

Black sharpie on beige paper

Rosemead 2012

"Dream pretty dreams of beautiful things,

let all the skies surround you.

Swim with the swans and believe that upon

some glorious dawn love will find you"

Townes van Zandt

This drawing just came out of nowhere. Like a mystical gift, one day it just happened.