Tim Conway
Comedian. Star of The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Carol Burnett Show
November 2010
The legendary Tim Conway sent over this drawing before the holidays and it got lost in the Christmas shuffle. I am a hairy man. I am not proud of it but I will not deny it. I have hair on my chest and my shoulders but I will deny venomously Tim Conway’s claim that I have hair on my nose and that my eyebrows seem to carry down to my cheeks. Regardless of what he thinks of my hair I am still tickled pink that I got a doodle by this absolute legend of comedy.
David Sedaris
Author of Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day
October 2010
David Sedaris sent this drawing of a me as a turtle. Who am I kidding, he sent a drawing of a turtle rather than a drawing of me. With that said it was still pretty exciting to get anything back from a man I admire so much. I am a massive fan of Mr. Sedaris. I don’t read. That isn’t to say that I can’t read but rather that I am the kind of person that reads a page only to realize that, by the end of the page, my mind has wandered away and I remember nothing of the page. I have attempted to read books in recent years. I got to page 11 of an Orson Welles biography. I got to page 11 of Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I made it all the way to page 13 of John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany. David Sedaris writes stories that are both short (thank god) and hilariously engrossing. I have never not wanted to put a book down until I found Me Talk Pretty One Day.
I am a bit concerned that he interprets me as a turtle of all things.
It has been ages since I posted and update. And even longer since I posted a drawing. After a ridiculous fall & winter I have decided to hunker down and get this project up and running again. Three new letters went out yesterday and we will have to wait and see whether the fruit is fresh & tasty or bitter and rotten. Don’t get me wrong, I will accept either type, but the tasty fruit is preferred.
This particular rendition of Jon comes courtesy of my sister Ashly and features me as a memorable character from one of my favorite films of the aughts, Pan’s Labyrinth. The Paleman is the character better known as “that thing with eyes in its hands that freaked me out”.
Awesome.
I recently stumbled upon the tumblr of a guy that goes by the name of blue bed. His style struck my eye instantly and I had a blast working chronologically backwards through his postings. He also has a website that contains a whole bunch of his self published comics. I contacted him and asked about his books as well as his willingness to do a sketch. I felt a bit like Steve Martin receiving the new phone book when the mailman left an envelope from Roman Mulanov on my doorstop. The envelope contained a few of his comics that I look forward to sitting down and reading as well as the most evil looking Jon picture to date. I also believe this is the first depiction of my “Drunk with Angus Oblong” picture. Check out his tumblr and his webpage.
The plight of an artist named Cerena was brought to my attention recently. She was looking to make some money by doing sketches. I perused her tumblr and really enjoyed her work quite a bit and was excited to know that we could do a bit of “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” and so Jon as a French Maid was born. It was complete and total synergry.
For anyone who is interested it appears she is still looking to do $5 sketches (mine was a $10 model) and she is quite a talent! I highly recommend you follow her and recommend her come next Tumblr Tuesday.
I am a philanthrophist. I am a patron of the arts. I am Jon.
Betty White
The Golden Girls, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
September 2010
This television legend sent me this drawing of her dog. I am a bit puzzled as to why she chose to draw her dog rather than me or why she sent back the pen that I sent her…but its still a wonderful piece to add to the collection. Ms. White is at the top of her game and she read my fanmail…sort of.
Technically this is my second rejection letter but since it is from the great James Earl Jones I thought I would share it anyway. I wish I could remember what the exact phrase I used in my letter but his response is “No, I can’t”. I am going to assume he means that he can’t draw as apposed to him not being able to draw me. He only returned one of my two cards so I am going to assume that he tried very diligently on the first card only to have things go ary when he spilled some root beer on the paper. Rather than risk ruining the second sheet of paper he merely decided to say that he couldn’t.
Regardless of what this legendary Hollywood actor/voice really thought when he read my letter and request I still very much appreciate a response. I can add it to my collection of autographs. Hell, I have Darth Vader’s signature.
Ed Asner
The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Boondocks, Pixar’s Up
August 2010
The caption by Mr. Asner reads, “This is Ed Asner’s artistic recall of the notorious bomber terrorist Jon Ganahl. I hope it leads to his capture”. Need I say more?
