Number 140 of 150

October 12, 2023October 5, 2023Leave a comment

This is a cartoon illustration of a park ranger giving a presentation about a red-tailed hawk. This image is part of a subset of illustrations within the larger project depicting people with recognizable professions. The project was commissioned by Learning A-Z to be used in a Build-A-Book application for children. As always, the image was created digitally in Adobe Photoshop using my cintiq tablet.

This one was fun to draw because I used a photo reference from my own personal photos. This hawk is based on the one that came by years ago and perched on my back fence for several hours. It was a very good model and let me get very close to get some nice shots. So, drawing this brought to mind a memory of a really special afternoon for me.

This final image was also way different than the original specs. Originally, this was supposed to be a woman park ranger with a park map she was pointing to. But that pose was fairly unworkable if we wanted to both see the content of the map and have the woman viewed from the front, looking at the viewer at eye-level. Which they did. Also, holding an unfolded paper map usually requires two hands, then a third would be needed to point. Additionally, the specs for this section were too heavy on women, and we already had a Middle Eastern woman with a prosthetic leg previously in the project. That was why it was decided to switch this one to a man.

It was my suggestion to change the pose to the park ranger doing a nature presentation with an animal, which the client liked. I suggested several animals, but I was really hoping they’d go for the hawk. Which they did.

Park Ranger with Red-Tailed Hawk

Number 75 of 150

May 21, 2023April 28, 2023Leave a comment

And here’s the blind man with a guide dog I promised you.

Public service announcement: A Guide Dog is a type of Service Animal. They are not the same thing as an Emotional Support Animal. Guide dogs and other Service Animals go through extensive training and cost a lot of money. Service Animals know how to behave in public without being a nuisance or a danger. Emotional support animals often don’t, even when they’re legit ESAs (nominal distinction that that is) instead of fake ESA pets. Service animals are required by law to be allowed to go pretty much anywhere that their handler is allowed to go. ESA’s are not. Please don’t attempt to pass off your ESA or (even worse) your pet as a Service Animal. Their poor behavior will reflect badly on real Service Animals. That will just make it harder for disabled folks who depend on ACTUAL Service Animals to get their rights honored. Just don’t do it, no matter how much you want to take fluffy with you to the grocery store.

A cartoon illustration of a old, blind South Asian man walking with a guide dog. He is wearing beach clothes including sunglasses, a Hawaiian shirt, shots, and flip-flop sandals. He's also carrying a bag with beach supplies including a towel, water bottle, and dog bone. He has a mustache and beard and is half-bald.

Number 74 of 150

May 19, 2023April 28, 2023Leave a comment

This style of prosthetic leg and foot always seemed really interesting to me. I’m glad I got to draw one.

An older woman of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander heritage is working as a referee. She is blowing on a whistle while pointing to the side. She is wearing a referee's uniform and has an athletic-style prosthetic leg below the knee.

Number 73 of 150

May 17, 2023April 28, 2023Leave a comment

This artist uses a wheelchair.

The client was pushing the scope of the project on this one. Each of these were supposed to be one character isolated on white, some with a prop. I was willing to allow a little more leeway for this batch featuring the visibly disabled because their mobility devices are integral to their lives and become almost an extension of themselves. But there’s a limit. This image reached this limit because the client initially wanted not just what you see below, but also an easel and canvas. That would make it almost a full scene, which wasn’t what we bid. (To be fair, I don’t think the client intended to push any limits. It just happened.) I had to send that objection through my art rep and she straightened it out for me without ruffling any feathers. Janet’s great at that.

An East Asian man sits in a manual wheelchair with a paint brush and palette. He is wearing a blue painter's shirt, khaki pants, and slip-on sneakers. He is gesturing with the hand holding the brush as he speaks.

Number 72 of 150

May 15, 2023April 28, 2023Leave a comment

Moving onto the adults, here we have a Muslim woman with a prosthetic leg.

A cartoon illustration of a Muslim woman with a prosthetic leg. She's standing with one hand up as if gesturing as she speaks and the other hand is holding a basket of apples. She is wearing a hijab, long sleeved striped blouse, a below-the-knee skirt, leggings on her intact leg, and crocs on both her natural and artificial foot.

Number 71 of 150

May 13, 2023April 28, 2023Leave a comment

Here’s a wheelchair basketball player taking their shot.

A cartoon illustration of a latine child shooting a basketball while seated in a sports wheelchair. They are wearing a basketball uniform and sneakers. Their number is 17.

Number 70 of 150

May 11, 2023April 28, 2023Leave a comment

This boy is diabetic and is wearing a visible glucose monitor on his upper arm.

A cartoon illustration of a black boy riding a kick scooter. He has a visible glucose monitor on his upper arm and is wearing glasses. He's also wearing a helmet, tank top, shorts, and sneakers.

Number 69 of 150

May 9, 2023May 10, 2023Leave a comment

A deaf child signing, “Friend.” I think space buns are my new favorite hairstyle to draw on little girls.

A cartoon illustration of a mixed race girl standing while signing, "Friend," in ASL. She is wearing a t-shirt, jean shorts, sandals, and a backpack. Her light brown hair is half up in space buns.

Number 68 of 150

May 7, 2023May 8, 2023Leave a comment

A child who uses a walker. Some walkers have a seat on them like this. Looks like they’re catching their breath before planting that little tree. They intentionally look a bit tired, maybe unhealthy, though there were no specifics given on what condition they have to make a walker necessary.

A cartoon illustration of a white child sitting on the built-in bench on a walker. They have blonde hair and are holding a plant. There is a hand trowel on the ground at their feet. They are wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt under a pair of overalls, garden gloves, and work boots.

Number 67 of 150

May 5, 2023April 28, 2023Leave a comment

A blind boy in raingear walking with the aid of a white cane.

This image had originally called for the boy to have a guide dog, because a kid and a dog are inherently cute together. But when looking for reference images of kids with guide dogs, I learned that blind kids don’t actually get guide dogs. You generally have to be 18 for a guide animal. I relayed this to the client and they changed the specs. So, I guess I sort of took away this boy’s dog and gave him a cane instead. If it helps, later in this batch there will be a man with a guide dog instead. Not as cute, but more accurate.