Happy New Year!

Santa on Christmas Morning

Happy Holidays 2016

Being that I was the artist-in-residence at Sequoia National Park this year I thought it only fitting to have a sequoia tree on my holiday card.

Happy Holiday Mouse

It was the night before Christmas, and all throught the house

everybody was celebrating, including the mouse!

Santa Dude!

Of all the holiday products I've created and have available online, who would of thought that this year's big seller would be my Skateboarding Santa line. Well, it has been a strange year.

http://www.santa-t.com/skateboarding_santa.html

The Holidays Are Coming...

Get the card at: www.markix.net/cards

Secret Santa Cards & Gear

Being a Secret Santa this year? Then stop by the Secret Santa Store and pick up your gear.

Lots of fun stuff to choose from there.

The Quack Frog

An Aesop Fable

     Once upon a time a frog came forth from his home in the marsh and proclaimed to all the beasts that he was a learned physician, skilled in the use of drugs and able to make well every disease.  A Fox asked him, "How can you pretend to prescribe for others, when you are unable to heal your own lame gait and wrinkled skin?"

Turkey Lurkey & Chicken Little

"Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling!" said Chicken Little
"We must run and tell the king!" said Turkey Lurkey

Trick or Treat Time

A Little Entomology

Ever wonder what goes on inside the chrysalis of a monarch butterfly? It's a really amazing transformation -- especially the first part of it. Some spot art of mine from the October 2016 issue of ASK Magazine for kids 6 -9 yrs.

Gila Ben Goes to School

Gila Ben's A to Z Arizona Coloring Book being given out to students at Creighton Elementary School in Phoenix

Gila Ben, the Friendliest Gila Monster in the Grand Canyon State, is making his way to schools all around Arizona. Gila Ben's A to Z Arizona Coloring Book, being handed out to students by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, is a creation of mine. The superintendent's office was gracious enough to ask permission for the nonexclusive  reproduction rights, and I was gracious enough to oblige. And, since our Arizona schools (kind of like artists) are perpetually underfunded, I was glad to provide the art and the rights gratis.

Sorry, I don't have any information about distribution of the coloring books. However, you can always contact the Superintendent's office about the needs of your school and for details about the Arizona Department of Education's version of the coloring book. For more info about Gila Ben and some free coloring pages of official Arizona state symbols for educational use go to www.GilaBen.com.

Learn how I (and Gila Ben) got started.

Rock and Roll Dinosaurs

Rock and Roll Dinosaurs

Artist of the Month: Mark A. Hicks | Wandering Educators

Artist of the Month: Mark A. Hicks | Wandering Educators

You may have seen our Artist of the Month, Mark Hicks, before on Wandering Educators - we love his work, and have shared much of his art... Read the whole interview here

The Storm

The Storm

Plaguey of the Grand Canyon (and other National Parks and National Forests)

Meet Plaguey the Squirrel (tm). Learn why you should never pet or feed Plaguey. Download Plaguey's coloring page here. (This is for the lady on the Grand Canyon Rim Trail that choose to ignore the posted warning signs and just had to pet Plaguey.)

A Little Game Under the Sea

"Better watch your pawn!"

Marie Antoinette at the Guillotine

For Bastille Day with apologies to my daughter and my late wife -- the Habsburgs are some of their ancestors and are related to Marie.  

I also have French ancestry, and I'm a also a distant cousin of Marie. But in the case of both family lines, think more Les Misérables than royalty.

 

By the way, although often attributed to her, apparently Marie Antoinette never actually said, "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche." ("Let them eat cake.") 

 

One Day at the Circus

This Rocks!

Found (if you know where to look) in nearly every corner of my native state of Arizona, rock art is one of the oldest forms of human communication and one of the most fascinating as far as capturing the imagination. That is why I chose it as my design for my entry in this year's Graceful Envelope Contest. This year's theme was communication.

By the way, in case you ever wondered, the logo for the Carefree Artist blog was inspired by rock art.

Creating Art in a National Park

In June 2016, I was the official artist-in-residence for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (the first one ever, they told me!) The residency was all volunteer and I provided all the materials for the program. I donated the original art produced there to the parks as well. The purpose of my residency was to create artwork and materials that could be used for programs in the parks now and in the future. I also created artwork that I presented at the end of my stay that highlighted many of the wonderful little things of nature that also exist among the giant majestic sequoia trees. Judging by the enthusiastic response of all those who came and participated on presentation day I think it was a success.

During my week in Sequoia -- I actually only had five days to work because of travel and the presentation day -- I created numerous photo-op masks, coloring pages, and several watercolor and acrylic paintings and lots of thumbnail sketches. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to create among by the peacefulness of nature in a historic, secluded rustic cabin. My only regret? Not having more time there to create even more artwork.

Thanks to all the great people at SEKI for the invitation to create art in the park!

UPDATE: In October 2017 the Jr. Ranger Book for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks won a 1st Place Interpretive Media Award for Site Publication from The National Association for Interpretation (NAI.) I illustrated the activities and spot art for interior pages. Read more about it by clicking here.

And here are a couple of watercolor sketches of Kings Canyon.

Above are other pieces of artwork created for SEKI including Jr. Ranger Book artwork.  In 2017, the book and the creative team that put it together was awarded First Place for Site Publications by the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). More info here. I have also created artwork for Pinnacles National Park and Grand Canyon National Park as well.

In the Thalo Forest

Are the tales true?

Another Children's Book for your Summer Reading List

The Grand Adventure

A True Story of Survival and Determination on an Amazing River Journey

Join Civil War hero John Wesley Powell and his brave companions on the first successful river expedition through what was then the uncharted region of the Grand Canyon. This daring journey is one of the great exploration adventures of the American West.

   

Sorry, this book is no longer in print. If a publisher would like to pick it up, please contact me via my website. www.MARKiX.net

8" x 10" Paperback
Full-color Picture Book
For Ages 8-12
32 pages
ISBN 1453813462
EAN13: 9781453813461

For your Summer Reading List

Here's a fun little book for your summer reading list for your little ones...

The Picnic Day

Join two bunnies on a fun picnic day in the country.
Reading level: Baby-Pre-K 

24 pages. Full Color 8.25"x8.25"

 ISBN-13 : 979-8553936150

Sorry, this book is no longer in print. If a publisher would like to pick it up, please contact me via my website. www.MARKiX.net

At the Frog Diner

From a book project. More whimsical art at whimsicalillustrator.com

Arctic Spring Fun

One windy day, the three friends headed out across the ice with their new kite.

 

 More fun illustration samples on my new website, whimsicalillustrator.com.

Feeding Time

See more whimsical illustrations on my new website, whimsicalillustrator.com

Mammoth Artwork

Is it possible to clone a mammoth? See my artwork and read all about it in the March 2016 issue of ASK magazine.

When the Easter Bunny Goes Bad

Just Hip Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

Here's a fun shirt design for all the hip little Easter bunnies out there. Click here to go to the store now. (There are shirts and other stuff for big hip rabbits there too.) Peter Cottontail was never so cool!

Kokobunny Coloring Page

 

 Here is a coloring page for adults and other big children featuring Kokobunny, the American Southwest's version of the Easter Bunny. Just click on the image or click here to go to the PDF download page.

A Large Leap of Faith

Winter Fun

Bedsledding!

Ask Magazine Artwork

Detail from a feature in the January 2016 issue of Ask Magazine featuring my artwork.