2016 Holiday Greetings!

Life has certainly been hectic this past year, but I did find time to whip up a picture for my annual card.

One again, the medium is oil pastels on paper, with a small assist from water color pencils.

Now, if I can only find the time to share the link to my blog...

I actually have wild ambitions about having time to draw or paint something during 2017 other than an Xmas cartoon. Stay tuned!

And Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year to everyone!

Happy Holidays 2015

As it turns out, 2015 was insanely busy and I had begun to think I wouldn't find time to draw a cartoon for my annual Xmas card.

But, somehow, I pulled it off!

"No wonder they say moving is 'for the birds'!"

This year's theme shows Santa moving to the South Pole; given that the North Pole is melting - or so we are told - and that there is still more snow and ice in Antarctica, I thought it was time Santa gave himself the heave-ho.

The idea of using relocation came from being in the throes of moving my office and studio to a new spot. This has been a protracted affair since mid-2015 and is still not done.

Sometimes, I find it hard to remember what I did before I began moving files and supplies!!

Hope everyone will have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday season. All the best for the 2016 new year!

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Xmas 2014: As they say...

I actually surprised myself as to how quickly I got this year's Xmas drawing done.

I was overseas until early November, so came dashing back to a To Do list which included drawing something to then photograph and use for my cards.

I then get the prints run off and affix them to blank cards, adding the title of the picture, of course.

I tend to exchange cards mainly with overseas friends and family but post the art here, for others to enjoy.

This years's card has the title "As they say...Global warming changes everything!"

Santa has swapped his sleigh for a power-boat and is out trying to deliver to stockings. Not that there are many places to deliver to, most are underwater. (Humans do have a bad habit of congregating to live in low-lying areas).

As well, Santa has ditched his robes and toque for a fur-trimmed baseball cap (worn backwards, of course!) and a fur-trimmed T-shirt.

You might also notice there are reindeer water-skiing behind the boat. Union rules, you know! The contract stipulates that the reindeer must get an outing on December 24. So, Santa has hitched them up to his boat...

Hope everyone will have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy the best life has to offer. All the best in 2015!

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Happy Holidays! - 2013 version

"I must say, you've picked a fine time to get the 'flu!"

Against all the odds, I found time to create another drawing for my annual Xmas card, hard copies exchanged with a few and this electronic version sent to many!



The reason the odds were unfavorable is that I only started drawing on November 30 and managed to finish on December 1. Usually, I take a leisurely few weeks of working on the picture, on and off.




For once, I moved beyond using oil pastels and ventured into the territory known as "mixed media".

What this means for the current effort is that, due to time constraints, I used watercolor pencils for some sections and oil pastels for the rest.

I also shot the photo using the macro feature on my camera; I don't usually do this and am not sure it was the best idea; the resulting photo seems darker than I'm used to (see the posts from past years).

As for the subject matter, this idea came to me around the time I was drawing my 2012 picture; I usually have an idea or two in reserve.

I'll leave it up to you to decide if Santa is genuinely ill or just faking - because he wants the night off. (Although, he does have dark, purple circles under his eyes... I know, because I put them there!)

If you look closely, you'll see that even the reindeer are rolling their eyes at the events unfolding before them.

So...to one and all, Happy Holidays and all the best for 2014!


Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Season's Greetings 2012!

This year, it was nip and tuck if I would find the time to prepare a cartoon for my Christmas card. I started this tradition and then using the resulting drawing to make Christmas cards, several years ago, so I feel I must keep the tradition going!

"You can skip the 'James Bond' routine, Nick! I know it's already the 27th."

I did manage to pull it off; family members and some overseas contacts get the hard copy version and then I share online with everyone else.

This year's effort was rather inspired by all the old - read Sean Connery era - James Bond movies a friend and I rented. (We rather became purists and deemed those made after the original 4 or 5 to lack the sense of humor of the early films.) (Although we thoroughly enjoyed 'Skyfall'.)

As always, the art work was done in oil pastels on paper, then shot digitally and reproduced.

Oh, in case you're wondering about the decor in the Clauses home, you have to consider that it reflects the level of budget they have to work with, given that Santa only works one night a year!

Have a very merry holiday season!

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

2011 Holiday Art!

Each year, for the past several years, I've made my own cards to send out my holiday greetings.

In the early days of this endeavor, I first used a cartoon I drew, then I used my oil paintings as the starting point but, as oil painting is time intensive, I eventually switched to oil pastels on paper.

Then, I have photos made of the artwork and paste these photos onto cards. It's fun but labor-intensive, meaning I tend now to only exchange these cards with friends and relatives who send me cards in return.

For everyone else I know, I am offering the online version and wish you all the best for the holidays and the new year ahead!

"Hey! At the North Pole, we hold our Xmas Party after Christmas!"

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer