Scott E Franson

I have moved

2009-09-20T17:47:00.010-06:00

My blog has moved
Please come for a visit at scottefranson.com

Life in Lyman: Orphan Anne

2009-07-16T11:54:00.002-06:00

“I’m an orphan!” my youngest said to her friend proudly.

“No your not!”

“Yes I am! My mom and dad said so!”

Life in Lyman: Lost & Found

2009-07-04T14:35:00.002-06:00

We just stopped at my parents for a minute to pick up 2 children. Surely Pria would be OK in the front yard. As we planned to leave we called for her and she didn't come. Then we heard the fireworks from down the street. She hates fireworks. We looked and called and looked and called the police and looked until dark. It was no use, she could be anywhere and fireworks were going off all over town.

Pria likes Brenda the best and so Brenda was missing Pria the most. It was a tough night. I made a lost dog poster and first thing in the morning we went to the store and made copies. We hung up a copy of the poster in the store and went to my parents home to pick up the children so they could help hang up posters. I began trimming a small version of the poster to hand out at the fourth of July parade if necessary. As I trimmed away there was a joyful scream "Pria! Here girl. Here girl. I found her!" yelled my son. Pria had returned a bit damp but in one piece. The relief cheered everyone up and I discovered something about myself. I make good Lost Dog posters.

Life in Lyman: Sit

2009-07-02T06:50:00.002-06:00

After 10 years the rope finally breaks and our swing is a sit. I am so glad it didn't involve a visit to the emergency room. This is how it went down.

Dad! Dad! We get a new swing. Isn't it funny? Can I be on a stamp now?

Life in Lyman: Not Math

2009-06-30T13:21:00.003-06:00

Bad grades in Algebra. How can that be? It can be because she reads all day. We had to ground her from books.

It still didn’t work she kept reading in class. So Brenda set the plan into action. She gave the teacher permission to take the book and then sing (to the tune of If your Happy and You Know It) I am the meanest mom in the world.

Life in Lyman: Scattered Sunshine

2009-06-29T14:11:00.004-06:00

As we left for our doctors appointment/wedding/family reunion last week I locked the front door and walked past out front flower bed on the way to the car. We have been getting complements since the flowers started to bloom. I would take some credit, but all credit belongs to a kind neighbor who planted it for us when we were in Salt Lake recovering from Liver Transplant. The neighbor is the kind of gardener that plants with a ruler. All of the plants are just the right height and just the right distance apart.

That is why I was curious about the 50+ little green sprouts about one inch high scattered throughout the flower bed. I could tell that they were sunflowers. So on our drive I asked Brenda about the sunflowers in the flower bed she smiled and blamed it on my daughter who immediately gave her the credit for the idea. Scattered sunshine is growing among the meticulously measured and planned. I guess some randomness keeps life interesting.

Life in Lyman: Kids

2009-06-24T00:07:00.003-06:00

Goats can climb trees. I’ve heard about it, but now I’ve seen it. It makes sense, they climb mountains. Well, goats also like more than anything else, the one thing that is just out of reach. They climb and strain and struggle when right around them is all they could ever want. I guess there is a good reason baby goats are called kids.

Life in Lyman: Mt Everest

2009-06-22T06:30:00.005-06:00

When everyone comes home from camping trips they bring a mountain of work with them. I never knew we had so many clothes. I helped fold and fold and fold. Just when I thought we were making progress another mountain would loom up before us. The white flag at the top is not a victory flag, it is for surrender. I think unlike Everest, laundry is a mountain that no one will ever finish climbing.

Life in Lyman: Chicken Hypnotism

2009-06-19T06:00:00.002-06:00

It’s not dead. It is just hypnotized. I can't believe it myself. All it takes is a chicken, the ground and a stick. Gently lay the chicken down on the ground. Draw an arch in the dirt around the head of the chicken and after a moment you can let go and the chicken will just lay there. My two oldest daughters are great hypnotists.

No animals were harmed in the creation of this stamp.

5th Grade Joke: Sticky

2009-06-18T19:38:00.000-06:00

What is brown and sticky?

a stick

Life in Lyman: Lone Man

2009-06-18T06:00:00.008-06:00

Whenever Brenda hears about a man not treating his wife well, she says that he will be a lone man in the Garden of Eden. You should know, I did not do anything to deserve being a lone man.

The older girls are at camp and Brenda took the others to Island Park. I have been home alone for the past two days. It is very quiet, except for the goats. I have been working on several projects and have be productive. But, it is very quiet. Hard to sleep quiet. So while I am not a lone man, I am alone man.

Besides, If you really want to know the truth, I just wanted to show off my scar.

Life in Lyman: Parrot Piñata

2009-06-17T06:00:00.001-06:00

Two days before Halloween and the costumes are done. The kids wanted to be parrots and Brenda sewed long strips of material onto a sweatshirt to simulate feathers. The kids loved them and wore them all around the house. They did end up looking a bit more like a piñata than a parrot, but the kids didn’t care.

We went into town to the grocery store and the children were still wearing the costumes. Brenda and my 13 year old daughter happily dressed in her costume went in to the store.

Let’s review: 2 days before Halloween, 13 year old girl, costume made with bright colored fabric cut in long strips, waiting in the check out line. That is why it confused the young hispanic boy. He stared at her in disbelief and kept saying ¿Por Qué? ¿Por Qué? ¿Por Qué?

I want to know why myself.

Why would a 13 year old girl dress up like a piñata and go to the store? ¿Por Qué?

Life in Lyman: Drawing Dragons

2009-06-16T06:00:00.004-06:00

My 12 year old likes to draw dragons. Here is her favorite, Flower. Flower is a nature dragon that breathes flowers.

After seeing the drawing, Brenda said she wishes that when she opens her mouth that flowers would come out, but that just isn't the case.

Life in Lyman: Pretty in Pink

2009-06-15T06:00:00.007-06:00

"What if everything in the world were pink?" said my five year old. "The Flowers, and grass, and trees, and clouds. Would you like that mom?"

"No." said Brenda.

"Oh yeah," she said, "Then boys wouldn't like it."

I agree.

As a boy I have vivid memories of pushing my Tonka Truck around the block. Ku chunk, Ka chunk, Ka chunk, as I ran over the cracks in the sidewalk. I could feel the vibration in my teeth the whole time hearing the grinding of metal against metal and the grit of the plastic wheels on concrete. It is such a good memory that it makes me think in order for life to really be good, some things just have to be yellow.

Life in Lyman: Going Postal

2009-06-12T00:00:00.001-06:00

What was the postman thinking when he post marked this? Postal and pretty uptight that someone might try to use a lightly post marked stamp. It should be obvious that there was postage on this. I can't believe they would send it back for more.

I have run out of stamps and won't be able to get to the post office for a few days and didn't want anyone to worry. Life in Lyman, is pretty good right now and I am going to enjoy some time with my family outside of Lyman for a few days.

I think I need to give our local postman a chance to cool down.

Life in Lyman: Toothless Fairy

2009-06-11T13:04:00.003-06:00

Tooth number three came out yesterday morning. She is so excited about loosing teeth that she really worked on this one and it still had a pretty good root attached.

Now, you know the drill. Under the pillow, money in the morning. But the tooth fairy didn't come. Shame on the tooth fairy! The tooth fairy's spouse must have been out of town visiting family. That is the only explanation for a botched tooth heist.

" My tooth is still under my pillow! The tooth fairy didn't come. Oh well," said my Toothless Fairy with a smile. "Maybe the tooth fairy will come tonight."

Life in Lyman: Eden

2009-06-10T17:24:00.005-06:00

I think we live in the children's Garden of Eden. Every day there is something new to discover and scare your little sister with. My oldest daughter caught a snake today. It spent a half an hour in a jar and produced a satisfying scream from her little sister. There is a little bit of evil in that smile.

Life in Lyman: Fish Farming

2009-06-09T09:34:00.006-06:00

Brenda was talking to the neighbor and he mentioned that he was stocking his pond (aka gravel pit) with fish and wondered if she wanted to buy some fish and fish food. And just like that, we are fish farmers.

I have known about our new farming venture for a few weeks now, but I wasn't too surprised or even very interested. I really am a city boy who likes a little more space. So becoming a farmer isn't high on my list of dreams. A dog, 10 chickens, 3 goats, and now 25ish fish.

Last night we stopped by to feed the fish and it was really cool. The best part is when it comes time to eat them, none of them will have names.

Life in Lyman: Click-ity-Click-ity-Click-ity

2009-06-07T22:39:00.006-06:00

We have great new neighbor. They moved in almost a year ago and remodeled an old shop into a dance studio and started teaching clogging lessons. It has been wonderful for all of the children. A big concert was the grand finale for the dance season. All of the children did a wonderful job. My oldest daughter received an award for The Most Improved clogger of the season. When she dances you can tell she is having a great time, the wide smile on her face never fades.

Life in Lyman: Time Flies

2009-06-07T13:51:00.005-06:00

Time flies, but should it? I guess that it depends on if it is made of gold , is connected to a chain and is flying around your head. SMACK! right in the middle of her forehead. She didn't cry as the bump grew but her entire face silently said out loud, "That was pretty stupid, huh."

Life in Lyman: Whiteout

2009-06-06T00:00:00.004-06:00

It rained, it poured and I found out that goats can scream. I thought that they usually made a fair amount of noise but they can make more. I was in the house and heard them. Whiteout was on a leash that just let him put his head under some play equipment. So I went out and made each of them a shelter just in time for the rain to stop. At this point we were all wet and quiet. I decided to show the quiet Whiteout in his wet coat instead of the screaming Whiteout because it might make some people afraid of goats. Goats really are very nice people.

Whiteout is a LaMancha/Nigerian Dwarf cross and yes, his ears are really that small.

To make this fit for Illustrationfriday.com: A goat craving sunshine.

Life in Lyman: Flax

2009-06-05T10:08:00.005-06:00

In "Life in Lyman" I choose flax as our national flower. Everyday, fresh in the morning, the flax is in bloom dripping with dew. During the day the wind removes the petals and the sun bleaches the few that remain to white. But, The next morning they are back and ready for a new day.

The first time I remember noticing flax was on our Honeymoon. I picked a small bouquet of it for Brenda. Since then I have loved it. It is a roadside reminder filled with great memories.

We have had a pretty good patch of of in the back yard until this year, but FYI, goats love to eat flax.

Life in Lyman: I Love You

2009-06-03T08:00:00.004-06:00

School is over and summer vacation started with a bang. No one really got hurt just a lot of mean words, even from me which won't even remotely surprise some of you. We have a funny way of telling people we love them.

Life in Lyman: Rooster Prayer

2009-06-03T00:00:00.009-06:00

The prayer of a five-year old

I'm thankful for that we need to be nice to each other and help one another. Please bless the roosters so that when we eat them we won't get sick.

The chickens came in an even dozen. During the last few months we lost one to sickness and one to a cat. The ten that remain are healthy and doing well. As it turns out four to five of them are roosters and have started to crow. They are not very good at it yet, but they are getting better. We are trying to decide what to do with the roosters. Apparently my youngest daughter has been thinking about it as well.

Life in Lyman: e-i-e-i-o

2009-06-02T00:00:00.001-06:00

My wife Brenda has a farm

e-i-e-i-o

On her farm she has 10 chickens

e-i-e-i-o

One dog here and one goat there  

here a goat there a goat  

everywhere a drop of goat

My wife Brenda has a farm

e-i-e-i-o

Life in Lyman: Boing-1019-Boing-1020!

2009-06-01T00:00:00.005-06:00

After owning the pogo stick with his sisters for one day, the Boings totaled One thousand twenty non-stop, in a row, without stopping, Boings! I wonder what the record will be at the end of the summer.

Life in Lyman: Ginger's Udder End

2009-05-31T08:00:00.006-06:00

There were attempts to milk Ginger. While I would have nothing to do with it, it was an interesting adventure for the three days that it happened.

Day one: 1/2 cup milk, stepped in - we fed it to Whiteout.

Day two: 1/2 cup milk, stepped in again - Whiteout has more milk.

Day three: Ginger sat down and that was the udder end.

Life in Lyman: Ginger

2009-05-30T08:00:00.007-06:00

Ginger is our second goat. She is a Nigerian Dwarf and she likes to climb trees which can be dangerous if you are on a leash and fall out of the tree. Don’t worry, she is OK.

She is not quite as friendly and her poops are bigger than Sweetpea’s. The only thing good about that is that we can send the kids out to pick up after her if they start fighting. It should make good fertilizer for the garden and gives our children a character building experience.

She came with a kid. His name is Whiteout and I will be introduce him a little later.

Ginger is a picky eater. Can you believe it? I have never heard of a goat being a picky eater. One reason that the goats found a home here anyway was to keep the lawn trimmed, but she won’t eat dandelions.

Life in Lyman: Not at My House

2009-05-29T08:00:00.003-06:00

"I don't want "meat" rabbits at my house! Who would kill them? Would you kill them?" I asked my five year old daughter.

"No." she said.

"I would take them to a slaughter house." said my wife.

"Oh, that is someone that has a tree cut down." said my daughter.

After a short pause. "Do you mean someone with a tree stump?" I said

"Yes!" she said, then she began singing, "Kill the wabbit. Kill the wabbit."

Life in Lyman: Snip

2009-05-28T08:00:00.012-06:00

My youngest daughter likes to cut hair. She use to scalp her sisters stuffed animals, but that ended in weeping, whaling and gnashing of teeth. It really was very traumatic. Her first "real" self inflicted haircut resulted in her long golden curls hidden under her bed, behind the couch, behind our old wood stove. Little locks of love for a whole drill team of Barbies. It happened over a period of time. Her hair was so curly it was hard to tell if she had cut her hair. The result was a really bad mullit. The second cutting episode (as far as we know) was less dramatic with a chunk of hair missing from her bangs. That is the way she looks today.

She has such a sweet disposition that it is difficult to get mad at her. If you do get mad she just lets it roll off and says something kind and loving back to you. Then when you least expect it, snip, snip. I just hope that she stays away from the stuffed animals.

Life in Lyman: The Incident

2009-05-27T08:00:00.005-06:00

I had a meeting in town, some lab work at the hospital, and a quick lunch on the way home. Upon arriving home I found the TV & Hammer on the front porch with a note saying, "ReBirthday Gift." I really don't care that much about the Television, but something serious must have happened to cause "The Incident."

I slowly gathered my things from the car with my mind racing. I was afraid that I would find Brenda in the fetal position in our laundry room. My heart raced and I am sure that I was much more pale than usual. As I open the front door I saw Brenda helping the kids put a movie in our "Brand New VCR/DVD" on top of a "New TV." I was having a hard time putting all of the pieces together because I knew that my wife would never spend money on a TV. She was smiling, this is good. Then laughing. Everything seemed to be going OK.

It turns out that the TV, VCR/DVD was a gift from some very kind neighbors that had fun planning "The Incident" with my wife. I am sure that they laughed wickedly (Whoo Ha Ha Ha!). I know my wife did.

Life in Lyman: ReBirthday

2009-05-26T08:00:00.005-06:00

It is my first year rebirthday and it is a good and happy day for my family and a sad day for another family. One year ago a family lost a good man. I don't know much about him, but I know that he was generous in choosing to be an organ donor. I look forward to meeting him in heaven. My heart and prayers are with him and his family today. I will never be able to thank him enough. I have a perfectly functioning liver today thanks to him.

Please consider being an organ donor. The blessings will reach far beyond your imagination. You can give life. My donor gave me the gift of life. Like everyone's life mine is filled with joys and challenges and I am thankful for each new day.

Life in Lyman: Lilacs

2009-05-25T07:44:00.007-06:00

Lilacs always remind me of Memorial Day. I have little recollection of visiting any graves on a regular basis until after I was married. My wife's family would meet at her Grandma Lovell's home, pick lilacs and go to the cemetery in Ririe. I didn't know any of the people who's graves we were visiting and so for me it was a nice outing usually on a beautiful summer day.

After years of visiting the cemetery things are different. Grandma Lovell has passed away and that is who I think about. I think about sitting around her kitchen table always with plenty of food, usually ham. There was always desert, cookies with real butter and ice cream in a small green glass bowl.

When I go to the cemetery now I think of her. A kind, intelligent and loving person who always remembered those who had gone before. For me, I always remember her when I see or smell lilacs.

Life in Lyman: Not Houdini

2009-05-24T13:51:00.008-06:00

Sweetpea is not Houdini.

Houdini may have been good at getting out of knots and chains, but Sweetpea is better at getting in to them. We have her on a long tether so that she has a good amount of feeding space with out access to the newly planted garden. But she likes to use the tether to tie herself in knots. It is not uncommon to hear, "Sweetpea is all tangled up could someone please untangle her?" Needless to say the kids are getting as good as Houdini at getting out of knots.

Life in Lyman: Up up & away

2009-05-23T13:07:00.012-06:00

I heard the tears while I was still in bed. They were so sad. One of the other children came running to tell me that my five year old daughter had let her balloon go outside. The tears were soon remedied with a gift of a red balloon from her older sister, but the yellow one is gone.

"Where could it be now?" my son said while we were eating breakfast.

"In India." the five year old said resolutely.

"What do you know about India?" my son challenged.

"It is where the Indians live." she said, and that was that.

Life in Lyman in Stamps

2009-05-23T00:20:00.008-06:00

Sweetpea is a new edition to our small but growing farm. She is a pygmy goat about 2 years old. She is fun to play with and when necessary she stands her ground. She likes to head butt her reflection in the sliding glass door. She may have kids in July but there is no way to tell because they are as tall as they are fat anyway.

When she bleats she opens her mouth sticks her tongue out lets out a long quivering bleeeeeeeeeet. The quivering comes from the tongue.

They have square slits for pupils. Strange but cool. Hopefully there will be some Sweetpea stories in the future of this blog. I love my wife. She keeps my life grounded with a surprise hear and there.

IF: contagious

2009-05-20T17:45:00.004-06:00

Warning from the Center of Disease Control. Forget about the Swine Flue, several swine in Iowa have contracted People Pox. The disease is highly contagious and can be fatal. Symptoms include breaking out in red spots and giving off body oder that smells like frying bacon on a Saturday morning at your Grandma's house.

Close Up

2009-05-20T13:15:00.001-06:00

New yarn hair and a close up.

Rag Doll

2009-05-19T15:12:00.005-06:00

Todays experiment is an old fashioned rag doll. I have been working on the felt texture so that it feels like it is made up of a variety of close colors instead of exactly the same color. The yarn hair looks interesting, but it doesn't look like yarn. The buttons remind me of Coraline. Maybe I should make some dolls to spy for me.

Duck Pond: The Ballet

2009-05-16T20:56:00.004-06:00

School productions are always fun. Here is a kindergarten production of Duck Pond: The Ballet. That's my girl! The one in the middle! The one missing her bottom two teeth!

I have been working on creating digital felt textures and embroidery. The image started as a parade of bird hats for illustrationfriday.com but I didn't finish in time.

May 1st seems like a good day to start living again

2009-05-01T09:24:00.003-06:00

The past two years have been filled with medical challenges for me. Bile duct cancer, cancer treatment and liver transplant. (Thank you to my donor and their family).

So with most of that behind me, May 1st seems like a good day to start living again.

I have the summer off from school and have plans to get another book sold. There are several ideas that have promise. My first goal is to get a revised dummy sent to my publisher. I will have it in the mail one week from today.

Life in Lyman: Boing-1019-Boing-1020!

2009-05-01T08:00:00.001-06:00

One Thousand twenty non-stop Boings! We will have to see if he sets a higher record this summer.

Tutorial: Digital Cut Paper

2009-02-12T11:38:00.002-07:00

Tutorial: Digital Cut Paper from Scott E Franson on Vimeo.

This is a basic tutorial to create a cut paper effect using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

I am sorry, The video ends abruptly. I am trying to work out the bugs in the process.

An Apple

2009-02-03T08:49:00.005-07:00

It doesn't quite look like oil lift out, but I think it is interesting.

class

2009-01-08T17:19:00.007-07:00

This is the beginning of a new Digital Illustration class. I hope to see great work and progress this semester. Please feel free to make comments on the students work over the semester. They want to be better illustrators at the conclusion of the class.

A Drip at a Time

2009-01-01T19:31:00.004-07:00

I have learned a lot from examining the HTML/CSS code from my blogger template and then changing it one parameter at a time. I opened and copied the source code in my browser and pasted it into Dreamweaver. This allowed me to make changes in Dreamweaver. Then I copied the code and pasted back into the Blogger HTML editor.

The process of going back and forth between the two program was slow but it helped me understand the code.

I still have a ways to go but it is getting better.

5th Grade Joke — Rated G

2008-12-31T18:57:00.006-07:00

Tonight at the dinner table I remembered this old joke. My children and I had a good laugh. I hope it gives you a smile. (hint: read it out loud)

ABCD Fishies
A! MNO Fishies
OSMR!
CDEDBDI's

Happy New Year!

Learning CSS

2008-12-31T16:04:00.011-07:00

I have been asked what resources I am using to learn CSS. A Lynda.com membership is the main source and has been very helpful. The process has been really frustrating because there is so much basic CSS knowledge that you need before any of it makes sense. I watched the Dreamweaver CS4 videos several times gaining just a little bit from each pass. Then I built a (very basic) functioning website using an external CSS style sheet. It was a frustrating challenge, but with CSS it is so cool. When I make a change to the CSS style sheet all of the pages in the site are updated. For example, you can update type color site wide. It is like paragraph and character styles in InDesign.

But typography is not the place to start learning CSS. Start with the concept of "div tags". If you are new to CSS, I know that this means nothing to you but it is the foundation for CSS in Dreamweaver. It is the first major concept that I had to know. (I have used tables in the past to design web pages and, "div tags" are not like tables.)

Once again, start with "div tags" not typography.

Wow! I wish I could do that.

2008-12-31T11:09:00.008-07:00

Here is an amazing engraving entitled "Eagle and Treasury Seal", made by United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing engraver John Eissler in 1921 (Die # 10424). The engraving was originally used on official Treasury letterheads. It is now in the public domain.

I am just trying

2008-12-30T15:28:00.002-07:00

As you may notice my blog is in various forms of disarray. I am trying to learn how to customize it with css. Please be patient with me. Who knows, it might just be interesting to watch me fumble around.

Wood Glue

2008-12-29T23:09:00.003-07:00

Three of the four ukulele bridges popped off with the strings tuned and tightened. I designed a new bridge that gave a larger gluing area. Then one of the ukes was bumped off a shelf and the neck broke off. I fixed that one this morning and after a day of drying time I will restring it.

Even with all of the mishaps the ukes have been worth the work. Last night we spent some time with the kids playing them and had a great fun. They are picking it up very quickly.

I am learning CSS for designing web sites and made progress. I will probably change my web site for practice and to make it easier to maintain.

Sproing! Sproing! & Sproing!

2008-12-26T10:12:00.004-07:00

Sproing!

What a terrible sound but I heard it three times yesterday. After applying all of my physics mental capacity I think that I have a solution.

I will let you know as soon as I know if it works.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-25T11:50:00.006-07:00

The morning was wonderful and the kids liked the cigar box ukuleles that I made for each of them. Here are some photos.

(click images to enlarge)

Christmas is Comming

2008-12-22T20:49:00.002-07:00

This year our family is making our gifts that we are giving to each other. It has been really quite fun. I have been working on mine for several weeks. It is not right to post to the world before Christmas day, but I will give a few hints. It is made of plywood & paper and no tobacco was used in the production process.

I will get some photos up as soon as I can.

Coloring a line in Photoshop (video tutorial)

2008-12-10T09:16:00.002-07:00

I am experimenting with creating some video tutorials. Please let me know what you think.

New Process

2008-11-19T13:44:00.002-07:00

I am trying a new process that uses ink washes. Next semester I will be teaching the digital illustration class and I am working on some new possibilities.

Tim, this "Daler Mehndi" is for you!

2008-10-25T22:47:00.003-06:00

This is a video that one of my favorite students brought to motion design class one day. All these years later I still love the finger choreography.

Oct 22-08 Drawing

2008-10-22T20:45:00.006-06:00

I have another book concept that I am excited about and it has absolutely nothing to do with this drawing but I like posting images.

Deciding when to post new book ideas and drawings is always a bit of a dilemma for me. I find myself going through "love it" and "hate it" stages. Currently I "like it" and think that it has some great possibilities.

As for the posted drawing. This type of drawing is so much fun because it just happens. It is a calming meditation. When I start I never know what it will be. This one turned out pretty good I think. Trees are so fun to draw.

The Beginning ... Again

2008-10-17T19:45:00.002-06:00

My creative slate is clean at the moment and I am looking for the next project. I want it to be a book and so I need to find a concept and an interesting way to share the concept. This is a frustrating and exciting part of the process with many dead end roads traveled. There is always a hope that the new perfect idea will land on the drawing table, but I know that only happens when I am actively searching for an idea and traveling dead end roads.

My creative process is based on doing and responding to visuals and words on paper. I have more luck getting ideas in an analog working mode than in a digital mode. For some reason the digital mode becomes about process and less about idea. Even so I almost always find myself staring blankly at my computer screen.

So off I go to some nice clean paper.

Choose to Live

2008-10-17T19:24:00.003-06:00

Just as I was leaving work this evening I noticed that I had a new e mail. I opened it and it was devastating. One of my students was killed in an automobile accident. Truly, I am not afraid of death but it seems such a tragedy for young life to end so suddenly. It always brings the priorities of life into sharp focus. Time is short and life is precious. Please choose to live each moment.

A-Line: 25 Prints

2008-10-05T11:52:00.004-06:00

A-Line is a series of 25 prints based on my doodles. They are on exhibit on the Brigham Young University–Idaho campus in the Spori Gallery. You can also see them on my web site.

Life

2008-10-04T16:46:00.004-06:00

This is from a series of 24 new prints that I did for the faculty art show here at Brigham Young University-Idaho. We had a very nice opening reception on October 2.

This is one of my favorite images from the series. It is titled "Life". I truly am grateful for life and for the donor that made it all possible. Although I will never meet my donor in this lifetime I think of them everyday with thanksgiving. Thank you to everyone that is willing to be an organ donor. Thank you. Thank you.

Illustration Friday: memories

2008-09-01T12:24:00.002-06:00

Illustration Friday: sail

2008-08-08T10:52:00.003-06:00

I sure hope that her arms don't get tired of holding on to the hat.

Pre work for the BYU-Idaho Faculty Art Show

2008-08-05T19:21:00.003-06:00

Today I found out that there will be a faculty art show in October. As I have been away from school for a year I will be looking forward to what the other art faculty put in the show. It also means that I need to do some new work. The show is great incentive to create new work. I have decided to do a series of 4 x 4 inch digital prints. This image is an experiment and the final work may look like this or it may not.

Illustration Friday: poof!

2008-08-05T12:50:00.002-06:00

Illustration Friday: canned

2008-07-26T17:22:00.003-06:00

The soundtrack of my youth began everyday after school. I would get home and watch Gilligan's Island, The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched and I Dream of Jeanie.

It was a simple and good life back in the olden days. We only had a black and white TV and the canned laughter always helped me know when something was funny.

Un-Brella News

2008-07-14T13:25:00.002-06:00

I received some good news today. Un-Brella, my first picture book is being reprinted this week. It is so nice that it has found a niche in the crowded market. The book was first published in April 2007 and so it has taken just over a year for it to sell out the first printing.

Now thanks to Lookybook you can read it right now.

Thank you for looking. Have a great day

Illustration Friday: foggy

2008-07-11T19:38:00.005-06:00

Why does Froggy like it foggy in his little bog?

An UnBook by Scott E. Franson.

Walk:07-11-08

2008-07-11T09:26:00.002-06:00

Walk: 07-10-08

2008-07-10T11:54:00.006-06:00

The only post transplant exercise condoned by my doctors is walking. As it turns out I am most comfortable when walking. So I have been walking around the neighborhood. Today I decided to bring a piece of the walk back with me each day. Here is the first entry from my morning walk.

Illustration Friday: sour

2008-07-09T16:41:00.003-06:00

This is a spread from a book I am working on called Color Buzz. Delicious color mixing: a tragedy. There just aren't enough picture books about tragedy.

It is mosquito season in Idaho. I saw my first one last night while enjoying the cool shade. Bummer! I do like cool Idaho evenings.

Six Weeks and all is Well

2008-07-09T12:56:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was my 6 week "re-birthday". I feel great and will forever be in debt to an unknown donor who gave me a new life. In addition to the liver transplant that I received, the donor gave 2 kidneys, a pancreas, and a heart. All I know is the donor was a male about my body build and my blood type. To all families of donors out there, thank you.

Each day I am feeling stronger and I am looking forward to being the best husband and father I can be.

One of the biggest surprises for me was the hope for the future that I felt. For the past year it hasn't been possible to plan anything, because we lived life waiting for the transplant call.

As far as children's picture books go. I do hope that there are more for me in the future. I have been going through my achieve of ideas and found three ideas that are near completion. I have sent one out to Roaring Brook Press, the publisher of Un-Brella. I enjoyed working with them so much that I hope that they will publish it. I will keep you up to date on what I hear from them.

Colandar Girl

2008-06-13T03:28:00.008-06:00

MISSING: Baby girl wearing a diaper and a t-shirt with a colander on her head. You heard me correctly, a colander on her head.

Based on a true story that has nothing to do with my sister:)

After a frantic search through the neighborhood the police were called in to solve the mystery of the missing toddler with a colander on her head. She was found about a mile away from her home near a busy street picking thorns out of her feet. She was on her way to the store to get some candy. The thorns stopped her from attempting to cross the busy road.

And though she was crying, she returned safely home to us with the colander still on her head.

Good News from Vermont

2008-06-12T08:14:00.005-06:00

I received word from Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont, that one of my bow tie patterns, Costa Mesa, is in the top 10 selling bow ties as well as neck ties. While you are there check out my other patterns, Pamona and Inglewood.

I Feel Good. Oh I Feel So Good!

2008-06-10T21:59:00.006-06:00

I am having a hard time expressing how good I feel. I hope the attached image will help. The left side of the image was taken just before surgery on May 25 and the right side of the image was taken on the morning of May 27.

Thank you to all who have blessed our family over this past year. I will always be grateful to my donor family for the gift of life that they gave in a time of such great personal sorrow.

Donate Life

2008-04-15T13:44:00.003-06:00

It has been nearly a year ago since I first began recognising symptoms that would result in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). I have been treated for the cancer and now wait for a liver transplant. I never dreamed that it would take this long. At the time it looked like I would have a new liver by Halloween and then my life would be back to normal. Well, I am still waiting along with thousands of others who need a gift. Please consider becoming an organ donor. I feel selfish as I am in need, but I would love to have a boring day at work. I miss living.

Digital Painting 19

2008-03-12T10:20:00.003-06:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital painting 18

2008-03-11T10:04:00.001-06:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painiting 17

2008-03-04T12:29:00.001-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 16

2008-02-29T14:52:00.002-07:00

(click on image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 15

2008-02-19T14:39:00.002-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 14

2008-02-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

A Moment that makes Me Smile

2008-02-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

August's Caterpillar*

*Disclaimer: A caterpillar was harmed in the making of this production.

Digital Painting 13

2008-02-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

This is a close up.

Digital Painting 12

2008-02-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 11

2008-02-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

I created the texture used in this image with regular masking tape. Then I used a black acrylic wash over the it. I wasn't expecting the tape to wrinkle but it was a nice surprise. The image was then scanned. The texture is added to the brush under bevel and emboss.

(click image to enlarge)

2008-02-06T17:07:00.001-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 09

2008-01-23T18:16:00.001-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 08

2008-01-23T10:35:00.001-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 07

2008-01-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge image)

Digital Painting 06

2008-01-17T18:17:00.001-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 05

2008-01-17T12:53:00.001-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Digital Painting 04

2008-01-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)

Digital Painting 003

2008-01-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)

Digital Painting 002

2008-01-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

(click on image to enlarge)

I like working in a format that produces a body of work. I have no plans for this series yet, but I love painting them because there is no stress. It is just for fun.

Digital Painting 001

2008-01-09T16:47:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Here is something a little different. I am going to experiment with a series of 5x7 digital paintings. I plan on just starting the painting and see what happens. I am interested in the visual mixing of color. I will spend about an hour on each painting.

A New and Wonderful Book

2007-12-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with HOW TO PAINT THE PORTRAIT OF A BIRD the first time I read it. The cover was interesting, but I didn't open my wallet until I took the time to look through it on Lookybook. I was captured from the very beginning to the end. Take a look you won't regret it.

Mordicai Gerstein has done it again.

I love Lookybook!

X-cess Bug

2007-12-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Another Bug

Un-Brella is now in Lookybook

2007-11-26T19:38:00.001-07:00