Teen Titans' Starfire Dachshund

I finally pushed the super canine series past Ansel's comfort zone:  This one was just too girly and lacked a masculine mask.

I gave careful consideration last night to what sort of dog was going to do the Teen Titans' Starfire's flowing orange hair and tawny complexion justice, but the kids were not impressed.

I decided to use the Teen Titans television show design of Starfire's costume rather than the sublimely-ridiculous-on-a-dog (and just plain ridiculous on a human) comic book version of her costume.  While it would not be particularly sexy on a dachshund, the reference seemed a bit strong for Kindergarten.  

I find I am suffering from an urge to draw Wonder Woman as a Pit Bull, but I know that will not go over well.

Ansel took an old napkin to school this morning.

Kid Flash Italian Greyhound

The super canine theme has not yet lost its appeal.  Ansel did not give me any grief about taking this super greyhound to school today.

I had some obvious problems with the translation of the costume, and expected criticism this morning.  While I am definitely not an authority on the Flash, I assume the ears should be under the lightning bolt laden ear muffs....  but I was unable to give up the floppy dog ears.

I am working with the theory that, like the goggles, the ear pieces are retractable and just are not in use in this particular image. 

Teen Titans Cyborg Bulldog

Continuing the superhero canine theme: I tried to draw what Archer called "CyBullDog."

Booyah! as the human version would say.  Ansel seemed amused, although I am going to bet that most of the kids at his Kindergarten lunch table today might not be clear on who this guy is.

I'm not sure who comes next...I am afraid that Raven, Starfire, and Beast Boy somehow don't lend themselves to the canine treatment.  Maybe someone more Young Justice, like Arsenal or Artemis? Or a Kid Flash whippet perhaps?

Nightwing Hound (Young Justice Version)

After the success of the previous Teen Titans Robin Pug, Ansel asked me to do a dog wearing Nightwing's costume from the latest season of "Young Justice."  Somehow the Chihuahua in the suit ended up looking more nefarious than adorable, but Ansel accepted it for his lunchbox with a smirk this morning.

Dragon Birthday Cake

A rare untrademarked dragon, completely unassociated with a video game or television show, on the 10th birthday cake.  I decided to just embrace the unprofessional squirty nature of my frosting application technique.  The more frosting, the better, as far as the kids are concerned anyway.

Teen Titans Robin Pug

I was engaged in some super gratifying domestic tasks (cleaning the kitchen, folding the laundry, frosting a birthday cake...and yes, this is sarcasm) until midnight last night, and seriously considered shirking the napkin duty and going to bed for a luxurious 5 1/2 hours.  

I persevered because I am trying to prove that I do not require sleep like other human beings (and yes, I know sarcasm is the last refuge of the pathetic and overwhelmed)

Ruling out any complicated multi-superhero compositions, I went for simple immediate gratification and a very fast drawing.  Robin is almost always good, and pugs have a high approval rating with my sons.  How could a pug dressed as Robin fail?  

Remarkably enough, both kids approved this morning.

Hiccup from DreamWorks "Dragons" with Teen Titans' Robin

In his superhero context, Robin is all about brains over brawn.  Like Hiccup, he is the smart, skinny guy in the group.  But everything is relative, and Robin might be a hard guy to keep up with, particularly if one has a metal foot.  Then again, Hiccup does have his own personal dragon.  

But perhaps Hiccup looks less than pleased because he knows I did such a poor job drawing him?  Hiccup lives in a different anatomical universe than the Titans, and pairing him with Robin made him look more wimpy than usual by comparison.

Ansel accepted this napkin without comment this morning, so maybe it didn't look too bad to him

Teen Titans' Beast Boy and Ben 10 Go Big

Conservation of mass? What conservation of mass? 

In the world of implausible super powers, the ability to instantaneously morph from a single cell organism to a giant dinosaur (or from a small boy to a 100 foot tall alien) certainly requires a greater than usual suspension of disbelief.  

The boys and I have discussed just where is it that Beast Boy and Ben get (or store) all that extra stuff? A personal pocket dimension is the leading explanation, although it is pretty clear that the kids don't really get the concept of mass.... I probably don't either, really.

I got started on this one long after the time I should have already been in bed, so it, as Ansel would say, "is not some of my best work."  It's not clear what is going on in back with the Tyrannosaur and Ben's alien Way Big.  The intention was that the alien was holding the dinosaur... or at least patting him congenially on the back, but it's not really working either way.  

And the placement of the two guys in front is unfortunate and sloppy.  Revisions are just not possible on napkins...although I did move Garfield and Ben's arms around a bit so that it looked a bit less like they are reaching for one another's groin.  There is a very active subgenre of fan images of that sort of thing, and I was definitely not aiming to be part of it.  Nonetheless, their postures and expressions, still seem a bit peculiar.

Dragon Cupcakes

Dragonish cupcakes for the 10th birthday snack at school later this week:  They are supposed to just be dragons... not DragonVale dragons, or Dreamworks dragons:  a rare exercise in frosting that does not aspire to trademark infringement. 

These cupcakes are quite small- about 2" in diameter.  I offer this information only to help excuse my lack of frosting finesse. 

One more birthday cake to go, and then I am done with frosting duties until next February.

Ben 10 with Finn and Jake from Adventure Time

Our sons have been watching "Adventure Time" for a while, but there have not been any napkin  requests until this one.  

Jake the metamorphic dog looking like Armodrillo from Ben 10 Omniverse was the specific assignment, but I added Ben Tennyson himself and Finn the human for scale.  Archer and Ansel then debated whether Jake just looks like Armodrillo, or would he actually have the alien's powers?

Shapeshifting is always compelling for small boys, particularly when there is a large increase in size.  The law of conservation of mass gets a real workout on both "Adventure Time" and "Ben 10."

Canine Cosplay: Harry as Ace the Bat-Hound

Harry is a rather obliging dog that my kids know in the real world.  While he would probably be willing to put on an Ace outfit if enough dog treats were involved, the canine cosplay in this case is purely imaginary.

Space Canine Patrol Agents from DC Super Pets

We have been working our way through the very extensive DC Super Pets! book series.

Ansel was quite disappointed that I neglected to include his personal favorite Ace the Bat-Hound on this particular napkin.

In my defense, Ace was not included in the book we read last night, "Cat Crime Club" by Steve Korte, art by Art Baltazar.  Like Batman, Ace does not have any actual super powers, so perhaps his interplanetary activities are limited?

Alvin, Luke, Joker and Skips (Voices Courtesy of Mark Hamill)

From left to right:

Alvin the Treacherous from Dreamworks' "Dragons: Riders of Berk" 

Luke Skywalker from the first three "Star Wars" films

The Joker from "Batman Animated"  

Skips from "The Regular Show

My sons are just not quite willing to accept that so many of their favorite characters are voiced by one person, Mark Hamill.  

Animal Man vs. The Parasite with Black Clay

Animal Man and the Parasite star in Ansel's action figure diorama as "Video Game Master" and an unnamed purple bad guy.  I am not sure if the black Model Magic wrapped around the Parasite is a super power or a liability, but it seems likely that Animal Man has the upper hand, or fist.  

Ansel felt I was shirking my napkin duty because I had not filled in a specific background.  I suggested that perhaps it was atmospheric smoke, but he still thought I had been lazy.

Power Ranger and Batman Action Figures

Ansel wanted me to draw his action figure diorama from last night.  

There were actually six figures involved- one covered almost entirely in black Model Magic.  All of them are performing the roles of other characters: Batman is a "Thug," the Power Rangers are "TV Heroes"... and after that, I lost track.  

I failed to get all 6 on the napkin.  I already had enough at... 2 and 3/4?....but Ansel thought it was good enough this morning.  

Jack and the Beanstalk and Milky White, Secret Agent

Ansel has been suffering from stomach distress at bedtime lately, so I resorted to a long, meandering recounting of Jack and The Beanstalk while trying to induce sleep last night.  

Our version of the story seemed to be much about the cow.  Milky White started out sitting in the living room on her own couch, watching daytime talk shows on television.  At Archer's urging, she reappeared at the end, wearing a "Perry the Platypus" style secret agent fedora, and rescuing Jack from the nasty giant by cutting the beanstalk down with a laser.

Ansel was not much impressed with the napkin this morning.  Perhaps I hallucinated the whole thing in my sleep deprived haze last night.

Ben Tennyson (Ben 10 Omniverse) and Peter Parker (Ultimate Spider-Man)

Ben Tennyson and Peter Parker (both by Man of Action): Perhaps they are debating whose show is more popular? Or whose hair looks better?

Ben 10's Swampfire and Heatblast with Skylanders' Hot Dog

Three flaming characters crammed implausibly onto one napkin. Ansel specifically requested all three and told me to make sure that they did not "blend into the background."  I guess he meant that the surroundings should not also be on fire.

Ben 10 of Omniverse and Skylanders Wrecking Ball

Ben 10 (the Omniverse version) and Skylander's Wrecking Ball sit around in bad perspective land.  Ansel was not bothered by my lazy drawing, but both he and his brother worried about why Ben was not standing up and just what he was doing with his hand.

I realized a day later, much to my horror, that I had neglected to draw the all important Omnitrix on Ben's arm.  Strangely, neither of my child critics caught the lapse.

Wrecking Ball Shirt and Cake

One last birthday picture: I don't usually post shots of actual kid events on this blog, but the image of the Wrecking Ball shirt tonguing the frosting Wrecking Ball amused me.

Ben 10 Omniverse's Heatblast and Swampfire

Ansel was so displeased with this drawing of Ben 10 Omniverse's Heatblast and Swampfire that he took an older napkin instead this morning. He told me the placement of the Omnitrix symbol on Swampfire was wrong. He remained unconvinced even after I revealed (pathetically) that I had looked it up on the Ben 10 wiki last night.

Birthday Cake with Swampfire, Wrecking Ball and Dragonvale Sun Dragon

The sixth birthday cake:  Not one of my better efforts in frosting, but it does have three characters on it...and a large amount of frosting.  

Ansel's first question: "Why does Wrecking Ball look sick?"  

I did my best.  

Wrecking Ball Shirt

A detail of the shirt without the child.  There was some debate this morning about whether Wrecking Ball's teeth should have been longer... depends which series he is from perhaps?  But I had come to the conclusion that the tongue was already pushing it a bit for Quaker Kindergarten wear, so I decided to downplay the teeth.

Skylanders Wrecking Ball Birthday Shirt

I finally managed to paint a shirt featuring the ever beloved Wrecking Ball and his tongue.  My son doesn't look it, but he was actually fairly pleased with the shirt.

Ben 10's SpiderMonkey and Spider-Man with Birthday Cake

Today is the big day at school: frosted cupcakes and official acknowledgement of Ansel's sixness.
I have yet to make the cake for the birthday party this weekend, and unfortunately it will not be as simple as the one above held by the anatomically challenged Spidermonkey and Man.