Presidential Tanning

Four Tan Men:

(Happy Presidents Day)

I gather from a few minutes of online research that today’s school holiday originated as George Washington’s Birthday (February 22nd), later included Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12th)...and was finally codified into a federal holiday by Richard Nixon’s executive order, passing all of the provisions of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971. 

In other words, an opportunity to draw our current executive in chief with some of his holiday-related predecessors.

I notice the color photos of Richard Nixon available online seem to suggest that he was often a well tanned man. (The days of Kodachrome film perhaps?)

One can only guess that in the days before electric lights, Presidents Washington and Lincoln got enough outdoor time to maintain their healthy complexions. 

Presidents Day 2019

Presidents’ Day

I asked my younger son what he thought I should draw for Presidents Day and he said, “A pug. Everyone likes pugs.” Ok. Here is the Mount Rushmore crew riding a pug...on a beach. Because if you are going to ride a giant pug, why not on a beach?

After my son looked at it, he told me that I should have drawn a pug with George Washington’s face instead.

Maybe next year?

Happy Presidents' Day?

Presidential Pyramid Scheme:

Both kids were home today so I was busy with feeding, cleaning and transporting activities, so this napkin suffered from lack of attention.

While I was drawing, I tried to sit down with my younger son and talk him through the various characters of the living former presidents and my memories and impressions of them, but we only made it to Bill Clinton before he completely lost patience with me. 

Frustrated, I said something about how he always thwarted my attempts to teach him something and feel proud of myself for being educational. I was trying to be funny, but was simultaneously rather pathetic.

He said helpfully, "Oh, don't worry Mom, I am proud of you anyway."

Happy Presidents Day.

Presidential Bros Smash

 Belatedly for Presidents Day:
(It's still "Presidents Week," right?)

I asked the kids to name as many Presidents as they could to generate the cast of characters above.  (They also mentioned John Quincy Adams, but I did not manage to work him in.)

The composition is of course based on the Super Smash Bros Wii U case image.  I say "of course" for those who spend a lot of time looking at Nintendo game cases strewn on the floor in front of the TV.

My kids wanted me to draw the Presidents all playing in a Super Smash game. I told them it was unlikely that I was capable of pulling that off. I can barely watch a Super Smash Game without wanting to have a seizure, let alone play, or draw it.

Some of the choices here were obvious: Lincoln is in Link's spot, Taft is in for Kirby, Teddy Roosevelt for Donkey Kong, JFK for Princess Peach...

Or perhaps not. Maybe it makes no sense at all.

Abe and George on Rockets for Presidents Day

Abraham Lincoln's "rocket chair" was  definitely one of the many high points of the LEGO Movie according to our kids.

I thought perhaps in honor of the holiday, another cliche art-historical representation of a president could benefit from a rocket powered addition.

(For the original Daniel Chester French Lincoln Memorial, the precursor  of the LEGO chair, click this link.  For  Emanuel Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware" click this link.)

The kids are out of school thanks to Presidents Day, so we are enjoying our extra day at home, bickering about the doing and the not doing of homework. This napkin is for the stack of "back-up" napkins that sit on top of the microwave, ready to be rejected again some morning when the most recent napkin proves to be too disappointing to be taken to school.