I plan to post new strips twice weeky. This latest strip posting begins my regular cycle for Tuesdays and Thursdays. It also is the re-introduction of an old friend of mine, Dalton. We have been together for many years. Dalton was created in 1980 as one of my first comic strip characters. He was an off shoot of a large plant that was growing in our backyard in Houston Texas. I always thought that plant was really trying to express itself with these huge floppy leaves and that inspired me to start drawing Dalton. His original name was Greenie, but Dalton seemed to fit him better, and who am I to argue with a plant about their chosen name anyway. In the Bug Pudding community, as you will soon find out, plants definitely have minds of their own and they aren’t bashful about expressing their opinions either.
Getting Familiar
Getting to know the characters of Bug Pudding will hopefully be as much fun for you guys as it is for me. I plan on introducing them a few at a time beginning with Bentley the snail and Monroe the turtle. I’ve been working with these guys for a while now and they are still evolving as I get more familiar with drawing them.
Above are some expression views that I drew of Bentley. He is actually the evolution of a snail character which I began drawing in 1983, and just like me, he looks a lot different these days. In these sketches he’s missing his very expressive feelers. I actually only like to draw feelers and bug antennas when I’m finishing up a pose. I like to try to catch the feelings of the moment in them. (no pun intended)
Here is a sketch of a close up of poor old Monroe. He is not a happy camper these days with having to vacate his shell due to the summer heat and his unwelcome new neighbors down at the lake. I have to confess that I love drawing Monroe when his is down and out like this. He is sure a funny old geezer.
I hope you enjoyed this quick peek into my behind the scenes sketching and I also hope that you will stick around and get more familiar with the other members of the Bug Pudding cast as they begin to appear over time in future strips.
In The Buff
Somebody sure needs to buy Monroe some boxer shorts as he has shucked his shell for the summer and didn’t offer us any eyewear protection.