draw for a cause
Just Because He Breathed – the animation.
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Rob and Linda Robertson have an unbelievable story that has moved countless people. Tams and I first heard about their story a few months ago through social media and the article Linda had written for Huffington Post that went viral, entitled “Just Because He Breathes: Learning to Truly Love Our Gay Son.”
We didn’t realize they lived a couple hours south of us, and that we had a mutual friend as well. Their story moved us so much, we connected with them via Facebook, and then as fate would have it, managed to have the pleasure of meeting Linda for lunch in October of this year. Having my own struggles with my parents accepting my sexuality, I was just so amazed to hear the grace and love that poured from Linda that day. Even her enthusiasm, to our wedding day, wanting to know more, what a gift that was. We knew we had met a lifelong friend.
Not long after that, we heard that Rob & Linda were asked to be keynote speakers at this year’s Gay Christian Network [GCN] Conference in Chicago.
We had been planning to attend this year for our third conference in a row, and were ecstatic that Rob & Linda would get to share their story with the beautiful community of GCN.
A couple weeks before Christmas, Linda called me and wanted my opinion on an idea for the opening of their keynote speech. She had seen some of my sketches on Facebook – most likely from the Movember batch I was working on – and wondered if I would be up for helping. I did not hesitate, as I would willingly do anything to help this amazing family!
I had a 2 week break coming up from the studio over Christmas, but I had already scheduled a couple projects to work on for that time. I managed to push things around and put aside a solid 4 days to devote to this project.
Working with Linda who wrote the script, their friend [and now mine!] Trenton Waterson who acted as Producer and managed all the details, and his contact Jesse Springer who could do the voiceover work – we managed to pull together this little short film that summarizes their journey with their son Ryan. While I wish I would have had a month or two to work on this and not 4 days, I am so thankful I was able to help out!
Watch and share – this story of true love, hope and redemption is for everyone.
Just Because He Breathed. from theCollaborate on Vimeo.
A Mo’- Success!
This was the first year I decided to jump into the Movember ring and try to raise some money for men’s cancer. Tams and I have men in our life who have been affected by this… and let’s face it, we all know or love someone who has been touched by this. Let’s do what we can to support one another! Some amazing people donated, and we managed to raise almost $400 throughout my month of sketching! It was definitely an exercise in major time-management, but I was so thankful for the opportunity to stretch myself and try some different styles.
My beautiful wife made a contribution, and asked me to draw Santa for Day 30 – so below is a digital painting of what we came up with. We had also just watched the Christmas classic “One Magic Christmas” – so the ending scene had some influence on it as well.
Below is the month in sketches! Thanks again everyone!
Day 29 – My Dad
My Dad is probably my most favourite man on the planet. While we may not agree on everything, he is the most generous, loving and funny man I know. I am so thankful he is my Dad! He had the best handlebar stache in the 70s, so I had to sketch it for Movember 🙂
A whole mess of MO-sketches!
Another catch-up post with a bunch more Movember sketches! Drawing to a close, but what a month it has been!
Day 23 – Commander Hadfield – the first Canadian to walk in space! That’s pretty sweet indeedy. Brush pen on moleskin.
Day 24 – Brother-in-law request – Smokey and the Bandit! Brush pen on moleskin.
Day 25 – Had to do Hook! I reffed the Dustin Hoffman version from the live action Disney film. Great movie! Brush pen on moleskin.
Day 26 – A donor request – Frida Kahlo! She wore her stache proudly, gotta give her props! Brush pen on moleskin.
Day 27 – A friend who donated asked if I could sketch their Bulldog, Lando, with a moustache. Here’s what I came up with! Digital sketch.
Day 28 – Jim Henson! What an incredible man. I have and always will love the Muppets! Brush pen and markers on moleskin.
Just two left to go! I know who they will be, I just need the time to do it…. 🙂
Groucho, hockey, Disney & Mr. Potato Head.
Never know what cast of characters will be thrown together for the latest batch of Movember sketches!
Donate here! http://ca.movember.com/mospace/8179729
Day 19 – Canadian hockey legend Lanny McDonald. Digital sketch.
Day 20 – Groucho Marx. Stache & comedy legend, obviously. Digital sketch.
Day 21 – Walt Disney, the original Imagineer. Digital sketch. I gotta practice my painting of realistic people. Man, that’s the hardest. But this was great practice.
Day 22 – Mr Potato Head! Plastic stache and all. Brush pen on moleskin. I was drawing it while we were speeding down the highway [through construction], so the lines are wibbly!
Movember sketch-up catch-up!
Alrighty, somehow I am managing to keep consistently one day behind… but given my schedule, that’s actually not bad!! Here we gooooooo!
Another reminder to pleeeeeze donate to this great cause – 11 DAYS TO GO!!
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/8179729
Day 14 – Clark Gable in “Gone with the Wind”. Done in pencil.
Day 15 – Request from a donor who is also a fellow Movember-Bro – he asked to be drawn wearing a smoking jacket, and drinking scotch. I live to abide. 🙂 Drawn with Prismacolour pencil crayons.
Day 16 – Another donor request – Ron Burgundy from “Anchorman”. Claaaaaaaasic. Brush pen and pencil crayon.
Day 17 – Couldn’t resist drawing another Muppet! Swedish Chef drawn in Copic markers.
Day 18 – Dali has got to have the most recognizable art – and ‘stache! Done with brush pen and Prismacolour markers.
It’s actually been really fun for me to push myself to try different styles in different mediums. They seem to look better in my head than the final product, but the life of an artist is an ever-evolving one. I must give myself grace and encouragement to keep going, one drawing at a time!
Okay let’s keep ‘er going and finish this marathon of drawings!! Hmm. Drawing for a cause. Wish I could do this more often.
Canadian icons — and a muppet.
Still plugging away at the Movember sketching! A reminder to donate, please go here:
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/8179729
Day 12, I decided to do a well-known Canadian icon – I have certainly grown up with them! Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod of “Body Break” fame. Hal has always sported a lovely ‘stache, so I thought it worthwhile to showcase! If you want to see them in action, here’s a good Youtube clip from back in the day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAnnPje3AlE
Day 13, my lovely wife requested that I do one of her favourites – Uncle Traveling Matt from “Fraggle Rock”! And well, you cannot go wrong with a muppet! I had to do this one in craft paper, couldn’t resist.
Working on Day 14!
My Grandpa for Movember 11.
Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. We stop to remember all the veterans, past and present. I am still fortunate enough to have my Grandpa in my life, who this year is 92. He was a pilot in World War II, and flew the massive Lancaster planes. I will never understand what he experienced or went through in the war, but I can do my absolute best to never forget, and never stop being entirely grateful.
I love you Grandpa!
Captain Jack Sparrow and Hulk Hogan!
More Movember sketches!
Day 9, a donor requested Captain Jack Sparrow! Lots of detail on his outfit to simplify.
Day 10, I had to do Hulk Hogan – this one was fun to do with cutout construction paper because he is just made up of colours and shapes 🙂
Movember sketch: Gangnam-style.
Another donor request – well, actually, her kids requested that I draw Psy – with a moustache. Who am I to disappoint the people??
Once again, please consider donating to support our Bros!!
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/8179729
Day 7, onto Day 8!!
