Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Luck of the Irish


Here is a St. Patrick's Day card that I have spent several days trying to work out. I feel that it is a neat St. Patrick's Day card and I am proud that I have totally avoided stereotypical pitfalls like rainbows, pots of gold, and leprechauns. (Not to imply that those are bad...)

I wanted to include some writing on the inside of the card so I did research on three things, Irish toasts, Irish blessings, and Irish wit. So far, I have selected one phrase and included it inside the card; "May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live." This struck me as both clever and not cavity inducing-ly sweet.

As of writing this post I have not yet hammered out all of the details with this card. I am sure that some adjustments will be made in the next few days but for now it is available on Etsy at my site, http://www.etsy.com/shop/danieljosephdurkin.

Briefly, before I finish, I would like to mention a holiday that I have never ever heard of until a few weeks ago. Someone at a party mentioned in passing "Evacuation Day". When I wondered aloud what this day was (and silently wondered if this holiday needed a card) I was told that in the Boston Area they celebrate the day the British retreated out of Massachusetts to Nova Scotia on March 17th. This just happens by some great historical coincidence to fall on St. Patricks's Day... Thus the public sector workers of America's largest Irish Catholic city get St. Patrick's as a paid day off. How funny! (In full disclosure the blogger is an Irish Catholic who also enjoys days off.)

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Love in Times Square


Here is my Valentine for this year. This is an image that has been sitting in my sketch book, patiently waiting in line for a chance to be drawn and finished, for several weeks now. I am very pleased with how it came out.

Perhaps this image in inspired by the famous black and white photo of the sailor kissing the young lady at the end of World War II... I have always loved Times Square and it is always a treat to sit down and draw something that you have a connection to.

I am still making very small changes to this image but it is available on my Etsy page for purchase. Please check it out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/danieljosephdurkin . (We are running out of time before the 14th... does everyone have a card for their special someone?)