Double

I may not be as artistic as Liam, but here's my attempt at this week's Illustration Friday topic.



(Illustration Friday: July 23, 2010)


The first time Lily saw herself in the mirror, she didn't quite realize who she was looking at.

I'm back from a long relaxing weekend at home with family for a joint birthday celebration. As usual, Dad baked Mom and me a delicious birthday cake with whipped cream topping, and it was expertly decorated in kitty fashion by my 6-year-old nephew, Liam. While he may have had a little assistance from his mom, I think we can see who the real artiste is in this family. Yum yum!

Breakfast

(Illustration Friday: July 16, 2010)


Norman is ready to conquer the day.

Diary

(Illustration Friday: July 9, 2010) 


Simon is always writing in his journal in his quest to understand life. No one has read his chronicles, not even The Mother Kitty, but we're all sure that they'll end up in the Library of Congress someday.


I'm a bit behind in posting for Illustration Friday because of a quick trip to New York to catch Sting on his Symphonicities Tour. Yay! I highly recommend catching it while you can! I'll be getting back to a regular schedule once my delirium settles. 

Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp Film #2--Private Resort (1985)

[What is Johnny Kitties? See Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp for all the details!]

©Columbia/
Tristar Studios

Johnny Depp actually survived A Nightmare on Elm Street and next signed up for a teen sex comedy called Private Resort. (Hard to believe, I know.) I feel as though every actor in the United States was in one of these movies back in the ‘80s, and I’m sure they are all a bit haunted by them.

I had hope for this one, though.  Not just because of Johnny's involvement, but his costars included Rob Morrow of "Northern Exposure" fame and—more impressive--Hector Elizondo, who’s in hundreds of good movies and TV shows. On the other hand, Andrew “Dice” Clay is also in it.

Johnny as Jack
©Columbia/
Tristar Studios 

You can probably guess from the title that this movie is about teenage boys on the prowl in a sunny vacation spot. In this case, it’s Miami. Johnny plays Jack, who spends all his time checking out the ladies in skimpy bikinis. Ben (Rob Morrow), his shy best friend, meets a sweet waitress, with whom love blossom. In the meantime, The Maestro--a jewel thief played by Hector Elizondo--is after a diamond necklace worn by of wealthy old lady, who has hidden kung fu talents. As you can imagine, chaos ensues.

Private Resort isn’t a shining moment in Johnny’s career, but it was a job that helped him pay the rent. Back then, his heart was all about music.  As he put it, “At the time, they could have said, ‘Listen, we’re gonna strap Dom Deluise to your back and you’re gonna climb this building,’ and I said, ‘Fine.’”

For me, there are too many boobs and bums in this movie, but it’s not the worst I’ve seen. This is a batty comedy, but it actually has some good slapstick moments. And there's Johnny--so young and so pretty....There are worse ways to spend 82 minutes.

All the Kitties wanted to be in this tribute because it meant a fun day in the sun. We decided to highlight the ensemble cast of crazy characters, lounging by the pool. We had to add some "extras" because there are too many of them, but The Kitties had first dibs on who they wanted to be. 

Here, Jack spots his latest conquest lounging on a float, and Ben (Comet) notices the cute waitress (Ashes, of course). Norman was the only one willing to play The Maestro because no one wanted to shave their shiny coats. (In the movie, Ben gives him an unfortunate haircut.) The Mother Kitty had the seniority to demand the part of the diamond-wearing socialite, but really she just wanted an excuse to do some kung fu fighting. Everyone agreed that Simon was perfect to play the 8-year-old kid on the loose in the resort, but they were all envious of B.J. who scored the role of the punk. (They may not have wanted to cut their hair, but they like the spikes!) 

And, yes, there is a girl who wears a turban throughout this movie, and she's very attached to that flowerpot. I said this movie was batty, right?  

Stay tuned for next month's Slow Burn! 

Giant!

(Illustration Friday: July 2, 2010)


As I have been doing several times in the last few weeks, due to the unbearable heat wave hitting DC, The Mother Kitty fell asleep during a movie and had a curious dream: Attack of the 50-Foot Kitty!


Happy July, everyone! I finished Kelly Rae Roberts's creative business e-course, "Flying Lessons," this weekend--Yay! I highly recommend it, even though I've already started procrastinating building my own creative business. I figure I can rest up while making a To Do List in my head for now.


I've also been working on Johnny Kitties: The Johnny Depp Project. (I think I have Season 1 of 21 Jump Street pretty well memorized at this point.) My next installment, Private Resort will be in a few days. 


Talking about side projects, remember that, for a small charitable donation, some of The Kitties' "Ripple" illustrations are still available. While Simon's and Comet's drawings are taken, you can see the remaining Kitties here. All proceeds help the animals affected by the Gulf Coast oil spill. (See The Ripple Blog for more details.) Please help--They will thank you! 

Satellite

(Illustration Friday: June 25, 2010)

The steamy summer days have led to starry nights. And on these nights, The Mother Kitty is usually busy working on one of her many scientific experiments.

Paisley

(Illustration Friday: June 18, 2010)

A paisley pattern of kitties...

I'm a little slow in posting this week. Blame the steamy DC weather for slowing my progress. (Naps and TV have been so much more enticing.) No matter--The Kitties haven't minded waiting in all  this paisley-ness.   

Ripple

(Illustration Friday: June 11, 2010)



This week, The Kitties headed to The Gulf of Mexico to help with the oil spill cleanup effort. Like everyone, The Mother Kitty was devastated by the images of the pelicans smothered in oil. She got straight to work! (Comet got a hug from one that he was helping.) Gordon made a new friend he found slithering nearby, while Ashes and B.J. dealt with the shellfish. She had a feisty conversation with the crabs, and he polished off some clams. (Some happy shrimp looked on after their baths.) Simon and Norman were the only ones willing to go into the water. Simon's swam with dolphins, and Norman scouted the deep for any fishes in trouble. (Right now, he's amid some safe schools.) Lily, meanwhile, learned lots from her new friend, Turtle, who is years and years and years older than she is--and all of us! (To see these illustrations individually, visit the Kitty Moments set on my Flickr account.)



Illustration Friday's topic, "Ripple," is corresponding with The Ripple Blog, which benefits charities fighting to save the animals affected by the Deepwater Horizon Catastrophe. Conceived by Kelly LIght, The Ripple Blog began on the 45th day of the spill. All artwork on The Ripple Blog are done on 2.5-inch x 3.5-inch sketch cards. Each one is sold for a $10 donation to either The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies or The International Bird Rescue Research Center. 


Check out Kelly's blog for more details. We can all do our part: Contribute your own artwork to her blog, or make a donation today! Thanks, Kelly, for this wonderful idea!

Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp Film #1--A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

[What is Johnny Kitties? See Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp for all the details!]


Johnny Depp came to Los Angeles to be a musician, but when that wasn't working out as planned, he had to find something else to do to pay the rent. The girlfriend of his friend, Nicolas Cage, set him up with his first film audition, for a movie called A Nightmare on Elm Street. 


Looking to fill the part of "Glen Lantz," the boyfriend of the film's heroine, Director Wes Craven whittled down the candidates to three people. Johnny was among them, but he wasn't the front-runner until Wes Craven's teenage daughter had her say: 
"Daaaad! Johnny Depp!!! Oh, he's sexy! He's so sexy! He's a dreamboat!" 
"That guy? He's kind of pale and skinny..." 
"I think he's dreamy!" 


And, the rest is history. 

[©New Line Cinema]

A Nightmare on Elm Street became a classic '80s horror film. Freddy Krueger, a badly scarred murderer whose weapon of choice is a glove that has knives affixed to its fingers, haunts and kills his victims in their dreams. As I mentioned, Glen is the boyfriend of the film's heroine, Nancy Thompson. 

Johnny as Glen
[©New Line Cinema]

While I have a hard time watching scary movies, The Kitties and I like this one! (Apparently, many people did since there are five sequels--none of which should be confused with the recent remake.)  




Watching this, The Mother Kitty, Ashes, Lily, and I all preferred to draw the scene where Glen climbs the rose-filled trellis of Nancy's house up to her bedroom window for a surprise entrance. But we were out-voted because the rest of the world remembers Glen's death scene more than anything else. Johnny put it best:  "I get sucked into a bed and spew out like tomato juice!"



This moment is the right choice. Who can resist that outfit?


Coming up next month: Private Resort (1985)

Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp

Hi everyone,

Today, we're starting an exciting series! 

"Johnny, if Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?"

"Wow."

-James Lipton interviewing Johnny Depp, "Inside the Actor's Studio" (2002)

What is Johnny Kitties? It's Melissa's Kitties' tribute to the one and only Johnny Depp.

Why? It's for Johnny Depp, of course, who deserves a tribute just for being who he is. He's one of a kind and makes us all happy! (Thanks, Johnny!) Besides, it will be fun! It's all about joy and celebration. And, it's a perfect excuse for a fantastic film festival!

The Confession Origin: Everyone finds out pretty quickly that Johnny Depp is one of my most favorite people on the planet. I think it started in 1987, a year during which something must have been in the water because it seemed that I woke up some days obsessed with various people and things, all of which remain to this day.

Maybe "obsessed," with its negative connotation, is the wrong word since I mean no harm and am, in fact, very protective. But I'm sure my family and friends would not dispute it: After all, I did wallpaper my room at the time with his photos from every teen magazine available in Alliance, Ohio. (Is "hopelessly devoted" any better?)

Johnny Depp

Johnny and I are on a first name basis. (You have no idea how weird it was for me to type his full name!) It's not because I have permission but because, once I saw him on TV, everything became defined. 

Every Sunday night, nothing was more important to me than the latest episode of Johnny's show, FOX's 21 Jump Street at 7 p.m.--until it moved to Mondays at 8 p.m. The show continued after Johnny left it in 1990, but I have no memory of it. I must have stopped watching it when I followed him back to Hollywood. And, since I'm a very loyal person, here I am 23 years later, through thick and thin!

Johnny gives The Mother Kitty a pet.

 As with most other aspect of my life, Johnny's influence has spilled over to The Kitties. Maybe it was all those times they sat on my lap during repeated Johnny Movie marathons, but The Kitties are just as devoted. Over the years, various Illustration Friday challenges have already sent them on a few Johnny-related adventures. As my dad said when I told him my latest project idea, "But you already do that." Perhaps Johnny Kitties was inevitable....

Here's what The Kitties and I are doing:

The Objective: We're working our way through Johnny's filmography from the beginning, including the TV show. All drawings will star The Kitties, and we're aiming for one illustration per film/TV project – but who knows if Johnny's performance will spark more inspiration? It's been known to happen.

The Rules:

Gordon borrows one
of Johnny's hats.

• We plan to watch each film/TV project before starting an illustration.
• Watching movies ahead of time before completing a respective drawing is not allowed.
• Skipping films is prohibited. (Note: Drawings for cameo appearances are yet to be determined.)
• We aim to feature one film project drawing here on the 9th of each month (until we're current). Also, visit my Flickr account to view the Johnny Kitties Set, which will house all illustrations from this project. 
• Gordon has volunteered to portray Johnny in all illustrations. (You know what a fan he is, staying on my lap the longest during all those movies.) The other Kitties agreed that he was the best choice, as we've all seen his previous impeccable impressions. The rest of The Kitties and "kitty extras" will play supporting roles, as needed.

Note: Since Tigerlily arrived last November, after preparation for this project already began, she couldn't participate in the tributes to Johnny's first few films. I told her that this was okay, since they all had "R" ratings, and she was underage at the time. She's a quick study, up to speed, excited (always), and ready to go! She will join us from 21 Jump Street onward.

Start Date: June 9, 2010. (It's Johnny's birthday, of course! Is that on your mental calendars too?) Be sure to follow the Johnny Kitties series, with a new post/film tribute published on Melissa's Kitties on the 9th of every month going forward until we're up to date! 

Happy Birthday, Johnny!!! Enjoy!

First up is Film #1, A Nightmare on Elm Street. Let's get started! [See the first Johnny Kitties post here.]

Best,

Trail

I just started a 5-week online creative business course called Flying Lessons, taught by artist Kelly Rae Roberts. Thanks to my friend, Mandy, for letting me know about it! (See the Flying Lessons button on my blog for more course details.) 


Week 1 has been chock-full of helpful information. One of our first lessons was about building connections through blogging and being more open and consistent when writing one. Apparently, my long disappearances between posts isn't the best approach to keeping in touch. Similarly, I know that making each post a simple description of my drawing has kept me at a long distance to whoever is out there reading. So, I'm staring on a new trail today, aiming to post once or twice a week and making new friends along the way! Welcome and Enjoy!

(Illustration Friday: June 4, 2010)

This week's Illustration Friday topic put the song "Happy Trails" in my head, but I didn't know how to fit Roy Rogers into a Kitty drawing. Luckily, I soon realized that many trails in my life lead to happy kitties. They know the song: "Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then..."

Slither

(Illustration Friday: May 29, 2010)

This weekend, Simon found a friend in the garden.

Early

(Illustration Friday: May 21, 2010)

One morning, the Kitties took to the hills and caught a brilliant sunrise. They are still seeing spots. (I told them not to stare at the sun for that long.)

Equipment

(Illustration Friday: May 14, 2010)

Gordon borrowed my equipment for some very important business this weekend.

Fearless

(Illustration Friday: May 7, 2010)

A true story.

Cocoon

(Illustration Friday: April 30, 2010)

Earlier, I thought Lily hatched from a chicken egg. This is another theory she's spreading around.

Ahead

(Illustration Friday: April 23, 2010)

The Kitties are racing to something only they can see. I'm not sure who's ahead right now.

Detective

(Illustration Friday: April 16, 2010)

Lily spends her nights inspecting our apartment's walls. She hasn't yet told me what she's discovered.

Linked

(Illustration Friday: April 9, 2010)

It wasn't love at first sight, but soon enough, Comet and Ashes became forever linked.

Dip

(Illustration Friday: April 2, 2010)

The Mother Kitty is resourceful.