As second place winner in the International Fake Journal Month contest, I won this amazing t-shirt from Roz Stendahl, the inventor of IFJM. I tried to sketch myself sketching myself myself wearing it. I didn’t do the t-shirt (or myself) justice, but I do like the way the bird and I both seem to have the same expression! THANK YOU ROZ! I love it! (My IFJM posts are here and here.)
I’ve been having one of those crises of artistic self-confidence in my drawing the past couple weeks. I’m not sure if the drawing difficulties are real or I’ve just somehow allowed that nasty internal critic out of his cage and back on my shoulder.
I know the cure though: put him back in his cage and do a whole bunch of drawing until he is so bored he falls asleep for a nice long summer nap. And I’ll start by drawing HIM! Here he is now, safely back in his cage and starting to get very sleepy….
Jana Bouc, Artist 
8 replies on “Thank You Roz & Boris the Dragonly Critic”
Jana, I love your portrait of yourself with the vulture shirt. I especially love that you got the vulture to have a happy attitude!!!! I think it’s grand! I’m glad the shirt arrived, that you enjoy it, and most of all that you made another self portrait because of it. That’s the best! Oh, and that you used GOUACHE of course!!!!!!
Roz
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Thanks again Roz. I’m glad you noticed I used gouache (which I did in your honor). Yes, my vulture buddy and I are happy and cozy together. The shirt is such nice quality too and very comfortable. Jana
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I think the kids today have text jargon, but I still say: laughing my socks off!
Well done, on all fronts, Jana.
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Hi Diane, Did you ever think you’d be saying “the kids today…”? I never did, but have done! Thanks for the fun note. Jana
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Well, I hate to say I like the drawing of Boris better than yours, although the vulture is in the running too. 🙂 I like drawing (doodling) dragons and six headed monsters. They always seem so much better than my attempts at drawing people or animals.
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Hi Merle, I like Boris much better than the drawing of me, which I had to force myself to post (ick!). I even look worse than the vulture! (what an awful thought!) Thanks for stopping by! Jana
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Ironically, Sarah the dragon-lover loves your dragon sketch!! 🙂
I wonder what would happen if you just let that dragon fly away free– perhaps it would not come back? Or maybe it would come back exercised, relaxed and with a whole new attitude!
Gina
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Hi Gina, Please tell Sarah that I love dragons too! When I was growing up one of my favorite stories was Ogden Nash’s “Custard the Cowardly Dragon” with the refrain “all he wanted was a nice safe cage”. I often feel that way and when, during my performance review at work I was asked about ways I’d like to grow and expand my role, I responded by explaining how much I liked that poem and am not really looking to take on any new dragons to slay, etc.
Here’s a link to the poem: and here’s a link to someone else who loved the poem and then was gifted with a dragon of her own (pictures too)
But I do like your idea of setting him free, just in case he’d like to go out and play instead of bugging people! Jana
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