Oliver the Cat Drawing Contest Winner

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the results are in for the Oliver the Cat drawing contest.  And the winner is....

Before we get to that, I would just like to thank everyone who entered drawings and those who voted and or even looked at them.  Your involvement is much appreciated.  The drawings, though not numerous, were of high quality and pixy like character. And without any further adieu...

That's French, by the way.  It means "farewell" or "goodbye."  Thus, it means "without any more farewells."  This is a phrase used when leaving or moving on or transitioning.  It simple suggests that we no longer will say goodbye, we will just part or be on our way.

So, with no further adieu...

The winner is...

yes, well, it just isn't that easy is it.  I mean we had some very young readers submit drawings of cats.  I don't want to just call one the winner and make the rest feel like losers.  That's just not right.  Fortunately, there was a three-way tie between drawing #1, #2 and #4.

If the winners could please contact me via email or Facebook message, we can make arrangements for the prize.  With three cat drawings I will have to write a new story.  I will inform everyone when that is complete.

Thanks again everyone.  Much fun looking at the drawings.

  

Geraldine - Art Work

  

The next story in The Book of Bartholomew, to be published on October 19, is Geraldine. This is the cover image for the short story, painted by myself, Mark Granlund. Yes, this is a painting of a frog being boiled in water. There is an old idea that a frog, because it is cold-blooded and its body temperature is dependent on the temperature around them, could slowly be brought to a boil and cooked without recognizing it.  That is what this painting represents - something terrible happening to someone without their knowledge.

I have painted and drawn frogs over the years so it was fun to revisit this motif.  The boiling water was different.  I have never depicted boiling water and set to watching a pot of water boil.  Funny, time seemed to move slowly, as if it  would never get there.

Here is a drawing of a leopard frog that is included inside the story.  In the cover illustration, the frog represents an unaware character.  This drawing represents a hideous character.  In the printed version, the reverse image is also included.

I hope you enjoy this next story, the music and the illustration.