The Art of Pug War

Rosy instigates about 98% of the squabbles between her and Sunny. While Sunny's moves are generally focused on defense, Rosy has her favorite attack moves. Based on the comments I get on my Facebook and Instagram photos it appears these are common tactics with lots of pugs. It's like they're all given a manual or taught in class how to do these moves...

Here are a few examples of the tactics described in my drawing in real life with my pugs, Sunny and Rosy. Enjoy.

A Good Friend

Rosy is a big fan of sitting on those she loves, including me and Sunny. We're happy to provide the support her lil butt needs! Well I am, but I don't know if Sunny feels the same way...

Weekday v. Weekend Mornings

Unfortunately my pugs are the worst alarm clocks ever. On weekday mornings they oversleep and laze about in the bed well past the alarm going off. In fact this morning when I woke up Rosy was still snoring and didn't even stir when I moved the blanket and left the room.

On weekends though they are determined to wake me up early. Rosy's favorite tactic is trying to sit on my face as I push away her butt (does she do this when I'm sleeping?? Has her butt been scooting all over my face as I sleep each night??). Sunny likes to luck my face with her big slobbery tongue and stand on my chest (little paws of pain!).

So the above drawing is a typical weekday morning. So hard to get up when the pugs are acting cute and sleepy!

And the bottom drawing is my tropical weekend morning. Augh butt kisses and slobber!

And here's my pugs in real life in bed. Sleepy bunny armsing blobs...

And spot stealing, wiggly, and heavy fur balls.

And for those who may be thinking that waking up to pug kisses is delightful, picture this slurping across your face, including making contact with your mouth, nose and eyes. 

Go Away Rain!

It's been raining cats and dogs since yesterday evening and none of us are pleased with it. Not to mention that while taking the girls on our last walk of the night yesterday and getting drenched the power went out. Being outside really late on a stormy night alone when it suddenly goes completely dark is not fun and we scurried back inside. My whole apartment smells like wet dog and this morning Sunny reinstated the hated poo strike. So rain, please go away. If not for me, then at least for the sake of Sunny's bowels.

Pugs Really Don't Believe in Personal Space

A while ago I did a drawing of me and Sunny and how pugs don't understand personal space (post here). Well now that we have Rosy, Sunny now understands what it's like to have no personal space too! Muahahaha! 

I love it.

Don't Tell Me To Smile

This drawing was inspired by three things:
(1) I don't generally walk around all smiley and cheerful so growing up I was often told (sometimes by total strangers) to smile more.  I HATED that.
(2) People always comment on how pugs look so sad but just because their faces often look sad, doesn't mean they actually are.
(3) I'm feeling particularly grumpy/cranky/low lately so this seemed fitting.

I'll be adding products with this in my Zazzle store.  Part of the reason why I drew this was because I wanted to make a t-shirt for myself.  So if you ever see a grumpy looking girl wearing a shirt with this with two adorable sad-faced stubborn pugs, then there's a good chance that's me!

Always Watching...

True story: Last night I had trouble falling and staying asleep and at one point in the middle of the night I heard Rosy move from by my feet to near my head. I expected to hear a plop and sigh as she'd settle back to sleep or maybe a few licks of my unguarded face. But no. I heard nothing. So I cracked open my eyes and saw her face right above mine, just starting at me! We stared at each other for a little while and then I petted her until she curled up into a barnacle on my side.

Was she watching me sleep and gazing at me adoringly or plotting to steal my soul? For now that question remains unanswered.

Hot Potatoes

I am not thrilled with this heat wave we're having here. Neither are the pugs.

Sit Pug, Sit! Good Pug!

A quick lunchtime sketch in honor of the funny ways pugs sit.

Rosy actually sits pretty normally most times but Sunny is a crazy sitter!

A or B?

So I'm working on something for a proposal and was hoping to get some feedback from everyone. I originally did the drawing in color but my agent thinks just pen (like Shel Silverstein) might be better. The question is which rough sketch do you like better? A - just the outlines; or B - with a little bit of shading?
A

Or B?

And here's the color version in case you were wondering.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Pug Sound Effects

I haven't done one of these multi drawing illustrations in a little while since I've been so busy at work and with opening my Zazzle store but figured this long weekend would be a perfect time to do one!  So here are a few of my favorite pug sound effects.  I've never met a dog breed that made as many hilarious sounds as pugs.  It takes some getting used to their crazy loud snores, but now when I travel I actually miss their snores!  Their snores are like one of those white noise or waterfall/rain machines.  So take a moment to appreciate the good and the not so good (e.g., toots) sounds your pug makes!

Parade Rainer

This is a common scenario in my home. Sunny's being a sleepy lil puggerpillar/pug loaf, when along comes Rosy, the parade rainer who wants to ruin Sunny's nap because she's bored, wants to play, or is jealous. Then chaos ensues. 

This drawing started off with this photo of Sunny looking all cute and puggerpillar-like. 

And so I drew a single pug sleeping in a loaf position, like so

But then I remembered this photo :

And so I decided to add a lurking, ominous Rosy in the background. 

The end. 

Play!

Spring and summer always seem like playful seasons to me, until August when it just gets unbearable.  Sunny and Rosy have been playing so much more the past few weeks and I love it!  Although their playing is a lot less happy and frolic-y looking than this picture.  Usually their play involves toy tug of war and chasing each other trying to bite each other's back legs.  But in my imagination this is what they're really doing.

That Time of the Year!

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Truthfully this happens year round with pugs but it just gets even worse with the seasons changing.

Sunshine and Flowers

A couple sketches for this year's spring. Whenever spring rolls around, before it gets torturously hot and humid, my pugs love to sniff the flowers (they always take forever when I'm running late for work of course) and sunbathe. So in honor of this brief period let's all enjoy the last bits of spring before summer slaps its burning, muggy hand across our faces!

Age Is Just A Number

I love senior pugs!  It saddens me that there are people who give up their dogs when they get older just because they don't want to deal with an old dog.  Senior pugs are the best because they have such sweet lil graying faces and they've settled into their weird, quirky personalities.  And they love and appreciate their humans so much.  So here's to all the senior pugs out there!

And if you're interested, I've put some things on sale in my store with this illustration (e.g., t-shirt, mug, keychain) - here's the T-Shirt Link.

Updated Pug Alphabet

I've updated the pug alphabet that I originally did in 2012 (Original Pug Alphabet) since the old version was not so great scan quality.  I have two versions, one with the accompanying rhyme and one without.  Both are available for sale in my store (Bah Humpug Store).  

More of a Girl and Her Pug

Due to numerous requests, I've added a blonde and brunette version of A Girl and Her Pug to my new Store.  So far I've added a mug, a keychain, a tote and a shirt.  I plan on adding a redhead and doing a boy version as well soon.

Representing Black Pugs!

So I wanted to rework one of my previous illustrations (A Wrinkle in Time) for my new store (Bah Humpug Store), and wanted to represent black pugs.  I always draw fawn pugs because I have two and most of my illustrations are based on them.  But also fawn pugs are easier to draw and color.  So I hope that people with black pugs like how this turned out - I tried to keep some features visible, especially the shiny eyes that peep out from their faces!

Below is the fawn pug version that I'll be adding to my store.

Big Announcement - I've Opened An Online Store!

Aw no need to be so sad lil girl and pug, because we have exciting news here at Bah Humpug - we now have a store!  I finally opened up a Bah Humpug Zazzle store this week after a year of thinking it over.  I have posters, mugs, keychains, totes, and shirts, but I'll add more stuff over time.  You can customize most items to a certain extent with various options.  If there are any illustrations or products you'd really like to see in the store, message me or leave a comment here.  While I can't do any personalized illustrations at this time, I'll do my best to accommodate requests for certain types of products.

Going forward you can access my store with the link on the left side under the heading "My Other Blogs, Pages, and Store."

Thank you for all your support, encouragement, and pug friendship!