Tuesday, December 18, 2007

The MONSTER FLOWER


About a month ago, while I was working at the Register Guard newspaper in Eugene, Oregon, I was doing some sketching. One of my co-workers (who also happens to be my cousin's wife) asked me if I could draw anything besides Monsters. I replied "like what, a flower or something?" to which she said "yes, something nice like that". I proceeded to draw this goofy little flower with big fangs and a tongue. I didn't impress my cousin's wife much with the drawing, but it cracked me up to look at it, so I kept the page I had drawn it on and brought it home.

Tonight when I got home from work, I asked my 7 year old daughter Brandi if she would be interested in writing a story for me. She asked me what I had in mind, and I told her that I had a drawing that I wanted her to look at, then write a story for it. She was a little hesitant at first, but when I showed her the drawing of the fanged flower, her eyes lit up and I knew she had an idea. She got busy right away, and within a few minutes, she ahd written her first short horror story. After she finished the story, I embellished the artwork a bit, adding the decapitated stems of the unlucky flower victims stuck in the same bed with this "Monster Flower". I am glad I decided to keep this goofy little sketch, as it means a lot more to me now, knowing that it inspired my daughter a little, and I know she is going to have a lot of fun showing off the story and illustration at her school tomorrow. So, here for your viewing and reading pleasure is Brandi's short story of the Monster Flower...


THE
MONSTER FLOWER

Written by Brandi Kendall
Illustrated by Patrick Kendall

Once upon a time, there was a flower garden. It had 2,750 flower beds! The owner named all of them, but there was a particular flower bed- it’s name was “grouchy”. There were 7 flowers in the bed.

There was an old saying that said “If you buy a green Tulip, at night it turns into a flower eater!”, but the owner did not believe the saying. But it was true! Then she went to sleep.

The next morning, she counted her flower beds. She had only 2,100 flower beds! Then, that night she slept out in her flower garden. Then, she saw it! It was SO scary she fainted! Then, the flower monster ate ALL of her flower garden.

The End

6 comments:

Chart Smart said...

NICE Blog :)

Chart Smart said...

NICE Blog :)

Patrick said...

Thanks Teri, glad you stopped by!

Mr. Karswell said...

Good stuff Patrick! These last few posts are showing major progression for you, your linework in particular is getting more solid and clean. You should start shopping some of these designs to t-shirt companies... they'd make great stickers and stuff too.

Mr. Karswell said...

Dear Brandi,
Excellent story! You and your dad are sure to be the next great father/daughter collabrative team for creating awesome illustrated monster books for children of all ages!

Keep writing!

Sincerely,
---Karswell

Patrick said...

Thanks Karswell- I appreciate the kind words about the artwork. Hopefully I can get some products available for purchase soon! I will get together with Brandi tonight after work and let her read your comment, I am sure it will make her day! Thanks again!