Monday, January 14, 2008

Little Davy Crockett

"Born on a mountain top in Tennessee... greenest state in the land of the free. Raised in the woods so he knew every tree. Killed him a bear when he was only three. Davy... Davy Crockett - king of the wild frontier."

How does a three-year-old kill a bear? Was the bear elderly? Did it not have legs? Did Davy accidentally run it over with a tractor? Because this could not have been a full-strength, full-sized, full-brained bear. I couldn't tie my shoes when I was three... in fact, I considered it a victory when I got them on the right feet. And I'm supposed to believe that Davy Crockett killed a fully functional bear at that age? I guess that's why there's a song and a TV show about him and not even so much as a jingle about me and my wrong-footed shoes.

Davy Crockett probably would have gone down in history as the man in the bear-skin cap if wearing a bear's carcass on your head was at all comfortable or possible. But since animals of that size are impractical as headwear, he simply killed and wore the first hat-sized critter to pass unluckily by. Let's forget about the bear for a second... how does a three-year-old even kill a raccoon? Not just physically, but morally. I feel bad when I accidentally step on a grasshopper. Little Davy was beyond feeling.

34 comments:

Heather Dixon said...

Lol...this is great! Did he kill that bear with his bare hands? He's almost as bad as a lot of 3-year-olds I know.

Tracy H said...

Wow...this is opening up all kinds of thoughts. Perhaps Davey needs to be profiled? It's just too much to think about.

Beware forest critters! LOL

Kevin Keele said...

Maybe Davey was born on a leap year day...

Richtoon said...

Davey - WMD! This is great!
with that expression on his face like that, you know he's trouble!

Matt said...

"I feel bad when I accidentally step on a grasshopper." Ummm...what about when you accidentally run over snakes with your lawnmower?

S.T. Lewis said...

Snakes are vile, terrible things that make even grasshoppers look cute. I'm beyong feeling like little Davy when it comes to snakes.

Unknown said...

AWESOME!! THe board below ROCKS TOO!

Ken Chandler said...

I love their size comparisons. Really gives you the impression that it wasn't a fair fight. Little did we know what a stinker Davey was. Scrappy kid.

Gorgeous illustration. In a hilarious way I mean.

L. D. Torres said...

i'm thinkin about making prints of my favorite posts of yours and framing them around my apartment! i'm tellin ya, they just keep gettin better!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is one hecka large raccoon. It's as big as little Davy himself. That pelt was probably a pair of footie pajamas before it became a hat.

Nathan Lindsay said...

well done my insane friend. I have begun working on the Shane Lewis Jingle.

StatCraze said...

Born in America, I don't know when, married a Canadian and had a baby named Gwen. Had a rough time telling right from his left, putting on shoes caused him all kinds of stress. Shane T...Shane T Lewis, storyboard artist extraordinaire.

There's your jingle.

Has anyone else ever counted the number of vowels in the word 'extraordinaire'? 7 - does that seem like an extraordinary amount to anyone else?
-Doug

S.T. Lewis said...

Well look at that... I got myself a jingle. I'm gonna retire.

StatCraze said...

Never turned on the TV for a Star Trek show, how he managed to avoid them we may never know. Has no fear of flying but is afraid to fall, and so many things anger him he can't name them all. Shane T...Shane T Lewis, bringing the blogging world cheer.

Too far? Sorry.

It occured to me that there is a lot of fodder for this song throughout your blog.
-Doug

Karalenn Hippen said...

Wow. I'm impressed. I was thinking of trying to start a jingle to cheer you up, but I don't think I can top Doug's. Way to go! :)

Nathan Lindsay said...

Doug, please keep going. It would only be right if shane had like 12 verses to his song.

Unknown said...

Great I cant get that jingle outta my head....

Hilarious stuff Mr Lewis like only you can do!

StatCraze said...

All growing up he's made his life's focus art, quick-witted criticism flows from his heart. The recesses of his mind seem ever dark; let's sing his praises now, wide and far. Shane T...Shane T Lewis. (Insert your favorite lyric here)

OK, cool. I managed to squeak out four more lines of the jingle but I couldn't quite come up with that chorus. Stupid chorus.

Tune in on Monday, if you'd like, to see the fourth verse. I think it will be about my perception of Shane's loathing for all animals.

Ken said...

dude, I havent stopped by in a while, and boy have I missed your blog!

Hahaha!

Never fails to amuse - and impress.

Love this image.

Erin Fonnesbeck said...

Shane! I had no idea about you! I just found your blog by a link on Jill and Ryan's blog. You are so talented - this is absolutely AMAZING!! I showed my 7 year old Mason your site and I think he has been completely inspired. He loves to draw and from a mom's perspective, I think he is pretty good for a 2nd grader, but I told him what you did and that you actually went to college to learn how to do this and he was in shock. I think he may be checking your blog out frequently now. :) Hope things are going well for you and your family! Later!

Erin

Anonymous said...

This is my first comment on your blog. Fantastic works and very good Style! Compliments!

Tim & Steph said...

So, let me just add on to your 2,225 comments on this post please! I am glad that you found my blog, and while I do not have an exciting story about how I found your blog--I will invite you and your wife to our super bowl party. I guess your freakin adorable baby could come too! If you have plans already, no worries. You just wont have as much fun. Doug and Eric will also be coming...so it might be worth you ditching anyone else that might have already invited you!

Anonymous said...

I dunno. I figure if Davey wasn't potty trained yet, just the smell of a 3 year old poopy diaper would make the bear drop dead in his tracks. Believe me....I've been close to kicking the bucket MANY A TIME while changing the diapers of a kid who should have LONG been potty trained. LOL! So maybe we shouldn't give Davey so much credit. ;-)

Coralie colorie said...

I like it : great style and funny !

Anonymous said...

Humm , my pet cat is the size of hat.. here kitty kitty kat....

murphy girl said...

wow you certainly have a lot on your mind! fun to read, though!

claudine hellmuth said...

love the racoon's face!!

Unknown said...

lovely illo....

Cheers,
Diana

Digital Scott's Illustrationblog said...

Always absolutely stunning and professional.

MIKE said...

four thumbs up! hehe great illo as always and story too...

Faruffa said...

Not true, you can not play!!!

aeneadellaluna said...

This is so great! SO detailed and beautiful and it really looks like a picture taken from an animation motion pictures!Sooo soo talented!

Diandra Mae said...

(From the information on your profiles, I see that you contract for Disney....)I agree with the concensus, this looks remarkably like an animation cell. Fantastic composition. I love the raccoon's expression of horror and Davy's leer. Horrible, horrible boy! haha!

Thomas F. Dougherty said...

Obviously you misunderstood the song. It says that he was killed in a bar when he was only three...or at least that's what it sounds like. Of course a three year old in a bar might actually be worse than a three year old killing a bear. Awesome illustration!