OH HAPPY DAY (OH HAPPY DAY…). That Edwin Hawkins Singers song from 1969 is what this doodle by Andre Jordan reminds me of, though my gospel here on the blog is gardening, and our shared church–yours and mine–is the outdoors. To celebrate the feeling of gardeners in sunshine (oh happy day!), I’m adding a little incentive to comment on this week’s gorgeous doodle: a giveaway of three copies of Andre’s doodled memoir, “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.” How to win one of my favorite books ever:
Simply comment below, telling us what aspect of Andre’s work touches you (naughty? nice? wacky? wonderful?–use your own words). If you’re not sure, review all his doodles (!!!!) at this link.
As the holiday weekend ends at midnight Monday, May 31, I’ll select three winners at random using random.org’s random-number selector.
By the way, Andre’s wife, Mrs. Andre, says this doodle would make the nicest wallpaper, and she is just exactly right. Oh happy day! (Which see, below. Or more precisely, which hear.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuy7-c38Z6M
I love how utterly real he always is! I found him here first and have started following him on FB and his blog and I am constantly struck by how clearly he sees and communicates life. I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to win his book!
Andre, a whole new palette! Love the yellow — indeed, a happy day! And it echoes my happiness yesterday when I finally got all the grass cut to approximately the same length! Oh, happy day!
Andre’s doodles have a quirky tilt in their take on gardening — not the traditional slant at all. That’s what I love about them. I’d be eager to see some of his non-gardening centered peeks at the world.
wow. Which one?
The one I sent my friend back in February, I think. The one with the poor, lost gardener, trudging through the blank expanse of snow. Living in the snow belt, sometimes that’s how I feel, just trying to get to the shed for the snowshovel!
I follow beautiful revolution on facebook and I when show my friends the newest posts and blogs they always comment that they are written completely in my mind set :) I can easily relate to them and I really love them.
“Heavens know I’m miserable now” is a collection of amazing expressions of feeling people would rather not talk about and forget. I like the fact that there is someone talking about being broken-hearted and feeling bad, but presenting it in such an awesome way, that I feel better just by seeing the doodles.
Beautiful revolution always makes my day…
I love the genious simplicity of your doodles.
Andre’s sense of humor is right up my alley, right up there with Edward Gorey. Keep those doodles coming!
Thursday’s are not the same since Andre. Garden Gnomes is top of my list as it reminds me of my Grams in England.
I will keep my fingers crossed for this giveaway.
Thanks Andre and Margaret.
ooooo… maybe “Dear Wife”… my own husband gave me a big hug when I had to pull out my blighted tomatoes last year… or maybe “Gardener’s Anonymous”… ’cause I know I still have “issues”.
personally I think that andre jordan bloke is not quite right in the head.
ha
thank you for the kind words margaret and everyone who comments.
you are all very lovely.
x
Andre’s doodles always brighten up the day! And frequently seem as if he is right next door (not just next state over) looking over my shoulder. Thank you to both of you (and Mrs. Andre, too)!
Laura
Andre is a kindred spirit …his “not right in the head” is just right to me. Doodle On!
I love that I can share his doodles with my husband who is appreciative of my gardening but not passionate about it and he “gets it.”
I’m trying to take an irreverent approach to my garden and I think Andre’s work captures that spirit.
I grew up in Texas,raised in the Southern Baptist church. We were taught that dancing was a “sin” at church, though it was not enforced in our home at all. I loved this song and how they danced, swayed, and clapped their hands while singing. I didn’t understand how they were allowed to do all that while singing a spiritual song. (Martin Luther King, Jr. pointed out that the most segregated hour of the week was between 12 and 1pm on Sunday. I fell in the White congregation group.) I asked the adults in my life and none had an answer. Like when my Mom died and they tried to explain how blissful my Mom was now she had died. I asked them if death is so blissful, why do we put people to death who have done horrible crimes? They couldn’t answer that one either. I love this song to this day.
I love his amusing cartoons, I think this one would be a wonderful design for bed linens!
I appreciate the simplicity of his drawings – a sort of economy of line. I agree with Diane about this one being excellent for bed linens – and more!
Andre’s work gives gardening the butterfly-light humor that it needs and deserves. Gardens are fun, surprising and sometimes a little bit devious. He captures all of this really well.
Andre’s doodles are simple and clever, and I love it.
Thank you Andre for bringing the “odd” humour to gardening! When I was advertising myself online (internet dating sites), I described my humour as “off”. I will be giggling at the strangest things. Now that I think about it, maybe it’s my entire family on my mother’s side, we were laughing hysterically at my great aunt’s funeral. She was a wonderful old girl, and would have loved Andre too.
I would love to win a copy of the book. This work inspires me to think a little more simply. I am a follower on Facebook after finding Andre Jordan on stumbleupon.com. I am now a frequent visitor of the website.
I LOVE his dirty cards to the postman…
I’ve often thought about making one up and sending it to My Husband at work… but sometimes other people open his mail… which would not be good…
I love how Andre expresses what we are all thinking, but sometimes are afraid to say out loud! He is especially witty, in that his subjects touch so close to home. Thanks for brightening my day with your work!
I LOVE Andre’s doodles! They always make me smile/laugh! I would love to win one of his books so that I can put it out on a table during one of my garden tours for people to read! I also enjoy reading your blog on your gardens. It’s fun to see what growing in your garden from the east compared to my garden in the midwest!
I’ve been following his blog for quite some time now.
I love Andre’s doodles and words because with his art he says the things that I think, but just don’t say out loud….in a much more clever (and concise) way!
Andre breaks my heart on a regular basis. Also, I’m pretty sure he can read my mind, which is impressive for a stranger a gazillion miles away.
I love his “Dear Disabled Friend” series on BBC Ouch…as well as the rest of his doodles.
my fav FAV is extraodinary mind. I even have it pinned on my wall. It just reminds me of what’s really important :)
Andre’s doodles make me say “Yes!- just what I was thinking”. Love Thursdays.
Andre’s doodles make me look forward to Thursdays, even while knowing that there’s a weekend ahead of rain and snow and not a gardening opportunity in sight! Thanks Andre!!
His light garden humor is geat. ‘Lawn Mower Envy’ made my week.
There’s a Japanese word invented by a scientist in Tokyo to describe a taste that is more rich and savory than bitter, sweet, sour or salty. The word is umami. It’s a “fifth” taste that is more exquisite, nuanced and smacks of perfection. It’s the only word I can think of to describe Andre’s doodles: they are umani-like, in the best sense of the word.
I love how so much can be said in the economy of line and words.
I also get the Smiths reference in the title. :-)
Andre’s doodles bring an air of gentle bemusement to the garden, although I sometimes worry that The Big Black Boots are too threatening.
I love the whimsical quality of his drawings. They always bring a smile to my face.
I can relate to his work – sometimes it feels like he’s writing about me! :O
I love the way he’s always able to so accurately captue the thoughts and feelings of most gardeners.
Dibber envy! I bought one at a yard sale and no one knows what it is!
Good one Andre!
I love seeing the world through Andre’s eyes. Crafty weeds, greenthumbier neighbours than thou, dueling gardeners within a household. Love it all!
My favorite is still the diagram of the bitty house and the beautifully sited and scaled potting shed.
Thursdays never fail to bring a smile…thank you Andre and Margaret!
Andre’s simplicity is what first strikes you in the drawing and there is always a note of humor and honesty. But the notes that somehow linger can also evoke loneliness, sadness, glee, mirth, danger, silliness. That is what amazes me – a cheerful drawing so refreshing and simple, becomes so complex in meaning if you follow the thought.
I agree with the comment about Edward Gorey. When I stumbled upon Andre’s website I fell immediately in love. The emotions expressed in his art wrench my heart. My favorites are the sorry weeds and the shy elephant.
Andre’s doodles always make me laugh out loud! they tickle my funny bone. this doodle would make awonderful fabric print for dining room chairs.
My very favorite doodle is the one about the exhausted bulbs. It made me laugh and ask my bulbs, how are you feeling? Are you exhausted? I s everything ok down there in the dirt?
I look forward to Andre’s doodles and like them all.
In a nutshell: simplicity of line!
When I look at Andre’s doodle, I am drawn to what are POSSIBLY the leaves on the flowers. The “leaves”, to me, look like ANTS crawling up the stem of a Peony, or they could be silhouettes of men crawling up a Palm tree to get Coconuts. This image is whimsical with SURREAL undertones.
I’m loving these doodles by this artist. It reminds of all those funny little thoughts in my head that never make it out on paper. There is so much going on with all the doodles, yet their so simple and funny. Sometimes sick humor which I’m all for. I do love all the designs and would like to kick myself for not coming up with them myself. Keep on “Dude-a-ling”…….
Thank you for creating such a lovely space : )
I’d like to invite you to win a piece of my fine art through a giveaway on my blog.
http://walterhelenaphotography.blogspot.com/2010/05/whp-giveaway-two-of-twelve-clouds.html
I wish you all my best.
WHP
I love Andre’s ‘the truth about seeds…etc’ cause it is oh so true for me…the seed catalogs are addictive and I do not know when to stop choosing, ESPECIALLY in the bleakness of February & March!…and then of course, ‘Believe in the seeds applies to the actual emergance of the bloom and thats where I go wrong. :-(
I have a black thumb where seeds are concerned…not enough patience I suppose…but oh, I keep on trying every year!
Whats a no-loose seed choice for the gardener with little patience? Help!!!…AAAAnyone!
I love finding one little ant reaching out to another little ant at the bottom of the doodle. I am also absolutely delighted that Andre’s doodle captures the sunshine and gives a bit to me. My garden is full of shade. I must run to catch a bit of the dappled sunshine.
i love Andre’s doodles because they’re simple and to the point expressing what us gardener’s do and think with few words and endearing pictures.
I love the simplicity and real meaning. Those happy little sunshine flowers make me smile!