Summer Fun At Rocky Beach
Here’s an oldie from 2010. Philadelphia City Paper, an alternative newsweekly (now defunct), commissioned a beach illustration for the cover of their Summer Kick-Off issue.
It features eight caricatures. All eight have a Philadelphia or Pennsylvania connection. How many can you name? (Don’t spend too much time on it– I can only remember three of them myself!)
OK, everybody got Sylvester Stallone as boxer Rocky Balboa, right? The film Rocky was set in Philadelphia.
The happy guy on the far side of the volleyball net is M. Night Shyamalan, who is best known as the writer and director of the 1999 hit film, The Sixth Sense. Shyamalan was raised in the Philadelphia area, and has set many of his films there.
The sand-kicker on the far left (with the yellow pail) is Ed Rendell, former Governor of Pennsylvania, who served from 2003 to 2011.
Any Philadelphians out there? Maybe you can help identify the rest.
Here’s a larger detail image.
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Are you a beach person?
Do you try to hold your stomach in, or let it all hang out?
Ever seen anyone play octopus-ball??
Hope you’ll leave a comment.
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What a summery picture! It also happens to be a nice sunny day today here – this picture makes me want to go visit the seaside now!!
Hmm Octopus-ball… I think I’ll have to try that one next time I’m at the beach (if I can find an octopus lying around somewhere!) 🙂
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Ha! You’ve conjured up quite a vision for me, Lily: I see you walking around the beach with an octopus under your arm, crying: “Ahoy, you sun-baked slugs!!– who’s up for a game?? Let’s get the net set up– look sharp, ya lazy loafers!!”
You’d phrase it a good deal more diplomatically, of course… : )
Always so good to see you, thanks for your jolly comment!
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Hahahaaa!! I just had to say, you have no idea how much that made me laugh!
Next time I’m by the beach, I’ll be sure to call out “ahoy, you sun-baked slugs!” someway or another 😛
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Please do– everyone enjoys a friendly greeting… : )
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The only one I could spot is Stallone too. I’m not very familiar with characters from this area! 😉 I did however spot my little radio – the one I put back together AND working!!!!
Coincidentally [not really!] we are also off to the beach for a few days [experiencing a heatwave at the moment, so an escape is imperative!]
So much happening in there, Mark! I keep discovering a new element every time I see it. No point in hiding it any longer… I’m an admirer of your work!!! 🙂
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What?? You’re not familiar with the other characters?? I’m surprised– I thought Greece was a suburb of Philadelphia… : )
My dear Marina–! Your quip about the radio really made me laugh. You’re famous as a painter and musician, of course, but your radio reassembly skills are not as well known. I went into a vintage radio store recently, and asked if they had any Marina Kanavaki Radios. The guy said no, they’re very rare. He said the parts inside are all jumbled up– nobody can understand why the radio actually works. One of the great mysteries, he said… : )
You’re an admirer of my work?? I’m stunned! I’m delirious! I’m ecstatic!! Now that’s the sort of shocking confession I like to hear… : )
Have a wonderful time at the beach, and don’t leave your paints out in the sun. Oh– and don’t forget your radio!! : )
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😆 Hmmm, maybe my i-pod needs some readjustments….. 😉
I suppose because of that little radio, I’ve always had a weird interaction with various instruments – machines etc making our sound engineer wonder on several occasions!
Yes, an admirer and a proud one too! 🙂
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Uh-oh. Little iPod’s life will never be the same… : )
And I’ll bet that sound engineer has had an earful… : )
And… you are The Sweetest!! : )
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Epic fail! I used to live in Pennsylvania – Harrisburg and Philadephia – and I’d need name tags for everyone but Rocky (Sylvester Stallone). But, I avoid the beach. So maybe that’s why I didn’t recognize the rest of them. Love your illustrations, Mark. 😉
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What?? You’ve lived in Philadelphia, too?? Hmm… Utica to Philly. From Brotherly Beer (Schultz & Dooley) to Brother Love– you’ve done it all, my dear Judy!! : )
I avoid the beach, too. Really. I don’t like the heat, I don’t like the crowds, and I especially don’t like octopi landing on my beach blanket… : P
Judy, your comments and cheery support beat sand between my toes any day– many thanks!!! : )
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What a great beachparty! Where do you hide? Are you callng for help with the bottle message? Do occtopus fly in the USA? Is it political correct to expose turtles half naked people? I’m full of questions today – your picture makes me musing…
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That’s me flying over the net. I guess I picked a bad day to wear my octopus costume. I thought with eight arms, I could eat eight ice cream cones at once. Oh, well… : (
You have a very inquisitive mind, my dear Tutti. The best part is, your musings are always a-musing!! : )
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Yay! Summer here in my place needed no beach to enjoy the sun… Very hot in here… even I do not not like to cover my face just like most of the women here, whenever I go out nowadays. I have too… or else I’d get my face burn!
Sorry, I didn’t recognize any one of them, although I’m familiar with Rocky Balboa played by SS… Yes, “Rocky” one of my favorite films ” 🙂
I love the one holding a turtle… she’s so naughty! 😆
I enjoyed the water so much!
Great illustration as always!
Thanks so much for leaving comments to my posts… You always have something to say, making me smile as I read them. I feel happy and I highly appreciate all of the donuts in each of them too… hehehe
See you around buddy! xoxo
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My dearest sun-kissed Dolly! Thank you for this epic comment, which simply brims with your customary lavish charm!! : )
You liked Rocky, eh? I liked the part at the end, where he’s all beaten up. I can identify with the character at that point, because that’s how I look after fighting my way thru the line at the Lemons R Us Café to get donuts. I take a lot of punishment from elderly ladies with canes and large pocketbooks…
Thanks for your kind words about the illustration. As you know, I like to study your Tooth Of The Day comics and your Photoshop techniques. I’ve learned a lot from The Master… : )
Always a great pleasure to see you, my dear Toothsome!! : )
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