There Was a Crooked House

I like history and old things, and I think in many cases the old, 'ugly' and forgotten things in life are more interesting—and certainly more fun—to draw! Anyway, with that in mind…

Here's something from the 'probably not haunted' file: 12 buildings in use today that were around when King Richard III was on the throne. I've seen number 11 in person (26–28 Cornmarket, Oxford) and drew it, above. I remember commenting to my daughter as we walked past it once, "I can't believe that doesn't just tip over." The house is crooked because it's 900 years old! (Click here or on the image above for a photo and history of the building.)

Here's an old, time-worn French villa. (Click to see photo.)

Someday, I'll hopefully get around to finishing the illustration of the Château de Maisons below.

It's off to a good start: Every single line on the drawing is crooked. (I think that's what I like about it the most!)

Speaking of which, have you heard about the mystery of Poland's so-called 'Crooked Forest'? Read about it here. Spooky, eh?

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"A house with any kind of age will have dozens of stories to tell. I suppose if a novelist could live long enough, one could base an entire oeuvre on the lives that weave in and out of an antique house."
–Anita Shreve

1. Looking for the perfect gift for the artist in your life? SketchBox is a service that sends you 4-6 premium art supplies each month. Each box contains a piece of art created with the supplies inside. Here's a quick video advertisement. Basic Box is $25 per month; a Premium Box is $35.

2. Who will Rescue the Ruins of this French Fairytale Chateau?

3. Anyone for some tasty seagull, marigolds or peacock? Royal feasts: What was eaten by kings and kings through the ages.

4. How a lost English castle is coming back from ruin.

5. So who was Mother Goose, anyway? There's really no definitive answer, but click here to learn more about her.

"There was a crooked man,
and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence
against a crooked stile;
He bought a crooked cat
which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together
in a little crooked house."
–Mother Goose

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"My favourite finds are often antique pieces with a history."
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"I continue to be interested in new things that seem old and old things that seem new."
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About Me

Hi. I’m D.E.Uhlig. I’m an artist, author, husband and father.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to draw. Years ago I gave my wife a hand-drawn card for our anniversary, and she loved it so much she made me promise to ALWAYS hand-draw her cards. Then our three kids made me promise to do the same with their birthday cards. And when I posted some of my drawings online, people began asking how they could purchase my work—so I created this newsletter. I believe in something I like to call “The Happiness of Art” and I hope it makes you smile.

Official Bio

D.E.Uhlig is an award-winning illustrator whose work has appeared in numerous publications including the Kansas City Star, Christian Science Monitor, University Daily Kansan, Editorial Humor Magazine, and World Policy Journal. Commercial illustration and design clients over the years have included Samsung, Sprint, and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, among others—and his Starbucks RedCup illustrations have been featured on the company's Pinterest and Facebook pages. In 1989, Mr. Uhlig co-founded Uhlig LLC, a leading provider of cross-media publishing and communication services in industries ranging from residential housing to book publishing to cancer care. Mr. Uhlig is married with three children and resides in Kansas City. He is currently working on children’s books, ebooks and apps.

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