As a kid, one of my favorite scenes from any movie, was the chariot race in Ben Hur.
For the Illustration Friday prompt this week of RACING, I was torn between Ben Hur and the Tortoise and the Hare. Hey! Why not do both!! So I give you BEN HARE.
I have to admit, depicting the mild mannered tortoise as the evil aggressor, left me a little rattled. After all, he was the underdog. He was the wise and patient hero/victor in the original.
Then, upon closer observation, I noticed something protruding from under the tortoise's flow-ing red cape. What is that? It looks like a...a....wolf's tail! Has The Big Bad Wolf made another appearance in yet another fable, disguised as the tortoise and anticipating the post-race victory feast of rabbit stew?
OK now I feel much better.
Jack...you've been a follower of my blog from way back when as I have yours. Just wondering when you changed your avatar? I like it.
ReplyDeleteFunny idea Jack :) I know a girl with flowing golden hair who would fit right in to make it a race of the primary colors. Thank you for your kind comments in my direction.
ReplyDeleteLove this! Ben Hare!?@#$ And the evil eyes along with the wolf tail are very nice, sinister touches!
ReplyDeleteJa ja ja. Great job, Jack!
ReplyDeleteEsopo did not think so. Sure!
nice twist on the tortoise and the hare
ReplyDeleteHa, I think this might be one of my favorites of yours, so cute and funny, Ben Hare, it makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteLOL I love the idea of combining Ben Hur and the Tortoise and the Hare...funny!
ReplyDeleteHahaha...Ben Hare is really funny...so here the tortoise loses its chariot and the race?
ReplyDeleteok, you crack me up, how do you dream this stuff up? I'm glad you explained the wolf's tale at first I thought it was exhaust from a rocket ;) Ben Hare... too funny
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun illo! I love the evil look on the turtle's face! Nice job, Jack! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a composite of characters! Clever!
ReplyDeleteThis is RAD!
ReplyDeletetoo funny! the capes are great, also like the bright colors and expressions!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful interpretation of this weeks theme
ReplyDeleteI love reading the way your mind rambled around to this idea. Very cute illo!
ReplyDeleteperfect! love the expressions on your characters!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! BE HARE! What a hoot! HAHAHAHAHAH! I remember that scene. OMG. I remember every scene in Ben Hur. For a while my husband watched Ben Hur night after night after night. Of course I loved Charlton Heston and I was rooting for him.What a great movie that was. Your Ben Hare is one adorable race, I am rooting for Ben Hare! Heheheh! I will check FB and see if I have a request. Thank you, Jack. I hope I feel better soon. I need to go to work tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteSee, I was so giddy, I meant to say Ben Hare. HAHAHAH!
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha (is that more 'ha's than Ces'? Well I admit to laughing aloud - out loud at this - especially everything about it.
ReplyDeleteWell I hesitate to call you the Mr Bean of imagining imagery but you know what I mean.
Here'a to Ben Hare! Okay you are up the top of the make me laugh group this week,
by see you when I get from blogaholidays
Go, Benny, Go!!! I think Tortiwolf's rope will snap and he will go flying into the stands as the crowd cheers wildly. In the stands he will have a life-changing experience and over the ensuing years will make amends to Little Red and the Pigs.
ReplyDeleteBenny will look around confusedly and say, "what just happened?"
Awesome! Thank you for the afternoon chuckle. Great take on the age-old fable.
ReplyDeleteHaha, great twist on all the stories! Your characters are great, I love the expression on the bunny's face.
ReplyDeletechariots, hmmm ? well, that'll certainly even it up for that tortoise!
ReplyDeletevvverry funny, jack! :)))
..great idea,jack..wonderful characters!!love it!!
ReplyDeletelol! Nice solve for what you wanted to do.
ReplyDeleteYou clever, clever man! This is BRILLIANT in so many ways! This time, I'm rooting for the Hare.
ReplyDeletehahaha...I like how you combined both stories into one and then gave it a turn at the end with the wolf in disguise. Cool ideas, great work.
ReplyDeletehaha niceeeeee great illustration :D
ReplyDeleteOh jack, this is tooo funny. The wolf tail had me cracking up! Clever. You are so creative. Thank you so very much for the kind words you left on my blog - It made my day, your words mean alot to me! thank you again! smiles to you! xo heather
ReplyDeleteHi Jack, thanks for following me! Great Illustration!
ReplyDeleteBen Hare! Brilliant! This is a children's book waiting to happen Jack --- the characters are perfect... everyone always feels sorry for the poor little tortoise but now we see the truth - it was one big set up!
ReplyDeleteLove you work
I like this Ben Hur version of La Fontaine's fable :)
ReplyDeleteI love your illustrations!! The cat driving with the scared dog...tooo funny....spooky is sweet and this one...fabulous too. Thanks for coming by my blog and admiring my books I have been making for the Christmas Art Market scene here in Germany. Wishing you a wonderful day in your part of the world.
ReplyDeletethank you for your comment!!
ReplyDeleteyour illustration is very funny: the idea is great!!! I'll share it with my husband, he will like it too: Ben Hur fan!!!
Great idea combining the movie and story together! This is a very fun piece!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny...I saw a section on TCM how much is lost during that scene because of reformatting...I will never complain about those black bars again...
ReplyDeleteThat's neat. I don't think I've heard the story, but I like your illustration.
ReplyDeleteshoot im late! x(
ReplyDeletesorry, theres a witch hunt out there...
i like your ben hare, heheh, is he single?
does he like witches?
fantastic idea.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! A chariot race with an impostor is a unique twist! Well done!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha Ha. Great idea! So funny! Shall I wish your Ben Hare good luck? I remember the movie vaguely but I think the race was very nasty.
ReplyDeleteOMG! That is hilarious, Jack! You are so clever! I really love your sense of humor. Thanks so much for your comments.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and very creative concept! I hope the hare wins and not the Big Bad Wolf disguised as a tortoise! :)
ReplyDelete-Melissa
thanks, jack! how nice of you. i'm just learning how to make patterns, so i'm glad to get some nice feedback on them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a very clever take on the subject! Well done!
ReplyDeletei absolutely love the Ben Hare idea and after seeing that wolf's tail, i just wanted to say, "faster faster Mr Hare!":)
ReplyDeleteBen Hare - classic. Love the details.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a collaboration of sorts. Lord, what the genius mastermind is capable of!
ReplyDeleteglad i found your blog and website- got you bookmarked :) great to meet a brother in Christ who's an artist as well- check out another brother's website- Kevin Zimmer at www.zimmerart.com- GREAT art! God BLess ♥
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