Friday, November 12, 2010

BURNING

As a kid growing up in Chicago, we always heard stories of the Great Chicago Fire. It was said that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern and caused the fire that destroyed almost all of Chicago in 1871.

A few buildings were spared including the Chicago Water Tower which still stands today as a reminder of how Chicago rose from the ashes. Amazingly, because of a wind shift, the O’Leary home was spared and the cow was saved.

I always had a soft spot for the cow. She took the blame, but what idiot left a lantern on the barn floor anyway!

104 comments:

  1. oh very good Jack. Great expression and ingenious extinguisher :D

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  2. Oh this is great, its funny and that cow is soooo cute.

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  3. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    I think this is my favorite of yours, both concept and art.

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  4. LOL I love how she's using her udders to put out the fire! Hilarious illo :)

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  5. Hey! What a brilliant laugh you've given me first thing this morning! LOL!!!!!! And that hardly begins to express it! ;DDDDDDD Love it, Jack!!

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  6. Haha! Yeah that's a point you've got there! Did the cow need the light to read by?
    Great illustration mate

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  7. I can just feel the cow's sense of panic. Great illo!

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  8. luv it! The expression on her face is hilarious. Love that shes using her udders. hahahahahahahaha. I'm still laughing hahahahahaha

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  9. Hilarious! (Did I say hilarious last week? Well, I need a thesaurus, because this is hilarious!) That's that Oh-my-gosh-I-am-soooo-in-trouble look of panic. Very resourceful!

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  10. Bahahahah! Poor ol' cow! Love the story ^_^

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  11. HILARIOUS and over that top Hilarious at that!!! Oh Jack I will ever have this picture in my head he he he he he!! Oh I am going to laughing all day with this one!!! You have OUT DONE yourself.
    Blessing
    and very much laughter
    V

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  12. Very funny & the illustration is fab!

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  13. hahahaha! Brilliant. That is hilarious Jack!!!

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  14. LOL!!! Brilliant! I just love this one, and I may never think of the Chicago fire the same way again! Still chuckling and smiling. Thanks!!

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  15. LOL Jack, very good illustration!

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  16. this is hilarious. Love the expression.
    Great work !

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  17. hehehehe, you are so funny Jack, you always make me laugh, I love it!

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  18. HEEEHEEEHEEE...HAHAHAHAHAHA....Oh my gosh....HAHAHAHAHA....can't....get...up...from....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh good grief, Jack! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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  19. Man, this is really funny, and I am pretty sure you know that by now from all those comments. I really like the story that goes with it. It's beyond perfectly painted as well.

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  20. I am glad you dropped the burning marshmallows for this one, it's too much. Awesome as usual. This made my day...

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  21. LOL. That's hilarious. If only a cow really knew to do that. This is perfectly moorific.

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  22. hahahahhaha! WOW! you really took this word to a new level my friend! This is so great and laugh out loud hilarious! Really great Jack and i love your turkey too! talk about clever ;)

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  23. delightful jacktoons!
    this cow is burnin' greatness!!!

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  24. Omigosh, Jack! I had to call all the family members over for this one!

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  25. I'll never be able to think of the Chicago fire again without this image springing to mind! (Or should I say spritzing?) Too funny! Poor cow, if only they hadn't milked her that day, there might have been hope...

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  26. hahahahahaha! That is absolutely brilliant! The poor cow!

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  27. Well Jack, :)you sure have the talent, you've zoomed in on the essence of this, you have an amazing ability to focus, to get the elements working off, and with each other

    Oh and I laughed. Of course that exxprssion "pull the udder one' came to mind, but I promised myself I would not use it

    cheers from the land of the dislexic owc

    oh my magic word is suckl,

    hmm I'm sure goggle is watching me

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  28. Brilliant! You have an incredible sense of humour - I love it!

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  29. He He, this is Brilliant!!, Poor cow, great illustration,

    Thanks for your visit and very nice comment.
    Have a fantastic week.

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  30. Hahhaaa.......This is brilliant piece of work Jack!

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  31. oh this is so awesome Jack!!!! what a great piece and her poor expression...adorable!!!

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  32. Awesome! Great take on on this weeks topic.

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  33. I really like it, it has a nice 3d look to it great :)

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  34. Thanks for your comments on my blog Jack. I'm flattered to have someone so talented comment on my work. This illustration in particular is very very clever!

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  35. Hahaha So cute !! and very funny illstration !

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  36. Your illustration made me laugh out loud. I love it!

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  37. Jack, your illustration are always so great and they make me laugh lol!
    Thanks for the wonderful comment regarding my magazine cover!! Here is the link to the Children's Hospital website http://www.chp.edu/CHP/Home. There you will find the emagazine for the Autumn season.

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  38. Funny illustration. I guess milk has many uses. It was good to stop by and see your most recent work.

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  39. Hey Jack, this is just amazing work! Love the lighting effects, the humorously panicky character, action- it's just a winner! As the song goes, "...Gonna be a hot time in old town tonight!" Hee Hee!
    P.S.
    Thanks for stopping by "Afterwards!" :o)

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  40. Hahaha, it´s funny! Great concept, congrats!

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  41. Too funny!Love it!Her expression and concept!I didn't know about this cow story but I love how you changed it:)

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  42. Wow too funny! Great illo! put it in the keeper file! :D you did it again! :D

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  43. Wow, it is great this ilustration!!! :-) All your work is very good. Thanks for your comment in my blog, friend. You're very kind. I come back here very soon! Greetings from Spain :-)

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  44. This is hilarious, so totally love it. I can still sing the song, "One dark night when we were all in bed Mrs. O'Leary....... " I mean I really really super love this, I know it's in part cuz I'm from Chicago, but it's just really great. Well done!

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  45. very funny. and a bit skewed, so it's right up my alley! nice job!

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  46. i didn't see this one coming!!!!!!!! I love love love this jack! She's her own firehouse :)

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  47. OMG.... sooo funny!!! hahaha cant stop laughing... gee you are good! Superbe illo Jack!!

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  48. Jack, nice spin on the story and a hilarious pic - this is so lively it almost looks animated!

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  49. Great image Jack. Love the warm highlights.

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  50. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    *blink*.....*blink*.....*GASP*.....(*O*)....

    For the love of God, John, you are dangerous.

    BWWAAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHHAAAAHHAAAAAHHH...!!!!

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  51. And I LOVE your new turkey suit! Hehehehe...

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  52. This cow is really amazing! Too funny.
    I hope she has enough milk!

    Very cute Jack

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  53. Haha! Funny drawing, it looks cute! Thank you for your sweet words!
    Take Care!

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  54. Great lighting! It made me smile.

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  55. Like everyone else, I love the expression on that cow. Completely perfect for the situation! And, the fire extinguisher is very creative. It certainly have captured a cow in desperation!

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  56. I love this story and your image! So much fun!!!!

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  57. Excellent! I can't stop laughing...the cow's expression is perfect. Thank you for making me laugh so much!

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  58. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH oh my goodness this is by far the funniest thing I have seen all day or week for that matter HAHAHAHAH still laughin' Great work as always Jack!! xox

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  59. OMG! OMG! OMG! Sooooooooooooo adorably and wickedly funny!!!!!! Just brilliant!

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  60. A super and very funny illustration the poor cow is superb and having her use her udders to try abd put the fire out is genius. I notice that in any great fire the persons place it started at always claims it was a spark from a fire or a cow kicking a latern.

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  61. All I can say is HILARIOUS!!!! Love it.

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  62. This is really funny. Nice job. Thanks for stopping by my blog : )

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  63. wow...scary for the barn animals!! lucky to have the cow there!

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  64. i think this one takes the cake jack! hilarious! hahah, i actually did LOL! excellent job!

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  65. hey thanks for stopping by, Im glad you dig my take on the topic. great job with the cow, it looks awesome!!

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  66. I don't think she had the stomachs (or udders) for firefighting, but this is a super funny illustration! Thanks for all the nice comments, Jack!

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  67. HILARIOUS! Oh this is superb, Jack...you are an amazing talent.

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  68. Love it!!! I think your right. The poor cow was a hapless victim in the fire cover-up story.

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  69. oww this is so cute :)

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  70. Fun illustration. :) Thanks for the hello over at my blog! I like your stuff here, and I really do like your Mr. Biblehead! Must be fun to have you as a sunday school teacher. :)

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  71. hi jack lots of comments you have and you're real funny this week with your cow trying to save your city what a pity it was all in vain oh you have a lot of stories bye

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  72. Another great story and fantastic illustration, what an ingenious cow!:)

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  73. :D I was having a down day today Jack, but your illustration put a smile on my face...

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  74. wonderful! I love art that has a story behind it...especially such a tragic story from history. oh those clumsy cows!

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  75. I posted ealier, bit I dont think it worked for some reason... Anyway. Thanks for your comment!! :) And I love your style here! So fun and cute!

    And btw.. that has gotta be the unluckyiest cow in the world!

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  76. :D
    :D
    :D
    freakin funny, i want to see this in real!!

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  77. LOL...
    this is very funny! love the idea - to put out fire with milk!!

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  78. Trop craquante votre vache ! A proposer comme pompier volontaire...
    Bises

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  79. Aw, thank you for your heartwarming and generous comment, Mr. Jack. Now, you may want to change out of that turkey costume this time of year..... ;)

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  80. oh Jack what a gigant smile you gave me, what a LOL :D
    it´s so so funny, and so so approporiate, and so so sweet at the same time!

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  81. I love the paniced expression of the cow! And who could blame the poor creature?

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  82. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OMGosh! This is so funnEEEEEE!
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh Mr. Foster, thank you for being so kind and generous with your comments. Bella is right. Please hide that head and neck of yours!

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  83. Hahah! Hillarious and awesome!!!!!

    Rebekka

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  84. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! OH MY GAWD!!!!! This is hysterical - I snorted coffee through my nose. I adore your divine sense of humor. Love. Love. LOVE IT!!!! Thanks for sharing your awesomeness (and your kind/supportive words on my blog)

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  85. nice.. i wonder if her milk would be enough to kill all the fire :D

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  86. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  87. How funny this illustration, it would be nice to see your illustration in animation, I love the shapes, thank you very much for your prayers and your comment, you know it's my first baby and very scary when you have high temperature, thanks to God is very good.

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  88. WOW!!! 100 comments! Jack, you are smokin'!!!! (Which is, coincidentally, a synonym for BURNING, no?)

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  89. jack that is truly hilarious...love it!

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  90. You always make me laugh/smile....your work is soooo much FUN!!! I love looking at your blog!

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