Growing Pains for the Weekly Alibi

A slightly surreal illustration for the Weekly Alibi that has to do with left-wing and right-wing city councillors in Albuquerque squaring off over proposals to rezone voting districts due to the city's rapid expansion. Some of the rezoning proposals would benefit the lefties and some the righties so I thought it would be a fun idea to  have both sides messily splashing paint over the lovely, flourishing tree that is Albuquerque. The city has a bird on its flag so as an added detail I made it flying off in top left corner to sort of indicate that these two sides are causing a major disruptions!

I'm not big on politics so when I initially drew the animal heads on the city councillors I'd put the heads on the wrong sides (donkey is supposed to be democrats, etc.). /Facepalm. Hey, in my defense I'm a Canadian! I did a magazine cover based on Canadian politics and that was wonderfully specific and not at all incorrect :P.  

Originally the people had real human, Albuquerque city councillor faces. The art director requested animal heads instead which definitely ups the weirdness factor -- I approve!

 

Semi-tight sketch.

Exceedingly loosey-goosey sketch. They were never actually going to be naked, never fear!