The Monte Files
Who is Monte (”Mon-tee”) and what are the Monte Files?
Borne out of inattentiveness in a grade six science class, I drew Monte everywhere on my friends’ notebooks, on everything I owned, even painted him on the back window of a friend’s car in the late ’70’s, 
which I have no photo of unfortunately. Monte has managed to come back to life every few years since then in some form or another.
The cartoon head is originally blue and drawn along with different hand gestures, but the basic shape can morph into any figure simply by changing the eyes, shape of the head, adding ears or a nose or a suitable body.
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Monte snow sculpture, Winter 1989
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The Monte Files were listed on my very first website (2003) with the invitation for you, whoever and wherever you are, despite your age or drawing capabilites, to send in your version of Monte or a character inspired by him, and add it to the collection. 
The Monte Files are back, and the invitation stands.
Your character doesn’t even have to resemble Monte at all, and can be created using whatever media you wish. Scan him, trace him, shred him to bits then reassemble him, make a collage with magazine clippings, write a quip or add hand gestures…no rules except be kind and have fun with it; Monte’s up for anything!
Alternatively, print out pages from the Monte Coloring Book at the bottom of this page. Children, adults, artists or not, or if you have a website of your own that you’d like to promote in The Monte Filesthen send a jpeg image of your Monte interpretation along with any information you wish to share to nikki_coulombe@hotmail.com. I have no knowledge of how to, nor a desire to use your information in an unethical way, so you have no worries about that.
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1) By changing a few small details Monte can morph into anything. 2) You don’t have be cutesy, as in Look Ma, No Rules!”, but please keep the work all-ages-friendly.
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Digitally Embroidered Monte, High quality cotton Flexfit (TM) baseball cap | |
| 25.00 each Free shipping in U.S. and Canada |  |
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Monte speaks too - if you would rather write a cartoon quip, a poem or a story about Monte, that would be great!
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The basic Monte face can change entirely but still be used as a starting point for ideas toward finding a new character. 5 ft. tall Leslie Park Elementary School prop for Christmas play, 1988
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Mr. Not Stale, Knoxdale Elementary School’s annual Bake Sale mascot (Ottawa 1990), named in a contest by a very clever Grade 2 student. She won one of the two 12″ stuffed characters I sewed and awarded to the top two winners.
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Momarch Butterfly, 1999 model home wall mural in baby nursery, inspired the Mommy Nature series
Sunny, mural detail computer enhanced
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Momarch Butterfly and Beeing a Mom, part of the Mommy Nature series, 11 x 14 Acrylics on canvas 2004. NFS, Prints and Cards available, see link above.
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Paint Shop Pro computer effects
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Is That You, Monte? Paint Shop Pro effects
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Sock Puppet by Adrian Coulombe, Pencil on paper 2005
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Digital drawing by Jim Drury, 2005
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Digital drawing by Jim Drury, 2005
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Digital effects by Jim Drury, 2005
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Monte Descending A Staircase, 2005, ode to Marcel Duchamp
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Cookie Monte, traditional Sugar Cookie recipe, stamp made from polymer clay
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Cookie Monte, stamp made from polymer clay.
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Cookie Monte, stamp made from polymer clay. Traditional Sugar Cookie recipe.
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Monte Cycles, 2006
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Monte Cycles bike decal
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On the cover of Colorado Cyclist
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When we were in California recently we met some ladies at a rest stop who were driving to New York City from Alaska in a beat up old car. Friends, and people they met along the way signed their car. Monte travels!
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Monte Is My Homey, digital 2006
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Monte Pac - Monte is my Homey
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Monte Studios You Tube logo (Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the You-Tuber (Alain practising with videos) are not necessarily those expressed by Monte or his Artist!)
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Computerized industrial embroidery machine program by Adam Coulombe, 2008
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Adrian’s Computerized industrial embroidery machine, testing colored threads and fine tuning with Monte program, 2009
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Monte Hat by Adrian Coulombe, industrial embroidery, Jan. 28, 2009. Good luck with your new business Adrian!
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My neice Camille Coulombe scanned and printed Monte, shredded then glued the image back together as a paper mosaic. Awesome Job Camille!
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Monte Balloon, Paint Shop Pro effects
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Monte Coloring Book