Brian Fies is inviting people over to his blog to see pictures of his Mom's Cancer book launch. Even if you aren't interested in cartoons you should go check out his blog, and his book. I's a beautifully written story with gorgeous illustrations. Of course it's a sad story, but it's also very uplifting. I must say, it's a joy to read a blog that isn't all ranting and fuming, like, well, mine. I have no idea from where the bile comes.
While you're there you'll see cartoonist Mike Lynch in the odd photo. Mike is a fantastic guy (and a great cartoonist) who once sent me a comic out of the blue just because it's nice to get something in the post now and again. Take a look over at Mike Lynch's blog, especially if you're a cartoonist.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Harvard Cartoons
I get the Harvard Business Review a month or so after my cartoons are published, but it's still exciting because it comes in Doug's (King of Queens) big brown UPS truck. The magazine itself is a real treat because it is so visually literate. The thing is jammed full of first-class illustrations, and cartoons. I just got the January edition and I was happy to see a bunch of illustrations by British illustrator Tom Gauld (Guardian Situations Vacant drawings and a recent Boots ad'). I think there's something very special about his drawings.
Anyway, here's my cartoon:
Anyway, here's my cartoon:
This Month's Prospect
I've a cartoon in this month's Prospect (March 2006). It's teeny, but it still works. It's on the Arts page alongside an article about Gilbert and George, which seems to be both pro and anti. I have no opinion on Gilbert and George, but I think the artist as 'Art Object' is a load of fanny:
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Almost Forgot
How could I forget the cartoons that are getting people killed?
Well, really, they aren't cartoons as such, they are caricatures of the Prophet (it's forbidden to depict him in the Muslim religion), that the editor of a Danish newspaper requested from local 'cartoonists'. I don't know if he expressly asked these 'cartoonists' to caricature the entire religion as terrorists, but he seemed to have a very deliberate agenda, so it wouldn't surprise me if he spelled out the brief. For me, It was a shabby trick designed, for whatever reason, to cause the maximum offence possible. And now that the 'cartoonists' who were 'responsible' for the drawings are in hiding, for fear of their lives, I hope he will step forward and exonerate them and take the entire blame for the fiasco.
Over here many of the brave editorial cartoonists drew cartoons that somehow showed them as heroically drawing cartoons in favour of free speech under fear of death. And yet, some of their newspapers have made little or no mention, in cartoon form or otherwise, of the gradual erosion of freedom of expression in the UK. I mean, you try going near Downing Street and reading out the names of British soldiers killed in Iraq, or try shouting 'rubbish' at a Labour party conference. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that some editorial cartoonists are little more than Cartoon Ho's - editors cartoon bitches, if you will.
Well, really, they aren't cartoons as such, they are caricatures of the Prophet (it's forbidden to depict him in the Muslim religion), that the editor of a Danish newspaper requested from local 'cartoonists'. I don't know if he expressly asked these 'cartoonists' to caricature the entire religion as terrorists, but he seemed to have a very deliberate agenda, so it wouldn't surprise me if he spelled out the brief. For me, It was a shabby trick designed, for whatever reason, to cause the maximum offence possible. And now that the 'cartoonists' who were 'responsible' for the drawings are in hiding, for fear of their lives, I hope he will step forward and exonerate them and take the entire blame for the fiasco.
Over here many of the brave editorial cartoonists drew cartoons that somehow showed them as heroically drawing cartoons in favour of free speech under fear of death. And yet, some of their newspapers have made little or no mention, in cartoon form or otherwise, of the gradual erosion of freedom of expression in the UK. I mean, you try going near Downing Street and reading out the names of British soldiers killed in Iraq, or try shouting 'rubbish' at a Labour party conference. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that some editorial cartoonists are little more than Cartoon Ho's - editors cartoon bitches, if you will.
Friday, February 24, 2006
From the Desktop
From the Desktop
I think I’ll mix-and-match posts, from here on my desktop (great innovation the Blogger macro); from which I can’t post images, and online, from where I can add the odd illustration. It’s too convenient to pass on the opportunity.
Britain now has a concrete Cartoon Museum. I think it’s in London. From what I could gather from the news and the teeny article in the Gruniad, the usual suspects were there: Martin Rowlson (is that right?) and Steve Bell. I mean, am I the only one who thinks editorial cartoonists are all overrated? It has to be the easiest job in cartooning, you know, someone dies and they all draw the same cartoon about the person standing talking to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, it’s a very cliché-ridden job. Also, they always try to tie-in two events, so it’d be something to do with whatever, plus the Winter Olympics. Hack-work really. Lord knows knocking out 5 to 10 good gag cartoons every day, that have to work 6 months down the line, is a hell of a lot harder than that.
It’s hard to believe, but we do have some really important cartoonists in this country, like Dave McKean, for instance, or Raymond Briggs, or the guy who draws Where’s Wally (Waldo), cartoonists who draw work that is appreciated all over the world, not just by the tiny readership of our local rags.
I think I’ll mix-and-match posts, from here on my desktop (great innovation the Blogger macro); from which I can’t post images, and online, from where I can add the odd illustration. It’s too convenient to pass on the opportunity.
Britain now has a concrete Cartoon Museum. I think it’s in London. From what I could gather from the news and the teeny article in the Gruniad, the usual suspects were there: Martin Rowlson (is that right?) and Steve Bell. I mean, am I the only one who thinks editorial cartoonists are all overrated? It has to be the easiest job in cartooning, you know, someone dies and they all draw the same cartoon about the person standing talking to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, it’s a very cliché-ridden job. Also, they always try to tie-in two events, so it’d be something to do with whatever, plus the Winter Olympics. Hack-work really. Lord knows knocking out 5 to 10 good gag cartoons every day, that have to work 6 months down the line, is a hell of a lot harder than that.
It’s hard to believe, but we do have some really important cartoonists in this country, like Dave McKean, for instance, or Raymond Briggs, or the guy who draws Where’s Wally (Waldo), cartoonists who draw work that is appreciated all over the world, not just by the tiny readership of our local rags.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Brokeback Update
I like the Donny Darko guy in Brokeback, so I made a nicer cartoon. The problem with these drawings is they are timed for the US market where the films are released a lot earlier. Sometimes I forget and our hapless cartoon editors over here scratch their heads in bewilderment:
Back on Track
I've resolved to be more bloggish, or bloggely, or whatever. At any rate I'm going to post more regularly. As usual I've been busy. I just knocked out a cartoon for the March edition of Prospect and I've got to fire some spec' work into a few titles by the first week in March.
Test
Test: Well, it’s no secret I’ve been extremely lax with my blogging, so hopefully, jotting into Word and just clicking it up here will make a big difference.
Aah, but there's the rub; can't upload cartoons.
Aah, but there's the rub; can't upload cartoons.
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