On the Digital Drawing Board: Giving Thanks

Technically, it's possible for me to go a full week without glancing at social media. (Technically, it's also possible for my divorced buddy 'Steve' to marry Taylor Swift.)

I'm trying to avoid social media these days, both input and output. As for output, my Twitter, IG, and journal haven't been updated in ages because my work keeps me very busy. But Thanksgiving provided a break in the action, and time to reflect.

My wife periodically shares that when she tells her friends about my job, they often respond with something like, “that has to be one of the best jobs in the world.” She tells them that it has frustrating moments, like any job...but also it is, to quote Ferris Bueller, "so choice".

She reminded me of this yesterday, and it snapped me out of my rump-dragging stupor - after a month of late nights, and tight deadlines. 

"Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys.” ― Fyodor Dostoevsky

This should be more obvious to me than it is. As with many creative people, it took time to establish my career. Early on, there were steps forward, (a great art director job out of college)...pauses (rejections from large media syndicates, breaking into an entertainment field where only 1 in 6,000 submissions is awarded a contract)...forward (two comic strip syndication contracts)...steps back (over 3,200 newspapers closed since I signed those contracts.)

I stayed with it - drawing and writing - while working crazy side jobs, (moving office furniture at IBM, modeling ski wear, and managing a B&B.) I have friends and colleagues who are on that same nonlinear artist’s path, and it can be challenging.

Like most people I know, I am so caught up in the rhythm of things now, that I forget the path behind...or that for a while, I only dreamed of getting paid well to write and draw. Today I took a breath and thought: I am thankful for the career I have now - and even more so for other things, like family, and friends. 

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There has been no advertising or publishing work discussed here in many moons, so, I'll only share a few recent things:

McKesson Healthcare decided this year that they wanted to create a regular comic strip for their 31,000 employees. They are a pharmaceutical and medical firm, (and glarger than Microsoft, Ford or General Motors, which was a surprise). That inherent complexity made for a lengthy hiring process. 

They contacted me in June, along with 64 other cartoonists, and after a two-month period of portfolio reviews and interviews, I was lucky enough to be awarded the project. 

The project involves writing and drawing specific humor, focusing on cyber security, and corporate IT. We started in October, which was "Cyber Security Awareness month". Below are two initial pieces, with corporate messaging added to the cartoons. 

The cartoons appear on each of their employee's computers/devices at sign-in, so that security is on one's mind to begin the day. A new cartoon about a new subject runs each month. (I'd get tired of seeing the same thing on my monitor say, 30 times...so I can sympathize with anyone who's 'had enough' of any of my cartoons by the end of the month.)

The response thus far has been positive, and even their CEO recently got in touch with an idea for next month's subject. It's been a lot of fun, thus far.

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A few years ago, Fidelity Investments hired me to create a series of financial cartoons for their online investing division and website. 

A separate division within Fidelity decided that they wanted new cartoons, and they sent RFPs a group of cartoonists. After a few MS Teams meetings, I ended up with an offer.

The cartoons will cater to their commercial customers, both the newsletter and website. The subject: Artificial Intelligence, IT, and online security. (There's a pattern here.) 

The project is just getting under way, and above is an initial cartoon.

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A commissioned illustration to celebrate the retiring Director of the Pleasantville Music Festival in New York. Bruce Figler presided over this grand festival for 8 years, and this piece will be printed, famed and given to him at his retirement party in early January.

(Clicken to embiggen)

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 Over the past year I’ve been doing pen, ink and watercolor portraits for an upscale dining club in Norwalk, Connecticut. (Background on that ongoing commission is in this journal post.)

The past month, Martha Stewart and her manager were in the restaurant, and saw the pen & ink drawings framed, on the wall, and inquired about having portraits created for them. 

They sent me some photos and interestingly, the request for Martha's piece was to draw her with her cat. (Sharp-eyed readers will notice that this has a bit less exaggeration than my usual caricatured pen and ink portraits.)

Martha's manager (depicted below with her husband) is the founder of the 

prominent New York City- based Magrino PR Agency.

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I signed a contract last month to create 12 monthly advertising cartoons for Amalgamated Insurance in New York. (That sounds like a company name from a Bugs Bunny cartoon, doesn't it?) Here is the first piece:

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One of several cartoons created this month for Causeway Software, in the UK.

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A piece for an online dating book, in progress:

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An illustration for a magazine article on the energy industry.

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Two books recently left the drawing board and went to press, in time for 'all important Christmas sales'. At least that's what the publishers called it as deadlines were moved up last month.  One book involved writing and drawing, the other was straight Illustration.

Five Minutes from a Meltdown began as an idea from the head of Yorkshire Publishing. He approached me last year, wondering if I'd be willing to team up with Hollywood screenwriter, David Meyer. He thought it might be fun to see us take turns riffing on various subjects of our choice, (social unrest, dogs, country music - and completely devolving from there.)

David wrote some very funny poems. 

I wrote and drew my own (non-poetic) stuff...some samples:

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It releases in December (despite what Amazon says) 

- I just received my box of 25 sample books from the publisher. 

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This book wrapped up last month, and it was pure fun, allowing me to illustrate one of my favorite subjects - dogs - in a whimsical style. "Gertrude the Groomer" is a 32-page children's book by children's author, Victoria Wintersperger. It's about a retiree who runs a dog grooming shop, and proceeds to have some serious trouble with her eyesight. 

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Lastly, a recently released business book by Harry Max, former executive of DreamWorks Animation, and advisor to Apple, Adobe, Google, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft.

While reading the manuscript for creating illustrative concepts, it became clear that this was a unique take on a subject that can help nearly anyone.  I also realized - between the first and second page - that the author is a terrific writer. 

I worked closely with Harry, chatting on the phone, and then writing humor. After some concepts were approved, I created vignettes and illustrations. Some of the humor created for it was shared in an earlier blog post, so I'll just post one piece, a straight illustration that accompanies an interview with recording artist, Roseanne Cash.

The book has received some positive early reviews:

"Harry Max clearly lays out the steps that anyone can use to be more productive and effective. It's required reading for anyone wanting to be a better business leader."  

Marc Randolph, co-founder/CEO of Netflix

"A forceful, clear, and detailed method for strengthening prioritization." Kirkus Reviews

"Approachable, psychologically astute, and deeply practical book has the potential to change all that. Reading it is well worth your time." Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

"Managing Priorities" is available from the publisher, and Amazon.

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Finally, (assuming you haven't dropped off by now) some pics from our Fall trip to the Summit Area. We unwound with some biking, mountain summit hiking, and horseback riding.

This is Lake Dillon, at 11:15 PM in October. The moon was so bright, that it somehow did not look like a night sky. This is looking toward the Continental Divide in the East. It was actually pitch black in the West - where the sun had set 3 hours before. (i.e., no sunlight in the sky.)

Biking along the river coming down from the Continental Divide, a few miles west of A-Basin.

My wife recently injured one of her hip flexors, 

so she was limited to hiking...Julia joined me for biking.

Stopping for refreshments at Keystone Lake

Looking west, from the end of the bike trail.

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The next three weeks are going to be a blitz of deadlines...then a family Holiday vacation near Chicago, visiting my Mom as well as my brother and his family. 

I love my work, and I can get lost in it sometimes. I've even been stupid enough to bring work with me, on vacation. (I finally realized my error).

Happy Holidays!

 

On the Cartoonist's Drawing Board

Happy Spring! (But watch out for opportunistic scallawags in the shadows.)

(Clicken to embiggen) 

Lots of things on the drawing board right now, including illustrations for a couple of children's books, a humor book, and several corporate humor writing and illustrating jobs. Just stopping by to share a few things, starting with the above piece for Silicon Valley IT security firm, CGNet.

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After a month of interviews, and competing with several other cartoonists, and a final multiple-party Zoom meeting, I began writing and drawing a series of cartoons for Fidelity Investments. It features a comic strip, and stand alone illustrations for twice-monthly newsletters and emails to their corporate customers. The themes will center around technology and IT security for investors.

It looks fun, particularly since I'll have some freedom to choose subject matter and write humor. (Of course, as always with a client of that nature, the language and concepts will need to steer clear of controversial subjects and be business-friendly.) I'm looking forward to trying to make their customers laugh, every two weeks. 

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Due to my usual corporate and book illustration work, I don't create as many political cartoons these days as I once did. So, I was humbled, and honored to receive First Place in the Society of Professional Journalists' TOR awards for Political Cartoons in 2024 (also last year, 2023). This covers over 85 newspapers in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. This was a  surprise, since I didn't enter - an editor submitted on my behalf, both years. (link)

An excerpt of an article From the Denver Post:

2024 Society of Professional Journalists TOR Awards Winners

MAY 4, 2024 / COLORADOSPJ

The Society of Professional Journalists has announced the winners of the annual TOR Excellence in Journalism competition.

This year, more than 85 news media outlets from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico entered the contest, which was judged by the Los Angeles Press Club. In all, the contest saw more than 1,900 entries.

“The competition grows each year, and with that, we honor outstanding journalism throughout the four-state region,” said contest coordinator Deb Hurley Brobst. “It’s an honor to recognize the hard work of these journalists."