On the Digital Drawing Board: Giving Thanks on Turkey Day

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.

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

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 assures them that it has frustrating moments, like any job...but that yes, it is usually pretty terrific.

Compared to my job's worst day, some jobs stink

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. 

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, where one comic strip is chosen from over 6,000 submissions received each year)...forward (two comic strip syndication contracts)...steps back (over 3,200 newspapers closed after I signed those contracts.)

I stayed with it - drawing and writing - while working side jobs early on, before it became a full time thing. I have friends and colleagues who are on that same nonlinear artist’s path, and it can be challenging.

Like most people, I am so caught up in the rhythm of things now, that I often forget the path behind. I once only dreamed of making a good living writing and drawing humor. 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 share a few recent things:

McKesson Healthcare decided this year that they wanted to create a regular comic strip for their employees. They are a pharmaceutical and medical firm, (#9 on the Fortune 500 list, making them larger than Microsoft, Ford or General Motors, which was a surprise). The 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 fortunate enough to be awarded the project. 

It involves writing and drawing 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. (To be honest, I get tired of seeing the same thing on my monitor say, 30 times. I change my screensavers often. So, I can sympathize with any McKesson employee who's 'had enough' of a cartoon by the end of each 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 (rough first draft.)

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

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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.

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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, became members, and, of course, the owner was happy about that. (It also meant that their images would join the pen & ink drawings framed on the wall.)

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 just signed a contract to create 12 monthly cartoons for Amalgamated Insurance in New York. (That sounds like a company name from a Bugs Bunny cartoon, doesn't it?) Here are the first two pieces:

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A cartoon for an online dating book, in progress:

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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:

(Book cover design & cartoon)

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It releases in December (despite what Amazon says) 

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

Update: A review and interview from Literary Titan:

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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. 

After chatting with Harry on the phone, reading the manuscript, I started by writing ideas and humor, after concepts were approved, then vignettes and illustrations. Some of the cartoons were was shared in an earlier blog post, so I'll post two pieces, (including a "straight" illustration that accompanies an interview with recording artist, Roseanne Cash.)

The book has received some positive early reviews for Harry's book:

"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!

Early September illustrations, travel...and snowflakes

The past few months have been a divergent path from what we had imagined for Spring and Summer of 2020. Regardless of your habits, things changed, some of them major, some minor. 

 

I realized recently that I'm very good at inadvertently making my Covid mask bands pull my ears forward so that I look like Jim Carrey in "Dumb & Dumber". 

 

With regard to seeing friends, out of state family members, and continuing work or school, things have not been as much fun for most people. 

Despite all of that, my daughter is physically back at college, in an illustration and animation program run by a group of former Disney and Warner Brothers artists. She is very fortunate, (in my view) to be enrolled at a university with in-class instruction going on now. For the sort of thing she's learning,  (character design, life drawing, illustration and animation techniques) in-person, hands-on instruction is important. After three weeks of classes, her university's Covid cases are extremely low and it seems to be working well. Fingers crossed that it continues.

 

 

We saw the contrast to other universities, like the University of Colorado in our home town of Boulder. While taking our daughter back to college, we made a visit to my alma mater, the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. The campus was much quieter than usual for mid August with Covid concerns. 

 

Prior to that, we carefully planned and celebrated a birthday for my Mom, including my brother and his family. My Mom had not seen anyone in months, except for a few delivery people and neighbors. There was some risk involved but we did our to best mitigate that and as my Mother said, nearly complete isolation is miserable, and this visit revived her spirits.

 

 

What matters most in life? We spent several magnificent days reminding ourselves of just that, and we agreed that it was much needed for all of us. Several weeks later, we can say we pulled it off...safely.

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With the important stuff covered, I thought I'd share a few of the things from the studio. I am fortunate to have plenty of book illustration projects and advertising work...here are a few recent highlights:

 I had a great deal of fun illustrating and writing humor for the new book Humanocracy, and blogged about it a few months back. It was just published and  released by Harvard Business Review Press. 
It is currently a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Business bestseller, and I know that
 the two authors are excited to see how it resonates with reader.

 

 

 

 

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One of over a dozen illustrations for a book written by a Xerox Corp. executive.
 ...illustrating something that has been slowly returning to offices, after being notably missing
 over the past few months of Covid-19: The rush for the door at 5:00.

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A cartoon for a newspaper in Encinitas California. I've always wanted to draw Nancy Pelosi as a

parrot. (I wonder if she's telling Gavin Newsome about a special salon where he can get his big hair shampooed, cut and blown out - despite all California hair salons being closed.)

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I had a chance to work with one of my favorite authors again in August. This was a second book project for a prominent guitarist and guitar instructor, this time encompassing 20 book illustrations. The manuscript is very creative, with several methods for overcoming creative obstacles that  apply to many artistic endeavors. The author is a pleasure to work with, and when it is published I'll share a link here.

     

A new book release...and some R&R

Happy MLK day! Are you off or are you working?

I have been away and I'm catching up in the studio, but thought I would pop in to post a couple of things...

First, I wanted to mention a book that I enjoyed working on this past year: Good Habits, Bad Habits - which was recently released. The author, Wendy Wood is Provost Professor of Psychology at The University of Southern California.

From the publisher: "She has written for The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, Time magazine, and USA Today, and on NPR."

I was interviewed and hired directly by Wendy (rather than the publisher) prior to the book going to final editing at MacMillan This was a little different than straight book illustration, in that each piece needed to have a written element to it: a concept to communicate the author's point and to make the grab the reader's attention with something funny. Slow down, stop skimming, this is a key point, etc. (This is what I do for corporate clients regularly, but not that often in book illustration.)

Wendy initially hired me for a test-run, to write a concept to explain and depict a sample theme. After doing one piece for her and making her laugh, I signed a contract to do the rest. 

I chatted with Wendy over the phone about some of the themes in her book, and then I wrote some more concepts, which were later turned into cartoons and chapter-leading illustrations for the book. An example below...

I enjoyed reading the author's manuscript even more than usual, as the subject matter is interesting to me. I am fascinated by the process of establishing habits, and had previously read other books in this genre, (including Charles Duhigg's now classic "The Power of Habit" as well as "Grit" by Angela Duckworth, who wrote the review blurb on this book's front cover).

I was recently notified that Good Habits, Bad Habits is off to a healthy start, with positive reviews and strong sales.

Several other jobs have been on the board, but I don't really want to type much more here, or risk boring you.

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Lastly, as I alluded to above, my family and I were out of town for two weeks, and we're now back home from a 3-generation family jaunt. After a long period of work, it was time to unwind.

We began by skiing right before Christmas...lots of early season snow has made the resorts and folks like me in Colorado quite happy. I snuck up for some runs with Julia before the crowds - and celebrations - descended.

Shortly afterward, we embarked into a different climate, on a tremendously enjoyable trip to the Caribbean. I'm not a big beach vacation guy. I saw the Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands years ago,  and though I appreciate warm climates, that sort of trip is not my first choice. You're more likely to see me skiing, biking, hiking, riding motorcycles, rock climbing or exploring - rather than sitting on a beach.

Also, my wife and I have never wanted to take a cruise. It just sounded too "prearranged" with little freedom to explore. But after my Mom and Brother implored us, we decided to try it. Wow, what a pleasant surprise.

My wife daughter and I joined my brother and his family along with my mother in San Juan Puerto Rico, and then boarded a ship that visited several island areas.  But this trip added a few elements that made it more active.

We started in Barbados where we ended up doing some diving near a shipwreck off the coast of Bridgetown. My daughter Julia was amazed at the clear blue waters, allowing one to see well into the depths.

                                                     Exploring the reefs in Barbados

Next was Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis...snorkeling and swimming in shallow waters, with some friendly stingrays and sea turtles.

                                                                   St. Kitts



After that, Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Climbing through the stunning "Baths" rock formations was challenging and fun...The formations are closely related to those at Red Rocks amphitheater here in Colorado. It was my second time here, however the first visit allowed much less time for exploring...as it was just a quick boat drop for snorkeling.

The Baths rock formations at Virgin Gorda/Tortola 

The last stop was St. Thomas and nearby National park known as St. John. (Also our second visit here) We took in breathtaking beaches and snorkeled, swimming with brightly colored fish dancing beneath the waters along the reefs. After 9 days, Beth, Julia and I were less 'winter pale', a bit blonder, and despite all the activity, I hate to say it, a little less lean...it is hard to avoid when eating out continually.

This was a perfect family trip for three generations...lots to see, many beaches, activities for the kids and opportunities to choose among them for my Mom.

I'm happy to be back in the studio, refreshed and ready to go...(but first must empty sand from my shoes, and a desire to sit out in the sun from my mind.)

I hope your year is off to a fantastic start!

Summer fun in the mountains

A week away in the mountains certainly clears the dust from one's cerebral cortex. No drawing, no writing...not even cell phones. (Very few opportunities for that these days.)

We recently took a family trip to the Keystone area for a little R&R. It is one of our favorite places to relax because of its beauty, quiet and plethora of fun activities. (I came to Colorado for the skiing, but found that there is much more to do in the mountains during the summer than in the winter.)

We stay in a family-friendly condo complex in  Keystone's "River Run", up against the mountains, allowing us quick access to mountain bike trails and horse back riding, even the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory...and lots of swimming in the pool, too, (thanks to my daughter, who could live half her life in the water if she was allowed to do so.) This time around we did not go white river rafting, (not enough time to fit it all in). All of it was tremendously fun. A sampling:

                                    Hula hoop prowess, (or lack thereof, in my case.)

  Horseback riding on some mountain trails. (Those horses can climb, and eat saplings along the way.)

A mountain bike ride on the Vail Pass bike path...leading from Vail to Copper Mountain, then to Frisco and eventually Breckenridge. Absolutely breathtaking mountain ranges and scenery. We've spied eagles, Elk, deer, even the rare bear in the river. - My wife asked Julia and I to 'flex our muscles' after doing a tough vertical climb...Julia (having not seen as many Arnold Schwarzenegger movies as I have) is not  familiar with the mechanics of flexing, but got the hand clench part.

Julia, dodging a little stream run-off.....                           and later, feeding the trout and ducks.