A client swam with the sharks last night...

One of my my favorite shows, (and one of the few that I watch, albeit once or twice a month),
is ABC's, Shark Tank. I don't know if you're familiar with the show...Budding entrepreneurs 
get the chance to bring their dreams to fruition by presenting them to five angel investor
"sharks". 

One of my clients from a couple of years back, "Beneath the Ink", a start-up tech/media firm
here in Boulder, appeared on the show the last night. (It was a pleasant surprise.)

Their product provides a way to add a new dimension of content to digital text;
mainly books. CEO/founder Sherisse Hawkins is a former Vice President with Time Warner.
She and her company hired me to create illustrations and pop-up content for a model book.

They succeeded in securing $600,000 in investor funding initially, and were seeking 
additional investments on the show.

The show provided some drama but unfortunately, no sharks jumped into the tank with them
last night. I hope they are able to garner some interest from the publicity, (as many start-ups
who appear on the show do), since their product is a worthwhile way to boost the information 
and value of almost any book.

If you're interested, you can watch the episode: Shark Tank

Romney & Obama cartoons

I don't know if you've been following the debates, or if you're planning to watch the final Presidential debate Monday night...but a new trend has been to show the "live" reactions of viewers to specific parts of the debates. Some of this is done via Twitter and others use electronic response units with small groups of people.  I was contacted recently by the CEO of a San Diego-based company, a developer of a new website that allows one to clap for a candidate's response,  online.

The website is called "Give them the clap.com" (Funny name, I must say.)

He wanted to buy license rights to use my caricatures of Romney, Obama, Biden & Ryan on the website...(and we negotiated a fee to make that happen.)  They will go live on Monday, during the third debate. (Click it and try it out...it's fun.) http://giveemtheclap.com/

Well, back to the board...be sure to vote!

Drawing Board wrap-up

It was a very hectic month, as evidenced by my lack of posting here. Here's a quick sampling of some of the recent work gracing my board: (Click images to enlarge).

One of a series of cartoons commissioned by a Seattle ad agency, for Vertafore Corporation.

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A series of cartoons created for London-based IB corp. I worked with their executives to write and draw some cartoons for their international advertising campaigns.

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 A step-by-step process for a cartoon created for regular client, CGNet, a pioneer in cloud computing. 
I worked with the CEO on this, which was his vision; a busy Rube-Goldberg-like cartoon, 
showing how  services offered by his firm might otherwise be handled -- in an-old school manner.  

          1) A first draft with a rocket depicting cloud computing. 2) We decided a hot air balloon better fit the antiquated objects around it, (steam engine, carrier pidgeons, toy train). 3) The character who "built" the set-up was proud of himself and standing in a spotlight...also, the coloring was meant to look old. 4) We removed the spotlight, gave him some tools and then brightened the color scheme.

A cartoon on the Fed's spending policies, for Merk Funds (link)

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A caricature commissioned for an awards cermony honoring Maurice Fiorio,
head of the Fiorio Hair Salons and School. (Being a guy with simple tastes
 in hair care, I wasn't sure who he was until I Googled him for reference photos).

 

 

 

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One of 18 illustrations from a children's book going to the publisher this month...

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It's shaping up to be a busy summer...Several large projects are in line, including two children's book illustration jobs, along with a humor book about dating which will entail around 35 cartoons, and plenty of artwork and character design for a third animated video commissioned by Intel Corporation.

We'll try to have some fun here in between, with a caption contest or two, as well as some new features...

Tulip & Iris Cartoons

In January I was approached to do some work for a flower and bulb company in Holland. The company, Breck's is one of those firms that sends packets in the mail inviting you to buy bulbs for your garden.

Previously, they had hired cartoonist Ted Fine, the creator of the "Hazel" comic strip, as well as the Mr. Peabody & Sherman cartoon characters from the Rocky & Bullwinkle show, (characters I used to love as a kid.) Sadly, Ted passed away in 2008 after a long bout with cancer.

The company's main offices in the USA are in Indiana, but a design studio in Pennsylvania that had worked with Ted contacted me and served as my liaison with the company.

The trick of the cartoons is that they are personalized with the name of the addressee appearing in the caption of the cartoon, peering through the envelope window. (A very effective way to increase response rates from direct marketing.) I have done personalized cartoons for many clients, so it was old hat to write concepts for that purpose.

I was asked to create 4 concepts for their bulbs, (tulips or irises), and then after they selected their favorite, to finish it as a color cartoon.

Rough sketches of concepts, below: (click to take a closer look)

After seeing the concepts, they decided to do two personalized mailers rather than one...and asked me to create a second finished cartoon.

The second cartoon, (below), along with a sample mailer. (We decided to add the main characters' wife, with her expression of disbelief, to add to the humor.)

On the Drawing Board

We completed an addition to the house right before Christmas, and I moved back into my studio after it was carpeted, just in time to have things really break loose with work. (Timing is everything, right?)

With the beginning of the year brisk and furious, I have not had time to do much except draw, write, eat and sleep, (well, I did manage to ski a few times with Julia, but to me that's classified with eating and sleeping.)

I just sent off the last of some sketches and finished art that were due this afternoon, so I thought I'd take a breather and post a few things here, (including a new caption contest and maybe some new things for fun.)

First, a few of the more entertaining things that were on the board over the last few weeks:

(click to enlarge)

Art for Bayer Pharmaceuticals in New York. This was part of a presentation to management,
 depicting a new executive who is leading employees in a new direction. (Click to enlarge)

A corporate mascot, (one of several created this month). This one, a rough and tumble little bulldog, was created for a music industry client  in California. The second illustration is for their use at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music & film  festivals and conferences in Austin, Texas, March 11-20. (Illustration Link)
             

Packaging artwork for a new product designed to help toddlers wean themselves from using a pacifier. It apparently works quite well and includes a step-by-step mail-in project and a reward, (the child receives a teddy bear after successfully giving up the pacifier.) 

The illustration will go on the back of this package.
(I could use one of these, for when I suck on my pencils, etc.)

One of 12 cartoons commissioned by a financial services firm (E-MoneyAdvisor)

                                

Three examples of a series of a dozen greeting cards created for a company marketing

reminder cards for veterinarians, (to send to clients, telling it's time for 

Fido and Fifi to come in for their tests, or to say thank you for your business, etc.) 

Lots of fun -- it was an opportunity to write and draw a bit outside of my usual realm.  

                        
                                  

The first of six monthly comics appearing in magazine ads for a software company based in California.

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Currently on the drawing board is more art for a new presentation for Bayer Pharmaceuticals, a corporate mascot for a California company, and a cartoon-based contest for Purina, (naturally, it will be a cartoon about a dog; it's in the early stages). Not quite as red hot and hectic as it has been over the last six weeks, but, (like the last bowl of porridge the Little Red Riding Hood tasted), just right. (Did I just mention Little red Riding Hood? I must be tired.)

Round-up of recent client projects

]]Well, it's been a while, but here's a little taste of what's been on the drawing board lately...


From a book on sleep apnea that I was hired to illustrate this summer...(Click to enlarge images)



A cartoon created for the two founders of Hubspot Inc.



A packaging illustration for a new iPhone protector..




An advertising piece created for a technology company in California...




Artwork for a dog treats company, to go on the product packaging. (Sold in mostly in Costco) This is merely the B&W preliminary art, each variety will have a different tasty item on the platter, (turkey, beef, salmon, chicken, etc.)

One of 30 cartoons created for a book on healthcare management.




A cartoon created for a financial company in Maryland:


A cartoon created for a magazine:




A cartoon for a large construction company in Seattle, (the client requested something that looked like an updated Lichtenstein cartoon.)

A marketing piece for a law firm in Minneapolis:



One of several cartoons created for a book on International Business negotiation:



An ad piece created for a dental products company in New York:




A comic strip that is currently running in some papers in Ontario & Toronto:


Some projects currently on the board over the next two weeks:
A poster and book cover for a long-term client.
A series of cartoon animal illustrations for a greeting card company.
12 illustrations for a Powerpoint presentation, commissioned by a company in New York.
A marketing cartoon for biotech corporation.
A ad cartoon for medical device manufacturer.
A humorous pen & ink illustration for an independent film maker.
A regular monthly cartoon for a Michigan school principals association newsletter.

Book Signing Update

                                            
Well, as I had hoped, (being a happy introvert most of the time) the Barnes and Noble book signing was rather sedate. Other than a few dozen people strolling in to buy books and chat, it was never overwhelming in terms of a crowd. The store manager had a table for me, with chairs set up for an audience at the opening, (and a presentation.) But there was no need for the chairs, because I chose not to do an illustration presentation.

Over the three hours, I think I signed 30 books...more than I thought would sell, given that the book signing was only publicized in the Boulder newspaper, (and also considering that I was not the book's author, but simply the illustrator hired by the publisher.)

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Update: (9/7) Pelican Publishing contacted me today, saying that the Colorado Springs Barnes & Noble would like me to do a book signing in December.  Barnes & Noble colorado-springs-co/signing The Denver Post and Rocky Moungtain News are running articles on the signingm and the book store is guessing it would have a more sizable audience  I initially turned it down, but the publisher convinced me to schedule a day in early December. It should be fun, and besides, Colorado Springs is beautiful in Dec...(I can take the family to the Broadmoor, ride the Pikes Peak Christmas train, etc.)

Barnes and Noble Book Signing

This past year I illustrated a book that is currently being published by Pelican Press and will be released this week. (The title is currently being changed by the author) This Saturday, (8/21), I’ll be doing a book signing at the Barnes and Noble store in Boulder. http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3053496

I feel a little out of place doing the book signing, since it's not really my book. I feel that the author deserves full credit for the themes covered in it. But after some reassuring from the folks at Pelican Publishing and Barnes and Noble - that signings often feature book illustrators - I begrudgingly accepted their invitation.

My guess is that I'll be sitting there for three hours reading a book.

Thus far the book has stirred up some interest from a couple of newspapers. A local columnist called to interview me about the book and its illustrations while I was out of town this week, giving me a 24-hour window to talk with him...and I missed it.

So, enough babbling about promotional events...and back to the drawing board, where I am happiest.

A much needed breather

Pant, pant, pant. --The sound of the caged animal, catching its breath.

After over two years of what seemed to be a constant back-logs of clients, working many weekends, taking artwork and computers with me on vacation, etc., things have finally calmed down a little. Over the past few weeks, work has entailed 7 or 8-hour days instead of 10-12. I don't know if it's summer break for some of my clients or just a lull, but I'll take it.

So, with that extra time, I have been able to devote a little more time to other things, (working in the yard, biking and swimming with my daughter, buying a new car & restoring an old one...and also creating a new website.)

Lastly, it was nice to take a vacation last week without having to work during some of it in the hotel room. My folks came out to Colorado for a visit, and then we went with them on a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks--an truly beautiful area where we boated, water skied, tubed, etc. In addition to being a chance to relax and spend time with a few generations of family, it was lots of fun. (Julia spent probably six hours of every day in the several pools, water slides, etc. at the resort...literally wrinkled like a raisin when I dragged her out to go to dinner, etc.)

I always come back from vacations feeling glad that I took them. I feel refreshed and ready to go, I'm more efficient, all of the things for which vacations are intended. But as silly as it sounds, I dread getting prepared to take them, as I do not want to interrupt my regular routine. It always seems like I have something to do here, and I feel like I'm behind schedule when I return. It's also hard to get into the 'vacation mindset' at first and let go of the magnetic grip that my work and studio have upon me. Same for you?

Fortunately this time I felt no guilt about going and came home with a broad smile on my face.

Which leads to one final note before signing off...

I have a powerful desire for a balanced life. (Most people I know share that pursuit.) Yet, everyone I know is busier now than they were five years ago or even two years ago...and much of that comes from technology and connectivity. I do not want my life reduced to a blizzard of snippets and snapshots on a blog, Twitter account or Facebook page. The maintenance of such things can be like walking against a gale force wind. You never get ahead of it and it is always there waiting for more.

And with that, my apologies for not making typical or regular blog or twitter posts, or Facebook entries for friends and family. Instead, I plan to start spending some more time here with two or three creative outlets purely designed for fun. (More on that soon.)