"The less I say, the more my work gets done"

I've always admired the above line, written by Bernie Taupin, (for Elton John's song, "Philadelphia Freedom").

As it turns out, this wisdom is even more relevant now -- particularly in a society where we like to talk incessantly, (via cell phone, Skype, email, text message, Twitter, blog, etc.) So, for seven months, I went to radio silence -- here, at least.

Why? Despite the economic malaise, I've been blessed to have work. This year has been my busiest since starting business over ten years ago, (and since leaving newspaper syndication and going to 'full time' self-employment nearly six years ago.)

So far in 2009, I have have had the good fortune to be hired by over 75 companies, writing and drawing humorous illustration and cartoons. Nine books have been illustrated, with contracts for a few more before the end of the year. There have also been political cartoons for media outlets...regular "tech" cartoons for Hubspot's popular technology blog, and an upcoming book with Wiley publishing...and also, a weekly cartoon feature for a newspaper distributed nationally in elementary schools.

A rough estimate, (from my Mac's file system analytics), says I wrote and drew nearly 300 cartoons and illustrations in less than eight months. (I think I could do more...but only if cloning becomes legal.) Phew!!

I am feeling very fortunate...but also a little worn out. The respite from social media has been helpful. I recommend it to anyone wanting a little more free time.

Here is a brief sampling of what has been on the drawing board:

One of a series of cartoons commissioned by Merck Pharmaceuticals, who earlier this year acquired Schering-Plough. Their HR department wanted a comic strip feature to help allay fears and answer questions about the changes in store for their 44,000 new and existing employees... (The merger-related program is called "C.O.M.E.T.")


One of several cartoons created for Klee Associates Inc., creators of products and training for SAP, ERP & JD Edwards

One of a series of cartoons for Westminster American Insurance, for some magazine ads...(click to enlarge)



Characters created for an animated television show about a dysfunctional rock band. --I only designed the characters and backgrounds...animators then took these designs to create the animation. (It is currently being pitched to Cartoon Network...I have no idea whether it will go ahead or not.)







One of several illustrations for a book on relationships, by an author in Boston:



A couple of cartoons for a software company in Silicon Valley, (two of four created for a marketing campaign this year.):



One of a few illustrations from a book on corporate greed, written by Ann Rhodes, a former V.P. of Southwest Airlines & Jet Blue...



An illustration for a psychology book, authored by two psychologists in New York:


A poster and flyer for a long-term client, and their conference in Orlando in October: (click to enlarge)




A corporate mascot designed for a security technology company in Texas...




One of about 30 cartoons created so far this year for Hubspot Inc...




A corporate mascot for a start-up in New York. The president of the company was with Bally's Fitness until recently and decided to start his own marketing firm...a brave move in this economy. But if his personality and drive are any indication of things to come, he'll do well.




One of a series of monthly cartoons for an Association of Secondary School Principals newspaper, based & published in Michigan.

Two cartoons from 121, (yes, you read that right, 121 cartoons!), for a soon-to-be published political humor book called "Microman", by Robert Stern. (The introduction was written by the infamous 'Joe the Plumber'.) The author has written two books previously and is a very friendly, enthusiastic guy.






With only some 'ski weekends' earlier in the year to show for time off, my family and I took two vacations in July and August...which were desperately needed. The first trip was to Moab, Utah, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and finally, five days at a great resort/spa in Scottsdale. The second was a trip to the nearby mountains with my brother Dan and his family. (Who made the trip from Chicago). Activities included mountain bike riding over the Vail Pass, visiting horse stables with the kids, and most importantly, catching up in a fashion much better than phone calls and emails allow. We all had a fantastically good time.

Now it's back to work and my three-month backlog of clients...but I'm refreshed and ready to go.

Some highlights of upcoming client projects: I'm currently illustrating a children's book called "Riley Peete", a story about a penguin who lives with his family in Manhattan. (The author lives in NYC, so in addition to my foggy memory of the city and Google Images, her insights on life there are helpful.) Next will be a project for a educational company in Vancouver, creating a series of cartoon illustrations to be sold to schools, to aid in teaching English as a second language. ...After that, I will illustrate "The Frogs of Sawhill Ponds", a delightful collection of children's parables by mystery writer & Edgar Award-winner, Rex Burns. (I'll try to share some sketches & finished pieces from those efforts.)

A few friends have emailed recently, wondering why I have not been blogging...or inquiring about my health/continued existence...so hence, this post.

This seven month respite from blogging has allowed me to realize something: I'd much rather draw than talk about it. I'm just happier that way. So, if and when it slows down, (in spite of previous promises to myself to keep a regular journal here), I am resigned to letting my posts be sporadic.

Until next time, it's back to the digital drawing board...

It has been an extremely busy period over the last few weeks, with a full slate of client projects on the board, as well as a couple trips just before and after the new year.

Attached is a small sampling of things that were completed recently...


A cartoon from a online dating book I illustrated last month titled "Seeking Arrangement" (Click for link):


A cover for a magazine distributed at a City Government Conference in New York, NY. (The illustration was commissioned by a professor at the University of Colorado, hence the Denver reference. ):

An illustration for advertisements publicizing an insurance bill recently passed in the Florida legislature:



A character created for a California software company that produces applications for cell phones, like the I-Phone.

They wanted the character's pose to emulate Robert Crumb's iconic 1960's "Keep on Truckin" figure, to get across the idea of moving forward, (for their mobile cell phone apps). They also wanted to make the clothing, shoes, etc. more silicon valley-like, (hiking shoes, v-neck with jeans and a beanie)...which I felt was a good idea -- both to update it and also to fit the audience.

They wanted the character in time for their presentation at the recent Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas....and had beanie hats and shirts featuring the character printed on them to hand out to attendees:

Something that kept me very busy this past July was illustrating a book called "Body Language". (I can post this here now because the book was recently released.)

The author, James Borg is a very intelligent fellow who resides in England. My work required talking with him about the concepts and look of the illustrations...and since the book's editor was also in London, there were lots of late night and early morning phone calls/emails crossing the sea because of the time difference.

It is probably the largest number if illustrations I have ever done for a book...all totaled there were 60 -- some of them quite detailed, so it was a healthy bit of work. Fortunately, I was able to set aside a solid two week block of time to work on it, completing it just in time for the publishing deadline.

From what I could see in reading the text they sent, the book itself seemed fascinating. A copy of the book just arrived from the publisher, so I am looking forward to reading it in its entirety. (Maybe I'll be able to go out in public and know exactly what someone is thinking just from the way they are holding their posture. Like, "Mmmm, this Starbuck latte is good and frothy.")

My wife and I voted last week, downtown at the courthouse. It felt terrific, almost like the "runner's high" feeling you get after a good mind-clearing jog. (It was also nice to have it out of the way...and knowing that long lines would not once again be part of our election day activities.)

I'm just hoping that regardless of who wins the big race, the vitriol begins to subside, putting an end to one of the most partisan eras in our country's history. (I'm probably dreaming.) Just from a cartooning perspective, it would be nice to do a political cartoon and then not expect to be screamed at by one side and given extreme praise by the other. Things are never really that black and white....except when viewed through partisan eyes.

If you haven't already done so, get out and speak your mind.

Happy Halloween!

First of all, a recent illustration done for Northwestern Mutual Life. (A piece commissioned for their ads and marketing...not really a humorous cartoon, but an illustration intended to introduce their services targeted to retirement.)

(Click to enlarge)

The second image is a 'Halloweened' version of that illustration that my daughter Julia and I played with the other night.

Often she will come and visit me in my studio and ask to sit on my lap while I'm working on something. Occasionally we will digitally draw over what I have in process, and then we take turns adding silly details...(the sorts of things that will make an eight year-old laugh.) No one ever sees these Bizarro-versions of the cartoons, (and certainly I never send them to a client.) But it is a fun way to spend some time with my little girl.

Here's hoping you (and your goblins, vampires, pirates, etc.), have a fantastic Hallow's Eve.

Under the gun with several deadlines right now... But here are a couple items from a book illustration job I just wrapped up today. The author is a columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer; very nice woman who has written an intersting book about how to take better notice of the special moments of everyday life, as well as how to make your life less repetitive within its routines. Something worth reading it in its entirety, when I get a chance.

Some illustrations I created for a healthcare organization in Atlanta. I was hired by an agency who was in charge of creating new literature and posters, (to offer to hospitals), explaining the organization's services and products.

As you can see, they came up with a 'Wizard of' Oz theme, (and the large doctor's office posters included a yellow brick road pathway, etc.) They needed cartoon Oz characters that did not look like the characters from the movie, and yet somehow looked more modern that the ones in the original book.

A postcard for a business client, who is moving his family from hot-and-sweaty Austin, Texas to nearly-as-hot-and-just-as-humid Nashville, Tennessee.

The skyline in the background is intended to resemble Nashville's...and the strange building on the left is known locally as the "Batman building", due to its pointy bat ear--like towers. (I don't get to draw many armadillos, so this was a fun diversion for that alone.)

Some characters I'm currently creating for a technology business directory website. (The main company is based in Pittsburgh, but has services and websites serving other cities throughout the U.S.).

The client wants to have the characters updated periodically with various activities pertaining to seasons, holidays, etc., much like Yahoo and Google do, (though of course it would not be as detailed.) There will also be opportunity for .gif animations of the figures.

A different type of job than usual, but it has been fun.

A book cover, completed this week... The author has written several books falling into a unique genre which is a combination of religion and humor. I'm happy to report that he is very funny, and his writing within this niche has garnered him a devoted following. (This is the second cover I've done for him, after one earlier this year.) This particular image involved the use of a drawing made to look like a sepia-tone antiquated photo, with certain prominent characters highlighted. (Photoshop airbrush tool came in handy.)

I was hired by a game manufacturer this week to do some cartoon art for a children's game. (Above is the cartoon name/label...also some images for the game itself, below.) Fun stuff...hopefully the game will be fun for kids.

Trying something new

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It has been a long while since I have posted anything here. I have been very busy...and that's not likely to change.

But there is also the issue of habit, and I have not had any luck establishing one. (Coming here and writing something every day seems daunting.) In lieu of that, I'm going to try to post a piece of new work each day. Baby steps, right?

This first post: A couple of illustrations for a book written by an author in New York whose dog is known around Central Park and Times Square for her dramatic clothing and personality... (Title of the book will be: "Naked Cow Dog".)

The business of Business Cartoons

When I started as a cartoonist, everything was about creating whatever happened to sprout from my muse...and then later worrying about how to sell it. I suspect that most creative people start out this way, whether in art, music or writing, etc.

Eventually you realize that while you can sell almost anything if you wait long enough for a buyer, to receive regular income from your creations you need to focus on specific markets. You need to find niches that work well in pairing your abilities with customers.

Today, newspapers are languishing, affecting two of the traditionally primary markets for cartoonists: political cartoons and comic strips. I started in one, spent time in the other and jumped out of both before I lost my mind (and my heinie). Most of the cartoonists I know have been forced to rethink things and diversify into new areas.

While I still do cartoons for newspapers on occasion, most of my clients now come from advertising, book and magazine publishing, greeting card compnaies and several other 'industries'...but one of the fastest growing areas is business cartoons for corporate clients.

Many companies are looking for new ways to attract customers -- and they are finding that humor is highly effective....Especially, cartoon-based humor. One cartoon can quickly catch a customer's attention. A campaign using several funny cartoons over a matter of months builds a following (creating something that is rare in advertising: actual desire and anticipation for more).

Additionally, companies are finding that they can get a lot of value from cartoons. A single cartoon can be used simultaneously in print ads, direct mail, email blasts, blogs and on their corporate websites. (For the latter, animation can even be added to them.)

Most of my clients for business cartoons are repeat customers...and they often share the emails and feedback on cartoon-based advertising they receive from their customers. Its helpful for me to see what works. But more importantly for them, the cartoons are becoming a source of interaction with their customer base that is invaluable.

My inspiration for talking about business cartoons today came from Brad Shorr, (of Word Sell, Inc. near Chicago), one of my favorite long-term clients. (The above cartoon was an early, just-for-fun collaboration). In addition to being a expert in sales and marketing, Brad is a talented writer. One of his blog posts this week covered the subject matter of business cartoons & marketing. --You can check out that post here. His discussion of the process of writing targeted humor is fascinating (and also familiar.)

It's been a while since I had any time to write more than just few sentences here and...well, it felt good. Happy Holidays to everyone.

The Twelve Days...(er, make that HOURS) of Christmas

This is a busy time right now, with several projects on the drawing board...(and though it's always nice to have work, it's just plain crazy when added to the usual events and responsibilities of the season.) I've been deluding myself into thinking I'd design and send business Holiday cards out, create family Holiday cards, build a new website during the slow month of December... Oh Well. At least the Holiday cards might happen.

Here's a link to a corporate website animation I discussed working on last week...

Staub Inc. Holiday Greeting animation

Hope you're getting everything done at this busy time, too.

A friend & fellow cartoonist visits...

This is apparently the year of reunions with old chums and buddies. Last week, I received a phone call from a friend I hadn't seen in years, (since the Pre-Cambrian Era, when I lived in Illinois). His name is Brian Kelly, and he's a talented cartoonist I got to know at the school newspaper of the University of Illinois.

(Warning: steps into memory lane) ... Brian and I hit it off immediately when we met at the school paper. In addition to being a top-notch cartoonist, he's a very likable guy. But we also have nearly identical passions for cartoons, and similar abilities in talking about them to the point where other folks of lesser wind would drop to the floor. (We even took a trip together to the Chicago Tribune Tower once, to meet with Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist, Dick Locher...arranged through a cartoonist friend of Brian's.)

Brian and his lovely wife Wendy were in Denver over the weekend, looking at homes while considering a move to Colorado. They were gracious enough to call and suggest a meeting for dinner. I immediately agreed and well...it was great, to say the least. Brian and I had a terrific time discussing the state of cartooning in almost every genre. (I feel sorry for his wife, who politely listened and offered thoughts when she was given a small opening in our wall of words. I did learn about their family, her job and highly-respected abilities in marketing...but I still feel like she must have felt left out at times.) (Next time, I'll be sure to bring my wife along.)

Brian told me they haven't yet decided on whether to relocate, but if they do, I suspect we'll find a way to fill some free time, (and some mugs at the local microbrewery.)

Recent client work...

Rough sketch...

This was a job for an agent/PR firm in Hollywood that I received through a reference from a client, (a magazine publisher).

The PR firm needed a piece of art for postcards and PR industry print ads, announcing their move to new offices. (To the swank corner of Hollywood & Vine.) The corner is supposedly famous in Hollywood, (don't ask me...I have little concept of such things. I don't even know why Paris Hilton is famous.)

Anyway, the main theme we settled upon was to show some of their office furniture tied to the top of a limo. And the street and surrounding buildings became a central part of making it 'recognizable', so I needed to draw them into the moving scene. The only way to do it was to turn the card 90 degrees from the typical 'landscape' layout.

It was a lot of fun to do some multi-point perspective drawing. (Not much call for that in most of the cartoons I do.) The client was happy with it -- and hopefully they are also enjoying their new digs, too.

Here's the finished art. (Click to enlarge).

New Wacom tablet

Wacom just introduced two new Cintiq tablets, and the most interesting model is a portable. All I can say is, wow, it looks terrific! (In addition to my wife, it appears to be something to drool over.) I'll have to add it to my new technology list for next year's tax write-offs.

I currently use an Intuous 3 every day with my desktop Mac. I also use it with my MacBook at night on occasion, just sitting on the couch next to my daughter. (If I have tight deadlines, being at home with the family is better than working long hours alone.) I also then bring the Intuos and MB along with me when traveling to take care of clients while away. It works very well, but it takes some initial adjustment to draw with your hand on a tablet in front of you, while looking up at a screen several inches away.

This sort of a tablet would allow for more direct hand-eye coordination, and given its relatively tidy size, I imagine it work well in and out of the studio. $1000 seems a bit steep for such a small unit…but then again, it’s about half the cost of the full-size model. It's sure to sell — and like the Intuos, it has no real competitors in the market.

Corporate Holiday projects...

(Click to Enlarge)


A Holiday card for a technology company in Seattle that designs and manufactures various traffic based technology, such as congestion-sensing stop lights and highway lane departure warning systems. I wrote concept for this and upon approval, created the artwork.


Card for a career services company based in Florida:

A card for a client in New York, (hence the NYC & Broadway theme.)



Below is a Holiday card for a company in North Carolina that involved caricaturing its executives, and tying it into the company's existing logo. (A swoosh of sorts.) It was fairly detailed for a card, (some of the folks had facial hair or or other characteristics that needed to be drawn with some accuracy.)



After completing the card, the firm decided they wanted to use the concept for a Flash animation on their website. (With the sled proceeding down the slope, the snowman jumping up, out of the way and landing again.) I do some work for animations, but usually in concert with a Flash programmer.

In this case, I planned the progressions along the way, and then created artwork for each major change in position and expression. It's a fun diversion from my usual daily routine of writing humor and drawing cartoons for print.