Please remain seated

Well if there is anyone out there still checking this barren outpost for blurbs...(I'd have to assume not, after going so long between posts,) there has been no time for me to do anything here, due to work.

I have to admit that I took on too much work. It's a fine line measuring when you have more than you can handle, (like the airlines, one tends to overestimate one's capacity at times...But unlike the airlines, I can't "bump" people who have been promised something.)

Things are just now getting more sane, so I thought I'd take a brief moment to breathe.

I am in the midst of creating some cartoon illustrations for a Fortune 100 firm in California, for a video presentation that they plan to beam to their offices around the country next week. The needs for this have grown as their CEO and others have gotten involved in its production. It should wrap up this week or early next. But it has been fun to work on something that needs to translate to video screen.

I'm also currently illustrating a psychology book for a publishing deadline and finishing up some things for a political campaign for newspapers in Lousiana...as well as some corporate work for a financial firm in Florida and ad cartoons for an ad agency in L.A. (There are even more jobs on the docket...but I've stopped answering my phone...it's just plain nuts.)

My apologies for the diminished posts, and for any lack of clarity to my writing right now; I'm a little fuzzy due to an abbreviated sleeping schedule. Things will clear soon.

Hope all is well with you.

Over the past two weeks I've been doing some work for the University of Toronto, (a large international university with over 70,000 students in three campuses). The first two projects were print ads and a credit card design, (utilizing a character I created for them.)

But this last project entailed doing an ad for the student bookstore. Apparently the engineering school uses Lady Godiva as its mascot, so the request was to feature her somehow. (The Lady's legend is to have told her husband, the King of England that she would ride though London nude, if he lowered taxes for the people of England....he had refused everything else up to that point -- but upon hearing her proposal, agreed. And so she made her now famous ride, with only her long hair obscuring her bits and pieces. The citizens paid less tax and also got to enjoy a royal streaker on horseback.)

I thought I'd post the rough sketch and the finished art...showing the changes that were made along the way. The nurse's hat (which was initially suggested to show her being helpful), was taken out, as it was decided I had drawn the good lady with enough of a look of caring and concern. Next, we decided the student's eyes, which were X's in the sketch, risked making the student look like he was dead. To make him look simply stunned, I drew him cross-eyed. Last, I thought I'd spruce up the horse's adornments a little.

To be honest, I had the most fun sketching her nude form and then strategically drawing her hair so that it covered just enough of her body. ;)

A great editorial cartoonist was lost today. Doug Marlette was killed in a car accident this morning. He was an influential cartoonist who won a Pulitzer Prize in the 80's. Unlike most editorial cartoonists, he hit both political parties hard and wasn't afraid to be controversial, (as evidenced by the above cartoon.)

Though I didn't know him, I met him briefly at an AAEC convention a few years ago, and he was very kind to me, (a young, unknown cartoonist.) His work had a unique look to it, with brush strokes you could identify instantly. His writing was top-notch.

He also created a comic strip called "Kudzu" which was syndicated nationally. (I liked it enough as a kid to buy in book collection form.)

A big loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

There's been a great deal of work on my drawing board over the past couple weeks...(hence the gap in posts.) ...A cartoon ad campaign for a trade show company in LA, commissions to illustrate two books, some cartoon ad work for the University of Toronto, a corporate mascot for a fun-sounding new company in Virginia, an ad for a long-term client, (software company) and some illustration work for a financial advisor in Tampa. It has been blistering in terms of deadlines, but all of it enjoyable, fun work. (I'll try to post some of it this week.)

Meanwhile, a comment about the recent AAEC convention in Washington DC... After talking with some colleagues, it sounds like those wild-men & women had a terrific time. This year's meeting was also the celebration of the assocation's 50th anniversary. They met at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington and had a number of workshops and speakers. I can't wait to see the annual group cartoon -- typically a large board with many of the members leaving a doodle or cartoon for all to see.

I was a little melancholy about it, having been a member for several years, right after college...but after switching to advertising and corporate work, I let my membership lapse. (I still draw an occasional cartoon for the Denver papers.)

Anyway, the last time they were in DC, I tagged along and it was truly a bash of unforgettable proportions. (It included a lunch in the White House Rose garden, meeting the President, Vice President and several colorful members of the media.) I hear this year's festivities were just as much fun.

I only hope that the country-wide layoff of newspaper staff editorial cartoonists ceases soon. (Dozens of staff cartoonists have lost their jobs in the past few years.) As the newspaper industry languishes, for some reason, it seems that some of the first folks to go are the editorial cartoonists. (Unfortunately, I think publishers have a long memory of cartoons that take a stance against their views.) I have a great respect for all who call that their vocation.

OMG!

Paris is Free! Paris is Free!

Those were the headlines on Yahoo news this morning. I thought perhaps France had ended some tyrranical rule I had otherwise missed hearing about. ...But no, it was the end of the spoiled heiress' stay behind bars.

I'm sure Paris will tell the eagerly awaiting media that she has learned many lessons, has seen how the "other side" lives, is remorseful, etc., etc. Then, we'll hear about her new book about her jail stay, or perhaps even a line of clothes created in honor of it.

Another cartoon created for a magazine that goes to automobile dealers throughout the U.S. The subject matter is based upon a report on sales numbers from this week. They showed that as gas prices eased a bit, consumers responded immediately by eschewing small cars for big SUV's again. (How short-sighted are these folks? Are they the same ones who go out and eat two Big Macs and super sized fries after they lose 8 ounces in their diets? ) Unfortunately, the attached cartoon is more an illustration of reality than a satire.



This is another advertising illustration created for the insurance & retirement fund firm back east.

As depicted in this scene, business owners typically don't like taking a back seat to their offspring at the companies they founded. They often end up being pushed to the sidelines by their eager heirs, maintaining an office for appearances and title, only...which is a tough transition for a person who had the drive to get the whole enterprise started.

An advertising illustration done for a large east coast-based insurance & investment company. This was one of a series of illustrations done for newpaper advertisements tailored toward their clientele who may be planning to sell a business or company.

On a related note, I recall my father going through the process of selling his business just a few years ago. What seems like a carefree time of one's life can be very emotional...afterall, it's your creation; the product of your efforts and struggles over many years that is being sold. And (in many cases), it's being sold to a stranger. It's hard to just walk away.

That's one reason I think it's a good thing that most cartoonists and illustrators don't really retire or sell their business...they just keep on working well into their golden years. (That will be me...drawing until I'm 95 or until my incessant drooling ruins too much of my clients' artwork. (Well, actually, until my drooling shorts out my Wacom tablet...since it's mostly digital now anyway.)

Words that inspire - Courtesy of Daniel Pink

I thought I'd post something about a business book that inspired me. I can't claim the idea...it came from a client and friend, (Brad Shorr), who suggested a group blogging effort about favorite business books.

My favorite business book is called "Free Agent Nation", by Daniel H. Pink. It's a book that is viewed by many as 'the handbook' on how to start your own business. I found it while walking around in Barnes & Noble one day about three years ago with my toddler daughter. (She led the way, waddling right to the table where it sat, knocking two copies from their perch.) I picked them up, leafed through one and noticed it was endorsed by business guru, Tom Peters ("In Search Of Excellence"), so I had to buy it.

Free Agent Nation details how to take your expertise, (in whatever your field), and go out on your own. Dan's friendly, engaging writing style, (which he honed as a White House speech-writer), glides you effortlesssly through the pages. He covers everything from work ethic, building confidence (important in the formative stages), networking, finding clients and avoiding roadblocks.

There are lots of books that offer direction and expertise. But this was different. Besides imparting valuable advice, the main thing the book did was to get me inspired enough to take action. I'm glad my daughter bumped into it...as it helped get me started on the road to self-employment.

Update:

An interesting & fairly exciting thing happened shortly after reading his book...th author of the above book, Daniel Pink contacted hired me to illustrate his follow-up book, about the increased value of right-brained 'creative types' in the future economy.

 Here's a photo of Dan discussing it at a TED Talk, (in the background is one of my illustrations.)

 

A logo for a record company. (Actually a CD & music publishing company...but like most of their kind, they call themselves a record company.)(...despite no longer making any "records".)

Whacked

A national publication for the automotive industry just hired me to do a weekly "editorial cartoon" ...and being a car enthusiast, I jumped at the chance.

They wanted the first cartoon to center around Honda's decision last week to kill off the Accord Hybrid model, (http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/219149.html), after lackluster sales. (My opinion is that people who like to think "green" are not likely want a car that can do 0-60 in under six seconds...with decent but not great gas mileage. They want to be seen helping the environment and the Toyota Prius, with its odd shape, broadcasts it a lot more.)

The Sopranos ended its long, fabulous run on HBO this week, too. You never know what will happen when you throw two unrelated subjects into a blender but this time it seemed to work okay.

School's out

As Alice Cooper crooned, SCHOOL'S OUT!

School is not out everywhere, but it soon will be.
My daughter's last day of school was yesterday and she is both excited and a bit melancholy to be finished with first grade. (My wife and I can relate...as today Julia's bedroom has been transformed into a stuffed animal hospital, with dozens of stuffed animals lined up for "treatment". Band aids, thermometers, and gauze pads are in heavy supply. We hesitate to guess what messy activity will be happening later today.)

During the school year, I illustrate a weekly children's feature for a publication distributed to elementary schools. (The Current Events, New York) It has been a fun diversion and also something that my daughter enjoys reading. (She even helps with occasional logistical decisions about what a kid's room might look like, etc.) The above installment ran in this week's issue...and will be the last for this school year before resuming again in the fall.

Ebay Healthcare

The above cartoons were comissioned by a medical equipment company in California, to fight new legislation proposed for Medicare. The bill would require all medical suppliers to bid on patients, auction-style. The net effect would be a lower prices for patients, (sounds good--at first), but also a limited number of companies can win the bids...so it would also allow those companies to win bids by selling used and possibly substandard equipment.

Lastly, the equipment would no longer be required to be covered by any warranties. So when it breaks, the patients, (mostly elderly) would be stuck trying to find someone repair it. We're talking about oxygen tanks, regulators and wheelchairs...items that can be dangerous if left in a state of disrepair.

The first cartoon has appeared in a few magazines and newspapers, garnering some attention for the issue...the second one (the ebay theme) will run soon.

I have several friends who are editorial cartoonists, (which is my background), and they get to do things like this all the time. I enjoy my work a great deal....but I have days where I feel like I've done nothing worthwhile, so it's extra enjoyable to draw something that may also do some good.

Night and Day

Well, this week has been busy, finding me working night and day. (And that explains the gap in blog posts.)

Speaking of the juxtaposition of day and night, I thought I'd post a bit of artwork I was commissioned to do for a CD, (for a Las Vegas-based band.) This was for their new album called "Between the Sun and the Moon".) On the other side of the CD will be a photo of the band in a convertible that is stopped on the side of the road. The bass player is on the phone trying to call for help on his cell phone...presumably he's talking to the moon.

Unsinkable?

This is a cartoon I recently created for a financial services company in New York. The company president had been dissatisfied with humorous print campaign ideas coming from their ad agency and decided to go in a different direction...with cartoons.

Apparently it worked, and so, this is the first of a series of cartoon ads.

(BTW, no, that is not Leonardo Dicaprio on the bow of the ship.) (I tried to get him for this, but he was busy doing a seminar on Global Warming.)

Let it out

A corporate client in California commissioned me to do a series of cartoons for their company website and a 'caption contest' for their customer base. I love working on things like that because there are no parameters for subject matter or scenarios. I get to just open the creative valve and see what comes out...

This particular cartoon came to mind this morning as an old friend called and vented about a relationship. I tried my best to listen and offer advice...but after a while I felt like I needed to vent, too.

So, Phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaa!!! (I feel much better now. Thanks for listening.)

Have a hankering for a hunk of Brie cheese?

The above title hearkens back to the old SchoolHouse Rock animated shorts on Saturday morning tv. ("Conjunction Junction", etc.) But as it nears lunch time here, I'm wishing I had a way to get a quick gourmet meal, with no big time investment and not much expense.

Here's a cartoon, (done for client & friend, Brad Shorr), that shows just such a place. I can almost see somebody franchising a place like that. (It would go well until the first customer sued because they gagged on a diamond pin in their lobster-artichoke panini.)

Red, red wine

This is a cartoon I created for K&L winery (in Northern California) last month. 

Their ad agency was doing a campaign that showed an open copy of a New Yorker-like magazine with a "New Yorker" style cartoon...and obviously, they could not simply publish a photo of the actual magazine without violating copyrights. Additionally, they wanted the cartoon to be specifically about wine and also mention their winery in the background.

So, they hired a San Francisco design firm to create the magazine layout, and they hired me to write and draw the "New Yorker" cartoon. 

I wrote three concepts and we all agreed that this one fit, so I create the artwork. After the winery's approval, the SF design firm placed it into the design. Lots of fun, and I enjoyed getting to see the ad in a few magazines this month.

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Two book illustration jobs are on the drawing board, and I'm going to do my best to get ahead with them so that I can take a motorcycle trip into the mountains, now that the snow is clear from most of the roads at high altitude. I'm going with a friend who is in town for a few days.

Here's an old pic from a motorcycle trip taken with that friend, and another buddy. We rode from Boulder to Kansas City to see a White Sox/Royals game...and to Lawrence Kansas, (where my girlfriend at the time was pursuing postgraduate degrees in Education at KU). A great trip, with lots of memories...but I'll be honest, one of them involved that return trip, which we blitzed through at a fast pace to beat a storm. The last couple hundred miles on the motorcycles left our heinies as tender as Kansas City BBQ.

 

 

Back in "town"

Ahem. Well, please accept my apologies for the set-up -- and then the big drop-off. It has been a crazy few months with business, (which is terrific)...and also over the past several months, we endured a family illness and loss, (my wife's mom was diagnosed with colon cancer and recently passed away)...which hit us very hard.

After settling back into a semblance of normal routine, I now see that the idea of maintaining both personal and business blogs is too much to even dream about. Thus, I will just maintain this blog formerly called "Toon Town" and now renamed "Dancing Moose", encompassing all cartooning subject matter, personal and professional.

Hope all is well on your end.

Cheers,

Mark

Old memories from the hard drive

Watch your step

Time zones

Ideas for extra income

Bad hair day

Say that again?