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.)

Psych Central Profile - part two

The second part of an interview with Richard Zwolinski at Psych Central...
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/2010/09/funny-on-demand-cartoonist-mark-hill/#more-1114

New Boneheaded Dog Cartoon

New cartoon from the pooch, here:
http://blog.hilltoons.com/

Interview

 (I intended to post this a few days ago, since it originally started running on Tuesday,  but it has been a blitz with clients this week.)

I was the subject of a short interview with Psych Central, a top online psychiatric resource website. I've done a fair number of client projects that involved psychiatric-related cartoons, (including illustrating a recent book for two psychologists)...and a couple of those cartoons are featured.

It was flattering to be asked to do -- and fun to answer some rather creative questions. It's running in two parts, on successive Tuesdays.


http://blogs.psychcentral.com/therapy-soup/2010/09/the-cartoonist-is-in-therapy-soup-interviews-mark-hill/#comments

New Creative Outlet

Not that I need more to do, (as things are as busy as ever with clients and publishing deadlines), but I'm starting a new cartoon feature. For a while I've had the itch to play with something new and different.
 
I'm calling it "A Boneheaded Dog's Blog". It's intended to be the observations of an exuberant and small minded family dog. On most days the posts will be from the dog's perspective; on some others, it will be from the owner's perspective.

Please take a peek..let me know what you think. It's an experiment right now and comments/suggestions are welcome.

A Boneheaded Dog's Blog

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.

Fire news: Much better finally

Friends and clients have been asking about the nearby fire and whether it has affected our family. A couple of folks said they checked here, so I thought I'd add a blurb to say that things are fine.

The fire started Labor Day morning, apparently after someone who lives in a mountain home let a barbecue fire pit get out of control. We noticed the cloud of smoke and saw it grow as the day went on, with shifting winds. The lack of rain, (less than a tenth of an inch in the past month), made it worse. The area in question is about 15 miles away from town.

In the morning on Tuesday and Wednesday, the smoke was fairly noticeable outdoors. (We were running the central A/C, and thus filtered the air, so we couldn't smell the smoke when indoors.) No morning walks with the pooch, though after the breeze got going, the smoke cleared out after noon. Julia was in school nearby with everything as usual; just no outdoor recess on Tues & Wed.

I feel very sorry for the people who are displaced and/or lost their homes. 169 homes were destroyed. I can't imagine what those people are going through. Miraculously, there has been no loss of life or even serious injury.

With the help of some much-needed rain on Wednesday night, the fire fighters made good progress over the last two days. It looks as if the fire is mostly contained. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16050812?source=rss

Caption Contest #2: And the Winner is...

Zack Collier.

Zack was clever and also persistent. (He entered in week 1, in a competitive group of entries), and this time had two good entries, in a group of 4 total entries.)

Congrats to Zack and thanks to everyone who entered!

Cartoon Caption Contest - Part deux

Click cartoon to enlarge


Well, it's time for another cartoon caption contest. (Anyone can enter, including everyone who entered the last one.)

Think of a caption for the featured cartoon above and submit it. You can simply post it as a comment below or email it to me. (Hill@comic.com).

The winner's name will be posted here, along with the finished cartoon featuring their caption. He or she will also receive a copy of the cartoon, (with their name added to the signature line).

Have fun! Be wildly creative! Deadline is Friday Sept. 3 (sorry, forgot that earlier.)

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.

We have a winner!

Thanks to the creative folks who submitted ideas for the first installment of the Cartoon Caption Contest. (For this first one we had four entries; three people emailed ideas and one submitted here.) All were surprisingly good, (and perhaps they should all consider trying their hand at this professionally.)

Drum roll... the winner is Kevin Gleeson, of Lyons, Illinois.

For his very funny caption, Kevin will receive a print of the finished cartoon, (as shown above).

The next contest will start soon...

Cartoon Caption Contest

Well, the long-promised and much-delayed Cartoon Caption Contest is under way.

Think of a caption for the featured cartoon above and submit it. You can simply post it as a comment below or email it to me. (Hill@comic.com).

The winner's name will be posted here, along with the finished cartoon featuring their caption. He or she will also receive a copy of the cartoon, (with their name added to the signature line).

Have fun! Be creative!

Deadline for entries: Friday July 16.

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.)

Jay Kennedy Scholarship

Attention all aspiring cartoonists: The National Cartoonist Society Foundation is once again calling for applicants to the Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship.

From the NCSF Website:

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Jay Kennedy Scholarship

The annual Jay Kennedy Scholarship, in memory of the late King Features editor, was funded by an initial $100,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation/King Features Syndicate and additional generous donations from Jerry Scott, Jim Borgman, Patrick McDonnell and many other prominent cartoonists. Submissions are adjudicated by a panel of top cartoonists and an award is given to the best college cartoonist. The recipient is feted at the annual NCS Reuben Awards Convention attended by many of the world’s leading cartoonists.

Applicants must be college students in the United States, Canada or Mexico that will be in their Junior or Senior year of college during the 2010-2011 academic year. Applicants do not have to be art majors to be eligible for this scholarship.

Along with a completed entry form, applicants are required to send 8 samples of their own cartooning artwork (copies only); noting if and where the work has been published, either in print or on the web. (See application for details.) DO NOT send original artwork.

DEADLINE: ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY FEBRUARY 12, 2010

The applications will be judged by the National Cartoonists Society Foundation (NCSF) and the number of scholarships given out and their amounts will be at the discretion of the NCSF.

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As usual, I've been away from the blog, too busy with clients and family life to post much, but I thought this subject deserved mention. I'm posting this partly for anyone who might be interested...and partly for a friend who asked about cartooning scholarships for his son. Hopefully he, (and anyone else with interest), can gather up his or her work and get it out in time for the deadline. It's a terrific scholarship, named after a man who had a big effect on the work of many cartoonists.

I had the honor and pleasure of working with Jay Kennedy for a little over three years. He offered me my first syndication contract, and after that, worked with me in developing a comic strip for King Features Syndicate. I got to know him over that span and afterward -- and really grew to appreciate him and his enthusiasm for cartoons.

His knowledge was fully rounded, including the history of cartoons, the inner workings of humor, dialogue, art, and even the legal ramifications of when one over-satirizes say, Britney Spears. I can say without a doubt that he helped to establish my career as a cartoonist, giving me training that was unavailable in books or any university.

I was saddened to hear about his accidental death. (He drowned after having been caught in a rip-tide, while vacationing in Costa Rica. A little-known fact is that he died a hero, diving in and successfully saving his girlfriend.) He will be greatly missed. 

This annual memorial scholarship is the sort of thing that can launch a young cartoonist's career...and at the very least, inspire some deserving cartoonist(s) to create worthwhile things. If you think that might be you, enter now! The deadline is almost here. (Feb. 12)

"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.")