The Digital Drawing Board: Recent Illustrations (and a respite from my hiatus)

Welcome to the semi annual posting of the Dancing Moose Journal.

I've been absent here, taking a seven-month break from posting - as well as from most social media. So, Happy Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Holidays and New Year - and likely, happy birthday.

This unplanned hiatus  started with being too busy with clients, family, etc., and then extended itself...with me wanting to spend more time with family, friends and some personal projects. And suffice it to say, I just wanted to get a break from my iPhone. As a NYT article stated this week, Steve Jobs Never Wanted Us to Use Our iPhones Like This

I quit Facebook three years ago because it took too much time, and that feeling spread to other platforms. (And to be honest, posting on social media has always seemed to feel so self involved.)

Last year I overheard my daughter talking with two neighbor friends about social media. One girl announced that she had nearly a thousand friends on Instagram and that by comparison, the other two girls were not nearly as popular. The second neighbor wondered how many of this girl's followers were real friends, and suggested that they could feed her graduation party attendees with a couple of sub sandwiches. Ouch.

I realized that described my feelings. No offense to social media fans, but I question spending many hours per week with social media "friends", many of whom I will never even talk with over the phone. Why not focus more on people closer to the heart...you know, folks who might actually show up for my funeral.

During this "social media vacation", I was contacted by some out-of-state clients and Twitter friends whom I had not talked with recently, to see if I was okay. So, in a clumsy way, even that worked out - I got to talk with them and catch up, instead of simply seeing a "like" on a photo or post.

The social media blackout continues, but I'm temporarily breaking the streak here just in case anyone else is wondering where I went.

I thought I'd also quickly rummage through the recent art bin to share a small sampling of enjoyable client projects that have graced my drawing board:

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First, a poster created for the latest theatrical production of  Hexagon, "Washington DC's only original political, satirical, musical, comedy revue."

From their website: Since 1955, Hexagon has produced an annual show that parodies local, national and international political issues. 

The new production is set in the future and is titled "Romp in the Swamp"...

(click to enlarge)

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Below is an editorial illustration created for the White Marlin Open, the world's largest ocean game fish tournament, located every year in Ocean City, Maryland.

It was filled with controversy in its 45th year, for the use of polygraph tests for fishermen. This year the winner took home a prize of $2.5 million...but had t undergo a polygraph test to ensure he did not cheat.

Also included is a small drawing of Ernest Hemingway, one of the best-known bill fisherman.

(Click to enlarge)

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Over the past several months I have written and drawn several pieces for Maryland wealth management firm, WMS Partners. The financial themed cartoons are being featured in their news publication, blog and their advertising.

I have been working with their new publication editor Malcolm Fitch, the former Editor-in-chief of "Standard And Poor".

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I was recently commissioned by an AP History society to create political cartoons to accompany articles for high school AP History students. This involved concept writing and art, and the first cartoon accompanied an article on the Truman Doctrine . Others covered The Dawes Severalty Act, (affecting native Americans), Roosevelt's Square Deal, and the 1930's migration from the South.

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In October I was commissioned to write and draw a series of humorous promotional postcards and posters over the next nine months for WESTAF.  They are the Western States Arts Federation, a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to strengthening the infrastructure of the arts in the West. 

WESTAF is located in Denver and governed by a 22-member board of trustees comprised of arts leaders in the West.  They serve the largest constituent territory of the U.S. regional arts organizations and includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Here are the first several postcards...The concepts I wrote are intended to point out the benefits of working with WESTAF vs other grants organizations. 

Reverse side:

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One of several illustrations commissioned for a group of nine Native American tribal casinos in Oklahoma.

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Read More....

On the Drawing Board: Mucho Libros

This may be the longest stretch of dead air here since starting this journal nearly twelve years ago. My apologies. Simply put, the studio has been stirring, while life in general has been hopping along at a brisk pace...leaving little time to ruminate or blog about it.

One of those things - and the most significant - has been my daughter's high school graduation! We hosted a big party here at the house, and visits from family and friends, (including my Mom, flying in from Illinois.) Our "little girl" is a graduate...and I can't believe how fast the past 18 years have gone by. (She's starting college in the fall, studying illustration and animation.)

For those who came here to see some recent scribblings/drawings/cartoons, (or even those who just stumbled in after a Google image search), I'll share a few book illustration commissions and advertising projects. If you're already bored, I'll understand if you hightail it out of here, but I'll try to spruce up the verbage.

I recently wrapped up illustrating four books, and all of them have been engaging, with diverse subject matter and fascinating concepts from each author.

Two books simply unleashed me to splash a bit of ink and watercolor around...the other two asked me to write funny stuff as well.

The first book: "Would You Do That To Your Mother?" by business author, Jeanne Bliss and released by Penguin/Random House this week.

Jeanne Bliss pioneered the role of the Chief Customer Officer, holding the first ever CCO role for over 20 years at Lands' End, Microsoft, Coldwell Banker and Allstate Corporations.  This is Jeanne's fourth published book.                 

This commission consisted of 46 color cartoons, starting with roughly 65 ideas with dialogue written to get to that number - and that is a healthy amount of work.

The work was fascinating, as the book is filled with insights about the inner workings of many Fortune 100 companies, as well as what crazy things such companies unwittingly do that lose customers.

The cartoons are available as downloads, and also added to videos, which are available through the publisher's website.

The book has received reviews from some noteworthy journalists and CEOs, and it seems that it's message is resonating with people.

Update: 5/21: Jeanne called me while on her book's promotional tour and said that the book sold 15,000 copies in the first week, and is currently #1 in Amazon's business books.

The next is a recently illustrated book is by Wendy Wood, the Provost Professor of Psychology and Business at the University of Southern California. https://dornsife.usc.edu/wendywood/about-wendy-wood/ 

Wendy initially hired me to create an illustration to humorously explain and depict concept.

After doing one for her and being fortunate enough to make her laugh, I signed a contract to do the rest. After getting to read several chapters, I realized I was getting an extremely interesting course in habit building. (Who doesn't want to develop top-notch habitual abilities?)

Here's one of several cartoons written and drawn for her book, "Habits and Rewards" which is being published later this year by Macmillan books.

The third new book is by Memphis-based author, Mark Grissom. He has written a children's book that deals with safety. Though it is intended to be understood by kids, it is aimed at being good advice for all ages. (Well, at least it made good sense to me...as a serial risk-taker.)

It's filled with all sorts of clever metaphors that get across the wisdom of actively avoiding pitfalls.

Being a children's book, every page was illustrated...and that entailed nearly 70 ink and watercolor illustrations. I worked on this with the author gradually, over a span going back to December.

The fourth book dealt with a guitar instruction. Yes, you read that right. (I told you this is a diverse group.)

Originally from Philadelphia, Eric Stone is a contemporary guitar player, music educator, and arranger. He earned a certificate in guitar performance from the world-renowned Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music in Pasadena. 

Eric hired me to illustrate his instruction book this past winter and I had a terrific time working with him in communicating his ideas and concepts.

An admission...I took guitar lessons, once informally and briefly from an old girlfriend, and later from a fairly well known guitarist from the Boulder based band, Firefall. The whole thing pretty much escaped me, and I picked up zippo. (I don't have any musical talent). But I wish I had Eric as a teacher back then.

Here are three of a dozen illustrations for a terrific guitar instruction book authored by Eric Stone. Eric is already working on his second book and he's contacted me about illustrating that soon.

All totaled, these four books required nearly 150 illustrations and written humor ideas. Combined with the usual corporate and advertising client work, it made for for a quite busy first few months of 2018.

In the midst of a few of those late nights, I momentarily lost sight of how incredibly blessed I am to be able to write and draw for a living. But only momentarily.

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Lastly, we'll throw in a few recent commissions and advertising pieces:


Illustrations created for Intel Corporation to publicize their "Intelligent Systems" technology.

One of several cartoons created for a government agency in Dubai.

An advertising piece for a cosmetics company in Beverly Hills, California, addressing a feeling that some women over 50 have, that they disappear from the view of the opposite sex. (Though it is an effective way to market cosmetics, I don't agree.)

An update for a piece created for the University of Toronto.

Finally, a cartoon for a long-time client in New York.

Next up on the drawing board...a new business book, some cartoons for a Silicon Valley tech company, and a San Diego Real Estate firm, as well as an ongoing series of investment cartoons for a New York-based wealth management firm.

Oh, and most important of all, I need to get my rump in gear on Mother's Day celebrating - for two moms, mine and my wife.

Cheers.

Lazy Sunday Morning

From Guinevere & Doozy

A smidgen of work from the drawing board

The studio has been active over the past few weeks, with several corporate and advertising humor projects, as well as illustrations for a business book - and a children's book which is still in process. 

The business book had 36 (gasp!) illustrations, which were created over the last two months, and just wrapped up. I cannot post anything from that yet, (Random House Publishing copyrights, etc.), but once it is released, I'll share a few things here. Also notably missing are 20 or so of the children's book illustrations. 

So, for now, I'll share just a few pieces from some other recent client projects...

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Two of seven illustrations created for an organization in Massachusetts that specializes in family business mediation and advising. The bottom piece is based upon Norman Rockwell's "Four Freedoms". (I had great fun with the pen & ink and watercolor.)

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Two  cartoons created for a Boston magazine article covering shenanigans at the police department.

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A cartoon for a long-time client in NYC who is creating a book about online dating.

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A personal commission created for a regular client. It is large format, my client had it framed and giving it as a Christmas gift to her good friend. (It is an inside joke about Beatles' drummer, Ringo Starr tickling a pig.) (I don't know how those two subjects come together...but apparently it is very funny to them.)

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Fortunately the lack of snow at the ski areas thus far has allowed me to buckle down and get work done. (Well, I have given in to temptations involving my mountain bike, with the extended fall weather.)

Next up on the schedule (mainly for after the Holidays) are three book illustration jobs: a children's book about a heroic goat (above), an instructional guitar book and lastly, a book about habits, written by a University of Southern California Professor, and published by Macmillan. It will involve writing and drawing "New Yorker" style cartoons to illustrate concepts to the reader.

Merry Christmas to all!

Latest Gwen & Doozy cartoon: Birthday wish list

A large amount of book illustration jobs and and corporate client deadlines are keeping me

 from posting here, but in lieu of that, the latest Gwen & Doozy cartoon: 

More: http://blog.hilltoons.com/

New Article on the Benefits of Cartoons in Business & Marketing

I'm in the midst of illustrating several books, (one with an accelerated deadline)...so just a short post.

I was made aware of a new article about the benefits of using humor and cartoons in business and marketing.

It was written by Brad Shorr, a frequent contributor to Forbes magazine, and Director of Content Strategy at Straight North, an Internet marketing agency headquartered in Chicago.

(I was also surprised to learn that I was mentioned in it). I have worked with Brad over the years, and he is a very funny man.

An excerpt:

"It’s hard not to look at a cartoon. This is why cartoons solve one of content marketing’s biggest problems — getting people to pay attention. We live in a world of content overload, with billions of pieces of content being published every day. Distractions are everywhere. With so many social shares and search results to sort through, it’s no wonder Internet users gravitate toward visual content. Visual content is different. It’s quick to consume. It’s often entertaining."

In case you're interested, here's the article:

Well, back to the drawing board...

Hand Drawn Illustration Meets Digital Illustration

An experiment inspired by the social media drawing marathon known as "Inktober". I drew the hand on the left with my Wacom Cintiq.; the hand on the right was ink on paper. Both are "hand drawn" so-to-speak, the left hand was recorded by the computer as it was drawn, the other was scanned from the drawing on paper.

On the Drawing Board: Illustrations and Cartoons for News Media

Just a quick stop to post a few recent pieces created for clients. I realized there was a bit too much 'recent work' to share without inducing unplanned naps, so I decided to limit things by using a theme this month: Work created for various news media.

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First, two political cartoons written and drawn for a Canadian news magazine:

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A political cartoon commissioned for a French magazine:

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One of several editorial illustrations/cartoons for a Boston magazine article covering the Boston Police Department. (I was provided with the concepts by the editor.)

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A cartoon for a magazine article covering the upcoming NFL season:

Lastly, an illustration for an article in an Orlando Sentinel covering a new Orlando Florida theme park whose most notable attraction is the world's tallest roller coaster. - And the reaction from the ownership of Universal Studios theme park.

Things slowed down a little for me in August, (I have learned this is a regular trend, as many of my clients are taking end of summer vacations), and picked up quickly after Labor Day. I'm in the midst of several fun corporate projects, (along with one snoozer that simply has no opportunity for humor). ...And I'm also illustrating a few books, ranging from children's literature, humor, business, to a "Dummies" series book.

The vivid colors and cool temperatures that often begin the grace Colorado by now have been delayed...it is still quite toasty during daylight hours. All the better for me to stay cool inside my studio getting things done. I can't wait for Autumn!

Breaking out the Canvas and Sable

Last year I decided to try my first oil painting in a long while, (since college, when I took an elective, "Oil Painting for Non-Art Majors" at the University of Illinois in Champaign.)

The subject is my Father, who passed away last Fall...and I had intended to do this several months ago, but honestly, it was too hard to think about. But a few weeks ago, it felt like the right time. 

I planned it as a gift for my Mom, and had hoped to get started in June. However, due to client work I ended up with four days in the first week of July to start and complete it before my next visit to see her in Illinois.

(Waiting until the last minute to start a big project...it truly was just like going back to college again.)

Given the many years since I last saw a blank canvas and smelled linseed oil, I knew there would be significant rust...and with the time constraint I almost gave up on it. But I decided that I might not otherwise do it anytime soon, and that the tight timeframe might actually help.

The first step; pencil drawing on the canvas:

This is where you make major decisions about shape and proportion, largely determining whether a likeness comes across later. As I started to see glimpses of my Dad looking back, (but asking myself, does he look like he's suffering from indigestion?), I felt it was ready for the next step...

The "underpainting", commonly used in paintings for many centuries, is a study of highlights and shadows, (just raw sienna acrylic washes here.) The acrylic dries instantly, so I did not have to wait to start the next step...oil paint.

Thin layers of mixed colors, eventually followed by gradually thicker brush strokes of paint. I used water mixable oils to speed the drying process so it would be ready in time for travel. (They did not exist when I was in college.)

I had not used real brushes and paint for anything in several years since switching to a Wacom Cintiq for digital book illustration, but the rust began to come off gradually. I also found myself stumbling a bit in shifting gears from realism to cartoon minimalism and distortion, going from this to client work and back again. But it was a great exercise.

The finished painting:

(click to enlarge)

It will take a few months of perspective to know what I think of it. (My Mom was quite happy but she is my Mom, and she would react that way if I had done it with Crayola crayons on construction paper.) 

It worked out to wait to do this in terms of getting it done but also in the heart and mind. Enough time had passed since my Dad passed that I was okay looking at his photos for long periods. It was still emotional but it was helpful, even cathartic, as it gave me a chance to reflect on his life in my own way.