June 27th, 2010 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I was reading through your blog and came across a post about doing magazine illustration where you mentioned something called a “kill fee”. What is that, and have you ever had to deal with it? A: A “Kill Fee” or “Reject Fee” is a clause in an illustration agreement between a publication and an illustrator that specifies a set amount of pay if the final illustration is rejected (i.e. “killed”). The kill fee clause used to be a standard part of any independent contractor agreement, but I see it less and less these days. Most old school publications still have the kill fee in… READ MORE
June 25th, 2010 | Posted in General
People often ask me how I find the time to work out and body build amid all the freelance work I take on. Well, here’s my secret… READ MORE
June 24th, 2010 | Posted in News
Yesterday a new website called The Cartoonist Studio quietly launched into cyberspace. Created by cartoonist Peter Guren and Anthony Leonardi, the website is a virtual visit to the studios of many of your favorite cartoonists and a centralized place to interact with them. In their own words: We created The Cartoonist Studio as a way to bring us closer to the fans who enjoy our funny little drawings–those characters and scribbles that make our cartoons come to life. They live, breathe and occupy a place in our lives…kinda like our children or our pets or our alter egos (except the last one doesn’t need feeding… READ MORE
June 23rd, 2010 | Posted in News
App developer Comixology just released the DC Comics app for the iPhone and the iPad, bringing DC comic’s titles to these mobile devices directly from the publisher. Like Comixology’s Marvel Comics app, the DC Comics app is free and does include a few free comics like the Batman: Black and White series and some preview books. Full issues are $1.99. They look fantastic on the iPad. So, can this be far behind?: One can hope… READ MORE
June 23rd, 2010 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Uhhhh… let’s jut say I wasn’t in the mood for a challenge this week. Lady Gaga practically draws herself. READ MORE
June 22nd, 2010 | Posted in General
I get asked that question a lot because there is a perception that I am a fully digital artist because I deliver most of my work digitally. People are sometimes surprised to hear I still draw and ink on bristol board with a dip pen and brush just like cartoonists have been doing it since the dawn of time, and then scan my work in and color it via the computer and a tablet. It seems odd to some that I bother with the traditional media at all, when I could just do it all on the computer and save time, hassles and ink stains… READ MORE
June 21st, 2010 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Hard to believe but we are only one month away from the start of San Diego Comic Con. I managed to attend for the first time in a few years last year, and it looks like I’ll make it again this year. I still haven’t figured out how to get a booth space or Artist’s Alley table of my own… at least not before I’m living in a “retirement community” somewhere… so you can find me at the National Cartoonists Society booth a few times during the show as well as a signing at the DC Comics booth. If and when specific times are available… READ MORE
June 20th, 2010 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I would think drawing caricatures in a theme park would be stressful simply because many times you have people – often friends or family of whoever is being drawn – looking over your shoulder, watching, and telling the person how much it does or doesn’t look like them. What happens when you realize you’ve started off on the wrong foot? Do you just plow through and try to correct it, or have you ever torn off the sheet, crumpled it up, and said, “OK, let’s try this again”? A: I very seldom ever start over. Likeness in caricature can be achieved in a variety… READ MORE
