Tom's Mad Blog
October 3rd, 2009 | Posted in News
The caricature artist community here in the Twin Cities got a big shock last month when artist Joe Williams passed away suddenly from complications with diabetes. Joe was in South Dakota doing a fair when he was found dead by a fellow artist. Joe worked for me for several years at my booth at the Mall of America. He was quite a character, doing everything from caricatures to murals to airbrush t-shirts and bedsheet banners… you name it, Joe did it to earn a living as an artist. When the traffic versus rent at the Mall of America became too out of balance Joe bought… READ MORE
October 2nd, 2009 | Posted in News
This is just a reminder that the International Society of Caricature Artists annual convention is coming up fast, exactly one month away on Nov. 2nd. I understand from current president Robert Bauer that attendance is already at record levels, and that’s before the last minute people show up at the door. Unfortunatley for those who did not register before Sept. 30th, early discount registration is over and it’s now full price to register: Members- $250 Member guests- $100 each Non- Member “Seminar Only”- $125 It might be a bit more if you show up at the event looking to register on the spot, so register… READ MORE
October 1st, 2009 | Posted in News
I’ll be joining Chris Brown (Hagar the Horrible), Jeff Koterba (Editorial Cartoonist- Omaha World Herald) and Paul Fell (Huskernutz) at a book signing ar Zanderbroz Books in downtown Sioux Falls thsi Saturday. I’ll have a stack of “Bo Confidential” books and will of course sign copies of MAD or whatever you want to bring in. Here’s the official press release: For Immediate Release: National Cartoonist Conclave Booksigning, Meet & Greet Saturday, October 3rd, 2-4 pm Zandbroz Variety, 209 S Phillips Ave., Sioux Falls, SD The North Central Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society will have their annual meeting in Sioux Falls October 2 and 3rd.… READ MORE
September 30th, 2009 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Since I’ve been remodeling the studio I’ve been going through a lot of old piles of drawings and such. I found this old rough sketch of Samuel L. Jackson that was supposed to be a preliminary for a theme park sample that I never got around to finishing. I remember liking it when I did it, but now… meh. READ MORE
September 29th, 2009 | Posted in News
This past weekend the Southeast chapter of the National Cartoonists Society had a chapter event in Asheville, NC featuring a whole gaggle of members of the “Usual Gang of Idiots”, plus a bunch of other terrific cartoonists. I wish I would have been able to attend, but it was just impossible for me to get away. The lineup of speakers above is certainly stellar. However, due to the magic of the internet here are three YouTube videos featuring Nick Meglin and Jack Davis. Great stuff from two great guys: EDIT- Sadly somebody objected to the posting of these videos, presumably either Nick or Jack, and… READ MORE
September 28th, 2009 | Posted in On the Drawing Board
Busy Busy Busy. First, here is the final of that workplace poster job I posted the pencil of as the “sketch o’the week” last Wednesday. Click for a closer look… Also on the board right now: Continuing with the 535 caricatures for the iPhone app job. Hope to be done by the end of the week. Illustration for a calendar 5 or 6 page teaser of graphic novel project Assorted other goodies READ MORE
September 27th, 2009 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: It is my experience that digital art, even when scanned inks and with digital finishing, takes longer to do, for the artist, than if the art were totally done traditionally. A problem I keep running into is that clients assume anything digital is faster and easier for an artist to complete. Have you found that your working method is any faster than if you worked entirely traditionally? I will agree that a digital file can be easier to make corrections on; but does that make up for a longer initial work time? A: That question seems to ask two things. First it seems to… READ MORE
September 26th, 2009 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Holy Sequels, Batman! I just found out through the grapevine that MAD is doing a Volume 2 of MAD About SuperHeroes, due out in January. The cover image above is an advance cover and the actual cover will be different. I was bummed out when they came out with the first MAD About Super Heroes as I had just done the “X-Men 2” parody and it missed the publication deadline of the book. I will definitely be well represented in this book, however. It should contain my parodies of “Spider-Man” 1 and 2, X-Men 2, “Batman Begins”, “Superman Returns”,” Iron Man”, “The Dark Knight”, “Watchmen”… READ MORE
