Tom's Mad Blog
August 1st, 2009 | Posted in News
Last night’s opening reception went well with a nice crowd. Here are some pictures from the event: The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Toonseum curator/director Joe Wos and me Some of the pieces in the show Three of my kids: Victoria, Gabrielle and Tom Joe and I look over part of the show There were a number of local cartoonists and caricaturists at the reception, which featured some food, wine and a DJ. Lots of fun. Today I do a demo for kids at 1:00 pm and then at 5:00 I conduct a “master class” on caricature. READ MORE
July 31st, 2009 | Posted in News
Tonight is the reception for my show at the ToonSeum, part of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh located at 10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA. The reception is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is by invitation only, but if you are interested in attending contact Joe Wos at joe@toonseum.com. I will be attending as will The Lovely Anna and all four of my kids (!!). Anna will be at her usual witty and charming self, my children will be good looking and above average as always, and I will hopefully not have any hors d’oeuvres in my teeth. Saturday is the grand opening of… READ MORE
July 30th, 2009 | Posted in On the Drawing Board
Just a few projects on the drawing board right now- MAD Job– Two pager that is scheduled for issue 502… due in October sometime. 🙁 Scholastic Cover Illustration– Monday deadline… looks like I’ll be working a bit when in Pittsburgh. iPhone App projects– Two of these in the works… an interesting idea and a possible new market for illustration. One is a maybe but one is a go involving over 500 caricatures. (!!!!) Just finished this workplace poster illustration for The Marlin Company: The above is a very rough pencil I did when at Comic Con in San Diego. I had to scan it at… READ MORE
July 29th, 2009 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Today’s sketch is a quick self portrait along with an update on my surgically repaired left shoulder. For those of you not familiar with the story I tore one of my left rotator cuff muscles lifting weights while on vacation in Jamaica… I blame the metric system. I just passed 4 months since the surgery and while my doctor and physical therapist are very happy with the progress I am getting impatient. A few weeks ago I was cleared to start slowly strengthening my rotator cuff muscles, but I have a long way to go before my left shoulder will be stable enough for me… READ MORE
July 28th, 2009 | Posted in News
Order Today! I was just notified that the MAD book I did in a whirlwind back in May is being released a week or so early, and is in stock at Amazon.com right now although they project Monday, Aug. the 3rd as the delivery date for orders. Too bad it was not ready in time for the San Diego Comic Con. However I will have copies in hand and available to buy and for me to sign at the opening of my show at the Toonseum in Pittsburgh this weekend. It will be the official unofficial first time the book would be available to the… READ MORE
July 27th, 2009 | Posted in General
After five full days here in San Diego, I am now fully reminded of what I love and hate about Comic-Con. Definitely the coolest costume I saw at the con I love the chance to meet artists and writers from basically every genre, see new and exciting projects and work, visit with old friends, meet new ones, attend panels and seminars that are informative and enjoyable, and most of all oogle and a mind-numbing amount of really cool toys and stuff. I hate the crowds, the lines and especially… strollers. I split my time this year between the booths of the National Cartoonists Society, the… READ MORE
July 26th, 2009 | Posted in Mailbag
This is a question from a while back that I thought was timely to repost today: Q: It’s obvious that networking is a very valuable practice in the cartooning and illustration world, but are situations such as a comic-con or other gatherings of that nature an appropriate venue to try and foster such contacts? Those with booths and tables are likely there primarily to sell their own work, so would they view that sort of thing as an annoyance or an opportunity? A: Comic cons are weird animals, to be certain. I actually haven’t been to that many cons, but I think I know what… READ MORE
July 25th, 2009 | Posted in General
A big thanks to the many (okay… sevaral… okay… three) folks who came looking for me at one of the booths I was at on Friday at the Comic-Con. Great to met you and I am glad you enjoy the MAD Blog. I was so busy drawing and meeting people yesterday I barely got to do anything at the con itself, but I had to sneak away and catch the presentation done by Pearls Before Swine creator Stephan Pastis. Pearls is one of those comic strips that makes me laugh almost every day, and while I enjoy and appreciate many strips that is a rare… READ MORE
