Tom's Mad Blog
January 6th, 2009 | Posted in Freelancing
I get a fair number of e-mails from artists looking to “break in” to MAD asking for information and advice on how to do it. Most of the following info is in The MAD Blog FAQ, but in the interest of keeping it “out there” here are the recently updated basics you should know if you are a cartoonist interested in working for MAD: If you want to break into MAD, the easiest way is with a grappling hook, 50 feet of rope, a glass cutter and suction cups. You can bribe your way in on Wednesdays with home baked cookies offered to Dick DeBartolo.… READ MORE
January 5th, 2009 | Posted in General
Two jobs with deadlines today and a bunch of stuff to do before a short trip to Orlando requires an appearance by the Dreaded Deadline Demon. Bummer. READ MORE
January 4th, 2009 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Do you ever have a client give you a vague job proposal, then ask for endless changes once they see something on paper? A: Yes, of course. That may happen if you do not take steps to make sure it does not, specially if you recognize that you have a client that might be a problem in that regard. Sometimes that is impossible to spot, but usually you can sense it coming right away. Part of an illustrator’s job is to solve a visual problem, so you can expect in any job to do pencil sketches and sometimes to explore ideas. However a client… READ MORE
January 3rd, 2009 | Posted in It's All Geek to Me!
I have blogged some in the past about our oldest daughter Elizabeth, who is autistic. Elizabeth will be 19 on Tuesday (gulp!), and like many autistic people she has certain routines, patterns and obsessive/compulsive demands that dictate her days. One of Elizabeth’s big things is watching videos. Her subject matter of choice will gradually fluctuate but there are several constants: the “Barney” children’s videos, the “Roseanne” TV show and currently the “Kidsongs”, “BabySongs” and “WeeSing” series of kid’s videos. She will watch these shows repeatedly all day long, often rewinding and watching a certain scene over and over. Back in the days of VHS rule,… READ MORE
January 2nd, 2009 | Posted in General
…of a local North Carolina politician for The Independent. This will appear in their “Good Old Boys Gone Bad” column in print and online on Sunday. I guess the 2009 freelance campaign is officially underway. READ MORE
January 1st, 2009 | Posted in General
Here’s wishing health and happiness to all for 2009. I did this little doodle as an experiment with a new technique I am working on. It involves using colored lines as opposed to traditional black inked lines for a digitally colored piece. It’s hardly a new concept, but I have only attempted it a few times and in different ways with mixed results. The above was done by inking the drawing in the traditonal way and then scanning as always, but then replacing the black ink color with other colors. It produces a slightly more painted and softer look. READ MORE
December 31st, 2008 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
The final “Sketch o’the Week” for 2008 is of former child star Macaulay Culkin. I saw a small picture of him in a magazine and it stuck me how creepy he looks. He retains just enough of his 10-year-old features from his “Home Alone” days to be recognizable, but he’s now nearly 30 with this thick giraffe neck and long, bony nose. The reference picture was taken in pretty bright sunlight, which left some heavy shadows that were interesting. I’m not sure if he’s even still in the entertainment business, as his appearance in the magazine was a result of the tragic death of his… READ MORE
December 30th, 2008 | Posted in News
I’ve seen my artwork stolen off the internet and used as samples for dozens of live caricaturists all around the world. I’ve seen it put on postage stamps from South American and former U.S.S.R. countries and sold in sets on eBay. I’ve seen it being used on many websites and being sold as prints online. I’ve even seen a caricature I did of Jesse Ventura tattooed on somebody’s shoulder. This one might top them all: Yep… looks familiar. The above shoe throwing extravaganzas took place near the University of Tehran and the U.S. Embassy in Iran on the 26th of December and featured as targets… READ MORE
