Tom's Mad Blog
May 29th, 2007 | Posted in News
I’m back from another terrific time at the NCS Reuben awards. The board members and officers really work hard to make this event fun, entertaining and relaxing every year. They secure the sponsorship of the major syndicates like United Media, King Features and others to pay for lavish dinners, parties and gatherings throughout the weekend, which also includes a number of guest speakers and plenty of time left over to hang out with friends and colleagues. Sleep is often an afterthought, with parties going until the wee hours every day. Festivities kicked off this year on Friday with two guest speakers, Jerry Van Amerongen and… READ MORE
May 28th, 2007 | Posted in News
MAD art director Sam Viviano can’t believe I actually won an award. No time to blog right now, as we are on our way back home from the NCS Reuben weekend. I will write a comprehensive synopsis of the event tomorrow. I just thought I’d say I am pleased to announce I did win one of the two divisional Reubens I was nominated for on Saturday night. I won for Advertising Illustration. It is a huge honor and it’s quite moving to be recognized by a group full of legends, inspirations and incredible talents such as the NCS. I am humbled and honored. READ MORE
May 27th, 2007 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Do you believe a person can learn to be a great artist? Meaning a person that shows a little talent, do you believe that person can be developed into a great artist? I have viewed studies of “historically” great artists such as Picaso and such and viewed the transformation of the level of his drawing (not very good at first) and then 5 years later after intense study the splendidness of his drawing. I am just starting to pursue my dream of being a great artist (enter the college of art here in the fall) and I think I am above average compared to… READ MORE
May 26th, 2007 | Posted in General
It seems to be inevitable that I end up having to bring a job along when we go to the Reuben weekend. It never fails that some deadline is looming and it’s either bring it with or don’t go at all. Oddly, it almost always works out that the place I end up working in our room is the bathroom. It’s the one room in which I can work late at night (or early in the morning) with lights on and not disturb The Lovely Anna. It’s also the one place where a spill of ink or wash water, or a piece of kneaded eraser,… READ MORE
May 26th, 2007 | Posted in News
After a very late arrival on Friday morning, The Lovely Anna, myself and three of my four kids are in Orlando for the NCS Rueben awards, which are being held at the swanky Ritz Carlton. Fridays festivities were quite laid back. Jerry Van Amerongen and Mort Walker spoke in the afternoon, and the traditional Friday evening welcome cocktail party was outside under the stars. Here are some pictures from Friday at the Ruebens: Animator Steve Silver and caricaturist/illustrator Keelan Parham Anna, Barbie Parham and Brady Parham Popeye was there! Here he is with my son Tommy.. (Popeye is the one on the left) Heidi Silver… READ MORE
May 25th, 2007 | Posted in News
Once again it’s time for the National Cartoonist Society‘s annual Reuben Awards, this year in sunny Orlando, FL. We arrived last night and today begins the festivities. There are some great speakers lined up in Sam Gross, Bud Grace, Jerry Van Amerongen and Mort Walker, as well as lot’s of other fun stuff. They’ll be a few MAD men around as well including art director Sam Viviano, former editor Nick Meglin and who knows who else. As I wrote in this post, I am nominated for a few divisional Reuben awards in “Magazine/Magazine Feature Illustration” and “Advertising Illustration”. I’ll find out on Saturday night if… READ MORE
May 24th, 2007 | Posted in It's All Geek to Me!
We have a wireless home network in the house, with our DSL line connected to a wireless router in my studio. We run a 802.11g Linksys unit and have an extender up on the top floor. My Mac is the only computer hardwired into the router… all the kid’s and The Lovely Anna’s computers have Wireless-G adapters and connect to the internet in that way. We are pretty secure with no broadcasting of a network SSID (the neighbors cannot see our network, and you must know the exact name of the SSID to access it) and password protected login. 802.11n is the latest flavor of… READ MORE
May 23rd, 2007 | Posted in General
Tonight is the big season finale of “LOST”, which I will miss because of… I also haven’t seen the season finale of “Heroes”. Thank goodness for TIVO. Now I just have to avoid listening to anybody discussing either show until late next week… In the meantime, as if anyone has the time to waste on a game as opposed to watching TV, there is a new game for the iPod out based on the LOST TV show. Just what I need, another possible distraction. LOST Game Screen Capture It looks extremely cool. You play as Jack and have to find food and water (and dynamite),… READ MORE
