Tom's Mad Blog
July 9th, 2021 | Posted in Illustration Throwback Thursday
This was SUPPOSED to post yesterday for “Illustration Throwback Thursday” but my post scheduler dropped the ball. I did this spot illustration for the Food Network back in 2011 of FN stars Rachel Ray and Guy Fieri. To be honest I am not 100% sure what the purpose of it was, but I know it was not for print or broadcast. I believe it was supposed to be for some internal promo or something similar. The assignment was to do a simple caricature of Rachel and Guy in a “Dancing with the Stars” pose with a simple background. And yes, they asked me to draw them nice and… READ MORE
July 7th, 2021 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
I’m traveling today (remember “traveling”??) so no new SotW. Here’s an old one that I still like of auteur David Lynch, originally done circa 2003 or so, updated with the graytones for use my book. READ MORE
July 6th, 2021 | Posted in General
Is there a sitcom catchphrase you always say? Tell us your favorite and tune in to History of the Sitcom, an all-new @CNN Original Series Sundays at 9p ET/PT #HistoryOfSitcom Originally tweeted by CNN Original Series (@CNNOriginals) on July 1, 2021. The folks at CNN Original Series are certainly having some fun with the key art I did for the show. Above is a little video promo they put out on twitter using some of the individual caricatures I did. READ MORE
July 5th, 2021 | Posted in MAD Magazine
It’s yet another electrifying episode of the chronologial crawl through my work at MAD magazine. This week is a look at the parody of the TV show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” (with the original cast) from MAD #443, July 2004. This feature was my the first collaboration between me and former MAD editor Dave Croatto. I would go on to illustrate on other MAD parody written by Dave just a few issues later, but years later he and I would team up to do two MAD children’s book parody books, Goodnight Batcave and Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day. Once again when doing one… READ MORE
July 4th, 2021 | Posted in General
Be safe this 4th of July, people! READ MORE
July 1st, 2021 | Posted in Illustration Throwback Thursday
After I published The Mad Art of Caricature in 2011 I discovered an interesting subset of creators in the world of caricature… woodcarvers. Woodcarving is a popular art in the U.S., and woodcarvers have their own organizations, conventions, and stores dedicated to the tools and resources for carving. Carving caricatures is also a big thing in that world. There are books on that specific subject, and carvers that are known for their caricature work. I found out about this aspect of woodcarving when I was contacted by several different woodcarving stores who wanted to buy wholesale copies of the book for sale in their stores.… READ MORE
June 30th, 2021 | Posted in Sketch O'The Week
Well, it’s not really a “Sketch o’the Week”. Rather, it’s one of the original inked pieces from my recently revealed “History of the Sitcom” key art illustration. This one is Henry Winkler as “The Fonz” from “Happy Days”. CNN would not give me permission to do a print of that art, and they have no plans to do one. However I do have all the original inked art, so a few people can get a part of this illustration via one of the groups of characters. I have them all available in the Studio Store. Get ’em while they are still gettable. READ MORE
June 29th, 2021 | Posted in Freelancing
I really got a lot of positive comments on my illustrations for CNN’s “History of the Sitcom” documentary. Thanks to everyone who had nice things to say about the art. For those whose only comments were “WHY ISN’T (insert name of their favorite show) INCLUDED?!?”, please contact CNN Original Series to complain and/or just put it on your TS list. Many people asked about the process and how I put together the compositions. Because there were so many people and they needed to be put together in both a vertical and horizontal format, I did individual sketches of each “show” character(s) and then played around… READ MORE
