As I expected, I have been so swamped running the NCS Reubens I’ve been unable to update the blog. My apologies. Expect a full report next week, and a list of the winners of the Divisional Awards and the Reuben for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year tomorrow. READ MORE
The Lovely Anna and I are heading out shortly to attend the NCS Reuben Award Weekend in beautiful Pittsburgh, PA! I’ll have updates, pics and other goodness from the event later this week. The Reubens officially kick off on Friday, but as I am running the show I have to get in early and make sure the bourbon, scotch and gin are up to our famously cheap standards. Our flight actually leaves tomorrow morning, but we are getting to the airport this afternoon because the TSA lines are so long. 🙄 READ MORE
Q: You’ve written here before that when you do a freelance job for a client, they technically aren’t buying artwork from you but the rights to use artwork. What kind of copyrights do they typically get? A: Absolutely correct on that first part. While most freelance projects involve creating artwork specifically for a client’s needs, ultimately they are really paying for the copyrights to use that artwork for their purposes. At least, that’s the case in an independent contractor agreement. In a work for hire agreement, they are paying only for the artwork creation because they own every pencil line and the full copyrights to… READ MORE
I’ve got an illustration for an upcoming MAD book due by this weekend, so blogging might be spotty for a few days. READ MORE
Q: I am a what you would consider an “average-amateur-novice-white-belt” artist. I have spent many hours in non-art classes throughout college, grad school, and (heaven forbid) church doodling in my notebooks and on the back of Sunday programs, always impressing my less artistic siblings or classmates. I have always enjoyed drawing and now that schooling is done and I have more free time, I have decided to dedicate more time to drawing and art. In my search for instruction, I stumbled upon your book. I really enjoyed it, partially because other books about caricature seemed rather lackluster, but mostly because your caricatures are exactly the… READ MORE
We might be seeing this guy’s ugly mug a bit the next few weeks. My last theme park operation opens tomorrow, I’ve got two major MAD jobs in the works, one due yesterday, four other illustration jobs on the board with two due imminently, and I’ve got this little weekend event called the NCS Reuben Award Weekend I’m in charge of planning and pulling off less than two weeks away. I’m really starting to hate May. READ MORE
I am a pretty tough person to buy gifts for. I basically have everything I could ever want (within reason… freelance illustrators as a general rule can’t afford Porsches or winter homes in Hawaii). I have a complete batsuit, for God’s sake. The Lovely Anna and my kids and family hate my birthday and the holidays because they just don’t have a clue what to get me. That means they have to ask me, so I am seldom surprised by anything. Anna is pretty creative, though. This year for my birthday (which was this past Saturday… 47, thanks for asking) she surprised me with some… READ MORE
Q: After working for my [caricature concession] company for four years, I might be in a position this year where I’ll be in charge of interviewing and hiring, as well as training. So here is my question: When hiring new artists for your theme park concessions, do you have any thoughts on: 1) Weeding out the right person who has enough artistic potential as well as the ability to engage a guest in¬¨‚Ć a pleasing manner while they draw, 2) Any tips and techniques for training these people to become better at engaging the guests? I would definitely like tips or drawing techniques I could… READ MORE
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