Tuesday, February 05, 2013
That darn anti-gun Tom Toles
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Obama, after Kal UPDATED
KAL gave a great presentation at an exhibit a few days ago. He talked about his career and political cartooning for an hour and a half, and it was great fun throughout. (The drawing above was a rush job, done on vacation at a dude ranch, and colored with a children's watercolor set.)
At the very end of his talk, he took the audience of about 30 people through a lesson in how to draw Obama. His was better, naturally, but it's pretty amazing that he got us to draw a recognizable caricature.
Wednesday - Friday, 1 - 7pm
Saturday, 1 - 6pm
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Matt Wuerker on drawing Obama on NPR
For Cartoonists Who Cover Obama: Four More Ears
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Jan 22: KAL speaks at Donkey's & Elephants
Wednesday - Friday, 1 - 7pm
Saturday, 1 - 6pm
Monday, January 14, 2013
Donkeys and Elephants: A Celebration of American Political Cartoons exhibit is open
Wednesday - Friday, 1 - 7pm
Saturday, 1 - 6pm
Friday, October 19, 2012
Cartoonists Rights Network supports editorial cartoon contest
Draw Attention to Impunity: IFEX launches the International Day to End Impunity Editorial Cartoon Contest
10/18/2012http://www.cartoonistsrights.org/recent_developments_article.php?id=68
im·pu·ni·ty \im-'pyü-nə-tē\ n. without punishment, without consequences
For contest details in English, see www.daytoendimpunity.org/contest/.
For contest details n French, see http://daytoendimpunity.org/fr/contest/.
For contest details in Spanish, see http://daytoendimpunity.org/es/contest/.
For contest details in Arabic, see http://daytoendimpunity.org/ar/contest/.
For contest details in Russian, see http://daytoendimpunity.org/ru/contest/.
Steve Artley retires from editorial cartooning (UPDATED)
Steven George Artley updated his status: "My editorial cartoons are no more. I am done, finished, kaput. Earlier today, I stepped down from the Alexandria Times. I guess it's time to try something else. What that something else may be, I don't know. Anyway, thanks to those of you who "liked" my work and left supportive comments."
In the following discussion, Steve (who is a friend of mine) also noted, he was "Tired of being an invisible Quixote. Feel like no one is out there. I make a sound and all I get back is my own echo. Or, I'm a ghost. I cast no shadow. There's no indication of measurable readership, no following, no community support... I get virtually no feedback, 'cept for the occasional hate mail. All that tells me it's time to go."
"Coincidentally, when I called my editor today, he said the mayor had just called, asking "who is that guy?" Meaning me, of course, who drew the local issue cartoon that portrayed him as an anthropomorphized bulldozer. I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR FOUR FREAKIN' YEARS, MISTER MAYOR!!!! And only NOW, you notice I'm there? This all underscores that I made the right decision."
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Matt Wuerker on Voice of America
Jerome Socolovsky
Voice of America News October 03, 2012
http://www.voanews.com/content/political-cartoonists-worried-about-future/1519470.html
Matt and other cartoonists were interviewed during their recent convention in DC.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Herblock lectures online
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Meet a Local Cartoonist: Gregory Uchrin
A rarer breed than many other cartoonist types, Gregory Uchrin is a webcomic political cartoonist who answered my questions at last fall’s Intervention con.
Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
Gregory Uchrin: I’ve been doing a political cartoon on the web since 2003. The original title was “Hail Dubyus!” -in response to the imperial aspirations of our then administration, but since 2008, I’ve published under a more neutral title “Intravenous Caffeine” , since I realized I would have much more scope for parody with the new administration. I also wanted to expand into less political areas with other works.
How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
I sketch, pencil and ink traditionally. Depending on the complexity of the cartoon, I may scan in the sketch or pencil work and print it out in non-photo blue for inking, but usually I will ink directly on the pencils. After scanning my inks, I color them on the computer.
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
1951—I was 60 in October. I’m an old fart :D I was born in New Jersey.
Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I grew up in New Jersey, but came to DC for college and stayed on because I liked it here. I lived up by Catholic U in Brookland. I also did grad school at Catholic, but since marriage, I’ve lived just outside the city in Alexandria VA.
What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
I’m self-taught, but with all the art books and internet tutorials available, being self-taught is a highly individual thing. I grew up watching Jon Gnagy on live television and that was the start of my artistic education. Classwork can be very important though, because if you’re self-taught, you have to figure out everything for yourself, while a good teacher will help you to learn the techniques that will aid in the realization of what you’re trying to show.
Who are your influences?
So many to choose from! I really love the late 19th/early 20th century illustrators like the Brandywine School, Edwin Austin Abbey, and J. Allen St. John and the science fiction/fantasy illustrators of the 30s/40s like Virgil Finlay and Margaret Brundage. In serious comics, for sheer style, I go for the classics like Hal Foster and Alex Raymond, but for comic stuff, I go for the early MAD school, like Harvey Kurtzman, Wally Wood, Bill Elder and Jack Davis. New Yorker cartoons, especially Charles Addams. CREEPY and EERIE (and EC reprints) were another early love. In politics, I love Herblock and Doonesbury, but they really haven’t influenced my style. I’ve been getting more and more into manga but at this point, it’s too early to talk about any influences except in a general way. Except Masamune Shirow!
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
LOL - I would have started a LOT earlier and taken some courses in anatomy and life drawing.
What work are you best-known for?
My political cartoon series are still my most recognizable works, but I’m starting to be known for my quirky humor pieces, like my Chibi Last Supper, a parody of the da Vinci picture.
What work are you most proud of?
My next one :D. I did some rather hard-hitting cartoons during the Bush administration that make me feel like I actually did something important. And I’ve got a BLEACH parody (called BLECCH!) that makes people laugh out loud. On a more artistic note, I recently did a pastel portrait of a cosplayer friend of mine that surprised me that I managed to do it so well. It’s on my deviantart site.
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I’d like to do a narrative webcomic that’s character rather than news driven. With political cartoons, you spend 75% of your time reading and watching news, looking for something that gives you a comic image. I’ve got a series of “fantasy casting” pieces--what actors/actresses I’d cast in a live version of an anime or manga and I’m currently working on a “Ghost in the Shell” picture. And I’ve been sketching out a horror story I’d like to turn into a graphic novel.
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
I experiment with sound restoration. 78s. PRE-VINYL! And I do research on the medieval period and Arthurian legends. Anything far from actually drawing anything. I’m not a games player though. I never seemed to develop that kind of hand-eye coordination with the early videogames. Which may be a good thing for me since it keeps me working.
What do you think will be the future of your field?
I’m not sure. After the insanity of last week’s Miss Republican Idol—ooops, I mean, CNN tribute to anyone running against Barry--oh, wait, was that supposed to be a debate?--I’m not sure politics hasn’t gotten so ridiculous that it’s impossible to satire. It’s probably a good time to expand beyond it.
What local cons do you attend ? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?
I attend all of the local cons, but I’ve only started participating in Artist’s Alleys in the past year. InterventionCon is only two years old and it’s becoming a very well run event. I also did AA at Katsucon and Anime MidAtlantic, but I missed out on applying to AnimeUSA because they announced the Alley practically the same day of the Japanese earthquake and my attention was elsewhere. But I like AUSA a lot and may actually cosplay there this year! T-mode is a nice small con, but I’ve only attended once. And of course, Otakon is mind-blowing. Both as an attendee and Alley participant.
What's your favorite thing about DC?
I like that it’s a big town that’s small enough to know. I can go anywhere and wind up running into a friend or colleague.
Least favorite?
Traffic.
What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?
The Smithsonian, National Gallery, Freer Gallery, Hirschhorn.
How about a favorite local restaurant?
Since moving to Alexandria, I don’t get much into the city for dining, especially since there’s a number of great restaurants in my neighborhood that I love: Hana Tokyo, La Casa for pizza, and Tempo for more elegant but laidback dining.
Do you have a website or blog?
Politics: Intravenous Caffeine— http://ivcaffeine.com/ —my older Bush era cartoons are still on HAIL DUBYUS! http://haildubyus.com/ I display my non-political works at DeviantArt at http://gregoriusu.deviantart.com/gallery My books BUSHWHACKED and BLECCH! -are available at Ka-Blam http://ka-blam.com/ (search for the titles).
Monday, November 07, 2011
Nov 29: Political Cartoon Biography of Theodore Roosevelt at Library of Congress
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington DC 20540
November 7, 2011
Political Cartoon Biography of Theodore Roosevelt Is Subject of Discussion
"Bully!" Chronicles Life and Times of 26th President
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was a favorite subject of political cartoonists, due in large part to his outsize personality, his exploits as one of the leaders of the Rough Riders and, of course, his career as 26th president.
Roosevelt's biography as told through these political cartoons forms the basis of "Bully!: The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt" (Regnery, 2011) by Rick Marschall. Marschall's book is the subject of a discussion and signing on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 11:30 a.m. in Dining Room A, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. This event is part of the Books & Beyond author series of the Center for the Book and is co-sponsored with the Library's Prints and Photographs Division. It is free and open to the public; no tickets are requited.
"Bully!" features more than 250 full-color illustrations, many of them from the collections of the Library. According to Marschall, few people have influenced American history as Roosevelt did. A cowboy, soldier and prolific author, he vaulted to the top of American politics. His physical energy, great intelligence and larger-than-life personality made him not only a beloved leader but also the subject of countless political cartoons.
Marschall is the author of more than 65 books, is a former political cartoonist and has written extensively on politics, history and cartoons. He has taught at Rutgers University and the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Marschall's book is also the subject of a discussion on Facebook. The new Books & Beyond Book Club is available at www.facebook.com/booksandbeyond/. Here readers can discuss books, the authors of which have appeared or will appear in this series. The site also offers links to webcasts of these events and asks readers to talk about what they have seen and heard.
Since its creation by Congress in 1977 to "stimulate public interest in books and reading," the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (www.Read.gov/cfb/) has become a major national force for reading and literacy promotion. A public-private partnership, it sponsors educational programs that reach readers of all ages, nationally and internationally. The center provides leadership for affiliated state centers for the book and nonprofit reading-promotion partners and plays a key role in the Library's annual National Book Festival. It also oversees the Library's Read.gov website and administers the Library's Young Readers Center.
# # #
PR 11-219
11/7/11
ISSN 0731-3527
Friday, August 26, 2011
More on assault of Syrian cartoonist
By NADA BAKRI
New York Times August 26, 2011
The Post ran an Associated Press story today, but Ann Telnaes did a cartoon on it and Cavna at Comic Riffs pursued the story a bit:
ALI FERZAT: A Call to Cartoonists to draw support for the viciously beaten Syrian artist
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs Blog August 26 2011
Matt Wuerker says the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists will be issuing a statement.
Monday, July 18, 2011
July 20: Dan Wasserman speaks on political cartoons at Smithsonian
Wednesday, July 20 - 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
With the stroke of a pen, great political cartoonists bring clarity to political chaos. Over the centuries, they have used brevity to capture burning issues of their day—from war to civil rights. In the 19th century, Thomas Nast created the elephant as the symbol of the Republican Party. Washington Post cartoonist Herblock signaled Nixon’s tarnished image by giving him a thug-like beard.
Sharing drawings from his 30 years in the profession and examples from his predecessors, Boston Globe cartoonist Dan Wasserman, whose work is syndicated in 40 newspapers, discusses the history of the craft from the days of Benjamin Franklin to the Obama years. He also gives you the chance to write a caption for one of his political cartoons. The winner receives a signed copy of the cartoon.
$35 Member
$32 Senior Member
$45 Gen. Admission
LOCATION:
S. Dillon Ripley Center
1100 Jefferson Drive, SW
Metro: Smithsonian Mall Exit (Blue/Orange)
Quick Tix Code: 1H0-764
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
June 20: Daring to Draw: An Evening with Political Cartoonists from Around the World
Monday, June 20, 2011
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Holeman Lounge, The National Press Club
Free for Press Club Members, Non Members: $10
Daring to Draw: An Evening with Political Cartoonists from Around the World
Press Club Hosts Political Cartoonists From Around the World
Political cartoonists have the unique ability to capture complex issues in a picture and a few short words. In many parts of the world, they contribute political commentary that few print or broadcast journalists would dare.
The U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is hosting a group of 20 political cartoonists from North Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia. During their three weeks in the U.S., they will meet with fellow cartoonists around the country and get a taste of American culture.
We invite you to a welcoming reception hosted jointly by the U.S. Department of State and the National Press Club. The event will begin at 5 p.m. in the Holeman Lounge at the National Press Club. A brief program will begin at 6 p.m. The international cartoonists' pieces will be on display and they will be available to discuss their work and experiences.A cash http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifbar will be available and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
This event is free to members of the National Press Club and $10 for non members.
And I'm sure this article refers to a disinvited guest-
Gaza cartoonist says US consul canceled training invite
Ma'an News Agency 18/06/2011
Monday, June 06, 2011
June 20th: International Political Cartoonists in DC
Monday, June 20, 2011
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Holeman Lounge, The National Press Club
Free for Press Club Members, Non Members: $10
Daring to Draw: An Evening with Political Cartoonists from Around the World
Press Club Hosts Political Cartoonists From Around the World
Political cartoonists have the unique ability to capture complex issues in a picture and a few short words. In many parts of the world, they contribute political commentary that few print or broadcast journalists would dare.
The U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is hosting a group of 20 political cartoonists from North Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia. During their three weeks in the U.S., they will meet with fellow cartoonists around the country and get a taste of American culture.
We invite you to a welcoming reception hosted jointly by the U.S. Department of State and the National Press Club. The event will begin at 5 p.m. in the Holeman Lounge at the National Press Club. A brief program will begin at 6 p.m. The international cartoonists' pieces will be on display and they will be available to discuss their work and experiences.A cash bar will be available and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
This event is free to members of the National Press Club and $10 for non members.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Toles wins another (UPDATED)
The other cartoonists who were considered are Steve Breen, Mike Luckovich, Glenn McCoy and Rob Rogers. Sadly, I think the 5 might be 1/10th of the full-time editorial cartoonists working in newspapers.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Clay Jones cartoon on Rachel Maddow's show
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
April 13: Hess and Northrup on political cartoons at National Archives
I'll be at this.