Comics // Perspective
2020 zapped my creativity. I'm slowly finding my way back to art.
When I wasn't producing, I questioned my identity as an artist
By Katie Wheeler
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Thursday, January 14, 2021
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Carolyn Belefski's latest Kickstarter project -- Banana Bandana
Carolyn Belefski's latest Kickstarter project -- Banana Bandana™ -- part of the Make 100 incentive in January (where creators make 100 editions of a thing).
We all are required to wear masks in public now, so why not look appealing with a bonafide Banana Bandana™? Lots of fruit symbolism in this humorous wearable art piece that can also be used as a fashion statement to enhance any outfit or Zoom call.
Please consider backing the project -- bandanas are $15 each (plus shipping). Learn more about the process idea and pledge: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/banana-bandanatm-make-100
A Chat with with Bob Scott, the cartoonist creator of "Bear with Me"
by Mike Rhode
Animator and webcomics artist Bob Scott has nothing to do with the DC-area. In fact, he has only been here as a teenage tourist, as he reveals later on in this interview. However, he's making the rounds to promote his new book, and sent me a very nice email, so why not expand our focus just this once in these odd times? He answered our usual questions, modified somewhat as necessary. First, here's a pocket biography, compiled from Bob's pages at Hermes Press and CTN.
Bob Scott lives in both the world of comic strips and animation. Born in Detroit, Bob began drawing at a young age, copying what he saw in the funny pages. Acceptance and graduation from California Institute of the Arts opened the world of character animation for Bob. He has worked over 35 years in the industry as an animator, character designer, storyboard artist and voice talent. Scott’s animated short 'Late Night with Myron' was part of the 1988 theatrical compilation film entitled 'Outrageous Animation'. His animation has been seen in numerous animated feature films such as Pixar’s 'Toy Story 3' (2010), 'Ratatouille' (2007), 'WALL-E' (2008), 'The Incredibles' (2004), Dreamworks Animation's 'The Prince of Egypt' (1998), Warner Brothers’ Bugs Bunny in Box Office Bunny (1990), and Turner Animation’s Cat’s Don’t Dance among others. He led the animation team on the Annie Award winning Pixar short 'Your Friend the Ratand' (2007) was part of the small animation crew for the Oscar-nominated 'Day and Night' (2010). He has worked for Jim Davis, co-penciling U.S. Acres and co-directing Garfield: His 9 Lives. Bob has always wanted a comic strip of his own, and so Bear with Me (aka Molly and the Bear) was born and became a syndicated webcomic in 2010.
What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
I write and draw my own syndicated webcomic Bear with Me. I am also in the animation industry; I’ve been a 2D animator, a computer animator and a story artist. While animation is my full-time work, comic strips let me be my own artist.
How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
Both!
I keep Bear with Me as traditional as possible. It’s a black and white, three to four panel comic strip. It’s the style and form that I grew up with and have never gotten tired of.
Bear with Me is drawn on Bristol board with a blue pencil and inked with a Windsor Newton brush using black India ink. I am such an old-school purist, I even hand letter the strip. Technology rears its head for the rest of the process: I scan the strip into Photoshop, digitally erase the blue pencil, do Sunday color, and make small adjustments as needed. I am like every other artist in this regard, while I try to not be a super-perfectionist, sometimes things just bug me and I can fix them in Photoshop.
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I was born in Detroit in 1964. I grew up in the suburbs with my parents and brothers. That makes me a true city boy. Right out of Cal Arts, Jim Davis hired me (and Brett Koth) to co-pencil his new strip, U.S.Acres. Jim ribbed me endlessly for not knowing how to draw a bale of hay.
Cartooning isn’t one of those jobs kids think of when they pick a profession. How did you end up in cartooning/ animation?
My mom and dad supported my pursuit of the arts 100%. Mom saw all the names in the TV animation credits and figured lots of people were working on these shows, so why not me? That was a rare and exceptional point of view. So many people are steered away from the arts.
As a teen I got the chance to talk with Larry Wright, the in house editorial cartoonist at the Detroit Free Press. (Wright Angles, Kit ‘n’ Carlyle) He gave me a lot of excellent advice – most notably “Write what you know.” I think it is important to see and talk to people actually IN the jobs you dream of because that lets you know it is possible, and they can help you map a course out.
Where do you live now, since it's not in the DMV?
I live in sunny Southern California. Is it the weather that drew me to LA? The beaches? Nope. SoCal is the epicenter of animation.
What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
I was trained as a traditional animator in the character animation program at Cal Arts. Which was great! I was there in the early 80s, so we learned 2D animation. That means we drew 12 to 24 drawings per second of film, 720 – 1440 drawings per minute of film. When you do that much drawing, you can’t help but get better. Also, you learn to give your drawings life even when they are not moving.
Working for Jim Davis taught me the ropes of comic strip production. He was a great guy and an excellent mentor in joke writing. Also, he knew a lot about hay bales. Handy knowledge.
My education in art is ongoing. I find the artists I work with are exceptional and so inspiring. I strive to be better every day and being around amazing artists helps keep me moving forward.
Who are your influences?
I love so many cartoonist’s and animator’s work. Ever since I was a kid, I loved animation. This may be because my mom propped me in front of cartoons as soon as I could sit up. She was an excellent mom, by the way. She supported my love of film and drawing 100%. As a kid, I would race home from school to watch Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones and Popeye cartoons. On Sunday nights I was glued to The Wonderful World of Disney. I read the comics in our local paper. We had some obscure ones that I absolutely loved! Quincy by Ted Shearer and Eek and Meek by Howie Schneider. I later discovered Pogo and ate up Doonesbury and Bloom County in high school and college. I also love comedy! 70s and 80s SNL, The Blues Brothers, Abbott and Costello.
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
I would make some of the projects I loved, like the animated feature Cats Don’t Dance, last years and years because I loved all the people and I loved the style of the film. It was funny, cartoony animation, my favorite kind.
I do wish that I lived closer to some of my comic strip artist friends. We speak a very specific language. Brett Koth (creator of Diamond Lil) and I are two peas in a pod, but we unfortunately live 3000 miles apart.
What work are you best-known for?
To my fellow animators, I am best known as a 2D animator. At Pixar, I got on every 2D project going. (The short Your Friend the Rat, Ratatouille end credits, Wall-E end credits, and the short Day and Night.) To anyone else who might follow my webcomic, I would be known for Bear with Me.
What work are you most proud of?
My comic strip! I just love doing it and I feel good about it. I have been drawing Bear with Me (aka Molly and the Bear) for well over ten years. I sort of rely on the strip to balance out my animation work. It’s just a really important creative outlet, a place for me to be me.
Got any big projects coming up?
By golly,
I do! I have a brand new strip
compilation book coming out in February June from Hermes Press, titled Bear with Me (it’s been a rough day). It is jammed packed with over 400 strips,
peeks at my earliest attempts at making comic art, (yes, those embarrassing
strips from when I was 14) and the obligatory “My Process” section. It is a true labor of love, and Hermes
is doing a spectacular job putting it all together.
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I’m doing a Bear with Me graphic novel that I cowrote with my wife, Vicki Scott. She’s an incredible artist and writer! She wrote and drew several Peanuts graphic novels such as It’s Tokyo, Charlie Brown for Boom Studios. I am also pitching Bear with Me as an animated show. Wouldn’t that be fun? But mostly, I would love to keep doing the strip.
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
I have a lot of tools to get around writer’s block. Sometimes I’ll draw an entirely finished strip and write it afterwards. It’s a challenge but keeps my brain working. And it’s really fun! Sometimes a drawing will spark a strip, sometimes the writing comes first. Occasionally just walking away and coming back is the answer.
What do
you think will be the future of your field?
There’s never been a better time for an artist that wants to get there work out there. Sure, there are fewer newspapers than when I was a kid, but I predict they will still be in business for a long time to come. Webcomics are the new kid on the block and they are here to stay. The creative energy in webcomics is really amazing. People are reinventing comic strips, changing the humor, expanding the formats. There has never been a more exciting time to be a cartoonist!
What cons do you attend?
As an exhibitor, I made the circuit of conventions along the West Coast a few years ago to promote my first compilation book Molly and the Bear. The conventions for me are full of mixed emotions. To go to San Diego Comic Con and watch what feels like a million people walk past my book without turning their heads was really depressing, but every once in a while, someone would stop and tell me they follow my strip every day and ask for a signature. Well, that made it all worth-while. My wife never passes up a chance to travel, so she and I have gone to cons in Germany and France to sign Peanuts comic books that we’ve drawn. I even got to do a book signing in Strasbourg, France for my book Molly and the Bear. That was really thrilling.
What's your favorite thing about visiting DC?
My family and I went to DC when I was about 14. We did the whole monument tour, and I remember seeing the Watergate Hotel. Everything I knew about Watergate at that age I had learned from Doonesbury. So, seeing the Watergate hotel was like seeing a celebrity!
Incidentally, I went to Cal Arts with political cartoonist and fellow animator Ann Telnaes. She is tearing it up at the Washington Post. I love her work! She is the only Pulitzer Prize winner I know. I tried my hand at political cartoons and I can say with absolute conviction that what she does is much harder than it looks!
What monument or museum do you like to visit?
Seeing the Lincoln Memorial was really terrific. Especially because it was in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. We visited the Smithsonian and that was incredible! I remember seeing Oscar the Grouch. See where I’m going here? My brain is all about movies and cartoons! Anything related to those two things is exciting to me. I have a one track mind.
How about a favorite restaurant?
My favorite restaurant in Washington DC? McDonalds! I was 14.
Do you have a website or blog?
Yes! You can find Bear with Me on
GoComics: https://www.gocomics.com/bear-with-me
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearwithmecomic/
and Instagram: bobscott_bearwithme
How has the COVID-19 outbreak affected you, personally and professionally?
I have been extremely fortunate that my family and loved ones are all safe and healthy. I am also lucky that the animation industry is humming along at nearly full speed. Vicki and I both have animation jobs and have been working from home. Thank God the technology is there to be able to do that. It has been stressful to see all of this unfold and to see so many people suffering right now. I am just doing my part by staying home, wearing a mask when I go out and washing my hands like mad. I count our blessings and hope for everyone that it’s over soon.
Esther Kim, former Fantom Comics manager, promoted at BOOM
Retail Pedigrees for New Sales and Marketing Leads
by Milton Griepp on January 13, 2021
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
That darn Calvin and Hobbes
Letters to the Editor
Opinion
Calvin and Hobbes helped bring a little humor to the homily [in print as A little humor in the homily].
Richard L. McCloud ,
Fredericksburg, Va.
Monday, January 11, 2021
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Congratulations, Mr. President"
From DC's anarchist cartoonist Mike Flugennock...
"Congratulations, Mr. President"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3117
You know the thing... but first, the Democrats are going to take one more crack at impeaching Trump for a cheap-ass little crime which they themselves weren't complicit in, and give themselves a chance to bitch and moan on TV about the Chud Army "impeding democracy" n'shit — because even when they "win", the Democrats are a bunch of cryin'
loser bitches.
You know the thing.
...and those of you on Twitter, you know what to do... I was suspended from Twitter on the 24th of December for saying something mean about Melania Trump or something. I've appealed on
general principle, but am not holding out any hope, and can't really care that much. Nowadays, you can follow me on Mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@flugennock ...and find out more about how the
"Fediverse" works and how to pick an "instance" and join Mastodon at
http://joinmastodon.org . I'm on mastodon.social — the "original"
Mastodon, like Twitter without the toxic crap — but if you're a Left /anarchist activist, organizer or media/arts creator,
kolektiva.social might be a good fit.
Robin Ha makes top 10 in 2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens
The whole list is at
2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens
Saturday, January 09, 2021
DC's DC writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson interviewed
Phillip Kennedy Johnson Was Hired By DC For 5G – But Not On Superman
Fulcrum Press, publisher of local comics, sells GN line
Fulcrum Publishing Sells Graphic Novel Line To Chicago Review Press
Friday, January 08, 2021
Formerly local cartoonist Oliphant profiled
Politics of the absurd: Cartoonist Patrick Oliphant
January 8 2021
NPR on Priya and a census comic
India's Female Superhero And Her Flying Tiger Are Out To Fight The Pandemic
Thursday, January 07, 2021
The Lily's new cartoon
My home is full of hand-me-downs. When I feel lonely, these items raise me up.
The objects remind me of the sense of connection
and joy I take from art
https://www.thelily.com/my-home-is-full-of-hand-me-downs-when-i-feel-lonely-these-items-raise-me-up/
(Issy Manley)
Jan 25: Ryan Claytor lecture
Upcoming Artist Lecture |
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| In...let's see...not quite 3 weeks, I'll be delivering an artist lecture for Mott Community College's Fine Arts Gallery series called "Art Talk", which will be liveStreamed at this day and time: Monday, January 25, 2020, at 10am EST/7amPST) If you're interested in watching and participating in a live Q&A session with me, you can join here: Otherwise, it'll be archived on the MCC Fine Arts Gallery Facebook page and YouTube channel after the fact. |
Cavna talks to cartoonists on coup attempt
How cartoonists are capturing the Capitol riot — and the ways Trump provoked it
Jan. 7, 2021
Wednesday, January 06, 2021
Tuesday, January 05, 2021
The Post's review of TikTok's 'Ratatouille'
Judy and Mickey would have loved the TikTok 'Ratatouille' — 2021's answer to 'Let's put on a show!' [in print as A delightful first course: TikTok's 'Ratatouille'].
Washington Post Jan. 4, 2021 : C1, 3
Monday, January 04, 2021
Yes, Virginia, Wonder Woman 1984 was filmed in Alexandria
'Wonder Woman 1984' Filmed In Landmark Mall And Alexandria Doesn't Want You To Forget It
How 'Wonder Woman 1984' took over an empty mall to create a rad '80s experience
Saturday, January 02, 2021
That darn Mark Trail and Candorville
Going off 'Trail' [Mark Trail letter]
Dan McKinnon,
Richard E. Hoagland
Washington Post January 2 2021
Comic misfire [Candorville letter]
Robert J. McManus
The Post on Zorro
Zorro at 100: Why the original swashbuckler is still the quintessential American action hero [in print as A Century On, Zorro Still Makes A Mark]
Washington Post Jan. 2, 2021 : E1, 6
Barry and Clyde in Street Sense
I bought a copy of the paper that supports the homeless today and saw that they actually have a comic strip donated by the local cartoonists and syndicate.
Friday, January 01, 2021
Deaths in the comic arts field in 2020
by Mike Rhode
COVID-19 has killed over 1,834,356 people in the world, and at least 303,823 in the U.S. as of December 31, 2020. We normally list the people who have passed in the comic book and strip, animation, editorial & political cartoon fields. This year, the list is probably the longest we've ever run. This list is excerpted from the Comics Research Bibliography (available here) which is updated daily on Facebook. 1/8/21: Additions marked with *.
Deaths in 2020 (with thanks to Randy Tischler of the Baltimore Comic Con, D.D. Degg of the Daily Cartoonist, Cartoon Brew’s animation list by Alex Dudok de Wit, and Animation Magazine’s list) included voice actress Patricia Alice Albrecht, comics journalist Bob “Mr. Media” Andelman, “Thomas & Friends” narrator Michael Angelis, comic strip artist and animator Román Arámbula, animator Kelly Asbury, Golden Age artist Allen Bellman, Vagrancy Comics’ Justin Benedict, voice actress Julie Bennett, assistant animator Dorris Bergstrom, Belgian cartoonist Arthur “Berck“ Berckmans, "Comics I Don't Understand" blogger Bill Bickel, cartoonist and comics historian Ed Black, animation matte painter Denise Blakely Fuller, “Black Panther” actor Chadwick Boseman, Frank Bolle, Claire Bretécher, “Norse by Norsewest” strip writer John Brinkerhoff, “Dear Basketball” star Kobe Bryant, animation background artist Alfred Budnick, editorial & sports cartoonist Bil Canfield, “Snow White” model Marge Champion, French cartoonist André Chéret, animation character designer and story artist Curtis Cim, Ron Cobb, comics collector & publisher Russ Cochran, 102-year-old “Buck Rogers” fan Jim Coffeen, Richard Corben, animator Doug Crane, Croatian cartoonist Alem Ćurin, Nick Cuti, animation & gag cartoonist Dan Danglo, animator Bill Davis, voice actor Jason Davis, British illustrator Jon Davis, Marvel television art director Matteo De Cosmo, animator Gene Deitch, French comic book creator François Dermaut, Mort Drucker, voice actor William Dufris, Ralph Dunagin, animator Tony Eastman, comic book artist Hy Fleishman, “PS Magazine” editor Paul Fitzgerald, Latin America specialist scholar David William Foster, German historian and translator Wolfgang J. Fuchs, Bob Fujitani, Carl Gafford, gag cartoon and fumetti writer Gerald Gardner, illustrator Hector Garrido, underground comix cartoonist David Geiser, Thomas Gianni, Pixar’s Rob Gibbs, Argentine comic book artist Juan Giménez Lopez, animator Mark Glamack, DC Comics logo designer Milton Glaser, Peanuts correspondent Harriet Glickman, Swedish cartoonist Rolf Gohs, voice actor Danny Goldman, homeless cartoonist Ronnie Goodman, Archie Comics editor-in-chief Victor Gorelick, amateur cartoonist Carl Granath, X-Men cartoon’s Magneto voice actor David Hemblen, animator & Astrodome scoreboard cartoonist Ed Henderson, “Bill and Sue” comic strip illustrator Dorothy Henry, animator Harry “Bud” Hester, Grand Comics Database indexer and editor Jerry Hilligas, cartoon editor & gag writer Phil Hirsch, Marvel vice president Mike Hobson, voice actor Sir Ian Holm, animation director Cullen Blaine Houghtaling, political cartoonist Sandy Huffaker, gag writer Choc Hutcheson, Jim Janes, comic book & strip cartoonist Frank Johnson, African-American editorial cartoonist Samuel Joyner, French cartoonist Edmond Kiraz, Canadian animator Blair Kitchen, animator Bill Knoll, animator Helen Komar, Canadian animator/director Hana Kukal, SpongeBob ‘Sweet Victory’ songwriter Bob Kulick, Jiro Kuwata, voice actor David Lander, animation artist Nancy Lane, *Golden Age collector Lamont Larson, *Congressman and ‘March’ writer John Lewis, Belgium’s Ronald “Bing” Libin, editorial cartoonist Robert "RWL" Light, British small press cartoonist Marleen Starksfield Lowe, illustrator Annie Lunsford, Richard A. “Dick” Lupoff, Disney animation artist Sue Nichols Maciorowski, British pocket cartoonist Ken Mahood, Viz anime production assistant Peer Makepeace, comic book store owner Tommy Maletta, Belgian comic book author Malik (aka William Tai), Italian animator and cartoonist Ro Marcenaro, gag cartoonist Henry Martin, “Doc and Raider” webcartoonist Sean Stephane Martin, Izumi Matsumoto, amateur cartoonist Duane McKenna, comic book artist Frank McLaughlin, animation concept artist Syd Mead, Mexican voice actor Luis Alfonso Mendoza, Croatian animator Vatroslav Mimica, indy cartoonist Kurt Mitchell, animation timer Maureen Mlynarczyk, animation cel servicer Francisca Moralde, voice actor Kirby Morrow, British amateur cartoonist Rose Mortleman, Minnesota comics and animation fan & historian David Mruz, “The Climax” comic panel cartoonist Ted Mullings, color flatter Garth Murphy, comic book artist Daniel Nakrosis, “Funny Fizzles” cartoonist Bill Nellor, Japanese voice actress Kumiko Okae (aka Kumiko Owada), sports cartoonist Murray Olderman, Denny O’Neill, animation storyboard artist Dominic Orlando, animation ink & paint supervisor Joan Orloff, Cuban animator Juan Padrón, Martin Pasko, animation checker Lisa Poitevint, illustrator Jason Polan, political cartoonist Stu Pomeroy, Wall Street Journal cartoon editor Charles Preston, Russian animator Anatoly Prokhorov, Malibu Times editorial cartoonist Fred Purucker, Canadian amateur cartoonist Qinni Qing, Quino, visual effects producer Rebecca Ramsey, “Pete’s Dragon” actress Helen Reddy, Grand Comics Database member Gene Reed, Canadian animator Nick Rijgersberg, gag and editorial cartoonist Marty Riskin, African-American political cartoonist Ron Rogers, Italian comic book artist Giovanni Romanini, stop-motion costumer and puppet maker Cesar Romero, executive director of Toronto Animation Arts Festival International John Rooney, Savannah political cartoonist and animator Jim Rose, Jumbo Pictures production manager Pamela Ross, animator Joe Ruby, Richard Sala, “Bev Hills” cartoonist Janet Salter, Russian animator Boris Savin, animation songwriter Adam Schlesinger, advertising artist Don Schnably, effects animator and teacher Gary Schumer, editorial cartoonist Tip Sempliner, Joe Sinnott, Sesame Street animation sound designer Jerry Slick, New York animator Ed Smith, animator Ken Spears, Canadian voice actor Norm Spencer, German cartoonist Uli Stein, underground cartoonist Steve Stiles, animation layout and background artist and art director Herbert Stott, animation designer and background and layout artist Marty Strudler, Disney animator Ann Sullivan, animation checker Rudy Tomaselli, animator Tuck Tucker, Asterix creator Albert Uderzo, Belgian animation designer and director Pino Van Lamsweerde, comic book inker Juan Vlasco, minicomics cartoonist Morgan Vogel, Alex Raymond background artist Mary Frances “Mae” Von Egidy, Wonder Woman TV show’s Lyle Waggoner, British cartoonist Brian Walker, animatio writer Phillip Walsh, Tom Ward, comics collector and Grand Comics Database member Gary Watson, Bob Weber Sr., voice actor Fred Willard, TV animation writer David Wise, animation director William “Bill” Wolf, No Huddle comic strip writer Sam Wyche, sports and editorial cartoonist Joe Yeninas, voice actress Hikari Yono, editor and translator of Tintin albums in Spain Conchita Zendrera, “B.C.” and “Wizard of Id” gag writer Elmer Zinner, Belgian comic artist Ward Zwart. Cartoon Brew listed the following people as “other members of the animation community” - Patricia Blackburn, Maureen Crane, James P. Finch, Hubert Gagnon, Michèle Pauzé, Al Sens, Craig Welch, and Catherine Zar - without any additional information as to their roles in the field.
Thursday, December 31, 2020
The Lily's latest comic
Comics // Perspective
I visited New York museums as soon as they reopened. There was an essential element missing.
Before the pandemic, I used to spend hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA and the Brooklyn Museum
By Pepita Sándwich
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Cavna's perspective on Wonder Woman, Calvin & Hobbes, and Bill Watterson
7 movies that do the same things 'Wonder Woman 1984' does, but better [in print as 'WW84' lacks these movies super powers]
Washington Post Dec. 30, 2020 C1, 8
'Calvin and Hobbes' said goodbye 25 years ago. Here's why Bill Watterson's masterwork enchants us still.
Dec. 31, 2020
Bill Watterson and other artists reflect on 1995, the year that comics changed forever
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