Monday, January 12, 2015

Mike Jenkins' Christmas caricature of my wife's oldest friend

Last year, we were having a meal with my wife's best friend Myra and the topic of the cartoonists I know came up. Myra mentioned that she'd like a cartoon of herself, drawn by Bill Watterson. I assured her THAT wasn't happening, but the seed was planted. I turned to the talented Arlington caricaturist Mike Jenkins. Mike draws a daily cartoon on his daughter's lunch bag so I asked him to use that style for a Christmas present.

Here's the result:




Here's Myra and her husband, proudly showing off the cartoon:



No religious insults were rendered in the course of this cartoon.

Jan 24: The Art of Richard Thompson event in Burbank, CA

The Art of Richard Thompson

  • Show Title:
    The Art of Richard Thompson
  • Artist:
    Richard Thompson
  • Date and Time:
    January 24th, 2015
    1:00pm-4:00pm
  • Type:
    Presentation, Book Signing, Interview, Meet & Greet.
  • Author:
    Nick Galifianakis
  • 847 Hollywood Way Suite 100
    Burbank, CA 91505

CLICK HERE! to join us for this very special book launch event. Pre-order your book, meet the author and get it signed and receive a limited edition complimentary Richard Thompson print.

Just want to Buy The Book: CLICK HERE

"The Cartoonist's Cartoonist". Join us January 24th, from 1:00pm-4:00pm for a special presentation, meet and greet, and book signing with the author of "The Art of Richard Thompson", Nick Galifianakis, as he talks about his friend and genius cartoonist,  Richard Thompson.

Schedule:
12:30 – 1:00pm Networking
1:00 – 2:00 Presentation by Nick Galifianakis
2:00 – 2:30 Lunch Break Networking
2:30 – 3:00 Screen Documentary
3:00 – 3:30 Interview by Charles Solomon
3:30 –            Book Signing

Richard Thompson is a genius illustrator and cartoonist most known for his comic strip Cul de Sac and the illustrated poem "Make the Pie Higher".  He has received numerous awards for his illustrations including National Cartoonists Society's Magazine and Book Illustration Award, the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year from the National Cartoonists Society, and many others Thompson's illustrations have appeared in U.S. News & World Report, The New Yorker, Air & Space/Smithsonian, National Geographic and The Atlantic Monthly, and other notable publications.

"Very few cartoonists do so much, so well. Richard is a wonderful writer and one of the rare ones who can write truly unique, hilarious characters. He's drawn incisive caricatures, lavish illustrations, and one of the most beautiful comic strips I've ever seen. And just when you think it couldn't be better, sometimes he paints the stuff. Richard has the extra-deluxe, jumbo-size skill set. It's an inspiring body of work." ~Bill Watterson

Nick Galifianakis is an award winning American cartoonist and artist. Since 1997, he has drawn the cartoons for the nationally syndicated advice column, Tell Me About It, for the Washington Post and illustrated the book "Tell Me About It: Lying, Sulking, Getting Fat… and 56 Other Things NOT to Do While Looking for Love". He's also illustrated a number of books and was nominated by the National Cartoonists Society for the 2006 Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year in the Newspaper Illustration category and in 2012 won the Reuben Award for Advertising Illustration. In 2010, he published the book, "If You Loved Me, You'd Think This Was Cute: Uncomfortably True Cartoons About You."

"Indeed, among those who "know," it has long been considered a crime, even a sin, that a book featuring the breathtaking range of Richard Thompson's work has not existed before now. That inexcusable absence is due mostly to the fact that Richard's talent is in direct proportion to his stubborn unwillingness to self-promote. Quietly creating in the pre-dawn hours against a soundtrack of classical music in a tiny studio, while consuming food of decidedly negligible substance (usually from a bag or Styrofoam box), contented to measure himself artistically only against himself, has always meant more to Richard than publicly shouting, "Look at me!" ~Nick Galifianakis

NOTE: This event will repeat at the CTN animation eXpo this Nov 20-22, 2015.

Cavna turns to Comic Riffs full time

Michael Cavna of the Washington Post has given up his editing duties in the Style section to blog fulltime at Comic Riffs. Read his thoughts on the movie.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

AAEC Issues Statement on Charlie Hebdo Massacre

The Association of American Association of Editorial Cartoonists has issued a statement addressing the attacks in Paris on the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine that killed twelve people, including four cartoonists.

The gruesome attack on the newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France today reminds us that freedom of expression in cartooning is not a given in many parts of the world. Charlie Hebdo was also attacked in 2011, and continued to publish. The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists condemns this revolting act of violence, and stands with the international cartooning community in mourning the loss of twelve people, including several police officers who were executed.
President Hollande has called this an act of terrorism, and whether it was the work of those merely inspired by ISIS or those given direct orders doesn’t matter. Cartoonists and journalists around the world should be permitted to express themselves freely without fear of reprisal. These types of attacks only serve to illustrate how important the free spirit of cartoon commentary is, and how cartoonists make a difference in helping to expose hypocrisy.
Furthermore, newspapers should not avoid publishing material from the magazine that allegedly incited the incident. More freedom of expression and not less demonstrates courage in the face of attacks. Shrinking from a newspaper’s watchdog role only encourages more terror.
The AAEC board and membership expresses its sincere condolences to the innocent victims at this tragic moment, and calls for international solidarity with the cause of cartooning and freedom of artistic expression.

Friday, January 09, 2015

The Art of Richard Thompson at Politics and Prose

Politics and Prose had a good turnout for a discussion of The Art of Richard Thompson book. They video'd the talk, but until they put it online you can go to https://archive.org/details/PP150109ArtOfRichardThompson for unofficial audio. Here's official Richard Thompson photographer Bruce Guthrie's take.

They have about 20 signed (but not by Richard who was too sick to appear) books for sale.

Michael Cavna, P&P owner, Nick Galifianakis

Moderator Michael Cavna

Co-writer David Apatoff (in blue) with his wife the author Nell Minnow

Gene Weingarten realizing he's going to have to talk



Britt Conley, who massaged and color-corrected all the scans

Gene Weingarten recounting his stalking of Bill Watterson

Nick G thanking everyone who worked on the book

New 2015 link for contributing to Team Cul de Sac

Team Cul de Sac raises money to research Parkinson's disease in Richard Thompson's name.

Pixar likes the art of Richard Thompson

The Art of Richard Thompson: Why Pixar filmmaker Pete Docter ("Up") tapped the "Cul de Sac" creator's gifts

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 9 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/01/09/the-art-of-richard-thompson-why-pixar-filmmaker-pete-docter-up-tapped-the-cul-de-sac-creators-gifts/

Arlington’s 13-Year-Old Web Cartoonist profiled at the City Paper

Arlington's 13-Year-Old Web Cartoonist and His Talking Ice Pop

 by
Washington City Paper's Arts Desk blog Jan. 8, 2015
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2015/01/08/arlingtons-13-year-old-web-cartoonist-and-his-talking-ice-pop/

Frank Cho launches a new comic book

Cartoonist Dawn Griffin retires her webcomic (corrected)

As a she is a Team Cul de Sac contributor, I will note Dawn Griffin's announcement today about her Zorphert & Fred webcomic:

So, Here's That Big Announcement

by Dawn Griffin on 2015/01/09
http://zfcomics.com/blog/so-heres-that-big-announcement/
Z&F_finale

Comic Riffs talks to the New Yorker on Charlie Hebdo

BENEATH THE COVERS: The personal story behind The New Yorker's Charlie Hebdo cover ('Solidarité')

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 9 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/01/09/beneath-the-covers-the-personal-story-behind-the-new-yorkers-charlie-hebdo-cover-solidarite/

KAL On Tragic Charlie Hebdo Magazine Attack In Paris


Charlie Hebdo

We turn to yesterday's tragic shooting at the Paris offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which left 12 people dead. With: Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher, editorial cartoonist for The Economist magazine of London and The Baltimore Sun and winner of the 2014 Thomas Nast Award for cartooning on international affairs. KAL's recently published retrospective is titled Daggers Drawn: 35 Years of Kal Cartoons in The Economist.

The Post's continuing obsession with Frozen

The psychology of why little kids are completely obsessed with 'Frozen'

The movie perfectly captures what it's like to be in preschool.

By Maryam Kia-Keating and Yalda T. Uhls
Washington Post's PostEverything blog January 6 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/06/why-little-girls-are-so-completely-obsessed-with-frozen/


Hatke and McNeil interviewed at LA Times

Exclusive: Ben Hatke's 'Little Robot' cover revealed

– Noelene Clark

Los Angeles Times' Hero Complex Blog Jan. 08, 2015
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/books/exclusive-ben-hatkes-little-robot-cover-revealed/#/1


Alex de Campi, Carla Speed McNeil show 'No Mercy' at Image Comics

Tonight: The Art of Richard Thompson at Politics & Prose

Nick Galifianakis, Gene Weingarten, and David Apatoff - The Art of Richard Thompson

Jan 9 2015 7:00 pm

Named the Outstanding Cartoonist of 2010 by the National Cartoonists Society, Richard Thompson is best known for his syndicated series, Cul de Sac. But his work encompasses much more, and in this colorful career retrospective, six of his peers present the different facets of Thompson's art. Join Galifianakis, Washington Post cartoonist and author of If You Loved Me, You'd Think This Was Cute, Weingarten, Pulitzer-winning journalist who writes The Washington Post's "Below the Beltway" column, and Apatoff, an illustration scholar whose recent work includes a biography of illustrator Robert Fawcett. They will be interviewed by Michael Cavna, writer, artist, and lapsed cartoonist now producing The Washington Post's "Comic Riffs." (Andrews McMeel)

$35.00
ISBN-13: 9781449447953
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 11/2014
5015 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington
District Of Columbia

Thursday, January 08, 2015

AAEC president Ohman on Washington Journal

Cartoonists' Reaction to the Paris Terror Attack

C-Span's Washington Journal January 8, 2015

http://www.c-span.org/video/?323591-6/washington-journal-jack-ohman-cartoonists-reaction-paris-terror-attack

Jack Ohman, president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, spoke by phone about cartoonists' response to the shooting at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people died. He also discussed the possible implications for freedom of expression.

Jan 14: Game On! Comics Star Wars Launch Party!












Star Wars Launch Party

Launch Party
This Wednesday, January 14th 
11am to 8pm

Marvel relaunches Star Wars with all new continuity. We have a ton of exclusive items that we can give to you but only during the launch party, so be sure to stop on in! 

If you haven't subbed to this book yet you still have time to add it to your pull list! Just send us an email back or tell us when you come by before then!
Star Wars Goodies!
What we have to give away:
Star Wars Pins 
Regular Star Wars Pin
Princess Leia Pin
Darth Vader Pin

Skottie Young Lithograph (pictured)

As well as some special variants for sale that are sure to go fast!
 

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Religious comics scholars group issues statement on Charlie Hebdo massacre

S&S Statement on CHARLIE HEBDO News

A. David Lewis

Sacred and Sequential group January 8, 2015

http://www.sacredandsequential.org/2015/01/08/ss-statement-on-charlie-hebdo-news/


Posted here because David Lewis is a former DC resident.

Comic Riffs on Spawn

EXCLUSIVE: Todd McFarlane says entire Spawn library is coming soon to digital platforms

By David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs January 8 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/01/08/image-con-digital-exclusive/