Monday, December 16, 2019
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Alexandra Bowman
by Mike Rhode
My friend Bruce Guthrie recently attended a political cartooning event at Georgetown University featuring Matt Wuerker and KAL, which I had to skip due to a scheduling conflict. Afterwards, he made a point of introducing me via email to Alexandra Bowman, the student political cartoonist who organized it. In keeping with our attempts to learn more about local cartoonists, I asked if she would answer our usual interview questions. Alexandra did so directly upon finishing her final exams, and I think you'll all be impressed by her answers.
1. What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
I am a political cartoonist, children's book illustrator, and fine artist. The menu of galleries on my website is a bit unwieldy at this point.
I served as the Editorial Political Cartoonist for "The Hoya," the Georgetown University newspaper of record. I left this past fall to start my own political comedy show at Georgetown, "The Hilltop Show"--I create hand-drawn and digital graphics for the show. I was also recently hired as the Editorial Political Cartoonist for Our Daily Planet, a climate news outlet with a readership of 13,000 (my first cartoon was published here), as well as the Georgetown Review, an independent news source on campus.
I also have illustrated three children's books and do freelance work and commissions. My work has been published by BBC News, BBC Books, Penguin House UK, Puffin Books.
I serve as the Live Political Cartoonist for the Georgetown Institute of Politics for Public Service (GU Politics). My first event was this past September's MSNBC Climate Forum; I created cartoons and life drawings of candidates, including Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders, throughout the two-day event. I also do freelance artwork for GU Politics. All my live cartoons, as well as my past work for "The Hoya" and other political pieces, can be found here.
2. How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
I am partial to drawing/sketching my political cartoons and illustrations in pencil, inking, and coloring with alcohol markers and colored pencils. I'm becoming increasingly fond of coloring via Photoshop, as it's much faster and I don't have to wait three days for the Copic ink to come off my hands.
When making fine art, I enjoy using mechanical pencils for detail work. Oil paint and colored pencils are helpful for creating broad swathes of color.
3. When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I was born in March 2000 in Sierra Vista, AZ. Yeah, I really haven't been around that long.
4. Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
As a current Georgetown undergraduate student, I am currently based in DC. I live in Kennedy Hall at Georgetown, which has only about half the leaks and rodent sightings as the other dorms. When I'm not fending off rat attacks, I live about 30-40 minutes from Washington D.C. in Fairfax, VA.
5. What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
I took AP Studio Art in high school, and took an Oil Painting class last year at Georgetown. I've had a few extracurricular art classes here and there. My mom is an artist: she ensured that I always had access to art supplies and art books, and took me to museums on almost a weekly basis as a kid. I have also spent years teaching myself to draw. Every break from school invites the existential question of "how many coffee table-sized Art-Of-The-Movie books should I bring home?"
6. Who are your influences?
While teaching myself over the years, I have devoured art books and classically-illustrated children's books, particularly animation concept art books and anthropomorphic animal stories. Beatrix Potter, Dr. Seuss, Milt Kahl, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Byron Howard, Jin Kim, Shiyoon Kim, Cory Loftis, Jim Davis, Christopher Hart, the illustrators of the Geronimo Stilton books (whose pseudonyms on the copyright pages have been tragically unhelpful), and Trina Schart Hyman. From a young age, I have been particularly enchanted by illustrations of anthropomorphic animals, especially those with a semi-realistic tone (e.g. the work of Beatrix Potter, Disney's Robin Hood, Zootopia, Aesop's fables illustrations, etc.).
Beatrix Potter and Jim Davis were my earliest influences. Whenever I draw an animal or a chubby character, its arms and paws/hands are (unintentionally) posed exactly like Garfield's. I drew Garfield all over my notebook and test margins in the fifth and sixth grades. And when I saw "The Hobbit:" when I was 12 (on December 22, 2012; yeah, I know), I became engrossed with Tolkien and Bilbo Baggins. I received a Bilbo Baggins bobblehead for Christmas three days later, and I decided to draw it that evening. I proceeded to cover my seventh and eighth-grade planners with drawings of Bilbo, and that doodle instinct has not since abated.
I've only begun to get into political cartooning recently, but I have long adored the work of the Washington Post's Ann Telnaes, Politico's Matt Wuerker, and The Economist's Kevin Kallaugher. I actually helped plan a GU Politics/Hilltop Show event this month hosting Mr. Wuerker and Mr. Kallaugher on campus; I delivered the event's opening remarks and introduced the cartoonists.
Vincent Van Gogh, Albrecht Durer, and Leonardo da Vinci are some of the biggest influences of my fine art.
7. If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
I don't think I've been drawing professionally long enough to have had any major slip-ups or regrets. I think.
I am, however, at the stage (the "Early Life" section on Wikipedia?) that I will look back on in 5-10 years and wistfully think "If I had only known/done X at that time!" Advice from more experienced cartoonists is always much appreciated!
8. What work are you best-known for?
Live political cartooning at the Climate Forum was a pivotal moment in my artistic "career" (I'm 19, I squirm when I use that word). Since coming to Georgetown, I have immersed myself in political cartooning for multiple publications. I think if you were to ask someone who has a second-degree connection to me (socially or on LinkedIn) what I tend to draw, they'd mention "the girl who draws political cartoons and foxes and John Oliver and had that massive display in the library coffee shop once."
As mentioned, I was also recently hired as the Editorial Political Cartoonist for Our Daily Planet, a climate news outlet that John Kerry apparently reads every morning.
On a fun note, one of my drawings of the Fourth Doctor and K-9 was published by BBC Books and Puffin Books/Penguin Random House in an international anthology for sale in Barnes and Noble.
9. What work are you most proud of?
I'm particularly proud of my recent political cartoons, as I'm excited to have ventured into a field of art that I believe has more of a tangible positive impact on the world. I believe that political satire is one of the most effective means of reaching those who would not otherwise engage with the news in politics, as young people and the politically uninitiated are much more likely to engage with informational media if it is presented in an entertaining package.
10. What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I would like to be a broadcast journalist, news anchor, or political comedy talk show host. Writing for the latter would be an ideal intermediary position. I really admire how Jake Tapper has been able to tactfully combine his interests in strict news reporting and political cartooning by hosting both "The Lead" and his "State of the Cartoonion" segment.
I would also love to direct films for Pixar.
In the case of either life path, I would like to use my career to create meaningful media and/or entertainment, particularly for young people.
11. What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
I'm blessed that I rarely have to deal with writer's/artist's block. Keeping a notebook and writing down ideas whenever they occur to me helps keep creative blockage at bay.
Watching a 2-D Disney movie or watching late-night comedy never fails to offer heaps of inspiration.
12. What do you think will be the future of your field?
I hope that illustrators and filmmakers who intend to create meaningful, character-building animated films for children enter the field of animation. I admire how Pete Docter has imbued the films he has worked on/directed (i.e. Wall-E) with his Christian faith.
I believe the future of political cartooning may lie with animated political shows, such as Stephen Colbert's underrated animated series "Our Cartoon President." The show has been more or less panned by critics, but each show is essentially a 30-minute moving political cartoon and deserves credit for being more or less the first of its kind.
13. What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Awesome Con, or others? Any comments about attending them?
Being a Georgetown student with newfound access to DC has given me a new perspective on the sheer quantity of phenomenal cons available to me. I'm eager to continue learning about new cons to visit, particularly those that focus on film-making and illustration
For a number of years I have attended AwesomeCon, where I have met Wallace Shawn, Cary Elwes, Chris Sarandon, Adam West, Burt Ward, and David Tennant. I met David Tennant while dressed as the Tenth Doctor; I gave him a drawing of Ten meeting Scrooge McDuck, which David said "was the pinnacle of all his work." I continue to share this story with my Uber drivers.
14. What's your favorite thing about DC?
Coming to Georgetown, I was concerned that DC did not have the media and/or entertainment presence of New York or Los Angeles. However, perhaps partially due to my interests changing since arriving on campus a year and a half ago, I'm realizing that DC's political focus makes it a media hotspot particularly well-suited to my own interest in politics. DC being where the action is in terms of current global chaos is also a plus.
15. Least favorite?
See previous sentence.
16. What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?
#ripnewseum.
17. How about a favorite local restaurant?
My favorite restaurant of all time is Filomena in Georgetown. I am comforted knowing that my culinary tastes have been validated by Bono and Harrison Ford.
18. Do you have a website or blog?
My work can be found on alexandrabowmanart.com and on Instagram (@alexandrabowmanart). I also tweet about illustration and current events under the handle @scripta_bene. I have a Facebook page for my work, which sends me notifications two or three times daily saying "Your followers have not seen a post from you in months." It's linked here if you're still interested.
Warren Bernard Collection Tour and Interview (UPDATED)
Jim Rugg and Ed Piskor
Cartoonist Kayfabe (December 15 2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaW4GR8hRag
The Warren Bernard Shoot Interview
Ed Piskor and Jim Rugg
Cartoonist Kayfabe (June 28 2019)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_jdZKOovBY
and now updated with a third WB interview!
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Fine art animation wins Portrait Gallery prize
Portraits that bend the rules of portraiture, in 'The Outwin 2019' [in print as The new face of artistic portraiture]
Manga on Uighur persecution in Sunday's Post
Japanese manga about a Uighur woman's persecution in China becomes viral hit [in print as Tragic tale has become surprise viral hit].
Friday, December 13, 2019
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Ceci n'est pas une banane"
"Ceci n'est pas une banane"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2897
George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley, in a Los Angeles Times op-ed this week, gave us one of the most succinct and elegant analyses of the ongoing impeachment circus I've seen so far:
"Frankly, when I look at this impeachment, I see a banana taped to a wall. As others coo over the power and evidence in the report, I continue to look around scratching my head, wondering why others don't see the obvious gaps and conflicts." —Jonathan Turley on Twitter, 12.09.19 https://twitter.com/JonathanTurley/status/1204131065201352704
The Democrats have just voted to hand Trump horrific surveillance powers by reauthorizing the Patriot Act, and given him a $738bn war budget (including his Space Force), but he's still a Russian stooge and a threat to Democracy™, so let's impeach his ass anyway.
Christ, who the hell are they kidding?
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"Opinion: The Trump hearings haven't connected the dots. Impeachment articles are premature" Jonathan Turley in the Los Angeles Times, 12.09.19
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-12-09/opinion-trump-impeachment-hearings-democrats
"'Atrocious': 188 Democrats Join GOP to Hand Trump $738 Billion Military Budget That Includes 'Space Force'", CommonDreams 12.12.19
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/12/atrocious-188-democrats-join-gop-hand-trump-738-billion-military-budget-includes
"Handing Trump 'Terrifying Authoritarian Surveillance Powers,' House
Democrats Include Patriot Act Reauthorization in Funding Bill", CommonDreams 11.19.19
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/19/handing-trump-terrifying-authoritarian-surveillance-powers-house-democrats-include
Rene Magritte, "The Treachery Of Images (This Is Not A Pipe)", 1929
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Treachery_of_Images
The Post on Off The Record's political cartoons
When bar coasters get political, it becomes D.C.'s ultimate souvenir
NPR's Weldon on Superman's secret reveal
Local cartoonists on the Beat's best of the decade list
The 100 Best Comics of the Decade
The decade from 2010-2019 was a transformative one for comics
The March Trilogy
Rep. John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell (Top Shelf)
Mister Miracle
Tom King, Mitch Gerads, and Clayton Cowles (DC)
The Vision
Tom King, Gabriel Walta, Jordie Bellaire, and Clayton Cowles (Marvel)
The Beat on the Luna Brothers feud
Joshua Luna accuses brother & ex-business partner Jonathan Luna of theft, emotional & physical abuse
The Luna brothers have shared credits on series including THE SWORD and GIRLS
By Samantha Puc
12/09/2019
Bloom makes the Beat's best of 2019 list.
The Best Comics of 2019
The Beat staff reveals the most exciting and moving comics they read this year
Thursday, December 12, 2019
This week's Liz at Large in the City Paper
Liz At Large: "Perfect"
There's no such thing as perfect.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Trump's campaign compares him to genocidal fictional villain
'These are sad and strange times': Thanos creator rips widely mocked campaign video portraying Trump as Avengers supervillain
Former Washington Examiner cartoonist Nate Beeler's best of the decade
Arlington Library puts out top 100 titles checkout list...
Two comic-art related movies on National Film Registry choices for 2019
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today (Dec 11, 2019) the annual selection of 25 of America's most influential motion pictures to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Selected because of their cultural, historic and aesthetic importance to the nation's film heritage, the films in the class of 2019 range from Prince's 1984 autobiographical hit "Purple Rain" and Spike Lee's 1986 breakout movie "She's Gotta Have It" to Disney's 1959 timeless fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty" and this year's biggest public vote getter, Kevin Smith's 1994 "Clerks."
"The National Film Registry has become an important record of American history, culture and creativity," said Hayden. "Unlike many other honors, the registry is not restricted to a time, place or genre. It encompasses 130 years of the full American cinematic experience – a virtual Olympiad of motion pictures. With the support of Congress, the studios and other archives, we are ensuring that the nation's cinematic history will be around for generations to come."
The story of the sleeping princess Aurora, awakened by a kiss, already was widely known to theater audiences. But Disney transformed this timeless fable from the original Charles Perrault fairy tale ("The Sleeping Beauty of the Wood") and The Brothers Grimm ("Little Briar-Rose") by tweaking plot elements and characters (such as the number and role of the fairies), as well as with the film's magnificent score. Along with its vivid images and charming details, the film introduced movie audiences to one of Disney's most enduring villainesses — Maleficent (voiced in the 1959 film by Eleanor Audley). "Beauty" was the last of classic animated fairy-tale adaptations produced by Walt Disney, whose influence suffuses the film.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Washingtonian on Wonder Woman 1984's DC
All the DC-Area Stuff We've Identified in the "Wonder Woman 1984" Trailer (So Far)
Written by Andrew Beaujon
Washingtonian December 9, 2019
The Pennsylvania Ave scene takes place in front of the National Archives.
Monday, December 09, 2019
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Jack Evans, Hometown Hero"
"Jack Evans, Hometown Hero"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2884
Well, isn't this just all-time... Vincent Orange, DC Chamber of Commerce CEO and former disgraced DC City Council member, is throwing a bash for himself and a host of fellow grifters to congratulate themselves for bringing big-league baseball back to DC. Anybody who was anybody making this city miserable back in the '00s is going there, a turn-of-the-century rogues' gallery featuring none other than former Mayor Tony "The Rat" Williams himself. Honorees' schwag is to include replicas of the World Series trophy, and baseballs personally autographed by the owners of the Washington Nationals.
The truly spectacular irony here is that at a masturbatory shindig held by a guy who ended up resigning from the City Council after taking the Chamber gig, one of the honorees is our current champion multi-dipper, soon-to-be-bounced-out-of-his-seat and likely to end up with a C of C spot, Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans — an irony so spectacular, in fact, that I'm really going to have to go lie down now.
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"Let's Celebrate Vincent Orange, Local Baseball Hero", Washington CityPaper 12.06.19
https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/article/21104820/lets-celebrate-vincent-orange-local-baseball-hero
"Vincent Orange Gets an Outrageous Side Job", Washington City Paper 07.29.16
https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/blog/20829331/vincent-orange-gets-an-outrageous-side-job
"Anthony Williams' Greatest Hits", posters by Mike Flugennock, 03.01.01 http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=215
"Thanks, Washington Post (finally)", cartoon by Mike Flugennock, 06.22.19 http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2751
"Chamber to Honor 'Hometown Heroes' at Dec. 12 Event", The Georgetowner 12.04.19
https://georgetowner.com/articles/2019/12/04/chamber-to-honor-hometown-heroes-at-dec-12-event/
"All of Jack Evans' Colleagues Recommend Expelling Him from the Council", Washington City Paper 12.03.19
https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/article/21104227/all-of-jack-evans-colleagues-recommend-expelling-him-from-the-council
Wonder Woman 1984 trailer shows bits of DC
The new Wonder Woman 1984 trailer is online. Much of the movie takes place in DC, and I'm sure it'll be nostalgic for me because I was at George Washington University at the time.
Wonder Woman 1984 Trailer
The Luna Brothers feud story continues
Joshua Luna Speaks Out on Why He No Longer Works with His Brother, Jonathan Luna
Saturday, December 07, 2019
That darn Gahan Wilson
Right is wrong
Jeff Hamilton, Jessup
Feud between Luna Brothers exposed on Facebook
[ I thought about continuing to stay silent, but that doesn't help anyone but him, so I'll say it now. ]
Joshua Luna
Today's Sally Forth strip has a new Christmas cartoon attached to it
The Elf Who Lost His Hand in a Tragic Toy Factory Accident (Holiday Special)
Friday, December 06, 2019
The Post's obituary for Howard Cruse
Howard Cruse, underground cartoonist and 'godfather of queer comics,' dies at 75 [in print as Pioneering chronicler of LGBTQ life in comics].
Liz at Large comic's 2nd week in City Paper
Liz At Large: "Now"
Week two of our new cartoon series is here.
Thursday, December 05, 2019
NPR's 2019 graphic novel list
NPR's Book Concierge
Produced by Rose Friedman, Petra Mayer, Beth Novey and Meghan Sullivan | Executive Producer: Ellen Silva
NPR on Tanabe's Lovecraft
Telnaes live-cartooning the impeachement hearings
Sketches from the House Judiciary Committee's first impeachment hearing
The Mueller Report Illustrated on the Post's website
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
Government-produced comics in the Library of Congress
How the Government Connects through Pop Culture: From Comics to Memes
Frankenstein Zombie launch page
Photos of Cartoons, Controversy and Caricatures (w/Matt Wuerker and Kevin Kallaugher)
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Join POLITICO's Matt Wuerker and The Economist's Kevin Kallaugher for a workshop and open discussion on the theory and practice of political cartoons. Attendees will participate in the conversation and even learn to draw some famous politicians.
Library of Congress' Swann Foundation is accepting fellowship applications
https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swann-fellow.html
Please email swann@loc.gov or call (202) 707-9115 if you have questions.
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
NPR talks to Lynda Barry
The Post releases The Mueller Report as graphic journalism today
Written and designed by the staff of The Washington Post and illustrated by artist Jan Feindt, The Mueller Report Illustrated: The Obstruction Investigation brings to life the findings of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III in an engaging and illuminating presentation.
When it was released on April 18, 2019, Mueller's report laid out two major conclusions: that Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election had been "sweeping and systematic" and that the evidence did not establish that Trump or his campaign had conspired with the Kremlin. The special counsel left one significant question unanswered: whether the president broke the law by trying to block the probe.
However, Mueller unspooled a dramatic narrative of an angry and anxious president trying to control the criminal investigation, even after he knew he was under scrutiny. Deep inside the 448-page report is a fly-on-the-wall account of the inner workings of the White House, remarkable in detail and drama. With dialogue taken directly from the report, The Mueller Report Illustrated is a vivid, factually rigorous narrative of a crucial period in Trump's presidency that remains relevant to the turbulent events of today.
The Washington Post has built an unparalleled reputation in its coverage of the Special Counsel's investigation and related topics. The paper's circulation, prominence, and influence continue to grow.
- Publisher: Scribner (December 3, 2019)
- Length: 208 pages
- ISBN13: 9781982149277