BookLust

Chirp, Chirp, Hooray!

For the past few months I've been leaving cryptic posts on Facebook and Twitter about drawing cute little birds, especially a particularly cute little yellow bird. Well, I can finally say what the heck all those posts were about – behold, the September cover of Chirp magazine! Yup, I am now the official new cartoonist for the Chirp comic strip, found in Owlkids Chirp magazine.

What an honour! What a thrill! What stress! You see, I've got very big shoes to fill (and no, I'm not talking about Chirp's big red boots). The cartoonist who created Chirp, the adorable and wonderful Bob Kain, has after about 13 years of working on this strip, decided to step away from the yellow bird in order to pursue other creative endeavours.

I must thank Bob and the wonderful editors at Owlkids for having faith in me, and I hope that I can do justice to that cute yellow big-headed fellow. So please, be patient with me – drawing someone else's creation is no easy task, especially when that creation has a really big round head (thank goodness no one else took on drawing Charlie Brown!)

And so now if you hear or read about me kvetching about having lots of little birds bouncing around in my head – you'll know what I'm talking about!

Guess Who's in the New Yorker?

No, not me, silly. In order for me to have work in the New Yorker, I'd have to, like, submit from time to time. These days my focus has moved from gag cartoons to book illustration I guess. And let's face it – the chances of me getting anything in the New Yorker are less than slim-to-none.

But anyway, I'm not here to talk about me, I'm here to talk about my pal, Rina Piccolo!! 'Cuz she got her first cartoon in the October 20th issue of the New Yorker, and I'm just so thrilled for her I could wet my pants!! Congrats, Rina! Don't be getting too many cartoons in there, 'cuz I don't own that many pairs of pants!

God Bless Cartoonists, Everyone!

Friday night was the annual National Cartoonists Society Canadian Chapter Christmas party (that's quite a mouthful, ain't it? Try saying that after a few glasses of wine, kiddo!) Johnny Martz is the new Canadian Chapter president, and he organized a great party for the evening. Debbie Ridpath Ohi was there, and she took some fabulous photos of the evening. A wonderful time was had by all.

Johnny brought blank cartoon panels and pens, and encouraged everyone to create something, so I got in on the act, as you can see:

Look at this close-up of me drawing. Don't I hold the pen in a really gnarly, bizzare manner? I never realized just how strange it looked from someone else's perspective. Oh well. It gets the job done, don't it?

Click here to see the rest of Debbie's wonderful photos of the evening, as well as a great write-up she did about the night for Blog TO.

Cartoon Buddies 7

Big fat congrats to my cartoon pal Sandra Bell-Lundy, creator of the syndicated strip Between Friends, for the wonderful feature about her in Saturday's Toronto Star. (That's Sandra and her daughter in the photo above).

The article focuses on a new story in the strip, which started on Monday, which is based on the life of Sandra's Newfoundland grandmother. It's a very interesting family story (you'll have to read the article to find out more!) and deserves some attention in the comic strips. And of course, Sandra deserves all the attention she gets for her delightful, thoughtful strip, which has been syndicated for over 11 years.

The Cartoon Fiend

The very talented cartoonist Rod McKie has started a wonderful blog, entitled The Cartoon Fiend. Rod takes time out of his busy life and interviews as many of his cartoon friends as he can find. So far he's found quite a few! However did that happen? Anyway, if you're interested, my interview is here.

Rina's Tina

Hey all you comic strip lovers out there, check out the new web site featuring the work of my pal Rina Piccolo, a very talented cartoonist, and creator of the syndicated strip Tina's Groove. Rina's Tina is my kind of gal. Over 30, smart, sexy and single, and not freaking out about it like some neurotic weight-obsessed comic strip character that shall remain nameless. Tina's Groove is the answer for all of us women out there who want to see a really good comic strip about a strong woman. Give 'em hell, Tina!

Oh, and while you're poking around her site, you might also notice that Rina's first book of Tina's Groove cartoons is coming out in March 2006. You can pre-order your copy on Amazon.com now! Get 'em while they're still available, folks!

And a special congrats must go out to my other pal Johnny Martz, who did a fab job designing Rina's web site! Way to go, Johnny!

Cartoon Buddies 4

Take a gander at the fabulous work of my kiwi pal Mike Drinkwater, a strange but delightful New Zealand fruit. Mike (aka Mikemot) has recently run away from home, bidding cheerio to all things weird, wobbly and wonderful under the sea, and he has now set up shop in the U.S., all because of some sweet Yankee gal who made his heart go pitter-pat (it usually goes ka-phlumf, so this new beat really threw him off course, literally).

He's one of those cartoon guys who can do many things, gag cartoons, greeting cards, kids' books and his claim to fame, animation (he worked as an animator for Warner Bros' Tiny Toons as well as Taz and Animaniacs, and then Disney's Darkwing Duck, Duck Daze and Goof Troop to name a few). He's a real whiz when it comes to colouring, and in fact it was Mikemot who did the luverly colouring a few months back for that Tasty Tart (which I will be getting back to, I promise!)

So after months of nagging the crazy little marmot, he's finally made himself a pretty web site. Great job, Mikemot! So all you art directors out there, throw some work to this cartoonist kiwi, so that he can buy himself some new shorts!

Cartoon Buddies 3

I wouldn't necessarily categorize this gal's work as cartoon-like, but quite frankly, it's difficult to put her work, or her, for that matter, into any type of category. Meet my pal, Esther Sanchez. She creates colourful, hip, sexy, vibrant paintings of big-eyed beauties. But that's not all she does. She illustrates for magazines and designs amazing logos, and it's just a matter of time before she becomes more popular and way more cool than that other illustrator guy, Paul Frank. Esther is one amazing, energetic, beautiful, sexy, funny and smart lady. Oh yeah, and I've got a big crush on her man, too, but that's another story entirely.

So look out world, 'cuz Esther has arrived.

Cartoon Buddies 2

This cartoon buddy is very special because he was my first. Many years ago Steven Toth was a cartoonist in Hamilton, Ontario, creating gags and magazine illustrations and comic strips and of all things drawing giant weasels to live symphony performances. He was also a cartoon instructor. I came to his class in my early 20's, feeling mighty low and not having many expectations. His enthusiasm for my work was jarring, to say the least. He did his best to build up my confidence, give me advice and even some freelance jobs. Without his help and encouragement, I really do not think I would have pursued cartooning in any way shape or form. Isn't it funny the words of others that stay with you for almost two decades? The one thing Steven said about my work that I have never forgotten is "It's got soul". It's the best compliment I've ever received about my work. It's also intriguing how we hang on to negative comments in our life, too. Like the nasty put-downs of an insecure, controlling ex-boyfriend who never did anything with his artistic talents. I prefer to replay to Steven's words, thank you very much.

All those years ago, Steven published a book of wonderful cartoons, entitled "The Weasel Symphony". He signed it, encouraging me to continue drawing, with the hopes that he would receive a signed book of my own cartoons one day. Well, I have yet to publish a book of cartoons, but I will be mailing him a signed copy of my first illustrated children's book. So what if he had to wait almost 20 years to get it? It just goes to show how powerful words can be, and how they can come back to you, in such wonderful ways.

Anyway, I'm gettin' all soft and sentimental, so I had better stop it, or I'll make myself sick. These days Steven is a very talented painter, working in various mediums, including digital works. Take some time to look at his lovely paintings.

Cartoon Buddies

Have ya noticed that I like to do these regular feature posts? Well this is another one that I'm gonna add to the blog stew. I have had the great fortune of getting to know some of the most wonderful people in the world – cartoonists. So every now and then I'd like to mention some of the people I've met, and talk about the great work that they do.

Sandra Bell-Lundy draws the comic strip "Between Friends" which is syndicated by King Features. It's a hilarious "contemporary look at the lives of three professional women in all their angst-driven, stress-filled, caffeinated glory."

Sandra is a great gal, and has been very supportive in my own attemps at a cartooning career. She's got a new book of cartoons just out, called "Coffee Tea and Reality". So get the book, get a cup of coffee and get ready to laugh.