How to use this Page

Written by Andrew Kramer, illustrated by Leslie Lammle.

Somebody should probably interview cartoonist Joseph Messerli. Mr. Messerli started out as an assistant on the Ella Cinders comic strip, ghosted the Napoleon strip, designed the Twilight Zone logo, drew the Bonanza credits illustrations, worked on Dennis the Menace comic books, drew Hanna-Barbera comic books and that just seems to scratch the surface. Too often in this profession, the "creators"

It's time to jump start the turnip industry.
The text is from a traditional English nursery rhyme.
Pen and ink with watercolour 17cm x 25cm. Click to enlarge.

I have no idea who Hector Alfonso was, but he was a brilliant cartoonist. The figures, composition and brushwork are awesome. There is an obvious similarity to Hank Ketcham. I would like to find out someday where that "Ketchum" style originated, because we also see it here and with Ketcham's early assistants, such as Al Wiseman. If anyone knows more about him, or from what publication these

I love any and all things associated with the art of writing ... pens, papers, notebooks, stationery, you get the idea. So when I saw this tiny, bent, warped, heavy antique inkwell, I of course immediately wanted it. I know we can't always have what we want, but well ... sometimes it works out, right? I now proudly own it, and here it is in its drawn glory for all to enjoy. The ink blots were digitally redone coffee droplets :)

This drawing was actually finished two weeks ago. But I then ran smack into the half-century-of-life mark (yes, 50 years old and loving it), and the ensuing two weeks were occupied with lovely celebrations, wonderful surprise guests and no work whatsoever. Am now struggling to catch up, and have finally managed to get back into the swing of things after completing all those errands and chores that were screaming for attention. Time to get back to drawing! Cheers.

Inkwell cards and matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Elizabeth Bluemle’s article The Elephant in the Room, posted this week on ShelfTalker, a Publisher’s Weekly blog, offers a spot-on and constructive criticism of the publishing world’s shortcomings when it comes to publishing and promoting books that truly reflect our diverse world, pointing to the need on their part “to cast aside outdated assumptions of what people will or won’t read, will or won’t edit or publish or sell.”

The article offers suggestions of what those in the publishing field can do to start reverting the situation and doing right by our children, plus a list of blogs and websites (we were honored to see PaperTigers mentioned!) that promote diversity in children’s and young adult books. The elephant illustrations, by thirteen children’s book artists, combined with the words, give us much to reflect on.

image credit: © Addie Boswell

Ole F Hvidsten gives us a heads up on an event in Oslo on June 25th, where he’ll be painting live:

Awesome poster by Alexander Horne, check out the event on Facebook if you’re in the area.

It was recently brought to my attention that we’ve never posted Uncle Grandpa on Cartoon Brew. We will right that wrong today. The artwork is funny, and the cartoon is clever and entertaining—things which can’t often be said of mainstream animation. Peter Browngardt made it for Cartoon Network’s Cartoonstitute program; he’s currently working on his own CN series Secret Mountain Fort Awesome.

(Thanks, Cory)

After some careful consideration I am happy to name the work”¡Tachán!” by the illustrator FHNavarro the winner of the ‘Magic’ challenge. I was very impressed with the use of the angled composition that enhanced the mystical/magical atmosphere in this image. The restricted colour pallet works extremely well. Lastly the quirky placement of the white rabbit finished the image of perfectly.
You can see more of Navarro’s work at http://www.cachalotecomix.com/

 Subscribe in a reader

"For those of y'all with a little time on your hands, check out this vimeo with ABC dude, Aaron Katersky. Classy, smart guy. I had so much fun chatting with him! Ooo, and at the end is a bit from Thirteen Plus One about nekkid boy bottoms!!!!"�Lauren Myracle

Banned Books: Lauren Myracle at ABC News Radio from ABC News Radio on Vimeo.

I had every intention of updating the blog as the week went by, but that, along with exercising and breathing, fell by the wayside- all victims of the frenetic schedule of films and feasts, that is the sad lot of the Annecy judge.
Each day was packed with more delicious food than you can imagine and every meal was served in the most absurdly picturesque spot, each one more beautiful than the last. I'll ask you to forgive the postcard pictures peppering my commentary in these posts. Annecy is as much about the films as the setting in which they are shown.
There are three judges assigned to each of the four categories and friendships were quickly forming as the days flew by. I for one, am coming away delighted to have been able to share the whole thing with two genuinely nice human beings who happen to be incredibly talented as well. I mentioned them earlier, but now, many screenings, many meals, and many glasses of wine later, I feel in a much better position to introduce them.

I confess to not having been aware of the work of Juan Pablo Zaramella, before meeting him at the beginning of the festival, but since then I’ve been introduced to his many talents, but probably not all of them. He is famous for his short films, most recent among them, Journey to Mars, a sweet and atmospheric stop-motion fantasy about a rural farmers’ promise to drive his young grandson to the Red Planet in his pickup truck. This warm and charming tale is a perfect reflection of Juan Pablo. He has a rock solid artistic sensibility, which is coupled with a kind and gentle demeanor. As the week unspooled I was also to discover that he is a masterful illustrator as well, with a truly inventive graphic sense and a surprising sense of humor. As I mentioned before, Juan Pablo, Nick and I were responsible for judging the work of students graduating from animation schools around the world and Juan Pablo was selected by the festival to represent us on stage in the closing ceremony. After revealing the fruits of our labors, he surprised us all with a hilarious film he created in the space of four hours on his iphone with help from his pal, whose name I will add when I find it.
I couldn’t find time this week to finish a sentence and he somehow found time to make a movie.

If you met Nick Park without knowing anything about him, you would probably say, “he reminds me of that animated guy who loves cheese”. He is of course, the creator of the classic series of stop motion films starring Wallace and Gromit and the connection is impossible to miss . He has the habit of saying “cheese” whenever a photo is taken of him and his voice comes straight from that universe. Trust me, when hearing it for the first time, it is almost surreal. No one can say the word "cheese", like the guy who made a catch phrase of "Wensleydale".


After viewing over forty films and debating the merits of each and every one, here are our results:

The Lighthouse Keeper (Best Graduation Film)<

On our last day of Maui, we met Ana Faiva, an artist in downtown Lahaina. She had a breezy roadside tent set up to sell her work. We almost walked right by, but she welcomed us in warmly (despite our wary Bostonian ways) and told us stories of her art. I was entranced : she uses kukui nuts to make the dye on her tapa (bark cloth), and red dirt for the middle value, the way the women in her family had done for generations.
After talking to her about our honeymoon, she turned around and began to make an original tapa for us right there! She even paused as if thinking over her work for a second, until she said "Aren't you going to take my picture!?" Of course!
She found out I was an artist and gave me a big hug. She was very careful to date and sign everything and tell us the value of each piece...It was beautiful work. Ana was one of those souls you'll always remember, very full of stories, warm and in love with life. After her hugs and little gifts she'd given us and the tapas we bought from her, we smiled all the way back to the car. She wanted us to take this picture to remember:
I can't get the "leis" as she called them, the vertical vine motif, out of my mind. So here is a little girl, reading with a (cinnamon) rabbit on her head, in the middle of a little tapas jungle. "Leer" means "to read" in Spanish.

Mahalo, Ana ♥

Summer in the Montreal region (Okay…Technically it’s still spring, but hey.) can be quite enjoyable, what with finally getting the warmer temps (but not too warm!) and enjoying the beautiful lakes and rivers, not to mention all the festivals and events. Below are some photos I took over the weekend (well, mainly Sunday). We had [...]

I love any and all things associated with the art of writing ... pens, papers, notebooks, stationery, you get the idea. So when I saw this tiny, bent, warped, heavy antique inkwell, I of course immediately wanted it. I know we can't always have what we want, but well ... sometimes it works out, right? I now proudly own it, and here it is in its drawn glory for all to enjoy. The ink blots were digitally redone coffee droplets :)

This drawing was actually finished two weeks ago. But I then ran smack into the half-century-of-life mark (yes, 50 years old and loving it), and the ensuing two weeks were occupied with lovely celebrations, wonderful surprise guests and no work whatsoever. Am now struggling to catch up, and have finally managed to get back into the swing of things after completing all those errands and chores that were screaming for attention. Time to get back to drawing! Cheers.

Inkwell cards and matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

I learned an important lesson today. If we lead with our minds, we are dragged in the wrong direction. But if we follow what we feel….

Every day I take Speedy the tortoise out of his cage and plop him down on the floor. He usually makes a few rounds around the house before venturing through the pet door, down the pet ramp meant for Sarah (who still doesn’t use it), and onto the yard. Most of the problem happens when I am not watching him and have to determine if he is in the house or outside the house. That isn’t always easy–he hides behind doors, between the washer and dryer, and under beds, just for fun or to mess with me.

Today as I was working on my website and avoiding creating, Speedy made it out the door. Halfway through working I heard “The Turtle!” (probably Emma Lou). Searching the house, I couldn’t find him anywhere. I grabbed Emma Lou and we couldn’t find him outside either. (Emma was so cute. When I asked her to find the turtle she barked a few times, calling him.) This was unusual because he is usually visible walking somewhere. I said a little prayer to my Angels and in exasperation, I sat down on a tie next to the swing on the ground. Right next to me, literally next to me, almost hidden under a pile of leaves I saw a hint of a turtle shell! He was right next to me! If I hadn’t  set down for a moment, I wouldn’t have found him.

Was it a weird coincidence? Well, no. I felt his energy. I registered his energy. I was pulled to that energy. It’s using advanced empathy to connect to loved ones and is very helpful for finding lost animals. If I had used my head, I’d still be looking, I am sure.

– from Help for the Sensitive in an Insensitive world, the book I am creating, and Advanced Animal Communication class from Fairy Online School.

Yesterday was Flag Day. Not  knowing where the holiday came from, I looked it up and found these facts on Wikipedia: June fourteen is the day on which the Second Continental Cogress adopted the flag in 1777 as the flag of the United States.  In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day and in 1949 National Flag Day was established an Act of Congress.  Pennsylvania is the only state to celebrate the day as a state holiday. Right here in Quincy, MA there is a long running Flag Day parade, and in 2010, they celebrated their 59th. The largest Flag Day parade is held in Troy, NY and the oldest continuing parade is held in Fairfield, WA which has had one every year since about 1910, with the exception of 1918. I would love to attend one of these parades. I love parades amd I am nothing if not patriotic. Don't forget--I have an entire powder room I call the Oval Office. 

Every year Flag Day sneaks up on me and I seem to miss it. Actually, every year the entire year sneaks up on me and I seem to miss it. This year, however, I was determined to fly the stars and stripes. And I remembered Flag Day! There was too much going on yesterday for me to take pictures, but I thought I would go out and shoot today. My flags will stay up until at least past the 4th of July, so it makes me happy to know they won't be collecting spider webs in the garage for another year, unused.