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Two If By Tea Winning Video!

Well OK, second place... but hey, that's what Romney got, right?  After the election, I lowered my expectations but was thrilled when getting the notification email.  Animating was fun, like the last time - though maybe not as complex. The idea was inspired by Rush Limbaugh's own words, quoted here:

Don't forget Shakespeare: "Brevity is the soul of wit." Any artist will tell you that what makes his work great is what you take out of it when you think there's no more you can take out of it. It's the continued editing.Don't be daunted by the 60-seconds. Sixty seconds is plenty of time. In fact, the more you say and the more punch you put in it, the more punch it'll have in 60 seconds. 

Immediately I thought of the classic Hawaiian Punch ad and figured a creative way to meet the contest requirements' while sending Obama soaring (so to speak). Honestly I wasn't 100% inspired with the idea, until Romney's commanding performance in the first debate.  It re-energized me to press on, determined to meet the deadline (with help from friends)

As far as lessons learned, I'd condense it down to one word: "FORWARD" (yes the President's slogan). By that I mean, stay FOCUSED on the overall goal and don't get bogged down in minutia. For example: I abandoned many small ideas like having jets sky write the message at the end.

Rush continues...

We can't guarantee that you won't be arrested by the government for what you produce, though. We would like to be able to guarantee that you won't be arrested.But given what happened to the video guy out in California, I can't guarantee it. (laughing) So remember: You're producing your own video here at your own risk. (laughing) Can you just see it: A Two If By Tea, You've Been Limbaugh'd video being blamed for something by Obama? We're not gonna be responsible for any violence that your video causes. We're not gonna apologize, either. If your video that you've produced for You've Been Limbaugh'd for Two If By Tea causes violence, you are swimming alone!  - Rush Limbaugh

No Cartoon Presidents were harmed in the making of this video :)

    

BTW:  here's my post-election edit::       

Debate Doodles

Well lets see if my artistic eye helps differentiate these "characters.  The sketch above was from last might's on ABC 12/10.  I forget when the one below was but obviously some months before - when Cain livened up the proceedings with his "999".



I honestly have no preference to the ABO (anyone but Obama or"Romney alternatives"), so guess I'll try to decide who might be most fun to draw - if any actually gets in.  I must say Cain was the most interesting face in the crowd - kinda had a 'black Teddy Roosevelt' look about him (in my sketch anyway). 

Newter, though smart, looked "dopey" before.  Now he just looks plain evil - like a silver haired Michael Moore... yeesh!. Santorum looks like a nice guy but more of a "milktoast" than a dynamic POTUS type.  Perry has a chiseled face that would be good to sculpt - but not much to say about any attributes inside that statue head.   Romney, Huntzman - YAWN.   Ron Paul?  I could have fun cartooning him.


That leaves Bachmann.  Always seems like a nice attractive lady - and I certainly like drawing that type.  But then again, thats really no fun - not having a president to poke merciless fun at.    I'm sure there would be no shortage of cartoonists who'd be glad to pick up that gauntlet if needed. 


OK, your turn.  Thats what the comments are for.  Let 'em rip!  ps: I know the captures are bad - its too hard to scan those big 14x17 sketchpads.

Two If By Tea
"Sweet Tea Dreams"
   

The animation is complete (though still tweaking the director's cut).. Exhausting but thoroughly fun. See how many Looney Tune "tributes" you can find in the scenes.  I count at  least three.  Heres a clue for one of them:

"Wacky" type dream scenes are great - no rules.  Scrapped the former "inking in the computer" method and opted to exercise my trusty Flair (napkin pen)  then scan and color in Photoshop / animate in Flash.  The file size seemed to push the limit at 145mb.  Learned the hard way that AVI files are friendlier to a PC than Quicktime (duh). For sound, my iPod Touch and pill mic was superior to my humming laptop and Audacity. 

Plenty to recycle for hopefull later use.  Here are some for the 2012 election season:

Conceiving the action in my mind, I basically skipped the storyboard stage and went straight to the preliminary animatic, seen here:



Many thanks to Jeff Flanders (George Washington voice) www.speakerjeff.com Boz Martin, my Mom (Michelle, O) and Dad (for letting me use his faster Dell when my HP slowed down production. 

I've drawn numerous judges, juries, lawyers and witnesses... even Pittsburgh Steelers - but this particular day I had a memorable brush with non-greatness in former (haha) US Representative Cynthia McKinney. You may recall Rep McKinney got herself in some hot water several years ago during a run-in on capitol hill. She allegedly punched a cop who didn't recognize her or let her pass without a congressional security pin. That scuffle is not the focus here.

Courtroom Sketch Adventures
Sample video and true story about drawing in Augusta GA...

"Don't you know who I am?"
Drawing courtroom sketches with Cynthia McKinney.

I've drawn numerous judges, juries, lawyers and witnesses... even Pittsburgh Steelers - but this particular day I had a memorable brush with non-greatness in former (haha) US Representative Cynthia McKinney.  You may recall Rep McKinney got herself in some hot water several years ago during a run-in on capitol hill.  She allegedly punched a cop who didn't recognize her or let her pass without a congressional security pin.  That scuffle is not the focus here.

Now for my story:  One day, I was drawing TV courtroom sketches at a federal trial in Augusta, Georgia.  The case had to do with redrawing the borders for the local voting district ... or some such thing.  Ho hum racial stuff - no murder or mayhem details like other trials I've covered.  This trial attracted politicians and media pundits alike since one of the districts had gotten Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich elected. 

 

I was outside during a recess when a well dressed black woman approached me to inquire about buying my sketches after the trial. I said it might be possible as long as the TV station was through with them.  She then looked somewhat puzzled and said the following words: "Don't you know who I am?"  I shrugged and shook my head innocently as she handed me a card.  "I'm Cynthia McKinney, I sit behind President Clinton during the State of the Union".  I smiled and almost made a crack like "Good that you sit behind him instead of...'" but wisdom prevailed as I held my tongue and handed her my card.

 

Subsequently, I never heard from her again.  The trial ended with what was probably an outcome unfriendly to Ms. McKinney's position (behind president Clinton).

Fringe Friday! 

Wow its been too long! Its time I dusted off this blog. To make up for my neglect, heres some original art to commemorate FOX's best SciFi show ever:  Fringe... moving to Friday.  Yes it can be a good thing.

More fun to come...

Happy Festivus!

Watch live streaming video from festivus at livestream.com

ED!

11/11/2009 - a date that will live in infamy! Well OK, it was Veteran's Day too.... but out of the blue at 9:26 AM, I received an email from Edwin Bonzell Dragonman! He revealed that he has been an 18 wheel truck driving man. Wow!

As Billman says, I'm hoping this will usher in a whole new era of cartoons. More to come.

Where can I find a Harpo Horn?

Looking for one like this that I can attach to my easel. (yes more annoying cartoon sounds). This is also a test of "sidewiki" a part of the Google Toolbar which promises to post to Facebook, Twitter and Blogger all at once.

in reference to:

"If I only had a Harpo Horn... ... everyone would want to honk it."
- First Post! - CartoonSteve! (view on Google Sidewiki)

Cheese Shop

Mickey (the Munchkin) Carroll
1919 - 2009

www.mickeycarrollmunchkin.com

I had the good fortune to meet Mickey when he appeared at the Meadowbrook Mall some years ago. As I got out my digital camera to capture some video, he did a quick little tap dance. Will post the video as soon as I find it.

CartoonSteve site FINALLY revived!

After a DECADE* of neglect, I've decided to make some changes to my web site. Its not quite what I ultimately want to do but its a start. Soon there will be more cartoon and animation samples, including an interactive area where viewers can watch cartoons and documentaries and chat/talk/view... even draw and watch my webcam live for impromptu collaborations and quick drawing demos. I may do a regular scheduled "cartoon talk" video podcast. New exciting projects are in the works.



OK and now for the first hint on my upcoming top secret animation project...
No its not 3D or claymation (though that sounds fun). More hints to come! Oh, by the way, below is one more look at my original site (before) sniff... kinda hate to see it go.


*I estimate that I first built the site sometime in the mid 90s. Back then I could only connect via text based telnet dialup, typing the html manually. I would scan the artwork on college lab computers and save to disc. Those were the days.

Reminds me of the hardship era of danger and peril - the exhausting chore involved in getting type set in the dark ages. Big film drums... giant floppy discs... hot wax... rubber cement... xacto knives! Ahhhhhhh!

Ok I'll calm down.

www.cartoonsteve.com

Caricature Video

Caricature Samples

Click above to get your Festivus Pole. Now that you're in the spirit, here are some gift ideas:


Change any jar or can from closed to open with the
The Obama Yes We Can Opener

The George W Toilet Brush

and last but not least we bring you...
The Hillary Nut Cracker

ouch!

This has been a public service message from the...

Remembering Forrest J. Ackerman

caricature by John Johns

Best known as editor of: "Famous Monsters of Filmland".


I found out while preparing my Mogulus Horror Channel ... inspired by the monsters of my childhood sketchbooks, Aurora models, Ackerman's mag and Chilly Billy's Chiller Theater.

... so in honor of all that... and "Forry"...

BEYOND TV LAUNCHES!

The Making of NObama

To commemorate the new President, I present my home made halloween mask (scariest one I could think up). The idea was to produce a big Mardi Gras - style head (in the quickest method possible). I made it using the following ingredients:

1 sheet of 22" x 30" watercolor paper
1 quart of water
3 cups of flour (approximately)
acrylic paints (red/brown, purple, white, black)
12" dowel
scissors
duct tape
3-4 sheets of 8x10 black felt or fleece
hot glue gun and glue
1 can of Mod Podge

Boil the water, add flour and stir to the consistency of cream. Lay paper flat in a bin or tub and pour on hot flour water. Soak for 1 hour while searching for a mold. Ask yourself what kind of objects can be combined to make up the persona of the head (of state). Heres what I came up with for Obama: basketball, trash can and toilet brush holder. Perfect !

Duct tape the mold objects together and wrap the soggy sheet over them. Blowing with a fan shortens the drying time to 2 hours or less. Once dry, draw some features in pencil.

After cutting out the eyes and ears, trimming the back edge of the face, paint on the large flesh tones and smaller details. When it all dries, hot glue the hair on top/back and brush on a coat of Mod Podge (to help stiffen the mask). Taping a dowel on the back, keeps the ears from flopping. This should all take about 3 hours or so. Optionally you may use face paint or brown chalk to match hand flesh tone if needed. (what a mess).

Here we see NObama posing with Sarah Palin. Now thats a ticket!

Obama/Palin 2112!

I Met Ralph Stanley!

Dr. Ralph Stanley, that is, performed at the Sagebrush Roundup at Bunners Ridge, WV (nearby) - a lively secluded place - only 7 miles from the interstate. Yep, even got the autograph!


Best known recently for his Grammy winning performance on "Oh Brother Where Art Thou".



Ralph played his banjo and did TWO sets - even taking requests while interacting with the audience. Also making up The Clinch Mountain Boys is his son Ralph II and grandson Nathan. The Matheneys, 38 Special and The Sagebrush Band did an excellent job between sets.

Lemeul from Moon and Stars Studio got some great photos and despite the dim lights, I was able to do my thing too...

Drawing 81yr old Stanley made me think of my Grandad, who I sketched live in '95. He didn't play the banjo, but loved gospel and was full of life ... quite a character.

"Grandaddy" Exel Bartlett

The Amazing Do It Yourself
Cartoon Life Drawing Class

Either the Lovely Ladies of Lard Beach (post coming soon) or the long lines in the grocery store, basically anyone can be a subject for our DIY Life Drawing Session - as long as they hold still for a minute or two... and have cartoony features.

The trick is to not get caught... sketching... staring... squinting... snickering. Just be cool... look studious.

Be a fly on the wall and not a spectacle as you dissect the diverse shapes and lines in these wonderful creatures. Its also advisable not to point and laugh. There will be ample time for genuine, constructive ridicule later. Our goal is to train our eyes and develop the olympic speed necessary for excellent spontaneous cartoonization, all the while flexing those drawing muscles.

Plus you never know where the next inspired expression or character will manifest.



In fact some of the faces may come in handy for future reference, like the husband in this couple below. His sly smile was perfect for my rendition of "Papa Mouse".

Above all, have fun - and make it a habit to pack a pen and paper at all times. Flair pens are great for napkin art.

Heres an inexpensive portable sketchpad: The "Hipster PDA" (clipped 3x5 index cards). They also make great flipbooks.

Someone here had the genius idea to invent one small enough to fit on a keychain. A Pilot Razorpoint would be good for that.

Bonus trivia question: Which famous comedian was a spokesperson for Pilot Pens? First correct answer comment here wins their very own Hipster PDA! (with a hand drawn caricature of said comedian).

Some of the humans pictured above are courtesy of the Shadyside Whole Foods Market, Pittsburgh, PA and Burnside Funeral Home, Bridgeport, WV
Gasp!! (yes they were all alive). The subject is "life" drawing after all.

Searching for the Original Fat Albert
Back in the fall of 1969, NBC aired a fun cartoon featuring a mix of live action and animation with a jazzy score by Herbie Hancock. "Hey Hey Hey, It's Fat Albert" had all the kids talking the next day. Besides looking similar to the '71 album cover above, I only remember it being a take off on Bill Cosby's Go Cart skit from the album: "Wonderfulness".. The concept went on to inspire the successful long running series on CBS three years later.

Forner Disney Animator Floyd Norman wrote an entertaining article for Jim Hill Media recalling his involvement with this special piece of (hopefully not) lost history. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be available on video anywhere - nor any signs that it ever was. ? I'm not giving up yet. There must be a copy of it somewhere.