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.

Triumphant '08
Marker and smudged Ebony pencil. They're always fun to draw. Here they are from last fall.

Dick Martin 1922 - 2008

Dick (pictured on rhe left by artist John Johns) from the 1960s NBC hit 'Laugh In" died yesterday. After an impressive career in acting and comedy, Dick became the chief director for the 80s series, Newhart. His Laugh In partner Dan Rowan passed away two decades earlier in 1987. Before getting into comedy, Rowan served as a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces. He flew P-40s and scored two kills against Japanese aircraft before he was shot down and seriously wounded over New Guinea. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. (wikipedia)

Goofy's Back!

The beginning of this blog was a sad time for traditional hand drawn animation at Disney. I had just learned that their animation studio at MGM Orlando had closed and everything was moving to 3D. However, recently I had a chance to actually see a new cartoon in the theater, starring their best and most cartoony character - the Goof!

http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3454&page=1
(follow the link and click the cartoon of Goofy for a clip)

What a great way to start off a new shorts program. If only other studios would follow their lead (hint Warner Bros) and revive the concept of cartoons on the big screen, going out to the movies could be extra fun. Ironically, the subject of the cartoon was hooking up a home theater.

If they're still out, go see National Treasure 2 or Enchanted for a chance to see this funny short.

Night of the Living Chiller

Fans of Chiller Theater will recognize some of these faces. I did videos for both political parties. The hero in both is John Buriak, creator of the great website where I found the pics: Chiller Theater Memories See if you can identify the actors reprising their roles from the original movie.



Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Red Hot Nutz is Up!

FINALLY, the video is finished and posted. Many thanks to fellow animator Vincent Rogers, director Lemeul Muniz of Moon and Stars Studio Oh yea, and Uncle Paulie. More info on the animation process coming soon.

TriumphantI drew these guys a year earlier when they sang at my Mom's church but this time I had forgotten my trusty Flair napkin pen. Fortunately, I had an Ebony pencil and got a chance to do some shading. Next time maybe I'll break out my waterpen and capture them in color.

Anyway, they were great ... though I'm still looking for my art on their website: www.triumphantquartet.com/

John Johns Mural

Back in December, I posted a remembrance of my favorite super human caricaturist, John Johns: http://cartoonsteve.blogspot.com/2006/12/remembering-jj-one-year-ago-today-my.html

His bio copy, from a 1978 Fantrasy Convention program, revealed that he had painted a mural in the "2nd Federal Bank" building in Monroeville, PA. I did some checking and learned that the building (now National City Bank) and mural still exist - in an employee conference room.

Not having a chance to easily view it in person, I sought out the help of Louis Chandler, archivist from the Monroeville Historical Society. www.monroevillehistorical.org
Louis wrote the bank and was given clearance to take some detailed photos of the mural which he described at about 5'x15'.


Thanks for your help, Louis!
Now here a few more of those great TV Graphic covers:

I remember Mr. Johns displaying some of these at his caricature workshops back at AIP: Said that his rendering method was dictated by the number of days notice he would get from the editor. Some of the most detailed paintings were known as "five day" jobs, while others would be done in a just a few days or less. Notice the brilliant way he effectively uses color (or lack of it) to help capture the mood and personality of Hitchcock.

I see theres a John A. Johns Retrospective exhibit at the Art Institute gallery through August 15. More info to come.

Bo Diddley Get Well Card

Bo Diddly has been going through a tough time. Earlier in May, he was hospitalized after a stroke affected his speech. The latest is that he is recovering - although still not able to speak, he hums while listening to country music. I saw Bo perform in Murrells Inlet, SC about a decade ago and wanted to send him a card of support.

Originally I wanted to do it more cartoony, but decided to challenge myself and basically try to remember how to use those pesky gouache paints. Not my forte as much as the loose, spontaneous napkin cartoons but, hey, its the thought that counts, right?

I recall struggling with that stuff back in architectural rendering class in art school. We would have to mix all these different values and eyedrop the paint in a ruling pen, just to painstakingly make shadows on endless rows of windows. It was maddening... until I learned to cheat by using a gray marker. That was almost as sly as getting the cutest girl in class... to do my perspective homework. Oops, this post was supposed to be about Bo.

Anyway, I wrote David, his webmaster about where to send get well wishes:

Please write to him in c/o his Management at the following address:

Bo Diddley
c/o Talent Consultants International Ltd.
105 Shad Row, 2nd Floor
Piermont, NY 10968

Thank you so much.

Regards,

David Blakey, Webmaster,
BO DIDDLEY-The Originator
http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index.html
A Celebration of his unique contribution to Popular Music.

Maybe you'd like to send him something too. Get better Bo!

Remembering JJ

One year ago today, my mentor, John Johns passed away. With much awe and respect, I'd like to display some of his great color work from the Pittsburgh Press TV Graphic covers.


These date back to the early 60s and the bio pic above from the late 70's when I knew him.

Later I'll post his work from Mad - and other samples as I find them. I'm blessed to have learned many things from JJ and was heavily influenced since my art school days. Most admirable was his willingness to share his talent with others of all ages. I'll relate a story about a five hour drive Mr. Johns and I took to a caricature job and how the experience and long talk still inspires me to this day.


Happy New Year!

Young and Cute ...

... versus wrinkled and fun.

This fall I had the pleasure of drawing at the Mannington Senior Center and was able to bask in the glory of great elderly faces. Not only the wrinkles were fun to explore, but the stories the oldsters told... the short snippets of life experience they shared were what made it much more than a mere drawing assignment.

People often comment how I'm able to draw the young "cutsie" faces with such ease - and they are fun as well - but sometimes just that - more easy than fun... non challenging. At the senior center I noticed the contrast and effect of drawing seasoned adults and how quickly I peaked and "hit the wall" becoming noticably fatigued - compared to the marathon sessions at festivals when I've been able to draw toddlers for countless hours on end.

So I must conclude that it's either drawing those extra lines and wrinkles that can tire me out... or is it the extra fun I have drawing them? On the other hand, there is something to be said for drawing a variety of ethnic faces... but that's another post.


Pictured are cute kids at the Mountain State Forest Festival and a sketch of the legendary Paul Long from WTAE.

John Johns's Birthday

I thought this would be a fitting day to share his work with the world. Currently in the process of collecting some of his masterful color caricatures from the Pittsburgh Press TV Graphic covers (which I'll post soon). There will also be book illustrations and a mural for a Monroeville, PA bank. More samples, info and progress of my search may be found Here.

WVU Hospital Picnic

Arthur's Missing Pal?
Good question... Oh heres one...
getting a caricature at the Shadyside, PA
Giant Eagle Market District. and heres the famous aardvark himself, making a personal appearance
to promote his new film for Lionsgate Home Video:

Yet more roughs

Dancing Bush
The text link below will be the link to the color Flash animated file (which runs smoother than the slower animated gifs and allow you to zoom in with the right mouse button). http://cartoons.50webs.com/bush2.html

New (old) roughs!

Holy Hot Nuts! Here are some rough concept sketches and thumbnails... Just scroll down for more and click the images for a larger view.







The "Byrd" is a planned interactive animation. Users will be able to click and paint the egg as Byrd makes cantankerous comments.