Some old SpongeBob doodles on a scrap of illustration board

Click on image for full-size SpongeBob doodle

As much as I hate sketching in sketchbooks, I LOVE doing doodles on oddly-shaped pieces of stuff. Anything with a writing surface. Newspapers are good. I also have an old "Voter Information" publication with a lotta sketches inside. I like doodling on newsprint with a roller-ball pen. My current fave rollerball is the Bic 730R. You can get 'em at Staples. Oh, and I'm also doodling in a copy of the expired TAG union contract. So? I dunno.

I prolly drew this during the third or fourth season of SpongeBob. I've always liked drawing SpongeBob...he really makes me happy ^_^ Sketched with a PITT artists Pen - brush tip. One of my favorite drawing tools.

Hope you like it!

Li’l Tomboy by Frank Johnson

Here’s an extremely well-crafted kids-comic I never heard of before: Li’l Tomboy by Frank Johnson 
Very charming drawings, and great clear storytelling. The mom’s nose is kinda freakin’ me out, but otherwise a delicious-ly drawn comic story ^_^
More on Frank Johnson:
http://lambiek.net/artists/j/johnson_frank_b.htm
http://coa.inducks.org/creator.php?c=Frank+Johnson
…and here’s a little after-comic dessert:

Felix on the Unemployment Line -– Vintage comics by Otto Messmer

A couple days ago I showed off some photos of the awesome new Felix Book…

Here are some Felix the Cat comic book scans from this same era  -- ones that don’t appear in the book! Story and art by the great Otto Messmer!

From Felix the Cat #48 – Toby Press Dec 1953


...and look...there's MORE! Mykal has just posted a classic Otto Messmer Felix comic on his "Big Blog of Kids' Comics!" Click on the images below to go visit or just hop over to: http://www.bigblogcomics.com/2010/08/felix-cat-in-cat-weather-profit.html

 http://www.bigblogcomics.com/2010/08/felix-cat-in-cat-weather-profit.html

Don Bluth Vs. "Man Vs Art" -- a great new interview

I don't always listen to podcasts, but when I do, I prefer Man vs Art. Raul Aguirre's show has been my companion for many late-night drawing sessions.

Raul Aguirre Jr. has been an animator and storyboard artist, writer, producer, etc for 16 years, working for all the big houses like Disney Feature, Nickelodeon and Fox. And he's got a heart as big as Southgate, CA.
His passion and love and humor shine thru with every podcast he puts out. Now Raul has scored a sweet interview with Mr.Animation Renaissance himself: Don Bluth!

Listen HERE: http://bit.ly/ManVsBluth

It's a great listen...not the usual cookie-cutter glad-handing puff piece you usually hear when an industry legend gets interviewed. You get these two guys in a room and start talking about the joys of traditional animation...there's no holding them back! Seriously -- Man vs Art is hands-down my favorite podcast (and not because I've had the honor to be a guest), and this episode is a great way for the show to kick of its second season!

Man vs Art: The Don Bluth Interview
http://bit.ly/ManVsBluth

New Book: Otto Messmer’s Felix the Cat 1950’s Comic Book Stories

Another treat for vintage comics fans: Craig Yoe has just put out a gorgeous new collection of Otto Messmer’s Felix the Cat comics from the fifties!



Over 200 pages of comics and commentary from one of the greatest and most influential cartoonists ever: Otto Messmer. The stories are fun and surreal and very silly and cartoony -- a really fresh change of pace from the complicated comics of today. Otto Messmer's style changed a lot throughout his long career, and toward the end of his comic-book days he really embraced a beautiful kind of simplicity. This stuff is just great!

Check out the endpapers in this book:

I love the eye-catching design of the whole book. I just wish Otto Messmer’s name appeared on the cover.

Even the back cover looks cool!

Click HERE for more info:
http://amzn.to/d7o840 FELIX BOOK

Check back in a few days for some
Felix comic scans from this same era…
…ones that don’t appear in the book!

Red Bloop

"Red Bloop" Digital painting
Line art from a sketch in SketchbookPro - Painted with ArtRage 2.6

It was a very productive weekend. Ahhhh.

PS...here's a look at the work-in-progress:

My first attempt at animating with Toon Boom Animate

My first animation in Toon Boom Animate. I just want to go on record that I have no idea what I'm doing. But my goal was to animate something this weekend -- learn how to use the program -- so I consider this a victory.

Jetsam Joe – Zoo Funnies 1955

 

Man, I just LOVE these oddball filler comics!
Look at this wonky style...
The first splash page is my favorite.
------------
Warning: Ethnic stereotypes ahead!

…and it all ends with a classic flop-take!
Jetsam Joe backup stories
are from Zoo Funnies #13 1955

Say goodbye to Loneliness and “hello” to Fun and Romance

“…of course, if you enjoy being a wallflower, this quick easy self-teaching method is not for you.”

-----------------------------------------

You gotta love these vintage comic book ads. Think about what these advertisements say about the target audience for these comics!

it’s the NEW Power-Knit Commander!

Underdog and Joe Harris - The REAL Story Behind a Great Cartoon Hero

Meet the cartoonist behind Underdog and the Trix rabbit: Joe Harris!

I just listened to this amazing in-depth interview for the second time...It's the kind of interview you NEVER get to hear...the unromantic and TRUE story about the way cartoons get made and the REAL life of a cartoonist. All the ups and downs. Genius stuff. One for the time capsule.

The Joe Harris interview is at: 
http://boing.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=440806

Thanks so much to cartoonist and podcaster
Todd Dolce for bringing this one into the world.

LOTS of great interviews
with the giants of cartooning

and animation at BOING! The Podcast

http://boing.libsyn.com/

Sherm Builds a Snowman – Comics by Popeye’s Bud Sagendorf

In his 5th appearance (Popeye comics #23 Jan – March 1953) Sherm is once again a Henry-esque bald peanut-head. Art and Story by Bud Sagendorf.

In his 5th appearance (Popeye comics #23 Jan – March 1953) Sherm is once again a Henry-esque bald peanut-head. Art and Story by Bud Sagendorf.

I like that Sherm’s dad is called “Mr.Sherm!”

Previous "Sherm" comics by Bud Sagendorf:

Sherm in "Hitchhikers"
 

Sherman in "Rollin' Along" 
 

Sherm in "Dog House"
 

Sherm in"The Race"

 Sherm Falls in Love!