"The Someday Funnies" now in bookstores

I couldn't wait for my complimentary copy and went out Friday to buy the long awaited "Someday Funnies"!

A book launch will be held at the McGill Faculty Club, in Montreal, Thursday, November 10 at 6 PM.

"Private Eye": The First 50 Years

From "The Bloghorn" website.
by Royston Robertson

Interview with illustrator Anita Kunz

Anita Kunz has been illustrating for print for the past 30 years. Here is a recent interview posted on "The Artfulls".

The New Yorker's "Cartoon Issue"

From the "Comic Riffs" blog.

Editor Bob Mankoff lets us peek behind the scenes

By Michael Cavna

There's a reason the stock Grim Reaper character has been granted eternal life in the form of cartoon after cartoon.

Sempé exhibition at Paris City Hall

A New Yorker cover by cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé included in ''Un peu de Paris et d'ailleurs'' (A Bit of Paris and Elsewhere), a retrospective of the French artist's six-decade career, at Paris city hall.

Edward Sorel: a Retrospective at the School of Visual Arts

From Peter de Sève's "A Sketchy Past" blog

"Afghanistan, 10 years, 100 viewpoints" on ARTE

I was interviewed, at a meeting of Cartooning for Peace held in Caen last April, about the war in Afghanistan.

The result, a video interview and portfolio, can be seen here, integrated within a multimedia platform about the ten year war in Afghanistan. The document can be consulted in three languages (FR, DE, EN) thanks to the tabs located in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Zapiro slams new South African press code

From the Mail & Guardian Online.

The new South African press code is "defensive", according to world-renowned cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, better known as Zapiro. He is being sued for millions by the president for his stark tragicomic images, which Jacob Zuma believes have placed him in a poor light.

Making Great Illustration

Making Great Illustration looks at some of the world’s best illustrators, offering information from exclusive face to face interviews, with images of work and portrait and studio photographs, it gives a view into the creation of illustration from concept to finished work. The blog shares our travels around the world to interview the thirty illustrators featured.

Published in Britain in September 2011 (USA in November), the book has ten sections, covering a wide range of illustrative practice from design and advertising, political illustration, children’s books, surface pattern and fashion illustration through to graphic novels and reportage illustration, showcasing many of the top artists in each field.

Making Great Illustration reveals the diversity of working methods used, and gives a rare insight into the unique perspective, approach and artwork of each artist.

Derek Brazell & Jo Davies

"My Toronto" by Dušan Petričić

Gadhafi’s end

Here is a wonderful caricature by my good friend Fred Sebastian published in today's Toronto Star.

I wish I'd drawn...(13)

...this wonderful cartoon by Dutch cartoonist Bas van der Schot.

Lorenzo Mattoti Interview

Lorenzo Mattoti in conversation with Dave McKean, from Paul Gravett's blog.

Comic Strip Festival in Algiers (part 2)

Here is an article by Canan Marasligil published in (WORDS without BORDERS)

The fourth International Comics Festival of Algiers (Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Alger, FIBDA) took place between October 5 and 8, 2011, featuring a wide range of activities, from exhibitions to panel discussions, ending in an awards ceremony. Here’s a first look at this key event in the international and Algerian comics scene. 

Comic Strip Festival in Algiers (part 1)

From the 5th to the 9th of October, I attended the "Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d'Alger".

Here is a wonderful account of the event taken from Lebanese cartoonist Joumana Medlej's blog.

Part of a fresco by tattoo artist Aurelio, created live on the premises

Illustration Now! Vol.4

My good friend Fred Sebastian made it in Taschen's Illustration Now! Vol.4. 

To visit Taschen's site and flip through some of the pages in the book visit:http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/design/all/04454/facts.illustration_now_vol_4.htm

Goodbye Mrs Mole

from Ronald Searle Tribute by Matt J

I was saddened over the summer to hear that Ronald Searle's wife and soulmate of 50 years, Monica, passed away. I had the great privilege of meeting Monica on several occasions and remain ever grateful for having the chance to spend time with a lady of great charm and class. The Daily Mail has ran a touching article with words from Ronald himself. Read it here

In Les très riche heures de Mrs Mole, the author brought to light the 47 drawings he produced for his wife, Monica Searle, as she was treated for a rare and virulent form of cancer over a five-year period in the early 1970s. She survived, and the intimate drawings stand as a moving testimony to love and hope.

This report by Derek Brazell of the AOI on a visit with the Searles last summer gives a sense of how a day with Ronald & Monica went.

Second Canadian Banana International Cartoon Contest

Last September 11, a jury composed of Terry Mosher, Oleg Dergachov, Sergey Samonenko, Victor Bogorad, Ronald Vanoystaeyen and myself met in Montreal to pick the winners of the Second Canadian Banana International Cartoon Contest. The theme chosen was "Why not?". 260 participants from 42 countries sent a total of 669 works.


First Prize

Igor Nikitin (Russia)

Brian Topp writes in colouring book

Sun Media's Brian Lilley comments on cartoonist Dave Rosen's latest book on his "Lilley's Pad" blog:

Archives: The First Canadian Banana International Cartoon Contest

Last December 4,  a jury composed of John Lent, Terry Mosher, Oleg Dergachov and myself, Guy Badeaux, met in Montreal to pick the winners of the First Canadian Banana International Cartoon Contest. The theme chosen was "In vino veritas". 282 participants, from 53 countries, sent a total of 920 works.

GOLDEN BANANA

Dusan Petricic, Canada

Sequential Art Primer

Three articles by Shanth Suresh Enjeti from his "Tell Forward" blog.

Sequential Art Primer Part 1: The Three Pillars of 'Sequential Art' 

and the Essential Masters

My favourite cartoons (16): Rémi

Published in the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.