Small & Big

One Christmas Day My Cat Knocked The Tree Down Three Times [video]

2011-12-05T17:00:00.000-05:00

But that's nothing compared to what Simon's cat accomplishes...

I love everything about Simon Tofield's Simon's Cat cartoon animations: the writing, the sound effects, and especially that they're drawn in simple black-and-white outline. You can really see how a simple, well drawn line, moving through time, can express mass and volume. So well done. Watch more adorable feline atrocities committed by Simon's cat at www.simonscat.com and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/simonscat.

The Tantrum [video]

2011-11-30T13:00:00.000-05:00

"I can't let (my parents) know I have super powers. They'd only worry."

This is the first cartoon my pal John Fountain did. It's called The Tantrum and it aired on Nickelodeon at like 3 am on a Sunday at the dawn of the 21st Century. It is autobiographical. This is the first time I've seen it because SOME people don't tell some other people stuff. As far as I know it is the only instance of Putting Out Fire By Giving It The Raspberry. A pity. (If the military jumps on it they'd call it POFBGITR. That's pronounced "PUFF-bah-giter" and help generals say "puff" more.)

Without further a-doo-doo here's The Tantrum:

Also, Fountain's better half has a good blog called To Kid or Not To Kid. Will she or won't she kid herself? Go there and peek.

Comedian Stephen Fry's Idea Of Greatness [video]

2011-09-21T11:30:00.000-04:00

Truly great people help others to feel great too.

Socks And Bourbon

2011-08-08T17:00:00.028-04:00

When I was 12 years old my horse had a stroke and had to be put down. It was a warm, green, summer morning. I looked out the kitchen window at his body, lifeless and lying in the corral. Over in the barn there was movement and I saw Socks, the white-footed tabby and matriarch of the barn cats, walk out of the barn and towards the body, followed by a single-file line of the other dozen-or-so kittens and cats. From inside the house I thought, “Oh no, they’re going to eat him.” When the slow parade reached the body, the cats sat down about two feet away, in a long, evenly spaced arc, smelling and looking. After some time had passed, Socks stood up, turned around and walked back to the barn, followed in orderly procession by the others.

Even 30 years later I am touched by this memory.

This horse (Bourbon Jim was his name) had been a huge high-strung Thoroughbred, but he was gentle and considerate with the cats. Once when I came home from school I found three kittens on his back. I couldn’t figure how they got up there. This kept happening until one day I saw: The little kitties, with their little needle claws, were climbing up his front legs and up over his sides to sit atop his back. Bourbon didn’t even flinch.

These are mine, but you can read Marc Mekoff’s stories at Emotional Lives of Animals over there at Daily Good.

Fly Hot Plate

2011-05-01T17:00:00.002-04:00

Yoga For Yanks [video]

2011-04-05T17:00:00.002-04:00

Weigh The Pros And Cons First

2011-04-01T17:00:00.002-04:00

How To Increase The Bond With Your Cat

2011-03-01T17:00:00.003-05:00

Cartoonist Liza Donnelly Gives A TED [video]

2011-02-28T23:00:00.006-05:00

You can catch Liza's thoughts about preparing for the talk at lizadonnelly.com/archives/video-of-my-ted-talk.

Sweet Valentine Inkin' Cartoon [video]

2011-02-11T17:00:00.016-05:00

Mike Cope inking his Valentine cartoon, which appears in this month's issue of Reader's Digest Canada, to a great score by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. (Now that's music!) Happy heart day to you. More Mike at Copetoons.com.

Time For Your...

2011-02-01T17:30:00.006-05:00

The Best Advice You'll Read Today

2011-01-06T17:00:00.082-05:00

"If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?"

David of David Wasting Paper (he doesn't) posed that question to over 200 well-known-and-famous-even cartoonists, then narrowed the very best answers down to 15 cartoonists. It's useful advice for anyone interested in creativity, gainful employment, or following their dream. That's you, and you're going to want to read this even if you're not interested in being a professional cartoonist yourself. Click here to read The Best Pieces Of Advice To Someone Who Wants To Pursue Drawing As A Career.

David's blog is at David Wasting Paper.

Also, don't think you can draw? Ha! You're oh-so-mistaken. Read this.

Happy 2011

2011-01-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

This is my January cartoon, published in the Pet Gazette. Best to you and yours in 2011. May it be your best year yet, and may you follow me on Twitter.

What's So Funny?: Cartoon Humor Opinions

2010-12-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

Having cartoonist pals give you the straight dope is an invaluable way to increase your humor-to-drawing ratio. For me, it allows me to fix stuff before anyone important sees it, like you. My ladybug Santa cartoon was interesting. I drew two versions — one with a ladybug-Santa face and armsies the other where he's a dot and a hat — and sent them out for feedback. Most of the crew picked the bigger one so that's the one that ran. But I liked Dot Hat Santa best. (Maybe I should have just made his hat life-size?) Here they are for comparison. I'm curious, which do you think is funnier? And why? Please let me know by using the comments link below. Thanks, Sugarplum.

-- versus --

Two Sets Of Christmas Twins

2010-12-15T17:00:00.016-05:00

Two items very popular this time of year, only from Small & Big:

Happy holidays.

Department Store Santa

2010-12-08T17:00:00.011-05:00

Here’s my December cartoon for the Pet Gazette. Happy holidays to you, whatever you celebrate, for Ladybug Santa visits everyone. Eventually. Given the proper clime and foliage.

There's Less Than 2 Weeks For You To Enter

2010-12-06T17:00:00.005-05:00

An entire year's subscription to Funny Times magazine? This giveaway is worth over 2,500 pennies. 2,500! What am I, crazy? For you. Click here for details. Now back to our regularly scheduled program: Ugly Pile of Mushrooms.

Foods That Sound Funny But Are Serious

2010-12-01T17:00:00.002-05:00

Ham
Hillbilly Bread With Oleo
Potato
Gifiltifish
Hot Nacho
Anything Named With "Surprise"

Gravy Boat Lighthouse [video]

2010-11-26T17:00:00.004-05:00

This invention is a really big help for a very, very, very, very small percentage of Americans. Perfect for family get-togethers. From Conan O'Brien.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T21:30:00.002-05:00

A special shout-out to awesome cartoonist and illustrator Chris Sabatino for the idear, as they say in Boston. Check out Chris's blog here and a selection of his h-i-larious books below, for the young and the young-at-heart (that's you!).

Win A Free "Funny Times" Subscription

2010-11-23T20:30:00.019-05:00

Is there any more beautiful word in the English language than "free"? Enter my contest and you could yuck it up 12 times a year with a FREE 1-year subscription (a $25 value) to the cartoon- and humor-filled Funny Times newspaper (funnytimes.com). After you've gotten your chuckles galore this newspaper can be used for absorbing puppy piddle and for sending flies on to their next life. Also counts as "brown" in your composter.

CONTEST RULES: You must have a U.S. mailing address (I cannot send the subscription overseas because I am a cheapskate). You must be able to post stuff to a blog or website. You must have no superhuman powers because that's cheating.

This contest puts the "test" in "contest", especially since I don't know most of the answers. Ready? Here goes. Please answer each of the following:
What body part is required when measuring one's wrist?
What is Small & Big's preferred eating utensil?
Is "O" a letter, a hug, or a kiss?
Complete this sentence: Stephen Colbert is to hairless Sphynx cat as peanut butter is to ______.
How many fingers am I holding up?
And now for the optional extra credit portion which doubles your chance of winning:
Write a 6-word essay on turtles.
Now for the instructions.

CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS: 1) Post your answers on your site; include a blurb about Small & Big (for or against); include a link to Small & Big's home page at http://smallandbig.blogspot.com. 3) Come back here (to http://smallandbig.blogspot.com/2010/11/win-free-funny-times-subscription.html) and use the comments to tell me you did that and also to give me the direct link to the answers on your site or blog.

One winner will be chosen at random from all complete entries. I hope it's you. If you win I'll contact you to get your U.S. mailing address. (BUT, do not give personal contact information in your comment unless you're okay with it being public news. Instead, let me track you down through contact info listed on your site.) Correctly answer the extra credit portion and your chance of winning doubles. Make me laugh and it triples. Contest ends December 15th, 2010. Good luck.

Rules subject to change by whim, but the contest and prize are for real.

Home For The Holiday

2010-11-03T17:00:00.002-04:00

Here’s my November cartoon for the Pet Gazette. Here's another. Happy Thanksgiving. May your zipper remain strong and your buttons intact.

I Solve All The Non-Voting Problems

2010-11-01T17:00:00.006-04:00

Click here for the solution. You're welcome.

Here's Why The Weird Recorded Message

2010-10-21T17:00:00.008-04:00

In case you call me, here's why you hear what you hear. If you solve the mystery without using witchcraft I will give you a nickel.

(And yes, those who accidentally (or whatever) call me asking for prayers get prayed for.)

Some Caricatures I Drew On Sunday

2010-10-19T18:00:00.008-04:00

Well, more of illustrations than caricatures really. But it's my style and it's fun to draw. This was my first solo caricaturing event, and the first time I drew two people on one paper. (A: Yes, drawing two people is 250% more difficult than drawing one.) I drew 30 kids or more at the Decibels event. As usual, the kids were sweet and adorable and patient and greatly costumed. Here are snapshots of some caricatures.

Two sisters, one a wee baby in a carriage

Two movie-star looking tween-teen girls

A ginghamed sister and
her brother dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine
This was kinda a threefer. I never thought of Thomas as creepy until I drew him.
Thomas, you're creepy.

I put the girl dressed as an iPod in the iPod
And added an app that stretches out the ear.

Two disabled children in wheelchairs
The boy had the most beautiful eyes, with long, long lashes. But if I had put them in he woulda looked girly so I left them out, except in my mind. What was wonderful is when I showed the kids their drawings, they both stopped thrashing about and just stared and stared at their likenesses. That was the best.

Two very earnest, very young veterinarians
We had a refreshing conversation on animals.

I was also privileged to draw the winner of the donut-eating contest. She was about six-years old and shared with me her secret: eat them in four bites.

Phone Lending

2010-10-14T17:00:00.099-04:00

A certain percentage of mortgages happen because customers think they've called Girls Gone Wild. Because when I called my lender's toll-free number, I misdialed and that's what I got. Princess, my rep, helpfully let me know that, should I qualify, the $300,000 charge on my credit card would come with a 30-year repayment option. That seemed excessive for a DVD, but it was Buy One Get One Free.

Sure, it starts with a free phone call; but it ends with two mortgages.

Sunday With The Decibels

2010-10-13T17:00:00.031-04:00

Got plans for Sunday? C'mon by for a kid's costume party. I'll be the caricature artist at Sunday's Decibels Foundation event to benefit children with hearing loss. I'm very much looking forward to drawing scarrry childlings (2-year-olds dressed as puffy red spaceships!). As a kid I remember how adults always laughed at us but could never explain why. Now an old person, I still don't know why. Adults are weird, especially when you are one. [Note to self: Laugh with, not against.] Here's my Dear Diary entry about last year's event. And here's the lowdown from www.decibelsfoundation.org. Please come if you can, dressed as a can, so I'll know it's you.

Trick Mustache

2010-10-01T17:00:00.022-04:00

Here’s my cartoon for the October issue of the Pet Gazette. The punch line came from my spouse, who every year cultivates a handlebar mustache which he insists is for Halloween.

Not sure why the lizards, other than that I’ve been wanting to draw lizards. In second grade I had a pet lizard named Colors, because, ah, it changed colors? These days I’d name it Carol, a good name for a girl or a boy who wants to get picked on.

This is the second cartoon in my Official Style (the only other evidence of it was this).

A Friend Emailed Me This Horrifying News

2010-09-23T17:00:00.008-04:00

Brace yourself before looking at the image below. A pilot at low level has no control over his aircraft. It narrowly misses a crowd gathered for the airshow and slams into four buildings. One can only imagine the horror of the occupants inside those buildings.

...Ready to look?

...Ready?

...Are you sure?

Minding Your Own Business When...

2010-09-01T12:00:00.011-04:00

Here’s my cartoon for the September issue of the Pet Gazette. If it looks familiar, it is: this cartoon previously ran on Small & Big here.

Separated At Birth? My Cat And Stephen Colbert

2010-08-27T17:00:00.006-04:00

The proof is in the eyes, the bedroom eyes.
(Further evidence.)

Help, I've Fallen And Can't Get Up... The Stairs

2010-08-26T17:00:00.005-04:00

When it knits you into an afghan, the Stairmaster has won.

The Portable Potable Pooper

2010-08-25T17:00:00.001-04:00

“The finest seat in the house, m’Lord.”

On The 5th Day God Created LOL Kitties

2010-08-24T19:00:00.005-04:00

It took another full day to get the eyes on.

Oldies But Goodies

2010-08-17T20:00:00.006-04:00

From Small & Big's first month alive, in August of 2006:

My, we were young.

Dancing Elephant

2010-08-16T16:00:00.001-04:00

A YouTube channel called Dancing Elephant Productions gets its name from the Small & Big story, You Are No Longer A Baby Elephant. Check out a Dancing Elephant’s song-video:

The Internet is so cool. Thanks, Linda and Tim Sartain! See the Dancing Elephant Productions’ channel on YouTube.

Through The Looking Glass: A Love Story

2010-08-13T12:00:00.040-04:00

Garth Chigger spotted her across the headless room. Her name was Celery. Celery Mandolin. And she was proud. Proud in her denim tube-haltertop capri-jean unitard.

Garth studied her with longing but also with a calm steely reserve reflecting his other passion, Civil War cannons.

Celery Mandolin feigned indifference, staring out the shiny window.

Her bosoms heaved like nonchalant ice cubes. But the glass reflected only the longing of her heart. There was something about this Garth Chigger, she admitted to herself, something she could not get away from.

Celery waved passionately at Garth, with her good hand.

Did You Hear, There's An International Listening Association?

2010-08-12T17:00:00.000-04:00

They’re a quiet group. I was surprised to learn from Listen.org that:

People listen at 125–200 words per minute, but think at 1,000–3,000 per minute.
Most of us are distracted, preoccupied, or forgetful 75% of the time we should be listening.
Immediately after we listen to someone, we only recall about 50% of what they said.
Long-term, we only remember 20% of what we hear.

The solution? Deep listening. Deep listening is focusing intently on what the other person is saying — no interrupting, criticizing, judgment, or verbal responses like, gulp, offering advice. It’s pure listening, letting go of any beliefs you might have about the talker or their situation. No “What should I say?” It's pure being-there. And the other person will notice the difference, just as you will. It sounds almost impossible to do (most of us have trained ourselves to do otherwise) but practicing deep listening is actually quite enlightening, even fun. I felt like I was 4-years-old again, just soaking it all in.

More listening facts from Listen.org

That is all.

A Post From 2009 That I Totally Forgot About

2010-08-11T17:00:00.005-04:00

I found my note below, from April of 2009, which I didn’t share on Small & Big until now.

As both my regular readers know, I recently graduated, and the proof is the Certificate of Completion from a cartooning course received one fortnight ago. Ahem. It was taught by Mat Brown (website) and it was most enjoyable. In it I learned to use a brush and ink and then lay in color, like this:

Two completely new things for me. Along with meeting very nice, quite funny people (ha-ha funny, not strange funny), it was the most enjoyable class I’ve ever had. I learned more about drawing than at a traditional fine arts school program. You can quote me on that.

The moral of this story: If you ever get a chance to take a cartooning class, jump on it!

Convinced you can’t draw a straight line, let alone a circle? Read this.

Blowing The Horn In Traffic

2010-08-09T18:00:00.000-04:00

On my commute home on Route 128, traffic had come to a standstill. Frustrated, I looked across the barrier to the northbound side, also not moving. Expecting to see the faces of equally grumpy drivers, I did a double take. Behind the wheel of a pickup truck was a man playing a trumpet. He obviously knew how to make the most of the downtime. I smiled the rest of the way home.
—Jennifer Pope
Boston Globe Magazine’s Tales from the City

Datey Date

2010-08-06T18:00:00.001-04:00

A shout out to the folks at DatingSite.org, who included important Small & Big dating tips in their 45 Articles of Dating No No’s — What Not To Do, Say, or Wear. We come in #20 with “Short, funny list of comments to avoid saying on a first date, including shushing your date because you are texting.” Here’s the important tip list they featured: What Not To Say On The First Date.

Looking for more dating tips?
Click here for tips about dating men.
Click here for tips about dating women.
Click here for Small & Big’s Dating and Romance section.
Click here to click here.

Best User Agreement Legalese Award Goes To...

2010-08-05T18:00:00.004-04:00

The MINI Cooper website. Here’s the legalese you agree to when you sign up:

I also agree to avoid ruts.

And I agree to change my locker combination to include the numbers 1964 (the year we won our first Monte Carlo rally).

I agree to chase squirrels around the park every now and then and giggle like a madman while doing it.

I agree to be more adventurous and try to avoid homogenized restaurant chains.

I agree to name my first-born Cooper.

I agree to bare the soles of my feet to the earth and feel grass, sand, stones, and streams.

I agree to watch the movie “The Italian Job” as soon as I can.

I agree to at least think strongly about learning to play a musical instrument.

I agree to consider painting the roof of my house in contrasting colors.

There is no actual award for this.

News Flash! Another Non-Edible Discovered!

2010-08-04T18:00:00.001-04:00

For over 10 years there were only three items on Earth that my dog Godzilla (above) would not define as food. (Details here.) Hark! I have discovered a fourth! The item is... drum roll... marshmallows.

I know what you’re screaming, “Marshmallows?! How is that possible?” I know. But she won’t even touch the natural kind, the one that lists fish as an ingredient (fish?). She will, however, eat styrofoam peanuts. And week-old fish carcasses off hot sand beaches.

Dogs are weird.

Caricature Of Me

2010-08-03T18:00:00.002-04:00

P.L. Frederick
Human bean

I think I captured the Buddha ear, but this other one by cartoonist Bill White captured my eyes and fivehead better. Speaking of which, like to buy some ad space?

Cell Your Kitty

2010-08-02T18:00:00.005-04:00

Here’s me cartoon for the August issue of the Pet Gazette. It looks a bit different than the previous because — exciting news coming up! — it’s in my New Style. My style which is new.

A Cartoon I Did Based On A Cartoon Roz Chast Did

2010-07-30T18:00:00.009-04:00

Copying another cartoonist’s work is priceless. You’ll learn about process and style in ways reading and enjoying cannot. At least, that’s what I heard. So I took one of my favorite cartoonists, Roz Chast, and copied her cartoon, “On Display at the Children’s House of Horrors.” Then I made a second one in her style (if she drew only in black and white, I'm too lazy to color it in), only with my stuff in it. Here it is:

And you know what? It worked. Even though I expected to gain some understanding I was surprised just how much. Although my fruits and veggies are too crowded, my cat shampoo is too crowded, and, as in real life, I wish I had not stuck toddlers in display cases, overall it was fun and I feel I know her cartooning much better. I also learned that her style is not mine, and knowing that helped bring me closer to my style. Whatever that might be.

(Actually, since I drew this I have discovered my style! Only took two years. I hope to share it this summer. Maybe after watermelon season.)

Click here for Roz Chast's bio on The New Yorker website.

Another Caricature Of Warren Buffet

2010-07-29T18:00:00.004-04:00

Warren Buffet
Anyone else gets Warren Buffet confused with Jimmy Buffet?
After I drew this one, and liked how the hair turned out,
I drew this second one, which is more caricaturey.

Emoticons, East And West

2010-07-28T18:00:00.011-04:00

Above: Emoticons from Puck magazine, from way back in 1881 — yes, the 19th Century! :o

Emoticons are a way of using letters, numbers, and punctuation to show your mood or expression. Otherwise, with email and texting, it can be difficult to tell just by words alone. I found these in this month’s issue of National Geographic. The emoticons used in Asia are cuter and more visually rich (get a load of “blushing”), but ours are quicker to type. Which do you use?

Emotion	East	West
Happy	(^_^)	:-)
Sad	(;_;)	:-(
Surprised	(O)	:O
Winking	(^_~)	;-)
Laughing	(^O^)	:D
Blushing	(#^.^#)
Embarrassed	(^^;)
Apologizing	m(_ _)m

Here are more Western emoticons and Eastern emoticons. They’s great fun to read through.

Caricature Of Leo Buscaglia

2010-07-26T18:00:00.013-04:00

Leo F. Buscaglia
That science-of-love guy

Caricature Of Nora Ephron

2010-07-23T18:00:00.011-04:00

Nora Ephron
Director, producer, journalist, novelist, etc.
I like how this turned out, it’s one of my favorites.

Looking For Cash, Periods, Commas, Anything

2010-07-14T18:30:00.009-04:00

Car ad found on Craigslist:

brand new toyota corolla - $11000 (taunton ma)
i am selling my toyota mint conidition inside and out is has 26k miles which is nothin and its a 2006 nothin wrong with the car at all needs nothing done to it i am selling it cuz i am moving back to portugal if u want to know more give me a call at 774-xxx-xxxx thanks

26000 miles means 306000 miles and corolla means aries k-car and portugal means moms place but i am calling because fast talking confuses me

The Spectacularly Bad Art Of MOBA

2010-07-08T18:00:00.020-04:00

Sunday on the Pot With George
Acrylic on canvas by Unknown

Can the swirling steam melt away the huge weight of George’s corporate responsibilities? This pointillist piece is curious for meticulous attention to fine detail, such as the stitching around the edge of the towel, in contrast to the almost careless disregard for the subject’s feet.

If you do but one thing today, make it a visit to MOBA, the Museum Of Bad Art, at museumofbadart.org. Here’s the direct route straight to the collection. Whew. Tummy sore from laughing.

And here are their two spectacular books. I’ve got the white-and-yellow one. It’s really good.

Scooby Doo And You

2010-07-06T18:00:00.059-04:00

Scott had two years of mechanical drawing in high school. He didn’t go to art college, not even to a two-year community college. Yet today Scott is a successful cartoonist, teacher, and caricaturist. He draws Scooby-Doo, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Ed, Edd n’ Eddy, Dexter’s Laboratory, Cow and Chicken, Winnie the Pooh, Pokemon, Strawberry Shortcake, Shrek, and others. Obviously he has skill galore. But he also has something inside that led him onward, that lifted him during the times when others didn’t notice his skill: inner drive. He says:

No one was really on my side when I set out to do it. Once I made it, then everyone was on the Scott Neely Train... but there was like seven or eight years that I alienated everyone just chasing the dream. At a point it was like being in a rock band and you knew that you were going to hit it big. You just knew it and I can't explain it anymore than that. I felt strong about it and just stuck it out and worked a part time job to sustain me. Most don't make it unless they are driven to then make a point of it. I wanted to prove people wrong and I did.

The quote’s from a great interview of Scott Neely and others — over at David Wasting Paper. It gave me the “You can do it!” good-feelin’ vibe. Maybe it will you too.

This reminds me of the “Outliers: The Story of Success” book by Malcolm Gladwell. How do successful people become successful? The main way, according to Gladwell, is being helped by others: by a parent, a teacher, a coach, a mentor, etc. Basically, someone gave them a break.

Until then, there’s always inner strength. If you love what you do — have determination and keep at it. Face towards your joy and move towards it. That break will come. A nice one.

Scott’s website/blog at scottneelyart.blogspot.com (Scott Neely's Scribbles and Sketches).

OMG, We Missed Roz Chast Day

2010-07-05T18:00:00.005-04:00

We at Small & Big are gosh-darn embarrassed, given that last year we invented Roz Chast Day, remember? And by we I mean me and by invented I mean made up. This year all I did on June 18th was this, a big double-oh-zero. And now there’s a mosquito in here, a mosquito on my arm, neck, noggin. Ack.

So in conclusion: Happy Belated Roz Chast Day! I suspect she expected as much.

Beach Your Vacation On The Gulf Coast (Mind The Scattered Tar Balls)

2010-07-02T18:00:00.003-04:00

In my cartoon class I was assigned to create a full-color cartoon that could accompany a Salon.com article (excerpted below) called Meet the oil spill tourism queen. Here’s my solution.

Meet the oil spill tourism queen

By Mary Elizabeth Williams (Extracted from Salon.com)

It's no easy job putting a happy face on one of the worst environmental disasters in history, but somebody's got to do it. And so, Alabama Gulf Coast tourism rep Rebecca Wilson, we salute you. ...Wilson has been diligently rah-rahing for her home turf in a series of surreal YouTube clips.

Doing her best to downplay the crisis, Wilson cheerily announces, "Our weather has been perfect, and oil impact has been less this weekend! We are still seeing some scattered tar balls wash ashore"...

Click here to read the entire article and see the video on Salon.com. Rebecca Wilson is doing all she can to help businesses in the area. I salute her. But still, it’s weird.

...Then They Lick Your Face

2010-07-01T18:00:00.008-04:00

My cartoon for the July issue of the Pet Gazette. My dog Godzilla is looking forward to sampling Lost Hearing Aids. The garBADGE is new-to-market, and she’s also looking forward to it, especially since she’s featured on the badge.

Last month’s goldfish cartoon got the best feedback so far. Thanks to all for taking the time to comment on this blog and Facebook. Now that I know, I would have liked to have drawn this in last month’s goldfish style, but it had already been completed. Authentic Dog Treats uses the same outline border though.

No animals were harmed in the making of this cartoon. But if you think about it you might get sick.

The Barker Cartoon Museum

2010-06-30T18:00:00.002-04:00

I am beside myself. (I’m standing next to a mirror.) About the Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum in Cheshire, CT. My pal over at David Wasting Paper said it’s “the country’s largest collection of comic strip, cartoon, TV, western and advertising collectibles.”

At first I was like, “Uh, okay. Sure. It’s probably all right.” Then I saw... this:

Just one little itty bitty Popeye display case at the Barker. Jeepers. And admission is only $5. What a deal!

See more photos and read about David’s visit to the museum.

Barker Character, Comic and Cartoon Museum (BarkerMuseum.com)
1188 Highland Avenue (Route 10)
Cheshire, CT 06410

Here’s a Google map for you.

View Larger Map

Summer Comes To Boston, By Way Of Aaron Meshon

2010-06-29T18:00:00.021-04:00

I love, love, love this June 13th cover for Boston Globe Magazine, by illustrator Aaron Meshon. It’s so vibrantly colorful I can almost taste it. (Colors do that to me. Yum.) Look how he put in the little people, on the dock there, they’re but color blots; and the heat, flowing Bob Dylan flame-style, outta the hot-dog stand; and the whale nibbling marshmallow sails. Why, it’s downright summery.

Except, I wonder — the guy driving, he sure is paying a lot of attention to something out the window (giant cooked-but-still-living lobster claw?) and not watching where he’s driving that blue Paul Bunyon-sized automobile. Will he mow down the little pointy trees, the ice cream ferris wheel, the living flowers?

Nah. He must be parked. Nobody messes with pink log slug. Go pink log slug, go!

Check out more of Meshon’s work at www.aaronmeshon.com.

Caricature Of Warren Buffet (And A Book Recommendation)

2010-06-28T18:00:00.004-04:00

Warning: book recommendation coming up. I read Warren Buffet’s Management Secrets, by Marry Buffet and David Clark, and it’s awesome. Awesome. Proof that you can be nice on the inside and get nice stuff on the outside. I got the book because Small and Big’s shareholders are all like, “Dividends! Results! Guillotine!” And because of the subtitle: Proven Tools for Personal and Business Success. Among the morsels from the booky book:

The best companies to work for and invest in have a competitive edge: they either sell a unique product that doesn’t change much from year-to-year (Coca-cola), sell a unique service (H&R Block tax service), or are a low-cost buyer/seller a product/service that everybody’s continually in need of (Walmart).
Work at a job you love. The people who are most successful love what they do. There’s no point in suffering over bucks — if you’re working only for the money isn’t that a form of greed?
“Praise by name, criticize the category.” Give others credit for the success, small and big, and do it publicly; but if you’re going to criticize, criticize the bigger picture instead, like an entire job profession (bankers). If you must criticize a specific person, praise them first.
Win arguments Ben Franklin style. Instead of arguing with someone, agree with them. When you’re on the same side the person is more likely to listen to your ideas. This is huge and not about lying and, well, too big to explain here. Read the book.

Best Of Twitter Witter

2010-06-25T18:00:00.006-04:00

My favorite tweets. Also, your crystal ball and fortune cookie told me to relay this message: Joy will be enhanced by following plfrederick on Twitter. When in doubt listen to your inner cookie.

Caricature Of Dolly Parton

2010-06-24T18:00:00.003-04:00

Dolly Parton
With apologies to Ms. Parton, her fans, her family, and her descendants

Caricature Of Stan "The Man" Smith

2010-06-23T18:00:00.002-04:00

Stan The Man Smith
And his little eyes.

Caricature Of John F Kennedy, JFK

2010-06-22T18:00:00.002-04:00

John F Kennedy
For the love of God I don’t know where this came from.
It was supposed to be a caricature of Sean Connery (like this one) but somehow JFK squeezed himself in there. Or maybe it’s Robert Kennedy?

No Head Trips

2010-06-21T18:00:00.003-04:00

Another Caricature Of Sean Connery

2010-06-18T18:00:00.001-04:00

Sir Sean Connery
I like this caricature of him in later life.
More than the younger one.

Caricature Of Sean Connery

2010-06-17T18:00:00.002-04:00

Sean Connery
When he was a young buck.
More of an illustration really, but who’s counting.

Meditation Cupcake

2010-06-16T18:00:00.002-04:00

Another Caricature Of Cameron Diaz

2010-06-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

Cameron Diaz
The second variation. (This is the first.)

Caricature Of Cameron Diaz

2010-06-14T18:00:00.003-04:00

Cameron Diaz
Here's another caricature, more extreme.

Cartoonists' Dinner Today!

2010-06-12T14:00:00.001-04:00

You going? Maybe I'll see you at the New England Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society (whew, a mouthful) in Somerville, MA. Keith Knight, one of my fav-vor-ite cartoonists, is the Honorary King Guest Speaker Extroidinaire. Woo hoo! Check him out at K Chronicles.

Get And Stay Tooned

2010-06-11T18:00:00.024-04:00

Heads up on an awesome cartooning magazine called “Stay Tooned”. I read this issue here and it is jam packed with more jam than you can imagine about cartoonists and cartooning. I’m very impressed, and my chickens gave it five eggs up. Plus toast. For the jam.

Here’s what dee mag has to say about itself:

Stay Tooned is the magazine for working cartoonists, aspiring cartoonists and fans of the art of cartooning. Each issue features profiles of professional artists who draw comic strips, comic books, editorial cartoons, caricatures, greeting cards, advertising illustrations, children’s books, magazine cartoons, web comics, and/or who work in the fields of animation and gaming. Rounding out the interviews are articles and columns pertaining to the art and business of cartooning in America. Each jam-packed issue is loaded with drawings, photos and information sure to enlighten and entertain aspiring and seasoned cartoonists.

Says artist Joe Bluhm of “Rejects” fame, the magazine’s publisher and editor John Read “does it ALL himself for the love of the art, so support him by subscribing to this truly unique publication.”

Get more information at www.staytoonedmagazine.com.

Caricature Of Eleanor Roosevelt

2010-06-10T18:00:00.001-04:00

Eleanore Roosevelt
No one ever draws her pretty. Eleanor, you’re pretty to me and Mr. Roosevelt, and probably some blind people.

Receiving Isn't Always A Walk In The Park

2010-06-09T18:00:00.008-04:00

Here’s a nice story from an author and artist I enjoy very much, Sark, in her book, “Eat Mangoes Naked,” where she discovers something about receiving:

I was on my book tour and in Washington D.C. to do the radio show, NPR. My limousine driver was named Muhammed, and he had heard my interview on the radio and said he'd felt very moved by what I’d said. Muhammed then declared,

“You are very gifted and I really wish to serve you today.”

I explained that he was serving me by driving and asked him to take me to a park. I got my tennis shoes out of the trunk, and Muhammed ran over and said,

“Please allow me to tie your tennis shoes.”

He dropped to his knees before I could even answer. As he tied my shoes, tears came to my eyes as I remembered that the last person to tie them had been my dad.

I am embarrassed to admit that I then noticed that he wasn't tying them very well! They were loose, and the shoelaces were too long. I suddenly realized that I felt extremely uncomfortable at receiving his help, and had to find fault with it in some way.

So I practiced receiving by going on my walk without adjusting the laces, and smiling as they flopped around.

Sark’s website is at PlanetSark.com.

Another Caricature Of Charles Laughton

2010-06-08T18:00:00.001-04:00

Charles Laughton
A second caricature of the actor (here’s dee first).
His sloppy mouth and face were fun to draw.

Caricature Of Charles Laughton

2010-06-07T18:00:00.001-04:00

Charles Laughton
The original Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame
(second version)

Facial Feature

2010-06-04T18:00:00.005-04:00

A test to pair my writing with my caricatures. The feedback I’m getting is that my writing’d work better with a perhaps gentler style. I agree. Now if I could just teleport into the future, where I have a personal drawing style that works....

Another Caricature Of Céline Dion

2010-06-03T18:00:00.001-04:00

Céline Dion
That Singer Lady
This is the second drawing. It’s more eccentric, more caricaturey.
Here’s the first. Both are drawn from the same photo.

Caricature Of Céline Dion

2010-06-02T18:00:00.001-04:00

Céline Dion
A Titanic Singer
(second version)

As The World Turns

2010-06-01T18:00:00.066-04:00

My cartoon for the June issue of the Pet Gazette. Last month’s cartoon, Romancing the Garbage, didn’t print in the newspaper as well as could be, so this time I went with a pure black-and-white line drawing, and with three panels instead of six. I’m still trying to find my style.

Ack, I have a pimple in my ear. Why do I have a pimple in my ear?

Pineapple Pete started out as a cat (it’s one of 100 nicknames I call my kitty), but the peanut gallery thought a goldfish was funnier. I was also contemplating a ferret but I’ve never lived with a ferret. I’ve never had that special connection of being owned by a furry snake with legs.

(A shout out to all the pet dogs, cats, horses, parakeets, hamsters, bunnies, honey bees, chickens, chameleons, guppies, goldfish, sunfish, snakes, turtles, hermit crabs, Sea Monkeys, and rocks in my past! Sorry if I missed anyone. There are only so many letters in the alphabet.)

Smokey La Smoke Smoke

2010-05-31T12:30:00.001-04:00

If there’s a smokey-haze mystery between you and your Memorial Day barbecue-beach-parade, haze that sometimes smells sweet, almost like smoke from cherry wood, this is smoke from huge fires in Canada. The Gulf Stream is carrying the smoke down at least as far as Boston’s South Shore. It’s going to stay this way until the Gulf Stream changes.

I thought this would be a big news item on Google, but No. I called my local friendly Fire Department phone answerer, who knew immediately what the smoke monster was. Duxbury Fire Department, 1; Google, 0.

We now return to our regularly scheduled pile of ugly mushrooms:

Drawing Right

2010-05-30T18:00:00.023-04:00

For years I’ve seen the book plastered on bookshelves and tables. I ignored it. After all, the cover of “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” was ugly and everybody knows you judge a book by its cover. (If we couldn’t judge a book by its cover it would be infinitely impossible, eh?) Anywho, I got a hold of the DVD from my local Library and, let me tell you, I was impressed. You can spend four years in art school at $40,000 and up or you can spend a couple of hours drawing with Betty Edwards. The tricks you’d get piecemeal in college over years, Betty distills into an hour-and-a-half DVD. Also, it’s fun. And her manner of speaking, hilarious. (Betty, you know it’s true.) Three morsels I learned:

Everyone can learn to draw. Every. One. Just like everyone can learn to read. Drawing is like reading in another big way, too: it must be taught. We learn to draw from others.
Why draw? Because it helps us think better. The human brain is split into a verbal side and a visual side. Drawing helps the visual. And since most of us have a less developed visual side, it helps the brain become more balanced.
Why does drawing feel good? When drawing, there comes a point when you’re so engrossed in it that it is no longer hard. It becomes fascinating. That means your brain has switched over to the visual side and it feels good to body and mind.

It is never too late to learn to draw. Maybe when you were eight you gave up drawing because you “didn’t do it well enough.” But, as hinted at above, your inability to draw is not your fault — you simply lacked a helpful drawing teacher. Why not allow yourself to release a limiting belief held since childhood? You will be surprised by what a good drawing teacher can unlock within you, and by the skill you have that you didn’t even know you had. So, like the cowboys out West used to say at High Noon, draw!

DVD - Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Seven Lessons to Enhance Creativity and Artistic Self Confidence

Apple's Newest Tech Gadget

2010-05-28T15:00:00.001-04:00

Another Caricature Of Bob Bennett

2010-05-27T18:00:00.005-04:00

Bob Bennett
And this is the second caricature (first one). I pushed his features a bit farther (“Push it. Unh.”), making them more outlandish, sort of a key element of caricature. I like his ~~catapiller~~ ~~catipillar~~ caterpillar eyebrows.

Caricature Of Bob Bennett

2010-05-26T19:00:00.003-04:00

Bob Bennett
This is my first attempt at caricaturing him. Stay tuned for the second.
I know, you’re all pins and needles, huh.

"How To Create Spring's Sexiest Ponytails"

2010-05-24T18:00:00.004-04:00

Dear Company That Emailed Me With That In The Subject Line,

The words “sexiest” and “pony” do not ever ever ever belong together. Ever.

Sincerely,
P.L. Frederick, Esq.

Presto, A Passing Politeness

2010-05-21T18:00:00.002-04:00

You know how when someone belches they say, “Pardon me” and when they fall they say, “Oops!” or some non-repeatable phrase? Well we’re lacking that in the Fart Department. When we pass gas we say nothing. Sure, beforehand there may be a “Pull my finger” but not afterward. Nosirree. Nope, afterward we get nothing. So... From here on out I propose that any gas passed by anyone of any age, religion, or pant size on Earth is heretofore accompanied by “Presto!”

Presto, as in “Tah-dah! Look what I did.”

Presto. It could change the world.

Brontë Sisters Power Dolls [video]

2010-05-19T18:00:00.001-04:00

What mustaches cannot overcome, a dinosaur can: the Brontësaurus. Enjoy!

Chinglish: Fragrant and Hot Marxism

2010-05-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

Chinglish is the fanciful melding of English and Chinese, and if you want a chuckle step on over to the photo gallery: A Sampling of Chinglish from the New York Times. Some believe China should embrace Chinglish as a dynamic, living language. Me and “Fragrant and Hot Marxism” concur.

Unbark Park

2010-05-17T18:00:00.000-04:00

This is where Zilla Dog takes me on my morning walk. I would say more but, well... the sign.

Mental Notes

2010-05-14T18:00:00.002-04:00

Jesus's Macho Supper

2010-05-13T18:00:00.002-04:00

A man house. Probably a log cabin held together with belt buckles, its logs felled by rat-a-tat karate chops. And at the last supper, knee-deep in poison ivy and mustaches, men puff away at cigars and squirrel jerky paired with a nice chianti. Chianti goes with about anything, including tube socks.

From a photo I snapped of what looks to be the Q&A of a children’s Christianity test, where I hope if you pass you get an A and if you fail Jesus loves you.

Bacon, The End Of The Line

2010-05-12T18:00:00.005-04:00

I was at this...

And saw this...

Ew. According to Undercover Brother, mayonnaise is a White People Thing. (A great movie, by the way. Except that two-women-fighting-in-the-shower scene. Where I come from it should be two half-dressed sexy men slow-mo wrestling it up in there. Different generation, I guess.) Through Baconnaise, bacon has officially reached the end of the line. Baconnaise. Bacon. And. Mayo. For those times when food just won't do, but a stable emulsion of oil, salt and vinegar stirred up with chunks of “natural flavor” will.

P.S., A Post Script

2010-05-11T18:00:00.002-04:00

You may have noticed a reduction in drawings from yours truly. That’s a’cuz I’m attracting buyers for my cartoons (“buyers” being an overstatement) but, apparently, magazines and card companies prefer that they show my work first, in the form of you buying it. So... while you’re seeing less P.L. Frederick cartoon stuff here, think of it as an opportunity to see more Just Plain Suff (JPS) here. There’s a great big world of JPS and unnecessary acronyms on Small & Big, waiting just for you.

Yours truly,
P.L. Frederick, Esq.

P.S. You’re still my favorite.

XX Women Cartoonists

2010-05-10T18:00:00.002-04:00

The "XX" stands for the two X chromosomes, silly. Although few and far between, cartoonists of the female persuasion do exist. My pal over at David Wasting Paper (he doesn't) interviewed some. You may enjoy reading about 'em too:

Ann Telnaes - Editorial cartoonist
Kim Warp - Her work is reglarly seen in The New Yorker as well as Hallmark greeting cards, TV Guide, the National Lampoon, Barron’s, Reader’s Digest
Marisa Acocella Marchetto - Cartoonist for The New Yorker and Glamour magazine
Sandra Bell-Lundy - “Between Friends” strip cartoonist
Susan Camilleri Konar - A cartoonist and illustrator, her work has been found in The Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, The Saturday Evening Post, etc.
Terri Libenson - “The Pajama Diaries”
Rina Piccolo - "Tina's Groove" and "Six Chix," a weekly collaborative comic with five other women cartoonists

Go XXs!

Results Of Slasturd Contest

2010-05-07T18:00:00.011-04:00

slas·turd /ˈslæstərd /
A guy or gal (gotta be modern!) who doesn't pay his/her child support. See: “slacker,” plus “turd,” and the “s” in the middle, we all know what that stands for. Right?

Wow! It isn't every day a new word is defined. (Well maybe where you live, Dick Shunary, but not here in the real world.) A. Decker made a heroic effort against insurmountable odds, full of heart and maybe hangnails, to come up with thee perfect definition for the word slasturd. (Spielberg may option the story.) So I know you're dying to learn more about this Decker chap. He doesn't often speak to tabloids but, through fancy footwork, we have tidbits:

His blog, Resonant Enigma at resonant-enigma.blogspot.com, began on February 10, 2007. The break-out post was It Is the Truth..., with wisdom from Krishnamurti to Yogi Berra. I particularly like Ghosties & Clouds & Blue Skies. There's a great description of himself (but it could about be any of us): “As a kid, walking the tracks, I noticed it was easier to keep my balance if I didn't try. Out of nowhere, it occurred to me that the mind probably worked the same way. Then, of course, they sent me to school...”
His art blog, A. Decker Art at a-decker-art.blogspot.com, is full of amazing paintings, their rich darks brushed with warm color, like Moon Day and White Rock Pump Station, which also features prominently on Resonant Enigma. If you appreciate art, do poke around over there. All finished pieces are for sale.

Second place for defining slasturd went to ts611, who defined it as a spread for a Reuben sandwich. (Sorry ts611, but I couldn't locate your blog or website to link to.)

Two honorary mentions go to: the obtuse dresser (Johnny Cat) and the nerd (David Wasting Paper).

It was difficult to choose only one. You folks are hilarious. Thanks to everyone for participating!

For the back story on this contest, see “Slasturd” Should Be A Word.

1 Inch = 2 Million Years

2010-05-06T18:00:00.003-04:00

Okay, this link is just plain interestin'...

Evolution Timeline: From First Life-forms to Homo Sapiens — Where one inch equals 2,160,000 years and one foot equals almost 26 million years. That’s how Steve Rose depicts it in his timeline of life on planet Earth. His timeline is drawn to scale, so if you go to that link there, you keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling right, going through the years. It gives a realistic, and precious, perspective on Time and Life, methinks. Why, we humans are mere babies! (Explains why I like mashed carrots with my bottle.) As Rose puts it, “I notice that there is an amazing life force in the Universe, and I am sure it is not limited by our inability to comprehend it... Call it whatever you like.” I call it amazing.

Steve Rose is a web designer in Atlanta, Georgia. His website is simplyfull.com.

What Do You Get For $129.99?

2010-05-05T18:00:00.003-04:00

A genuine, authentic, one of... Oh I don't know what this is:

What could anybody use this for? Something to perk up that dark corner of the closet that you gotta take a time machine back to 1971 and then an elevator to the 26th floor penthouse suite to access? I think I answered my own question.

I like how it’s priced at $129.99. “Don’t offer it at $130; that would give consumers the illusion that it’s overly expensive.”

This has been a post by Grumpy Frederick, Spring Allergy Division.

Cartoonist Roz Chast [video]

2010-05-04T18:00:00.002-04:00

I like how, on the comments section of this YouTube video, somebody wrote: “Unlike other boring geniuses, Roz Chast is funny!!!”

Romancing The Garbage

2010-05-03T18:00:00.002-04:00

Here’s my cartoon for the May issue of the Pet Gazette, in color and in black and white (below). I haven’t figured out how to make the doggie black and still show up at wee sizes.

Printed in the newspaper in black and white, the whole cartoon doesn’t show up very well. I’m thinking that it might be safer to move to a simple black and white, no grays, for subsequent cartoons in the Pet Gazette. Lesson learned.