December 2002 Archives

As promised, from the opening of the new Political Humour Exhibit ....

Leunig gave the presenting speech, closely followed by the Hon Peter Costello who opened the exhibit in his only way possible.

There for the opening of the exhibition, the cartoonists were invited to a private function for lunch. In the lineup from left to right :

Steve Bell (the Guardian - UK), Peter Nicholson (The Australian), Me, Judy Horacek (Freelance), David Rowe (Fin. Review and SMH)

and kneeling

David Pope (Hinze - The Canberra Times) and Michael Leunig

Finally got a chance to get in the exhibition after his heiness left. Costello was ushered in and out very quickly and didn't waste time. I'd be surprised if he even stopped to read some of the cartoons there. I found my cartoon, it was at the main entrance area.

For those who've never seen him, here is the ever elusive Victorian Michael Leunig. Duck drawer extroardinaire. I must apologise to Michael next time I see him as a bunch of us (cartoonists) were at University House in the beer garden and we were heading off to dinner in Sammy's Kitchen when Michael decided to wait a bit and meet us down there. Little did we know that we left him stranded talking to a fan who was more than obssessive and very drunk. Short of tearing his clothes off and jumping him on the spot we thought for some strange reason that this was someone he knew. Not until later did we realise it was a fan. Sorry Michael.

Following the conference on the saturday was a BBQ in the grounds of the Museum. Very nice day indeed, frigging hot. Seated L-R :

David Pope, Peter Sheehan (Freelance), Pat Campbell (The Canberra Times), Chris Kelly (Freelance), Me

Then the place we all met up, the now infamous Cahoots Bar where you can hear the stories now of how John Farmer (Hobart Mercury) saved the life of James Kemsley (Ginger Meggs) after an inappropriate discussion with a bunch of italians. Here is Sir Jon Kudelka and Pat "Pound the Patty" Campbell.

The exhibition closes on March 17 and then is off around the country on tour. Buy the book available through Bookstores soon and we'll sign them if you spot us anywhere on the street.

The weekend in Canberra was great. I've got some photos I'll upload later.

Very tired, still getting over the weekend. THe exhibition was fantastic and I recommend that if you see it in your capital city when it does its round go and visit.

Meanwhile here is a sketch I did in the car on the way to work. I like my rough sketches as finished work. Just not sure about the writing though.

No complaints about the comic strip this week.That must be a good sign. I'm heading to Canberra thursday night as I have around 5 cartoons in an exhibition that kicks off a national tour after its stint at the National Museum of Australia. The exhibition opening is on Friday 11am and being opened by Peter Costello. I actually put in some Costello gag related cartoons which I am sure will impress him nonetheless.

In other news, a pet irritation of mine is people whinging about artistic contribution and recognition. Scott Adams has been copping it a bit of recent as he had mentioned that he has someone lettering the comic strip. And the fact that many ideas are fuelled by real life instances sent by email from fans in the workplace. Taking a break from reading the debacle and fuming more as I read on I was brought to the attention of a sound file you can download.It's a radio interview with Adams discussing his recent non Dilbert ebook called God's Debris.

Frank and Ernest is one of my favourite strips, more for its relaxed drawing style. You should check out this site and view the very first strips he ever did of these characters.

And for those who love cartoonists, here is a lovely tale of politics where Jeb Bush, incensed about the treatment of his father in the comic strip Doonesbury, warned cartoonist Garry Trudeau to ''walk softly''.

Mr BEAN is back as a cartoon. Bloody hell. The series was animated in London, and at a guess done using Macromedia Flash. The characters are designed in a fashion I tried on comic strips a while back. It's done using a line method borrowed from the comic book industry where you thicken the outer line of the characters. Disney did this more recently for 101 Dalmations animated series. Although many had done it before them. Mainly Hanna Barbera. Worth checking out anyways, it starts in Australia tuesday 3rd December on the ABC @ 8.30pm ?

Ginger Meggs cartoonist

Other news recently in of note ...

Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois - the two guys featured on the main page to the site for a while, co-writers/directors of the animated hit LILO & STITCH, have entered into a deal with The Walt Disney Co. to write, direct and produce animated and live-action guff. Future projects include an untitled CG animated project directed by Sanders, and THE GUMSHOE CHRONICLES, a live-action family film that will be written and directed by DeBlois. The guys will produce each project under their newly formed Stormcoast Pictures company and will be able to join each other's projects as writers under the terms of the deal with Disney. Sounds like more competition for the likes of Tim Burton who also left Disney Feature Animation to go on and do solo projects in Live action.

A CGI/live-action adaptation of GARFIELD is in the works at Fox. Production will involve TOY STORY writers Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow scripting. There are plans to broadcast a newly produced GARFIELD 25th anniversary television special in June 2003. Is this is a god thing or a bad thing ?