A Fair(y) Use Tale

Copyright law can be a hard thing for most cartoonists to get a handle on, especially the practice of ‘Fair Use’. The labyrinthine legal ins and outs can make even the most level-headed person go loopy, bashing their heads around with a mallet like a love-struck wolf in a Tex Avery cartoon. Not that I have…lately.

But FRET NOT! For here is a handy, entertaining, and non-fattening (albeit choppy) guide to copyright and fair use as presented by a multitude of ‘fairly-used’ Walt Disney characters! Watch it before “Big Brother Mouse” clamps a lid on it!

A Fair(y) Use Tale
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

Matt Davies Video

Here.

Blog With Potential Find of the Day

Haiku fans, here's one for you!!

This does have potential. It does need some artwork or color or something, except you'd hate to see them violate copyright .....

Another Link - 3 AM Magazine

General discussion about cartoons/cartoonists. Scott McCloud mention. Also leads to The Daily Crosshatch -- which our Sarah Morean contributes to.

Matt Davies, cartoonist - now TV star

Here's the link to the article. He's starting short segments on for his paper's cable t.v. channel.

Here's also a link to his blog. VERY impressive style ... (at least I like it!)

Hold it -- newspapers now branching into cable? Hmmmm.

Radio alert

Jason is going to be on the Greg Belfrage Show this Tuesday at 7:30am on AM 1320 KELO - talking about Editorial Cartooning and other funny stuff happening around our city.

YouTube Challenge for SD Cartoonists

Create a cartoon video for YouTube.

This is a sample one I created in a hurry, just for fun to discuss ways of promoting Cartoonist Day. (I planned on deleting it -- because it was just a sample or an idea of how to promote Cartoonists Day -- then found one person actually subscribed to my channel!?!) Will leave it up for now, but replace it eventually with better videos.



I think SD Cartoonists could really create some cool videos for Cartoonist Day 2008 and get a YouTube buzz going.

Here's one approach I made. If you are using Windows, there is free software that is on your computer called Windows Movie Maker. You can add sound, speed up video, etc. To make live screen recordings, you can download something called Windows Media Encoder. I've used this to make tutorials for my students. Viola, YOU, too, can have a YouTube presence. For you Mac Users, you'll need to share what you do. I've seen beautiful Mac presentations and I'm envious.

Maybe one of our gatherings, we can talk and train how to do YouTube films -- and I'm happy to host that. Meanwhile, SD Cartoonists --- think mini movies!!!!!

YouTube Find of the Day -- Tools of the Trade

Blog Find of the Day

Chewing Pencils --- and today's entry is about the business side of cartooning!

New Pens!

Not sure what the medium of choice is for all of you, but I'm really liking the brush pen and went out and purchased this set at Hobby Lobby. (Only one set left there, BTW.) I'm not a Manga type cartoonist ... but I am liking the various grays (warm and cool) ... and it's nice for caricature work, like under the eyes or less severe or harsh line details. Twenty bucks .... hours of fun!

Blog Find of The Day

I'm doing massive caricature work this weekend -- and have discovered the joy of brush pens. Sarah had mentioned a particular brand of brush pen that you can't just get at Hobby Lobby or Michaels ... so in a blog search for brush pens, came across Tips and Tricks at this site. Thought it would be great to share.

Article -- Cartoonists Interview, etc.

I thought this was an interesting interview.

Something kind of hit me when reading Dan Piraro's response re: cartoonists carrying notebooks along with them -- that he writes and comes up with his ideas the first hour of the morning.

His comments remind me of a book that I absolutely love, yet never obey -- The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. (I don't own it yet, but have paid many a fine at the library the couple times I've checked it out.) There's an exercise she recommends that all swear by called the Morning Pages. First thing when you wake up -- spend 15 minutes writing what ever comes to the surface of your mind. Journal each day for 15 minutes -- don't pause to censor yourself -- just let it all out. (I started the process, but found that finding 15 minutes of uninterupted time, plus needing that first cup of caffeine to get the day started took priority. May start this exercise again.)

I kind of remember Dave Carpenter talking about his gag writing process also and thought it was early in the a.m. one day, spending an hour just writing ......

Hmmmmm .... this could be insight to an approach to creativity. So, cartoonists -- how do you get inspired and when do you write or come up with your ideas?

Do you carry about a notebook? What works for you? What time of day do you write?

How Sioux Falls Cartoonists Say Thank You!

Here's some photos that Jay took of the thank you boards that were cartooned for Arch Inc. and Dunn Bros. Coffee!

YouTube find

McCloud's breaking up cartoonists into four groups would make for interesting discussion or debate further into our blogging experience.

May 14th -- Scott McCloud -- WHS

Hey Cartoonists and Comics Fans ... FREE and cartoon event at Washington High School. Author Scott McCloud speaking ... student comics, etc.! Worth checking out!!!! Here's the article in the Argus. To make this a neat event, there is a student comics contest, pizza, ComiCon, with McCloud speaking in the Little Theater that evening.

Scott McCloud's web site is located here.

May is the month for Cartoonists!!!

Neat Blog Find Of The Day

The Daily Cartoonist

Has great links too!

Reception! LHS Graphics Students! May 10th!

May 10th at 5:30 is a reception for LHS Graphics students who worked on cartoon/caricatures! Bagel Boy treats provided plus visiting with the students.

For more information and to see their artwork, click HERE.

Cartoonist Day Crew

Here's our group of Sioux Falls Cartoonists!
From left to right:
Adam, Leah, Lamont, (in back John, Brian, Ken, Chad, Jay) in front -- (help! I need the names of the Minnesota gals!) and Jackie.

Unfortunately, we didn't get the picture taken before Jason and Scott had left. I've thought it before and the gathering only continues to cement my opinion ... cartoonists are about the neatest, most interesting people ever! :-) We want to get more cartoonists involved like Sarah Morean and Sarah Carlson as well!

There will be more gatherings! Look ahead for sketch book parties, a possible tear down gathering and a celebration of the cartoon exhibit that is going up at the Horse Barn in August.

More pictures in days ahead.

New Egg Submission

By Sarah C. She adds:

"Cool blogspot, by the way.My good friend Jay Kirschenmann sent me there, so kudos to Jay.I drew this drawing of Garrison Keillor in 2005 for the Argus Leader.Thanks, and keep up the great work!"

Thanks Sarah!

Happy Cartoonists Day!!!