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?