I made a resolution to blog more this year and since it's the 17th, I nearly blew it.

Oh well, back in the saddle. [back on the horse? back in the saddle on the horse?]

Try again.

Happy New Year! [how late into the year can I say that?]

All kinds of exciting things are happening over here at the studio. My cartoons are popping up across the country in Parade Magazine [last seen in the San Francisco Chronicle] the Funny Times and Yoga Chicago Magazine.

Four more cards have been added to my line of cards at NobleWorks for Christmas 2013 and a new graduation card was just picked up by American Greetings.

You can now order prints of my cartoons and have my cartoons printed on all kinds of fun stuff like bags, magnets, iPhone cases and mugs.

Reprints of existing cartoons are available along with custom illustrations for greeting cards, invitations, newsletters, presentations and more. The best way to see daily updates of new work is on my facebook page. Please "like" it if you like it, the more the merrier!

Hope the rest of 2013 is filled with laughter and fun!

Sam Gross, Maria Scrivan, Sidney Harris, George Booth at a New Yorker lunch


It was what I thought would be a typical Tuesday in the New Yorker office. Grab a seat and settle in for some fun cartoonist banter until it's your turn to bring your batch in for review. 

When I walked in this Tuesday, my friend whispered, "That's George Booth!" about the man sitting in the corner of the room. 

I've always loved his work and was so excited to meet another one of my cartooning idols. 

He was very funny and very sweet. We were all talking about cats and I asked him if he had a lot of dogs. He said "only in my mind."

Left to Right: Bobby Timony, Michael Kandalaft, Doug Bratton, Pam Melyan-Bratton, Mike Cavallaro, O’Casey’s manager Tony, Tony Murphy, Marc Bilgrey, Isabella Bannerman, Ed Steckley, Ray Alma, Maria Scrivan and Farley Katz.

This is why l love being a cartoonist. [just one of the reasons, the list is long.]

Our meetings consist of getting together for Happy Hour at a bar a few blocks from Grand Central to have a few drinks and talk shop.

This past meeting our chapter head told us about a friend who had a critical illness and was denied health insurance. He asked if any of us would like to contribute a drawing to an auction they were holding in his behalf and we were all happy to participate.

As the pens and paper floated around the room, drawings began to migrate onto the tablecloth. Luckily it was made out of paper.

Mark Simon, Brian Walker, Mort Walker, Maria Scrivan

I had a fun visit with Mort Walker at his Studio, which is only 2 miles from my house. It's an amazing building that used to be owned by Gutzon Borglum, the creator of Mount Rushmore. The walls of Mort's office are covered with Beetle Bailey book covers and drawings along with a museum of originals from Peanuts, Garfield, Prince Valiant, Blondie and a long list of others.

Mort feels strongly that cartoonists must play golf so I gave it shot in his backyard tee. I took a swing and a miss and then nearly destroyed the platform at which point I decided I'd better stick with cycling. 

Every summer Bunny Hoest [The Lockhorns] hosts a fun gathering for cartoonists at her beautiful waterfront house in Long Island. I had a great time catching up with old friends, meeting new ones and enjoying the gorgeous view of Long Island Sound.

All of us!

Me and Stan Goldberg [Archie]

Me, Gahan Wilson, Tom Stemmel and Sam Viviano

This year was my first trip to the Reuben Awards having been accepted to the National Cartoonists Society in 2011. The event was held at the Green Valley Ranch in fabulous Las Vegas and it was an amazing weekend. The National Cartoonists Society is the most amazing group of people and so much fun! I am so thrilled to be a part of it.

Patrick McDonnell [Mutts] holding the beautiful Mutts drawing he made for me.

Jim Davis [Garfield], Jill Davis, Mark Simon [aka Austin Powers] and Maria Scrivan at the Mad Men 60’s Party.

This past weekend I exhibited at Mocca Fest at the National Cartoonists Society’s table. There was a great turnout and it was a lot of fun to meet so many other amazing cartoonists and fans. It was at the Amory in NYC which is truly an incredible space. I sold prints and cards of my work alongside a collection of books from many other talented NCS members.

Today’s oil painting class was at a Audubon Coastal Reserve. The assignment–no brushes! This time we were asked to paint using only thin pieces of cardboard and/or a palette knife. It was frustrating at times but once I got into the groove of it, it felt more like icing a cake with a thick gooey delicious frosting [and I looooove frosting.]

It was interesting to let go of detail and cover large areas of the canvas at a time, letting the colors meld which each other and form loose textures. This became about the paint itself and less about the subject matter.

The paint was so thick that looking closely at the painting felt like looking at an abstraction. When you step back, the painting takes it’s shape and the tones come together to form the image.

Here is a detail of the thick paint which will probably take a few weeks to dry completely: