Orphan Work Amendment explained...

I found this website the other day about the Orphan Work Amendment. The conversation is between author Steve Heller and illustrator Brad Holland. If you have any questions about the O.W.A. and what it means to copyright and the protection of our work, this conversation should answer many, if not all, of those questions. It sure turned on the light for me.

NCC Memebers at TOON Exhibit

This spring and early summer several NCC members are taking part in an exhibition of cartoon art done by young, aspiring cartoonists. Organized by former NCC chairman Ken Alvine, The TOON-Ed organization will be hanging an exhibition of student cartooning artwork for consideration for the Annual TOON Award at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, IA. Toon-Ed is dedicated to educating the student of cartooning and provides a chance to showcase students cartoon art that are enrolled in post-secondary schools, colleges, art schools, and universities. Cartoon art students are invited to participate in the annual TOON Award.

College students and artists 18 years of age and older are welcome to submit up to 3 pieces of their original works of cartoon art to the Pearson center by March 15th, 2009. There is a $10.00 entree fee. More details here.

The work will be judged by a panel of professional cartoonists on April 24th, 2009. The panel includes:

• Chris Browne of "Hagar the Horrible" website


• Tom Richmond of "Mad Magazine" (Hey... that's me!)


• Oliver Christenson (Revilo) of Hallmark Cards website


• Buck Jones - Humorous Illustrator website


• Paul Fell- Editorial Cartoonist website


• Ed Baker -Emmy award winning storyboard animator

Categories include magazine cartoons, greeting cards, comic books, political cartoons, illustrations, manga and anime, comic strips and animation. You can download the registration form here.

On Saturday there will be several workshops on cartooning by professional cartoonists:

• Dave Carpenter, Magazine cartooning


• Jim Allen, Dissecting a Cartoon


• Ken Alvine, Cartoon Ingredients

NCS- Landstuhl Germany USO Trip

I just got back a few days ago from a trip with 7 other NCS members to visit wounded soldiers and military hospital staff in Washington D.C. and in Landstuhl, Germany. It was a very inspirational trip. You can read about our time with the troops on my blog.... links above via the location names.

Bringing Drawings to Life

Here's a great few pages about improving the figures in your drawings. I have no idea what book this comes from -- if anyone does know, please comment. I'd like to read more by this author.

I know, it looks like a lot to read and you're busy today. But at least glance through the remarks beside the examples for Stage 1 and Stage 2. I've never heard the term "twinning" before, but I'm guilty of it.

Bringing Drawings to Life