START MARKING YOUR CALENDAR...

It's that time again — our fall cartoon activities are starting to close in on us and I know you're wondering when is Toonfest, when is the Fall Chapter meeting, and what else is happening?

I'll have more details as they arise but let's get the ball rolling with the basics.


TO START:

The Disney Hometown Toonfest will be, as it always is, the THIRD WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER. Mark your calendar!
This year it's the weekend of September 20-21. We, the cartoonists, will be arriving on Thursday, Sept 19 for the cookout, hayrack ride, and meet-n-greet. All the activities start on Friday with the presentations to the high school students from around the area.

This year’s speakers will be animator and character designer Stephen Silver, Sandra Bell Lundy (“Among Friends”), and nationally syndicated editorial cartoonists Steve Kelley and Jeff Parker, who also partner on the successful new strip “Dustin”.

As you know, North Central has a strong participation with the Toonfest. As in past years we approach our membership to contribute 2 or 3 pieces of their cartoon art for the Toonfest Art Show. To make things easier we ask the membership to send electronic files (JPEG or PDF in the 300 dpi or better range) that we'll print off, mount, and exhibit during the Toonfest. I hope you'll send samples of your work and give the North Central Chapter as good a showing as we had last year. Send the files to Paul Fell, pfell@neb.rr.com, or to me, medholm1@mac.com. We'll make sure that they get mounted and hung. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Paul ASAP. If you prefer to send originals, to make a really top-drawer impression, please mail them to the Toonfest office no later than September 6. They will be mailed back to you at no charge by the Toonfest folks.

Disney Toonfest Office
207 N. Main Street USA
Marceline, MO 64658

Got questions? Please contact Paul Fell at his email: pfell@neb.rr.com



NEXT:

The NCS North Central Chapter's Fall Meeting will be held in Okoboji, Iowa the weekend of October 11-12. Dave Carpenter is putting the program together and promises to "really deliver" this year. Remember how terrific last year's meeting was? We're counting on you, Dave.

Anyway, more details will be available soon. Keep an eye on the blog or our Chapter Facebook Page. I will, of course, send out and email blast to the membership.


AFTER THAT:

Kenosha Cartoon Show (Kenosha, WI)
This year's KCS will be a one-day affair on Saturday, November 2 featuring Tom Richmond, NCS President (but not for much longer) and one of MAD Magazine's Usual Gang of Idiots.

Saturday
10:30-12:00 - this may turn into 11:00-12:00 if the museum director advises it......

Caricature Class for Kids aged 13-18 Location: Kenosha Public Museum

Lunch Break

12:30-2:00 Presentation by Tom Richmond Location: KPM

Break – walk to Art Works Art Supply shop and Gallery

2:30-4:00 Caricature and Freelance Masterclass for aspiring professionals. Taught by Tom Richmond – max 20 students

Break

4:15-6:00 Portfolio Review with Tom Richmond (illustration) or John Hambrock (Comic Strip, Cartooning) –max 6 reviews per artist

Dinner Break

6:30-9:00 Meet and Greet Reception

There will be down time for any out of town cartoonists who aren't taking the class so I will be offering the opportunity to hang out at John's studio at that time - I'll be serving food so I'm going to make it a "kickstarter" type perk.


THEN:

This is the year that Ohio State will christen the brand new Billy Ireland Library of Cartoon Art on the OSU campus. The Ohio State Festival of Cartoon Art is planned for November. More on that soon.