Monday, October 15, 2018

Recap: Fall Cartooning Weekend 2018

This past weekend I drove down to Kansas City, MO for the Fall Cartooning Weekend sponsored by the North Central Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society. The main event was an afternoon of lectures hosted at the offices of comic book syndicate Andrews McMeel Universal, the company behind GoComics
The main lobby features a giant "timeline wall" highlighting the syndicate's most popular strips from the past several decades, in chronological order. Among them were Ziggy, Garfield, For Better or For Worse, Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, Doonsbury, Pearls Before Swine, as well as modern webcomics like Sarah's Scribbles, The Awkward Yeti, and Phoebe and her Unicorn.
There's also a giant wall featuring drawings by their most popular cartoonists, past and present. 
John Glynn, president of Andrews McMeel Universal, served us assorted beverages and gave us a guided tour of the syndicate offices.
Mike Edholm, Ken Alvine, and Bob Hall


Comic book artist Bob Hall admires a framed cartoon about the creative process by the late, great Richard Thompson.
In the lower right corner is Gary Larson's Reuben Award, the most prestigious award the National Cartoonist Society can bestow.


The staff never stop thinking about comics, even on bathroom breaks.
After the tour we gathered in the main conference room. Cartoonist Eric Scott kicked things off with a prevention of his licensing art, his work for clients like MAD Magazine, as and samples from his syndicated strips Back in the Day and 1 and Done
University of Nebraska Professor Richard Graham discussed the life and work of illustrator Rose O'Neill, who's Kewpie Doll characters launched the first big licensing craze in American history. Graham is working on a book about the Kewpie Dolls that will be released in 2019. His previous book about World War II propaganda cartoons was an Eisner Award nominee.
Keynote speaker Wiley Miller discussed his syndicated strip Non Sequitur.
Miller designs his gags to work in both horizontal and vertical formats. Using this template, he keeps the main art in the center square and puts one copy of the caption/punchline in the edge of the horizontal zone and another duplicate copy in the vertical zone.
Here's an example of how that works. The cartoon is designed so publishers can crop it two different ways.
After the presentations several cartooning books, prints, and original art were raffled off to raise funds for the chapter.
The day ended back in the lobby with a catered dinner and cocktails, again courtesy of the fine folks at Andrews McMeel Universal.
Everyone drove back home really jazzed and inspired to keep cartooning!

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Announcing the Annual Fall Cartooning Weekend Oct 12-13, 2018 in Kansas City, MO

NOTE: Info about the event has also been posted on our chapter Facebook group. You can also follow our chapter on Twitter to see member tweets and general retweets of interest to cartoonists. 

It's time again for our far-flung NCS chapter to gather for our annual cartooning weekend! 


MAIN EVENT (Open to the public):  Hear some talks by professional cartoonists and hang out with other cartoonists and cartooning fans (it's also a fun way to check out the NCS if you have ever thought about joining.) Come to Andrews McMeel Universal Syndicate for a great lineup of speakers:

Eric Scott (artist at Andrews McMeel Universal):


The Dwayne Chronicles by Eric Scott

Richard GrahamUniv. of Nebraska Professor and author of a new book on Rose O’Neill, Illustrator and inventor of the Kewpie Doll:


Kewpie Doll art by Rose O'Neill

Keynote Speaker: Wiley Miller, creator of prize-winning comic strip “Non-Sequitur”:


Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller

The weekend will also include a chapter meeting (NCS members only) and lots of socializing over meals and drinks (open to NCS members and anyone interested in joining the NCS). 


TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, Oct 12:
Arrive at Aladdin Holiday Inn (Google Map). Social time to meet, greet, drink TBA.

SATURDAY, Oct 13:
7:30-9:30am - Breakfast at Aladdin Holiday Inn (Google Map)

10:00am - Meet in lobby at Andrews McMeel Universal Syndicate, 1130 Walnut St, Kansas City MO 64106 (Google Map). If you are driving in for the day there is a city parking garage right across the street from the AMU offices.

10:30-11:30am - NCS chapter meeting. (NCS members only)

11:30am-12:30pm - Lunch courtesy of NCS N. Central Chapter

1:00-4:30pm - MAIN EVENT! Guest speakers Eric Scott, Richard Graham, and Wiley Miller, followed by raffle of original art, books, and other cartoon collectibles. Open to the public.

5:00pm - Cocktail party for N. Central Chapter hosted by John Glynn, President and Editorial Director, AMU


HOTEL RESERVATIONS:
We have a block of rooms reserved for chapter members just a couple of blocks from Universal Syndicate headquarters where we'll be meeting. The rate is $129 per night single or double. Valet parking is $18. There are also city parking garages nearby that will be cheaper. Deadline for reservations is September 12. Mention you're with the National Cartoonists Society to get the discounted rate.

Aladdin Holiday Inn
1215 Wyandotte
Kansas City, MO 64105
(816) 421-8888
ihg.com

We hope to see you there!

Follow us:
Chapter Facebook Group
Chapter Twitter feed