The USPS Betty White Postage Stamp Debuts Today

 

Illustrator Dale Stephanos created the Betty White postage stamp from a 2010 photo by Kwaku Alston. The USPS Forever stamp is available today. 

"Speaking to Today, Boston-based illustrator Dale Stephanos opened up about the upcoming stamp honoring White’s life. 'It’s just a great photo — a sweet spot in her older years,' Stephanos said. 'I just kind of used that as reference and then kind of changed the colors and tried to make it more handmade than a photo would be.'

"The stamp sees White in a stylized portrait, dressed in purple instead of the red that she wore in the original photo, to reflect a protest of sort that Stephanos saw in White’s career and attitude.

"'Purple is the color of protest. She had such a positive personality. She never seemed angry, even though protest is a form of anger,' said Stephanos." -- Coming Soon

Here's the official USPS video:

Victoria Semykina on Plagiarism and Creating Art

 

Above from Victoria Semykina's Instagram. Someone had copied one of her illustrations and passed it off as their own. Hers is on the left, and the plagiarized version is on the right. She posted this a week ago and I still think about it. She could "out" the person who stole her art and berate them, but she takes this as an opportunity to reveal a real hard fact about drawing for a living. While some amateurs may be looking for an easy key that solves the challenge of finding and creating the work, Victoria knows it's damn hard work. And it's rewarding work. The work is the point.

"A friend sent me this image, and wow… that familiar mix of ugh and amazement hit me right away. Is it 100% plagiarism? No, of course not. But the ‘inspiration’ is so obvious it might as well be waving at me.
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"I’m not here to name and shame—no internet drama today. Instead, I want to talk about something that’s been bugging me for a while.
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"To simplify, there are two ways to create art:
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"The first way is to get an idea, sketch, gather references, wrestle with colors, composition, and all the tricky bits. It takes time and effort. Eventually, after all that, you end up with something dreadful and start again. It’s exhausting. But I believe that’s also what makes art art.
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"The second way is when you take an image that already works. You tweak a few elements—swap a boy for a girl, a minor shuffle here and there—and... a 'new' piece is born! Quick, easy, and terribly convenient.
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"What worries me is that many new artists think this is a normal way to work. Some even go so far as to teach it—offering tutorials on how to 'borrow' and 'blend' into something 'original.'
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"But here’s the most important thing I wanted to say:

"When you train your brain to copy, it learns to repeat, not create. When you train your brain to create, it will become a fountain of ideas, showering you with new thoughts, new visions, and sparks. The mind, after all, is a muscle, and its greatest pleasure is invention.
 

"So, don’t rob yourself of that joy."

Higgins Ink Co., Inc: The "All American" Art Cartooning 1944

 

I got a surprise in the mail from my good friend Dick Buchanan: a copy of The All American Art -- Cartooning, which originally was published in 1944. This is the 12th printing from 1958. It's always fun to dive into this old world from the golden days of cartooning. 

Don Herold drew the cover, and the interior has many of the cartoonists of the day represented. And some of them comment about their work. The book opens with an uncredited essay, "The Theory of Humor." There are also sections on pen and brush exercises, anatomy, draping, the comic strip, what they call "single box comics" (gag cartoons), political cartoons, sports cartoons, caricature and so on.

Below are a few selections from the 64 page book, as well as the entire gag cartoon section. Thanks again, Dick!

As usual, there are some cartoons that are not politically correct, such as this first one. Others, like Ned Hilton's, reference something that was going on in 1944 (rationing) but is now a thing of the past.

If this is the Garrity I think it is, he would go on to be The New Yorker's cartoon editor. 

A Barbara Shermund cartoon from Esquire. Do read Caitlin McGurk's recent biography of Ms. Shermund.

 

Otto Soglow from Collier's Magazine:

 

A few pages of basic cartoony anatomy. Artist uncredited.

 

This is the only time I have ever seen instruction on page breaks or spot illustrations. No artist credited.

 

A cartoon by Richard Taylor, as well as an essay by him opens the "Spot or Gag Cartoons" section. 

 

William Steig, Whitney Darrow, Jr.

 

Syd Hoff, Rodney DeSarro, Jay Irving:

 

Hilda Terry, Don Herold, Virgil Partch.

 

Gluyas Williams, Irving Roir, George Wolfe, Halpert.

 

Frank Beaven, Mischa Richter.

 

Baer, John Groth, Lawrence Lariar.

 

John Milligan, Gardner Rea, David Huffine, Crockett Johnson.

 

Nat Gertler: Comics Show and Tell episode 7: Transformation of the Wolf

 

Leonard Sansone (1917 - 1963) was a cartoonist whose perhaps most well-known work is "The Wolf" or "G.I. Wolf." After graduating from the Massachusetts College of Art, he moved to New York City, where he freelanced, drawing advertising art, and creating comic book pages during the Golden Age of Comic Books. During this time, he married Emily Stone, whom he had met while at art school. Leonard was then

"... drafted and first stationed at Ft. Belvoir (Virginia). It was there he worked on the publication DUCKBOARD and created his famous cartoon The Wolf (also called G.I. Wolf, Pvt. Wolf). It was so popular he was transferred to NYC to join the staff at Camp Newspaper Services (CNS) a division of YANK magazine where he worked as art director and cartoonist for the duration of the war.

"His famous and wonderfully funny Wolf cartoons appeared in over 3000 Camp Newspapers. Sansone was featured in LIFE magazine in 1941 and his cartoon book The Wolf was released in 1945. During this period at CNS Lenny’s colleagues were artists, cartoonists and writers such as Sgt George Baker, Bill Mauldin, Marion Hargrove, Milton Caniff, Walter Farley.

"Leonard moved to Miami in 1948 created his popular syndicated comic strip 'Willie' ( a family oriented cartoon strip), co-owned Florida Advertising Art Agency located in Coral Gables, Florida. He died in a tragic car accident in 1963. He was 46 years old and survived by his wife Emily and their two children Peter and Maggie who now live in Maryland (USA)." -- from his web site, maintained by his daughter Maggie.

 

Eisner Award-winning author Nat Gertler talks about Sansone and The Wolf in this informative video that's just out this month -- part of a series of shorts titled About Comics, each one about an aspect of comics history. He has also put together a reprint of Sansone's famous The Wolf book that you can purchase. 

Here's his video about The Wolf. And do check out some of Nat's other great videos.

Comic Creator RE Burke: Her Visa Story

 

Cartoonists Rights posts that 28 year old British cartoonist RE "Becky" Burke, who was detained by ICE for over two weeks, has now been released and is back home. 

Cartoonists Rights links to a story by John Freeman at Downthetubes:

"The family of comic creator RE Burke, aka Becky Burke, have issued a detailed statement about her recent detention nightmare in the United States, asking for it to be shared so that the many thousands who offered support after her family’s appeal for Becky’s return can see it.

"'We want everyone to know how grateful we are for their support, prayers and help in raising the profile. It is the reason she is home with us now, thank you,' they explain.

"As we previously reported, comic creator RE Burke, aka Becky Burke, is home after her detention nightmare in the United States, detained by the United States by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over two weeks for travelling with wrong visa. She is now back in the UK.

"Becky, 28, was denied entry into Washington State after US immigration officials accused her of travelling on the wrong visa, her plight prompting a massive campaign to free her, which we reported here.

"A GoFundMe campagn fund raised over £9000 to cover legal Becky’s costs. No more donations are being taken. Any surplus will be donated to charities in the Seattle area helping people in similar situations.

"In normal times, R. E. Burke, also known as Becky Burke, is a non-stop artist and creator from Monmouthshire, who studied English and Philosophy at Bristol University, and then a postgraduate degree in Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes. Despite never studying art professionally, she has developed her craft persistently and with determination, alongside her ongoing education.

"After finishing her masters, Becky moved to London, where she keeps working on new artistic projects as much as possible. She also wrote for the British comic news site Broken Frontier as Rebecca Burke between 2020 and 2023.

"The family have asked their statement, posted here on Facebook, be shared and we are reproducing it in full, below.

"'Please share with your own networks so that the many thousands who offered support after our appeal for Becky’s return can see it,' the family have asked. 'We want everyone to know how grateful we are for their support, prayers and help in raising the profile. It is the reason she is home with us now, thank you.

"'After 19 harrowing days in ICE detention due to a visa mix-up, our daughter Becky has finally returned home to the UK. Instead of allowing her to take an immediate flight back, Homeland Security detained her in handcuffs at a Tacoma, WA facility under harsh conditions. The current immigration crackdown and systemic delays exacerbated her ordeal, worsened by a shortage of immigration judges. Becky’s nightmare ended on March 18th, and she is now beginning to recover.

"'The Light of Kindness and Compassion

"'Throughout this ordeal, we were overwhelmed by the incredible kindness of friends, strangers, experts, politicians, and the media. From visitors making long journeys to see Becky, to generous donations for necessities, we cannot express our gratitude enough. This experience has reaffirmed our faith in humanity – showing that even in the darkest times, compassion shines through.

"'A Word of Caution for Travellers

"'Becky’s story serves as a warning to anyone planning extended trips to the USA: always triple-check visa requirements and confirm them with the US Embassy. Print any documentation for added security.

"'Becky is also planning to produce a graphic novel highlighting her story and how it is not an isolated case. She wants to support her fellow detainees who are still locked up, a group of women who helped Becky get through this horrible experience, despite their own grim situation.

"'When she feels able to she will start posting again on her instagram page @R.E.Burke

"'Frequently Asked Questions

"'Did she overstay the 90 day limit on the ESTA tourist visa?

"'No. She had only been in the USA for 50 days when she had planned to travel by bus to Canada, she was planning to spend 2 months in Canada and then fly home to the UK.

"'Did she break the rules of the ESTA?

"'The ESTA is for tourists only. For work or study a specific visa is required. Becky did a lot of research before she went and what she had planned was classed as tourism. This was accepted when she entered the US on 7th January. It was also accepted in 2023 when she spent two weeks in San Francisco, with a host family. On the 26th February, US border officers suddenly decided staying with host families and joining in with household chores was now classed as work. Our US Immigration Lawyer said they got their definition of work wrong.

"'Was she given a chance to return to the UK at her own cost?

"'No, this was not offered at the border despite this being the usual protocol for tourists. ICE had the chance to offer this at any stage during her detention, her parents even had a flight home booked for her at one point, in the hope they would let her take it, but they didn’t.

"'Does she have a criminal record?

"'No. She also has many people who testify to her good character and her gentle soul.

"'Was she allowed to let family know when she was being deported?

"'No. One of the other detainees had to call us to say she had left. Even the British Consulate were not told that she had boarded the flight. We were only certain when she arrived at Heathrow.

"'Was she treated with ‘dignity and respect’ as written in ICE policy.

"'No. She was handcuffed when she was transferred from the border to the facility. When inside the facility ICE did not communicate where she was in the process, all her possessions were confiscated, lights were on 24/7 and there were four head counts each day during which they were forced stay on their bunk for at least an hour. When she was eventually transferred to Seattle airport to fly home she was taken in leg and waist chains and handcuffs, and was escorted to the plane.'"

"We wish Becky and her family well after this ordeal."

Freeman writes that "some of its [ICE] operations are run by private companies, including CoreCivic and GEO Group, who, the Open Secrets web site previously reported, receive government funding based on the number of people they detain, and, presumably, why they lobby for stricter immigration policies."

The article continues, detailing other foreign nationals detained by ICE, here. 

Bill Peet's Gag Cartoons

 

Bill Peet was a long-time Disney artist, not only working on all of the major animated releases from Snow White to 101 Dalmatians, but also contributing to the choices of these projects. He was a major force at Disney, and Walt Disney himself trusted Peet's opinions.

I had no idea that he tried his hand at gag cartooning as well. Here are a few from his wonderful Caldecott Award-winning autobiography BILL PEET AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

He sent his gag cartoons to the top markets of the day: Collier's, True, the Post and The New Yorker. They were all rejected. From The New Yorker he received this note:

"Your humor is too undisciplined, but we would like to see more of your drawings."

Bill writes in his autobiography:

"That small glimmer of hope wasn't nearly enough to spur me on. Doing cartoons week after week, even if I sold them all, would be frustrating work."

Bill would go on, after leaving Disney, to focus on children's books, creating thirty-six books. A lot of them were based on stories he had made up to tell his own kids.

Here's some of his gag cartoons that were never bought. Bill published them in his autobiography. I thought they were great. 

- Edited from a March 21, 2018 blog entry.

 

Rolling Along: Midcentury Children's Book Illustrations by Ted Carr, Peter Dugan, Tye Gibson, Phoebe Moore and Bradford/Cout Graphic Design

 If you're a fan of mid-century illustration, like I am, then this book is for you. The book cover and title page were designed by Bradford/Cout Graphic Design.

Rolling Along is part of the Open Highways "a diagnostic and developmental reading program" series of books published in 1967 by Scott, Forseman and Company, Glenview, Illinois. It's copyright by them as well. This elementary school reader is not only full of different stories and poems and jokes, but it's also full of different illustrative styles, and -- this is amazing -- the actual artists are acknowledged in the back index by name and page number. It's rare that you get to actually know who drew what in these books. Here are a few pages:

 

Ted Carr drew the cat and dog cartoon. Peter Dugan created "The Little Old Woman and How She Kept Her Geese Warm" illustrations, which was written by Hope Newell.

The "Coats for Katie and Carmen" paintings are by Tye Gibson. 

"An Umbrella Joke" is by Ted Carr again, and Phoebe Moore illustrated "A New Place for Old Comic Books."