Video: "Kore de Ii no da!! Eiga Akatsuka Fujio"

Above poster from Asianwikimedia.
Japanese manga artist and gag cartoonist Fujio Akatsuka is the subject of the new movie "Kore de Ii no da!! Eiga Akatsuka Fujio." Here's the trailer:



Despite not knowing a lick of Japanese, this movie (titled "That's the Way" in English) looks like fun and I would watch it if I had the chance. It's based on a book by Akatsuka's editor Toshiki Takei. Here's a plot description:

"Kore de Ii no da!! Eiga Akatsuka Fujio" covers the life of manga artist Fujio Akatsuka (Tadanobu Asano) told through the eyes of his editor Hatsumi Takeda (Maki Horikita).

New editor Hatsumi Takeda is ordered to take charge of popular gag cartoonist Fuji Akatsuka for her first job with a large publishing company. Fuji Akatsuka is playful and loves gags. Quiet Hatsumi becomes charmed by his ways & their working relationship starts to click ...

The Stanleys: 2011 Cartoonist of the Year Anton Emdin

Here's a great video, with some muddy sound, of Anton Emdin, who won Cartoonist of the Year at this month's Stanley Awards. Here you can see Anton's inking technique in real time. Anton routinely produces stunning, vivid color cartoon work for many clients. Here's a rare chance to see him in action.




Thanks to Peter Broelman. Take a look at his other videos from this year's Stanleys.

See You Soon

I am out of the studio for the next week, hence little or no blog. I wish you all well and here's hoping I see you next week.

"Art for Alexandra" Auction

Artists are raising funds for burglary victim Alexandra Trotsenko.

It was a vicious attack on this Russian artist, who is married to an Irishman and lives in Dublin. The attacker cut off most of the fingers from her drawing hand. The money raised will help with her rehabilitation.

The Irish Times has more here. 

Samples of Ms. Trotsenko's work and some of the items all ready assembled for the auction here.

If you are interested in contributing to the auction, Adams Blackrock Auctioneers needs your submission by November 21, 2011.

Contact Martina Noonan at this e-mail address:

info@adamsblackrock.com

They would like a scan (preferably as a PDF) of the piece to include in the auction booklet as soon as possible.

The auction house's mailing address:

Adams Blackrock
38, Main Street
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
Ireland

Whirlwind Trip to White Plains

Last weekend I was in Westchester County. Here is the story of that Whirlwind Trip down there and the cartoon class I taught. These are small doodles from my sketchbook, with a bit of watercolor added, and then blown up big (maybe too big) and messy (too messy) for your amusement.

Ready? Then let's begin.

Intimate moment: Here are my touching, parting words to my spouse as I leave her:

Note: only 2 (Trout and Sam) of the five cats are represented in this drawing.

 I stopped four times enroute, either to consume or expel. 

I was fortunate to be able to stay overnight with pals Isabella Bannerman and Jim Nolan. They put me up and fed me in style.

Like I said, maybe it's too messy. Translation of the above panels:

Finally arrive 5.5 hours later at Isy + Jim's home --

Do you want to go into Manhattan?

No thanks - just want to sit still!

We attended a local gallery opening --

Artist: I had to remix the color 100 times before I was happy!

I could draw 100 cartoons in the time it takes him to draw one canvas.

But the best part of hanging with other cartoonists -- SHOP TALK! That's Isy talking on the left and me on the right.

Some interesting information from Jim! I didn't know about "image trackers" and now want to know more!

The next day was cartoon class. I taught for just over an hour.

We drew expressions:

We drew a banjo playing pig and a pig of a person. I told the kids about Guy Francis' and Stacy Curtis' Dueling Banjo Pigs site.

We drew people running:

We drew people running faster:

We drew people running from aliens!

We drew a lot.

My favorite question from one of the kids:

 

I'll be back, teaching another cartoon class at the White Plains Public Library on November 19, 2011 2-3:15pm!

And a thank you to Gerry Mooney who stopped by and stayed for the whole class! Gerry also snapped a few photos. Thanks for the photos, Gerry!

11-11-11

Remembering our Veterans.

My cartoon from this month's Reader's Digest.

Teacher Cartoons

Some teacher cartoons from me, Mike Lynch:

Cartoons by Mike Lynch. All rights reserved.

Sales Cartoons

Here are some sales cartoons I drew. I have no idea why two of the 3 are heaven-based cartoons, but there they are.

Cartoons by Mike Lynch. All rights reserved.

Doctor Cartoons

Some of my cartoons about doctors.

Cartoons by Mike Lynch. All rights reserved.

Waiter and Waitress Cartoons

Some cartoons about waiters and waitresses:

Hmm. That carb cartoon is way too dated now.

Cartoons by Mike Lynch. All rights reserved.

Video: Meet Hilary Price

Hilary Price talks about her life in this video and article by Scott Coen. You can visit her studio during the 19th Arts and Industry Open Studio event this weekend from 10am-5pm.

"And to think it all started with her Aunt's subscription to the New Yorker Magazine.

"'Well my aunt, the one who had the subscription to the New Yorker, she told me that no word rhymes with the word orange. So when it came time to name the strip I said, 'That's it, that's what it will be.'"

Remembering Bil Keane

Above: a 1970 self-portrait.

Remembering Bil Keane, who died at the age of 89 on November 8, 2011.

Here are a few Bil Keane photos and drawings from National Cartoonist Society publications:



1968:

1966:

1966, Bill Mauldin and Bil Keane:

1967 Awards Dinner page from the NCS Cartoonist magazine:

1975 Award winners:

1968 Award winners:
:

1972:

1975:

1977:

1976 Hall and Register Syndicate ad:

1976:

1976, Bil Keane and Jack Lebo:

Bil Keane 1922-2011

FAMILY CIRCUS creator Bil Keane has died. The Associated Press reports he died of congestive heart failure on November 8, 2011. He was 89 years old.

Bil's son, Jeff Keane, who now draws the long-running feature, announced his father's passing via Facebook.


Like so many cartoonists, I first saw Bil Keane live and in person on the National Cartoonist Society dais some years ago (maybe the Century Club in NYC?) and he had everyone laughing so hard. 

When I was a kid, I would study all of his detailed cartooning in his Sunday FAMILY CIRCUS cartoons. My Mom and Grandma would cut out the strips & send them to each other with comments like, "Isn't this the truth?!" The family refrigerator was papered with them. 

When I met Mr. Keane, I could not say very much. I remember shaking his hand and smiling and biting my tongue in trying not to do a Ralph Kramden "Humminah-humminah-huminah." 

To meet him was to complete such a personal circle that I was at a loss for words.

Above photo via Michael Sporn Anmation from a 1975 Cartoonist PROfiles interview.

FUN HOME Musical

Alison Bechdel's award winning graphic novel autobiography FUN HOME will be made into a stage musical