Mailbag
September 27th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: You seemed to be somewhat dismissive of crowdfunding projects in the past, yet here you are doing one. Why the change of heart? Also, why the high $45k goal? A: I don’t think “dismissive” is an accurate description. I’d use the word “selective”. It’s true I have not promoted very many Kickstarters or IndieGoGos on my blog, but that’s not because I have anything against crowdfunded projects. I am just very picky about ones I do promote. I have to be convinced that They are creating something that really interests me They are going to follow through and make the book or movie or… READ MORE
September 6th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I heard an interview with you on a podcast earlier this summer where you mentioned you and another MAD creator were planning on doing a Kickstarter project, but I haven’t heard anything more about it. Is that still happening? A: Yes. Longtime MAD writer Desmond Devlin and I have been working on a project all summer, and we are just putting the finishing touches on our Kickstarter campaign. I’ll start foreshadowing a launch planned for mid September soon…. actually with this mailbag answer! Look for some more hints over the next week, and a launch the week after that! We hope people will get… READ MORE
August 30th, 2020 | Posted in General
Q: What are your thoughts on The Batman trailer that dropped? A: I thought it looked good. It’ll be dark (big surprise there) but I’m hoping we get to see Batman the detective more than Batman just running around beating up small time criminals. There are hints this might be the case. I am still not sold on Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman. He isn’t physical enough for the part. He probably goes 160-170 lbs soaking wet, and it doesn’t look like he added much if any muscle for the role. Sorry but part of Batman is his physical presence, and a scrawny Batman isn’t… READ MORE
August 16th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I saw DC Comics just did another big round of layoffs… how does this affect MAD? A: Last week there was another bloodbath at DC Entertainment/Warner Bros where many long-time and/or high ranking executives and editors were shown the door. This after 2018’s purge of many vice-presidents and the firing of co-publisher Dan DiDio back in February. How does this affect MAD Magazine? Not much, since there really isn’t a MAD Magazine anymore. Prior to his latest round of layoffs and restructuring, MAD had already been turned into a publication of nothing but reprint material under a new cover and with a new Fold-In,… READ MORE
August 9th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Are you planning to schedule any new caricature workshops soon? A: No, I’m afraid not. Thanks to the pandemic I have had to completely cancel overseas workshops in Vienna and Dublin (June), and Sydney and Melbourne (Oct), and reschedule ones originally scheduled earlier this year in Chicago, MN, and New York. The only ones still on their original scheduled dates are the ones in Detroit (which I am conducting this weekend actually!) and next month in Indianapolis. As infection rates continue to fluctuate requirements and orders keep changing, so any of these workshops may end up not happening at the last second. Also many… READ MORE
August 2nd, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: I’ve seen you say as a freelancer you never know when or from where your next job will come, and that it’s tough to turn down any paying jobs. Does that mean you will do any job that comes along? Are there some jobs you would turn down for personal or other reasons? A: I’ve been lucky in the 30 plus years I’ve been a freelance illustrator I have managed to keep enough work on my drawing board to afford to be a little picky with the jobs that come in (note emphasis on the adverb “a little”). Still there are some reasons for… READ MORE
July 5th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Do you think about caricatures differently when you are working on a MAD parody with multiple faces, as compared with caricaturing a single face. For example, do you consciously play the faces off against each other to see how they differ, and how those differences might help with your choices about exaggeration? Do you think the relationship to other faces in a parody causes you to make different choices than if you were caricaturing a subject on their own? Does this also apply with caricaturing couples or groups in a live setting (or maybe more so apply in those settings)? Very seldom would I do that in a… READ MORE
April 5th, 2020 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Can you tell us what kind of pencil you are using, what it’s wrapped up in and other details on the tools you use for drawing live caricatures like the one you did on your live video? A: Sure. Here’s the live caricature demonstration mentioned (starts at the beginning of the drawing part): I use a soft graphite pencil for live drawing. The pencil I use is a Caran d’Ache Fixpencil 3, which is a “clutch” type mechanical pencil. A clutch pencil uses one stick of lead at a time, and has a claw-like front end on it that grips the lead. You need… READ MORE
