Random Showcase - Chris Rosko

I've been noticing more continuity in the recent installments of Cartoon by: Rosko. Here's a 6-part series!:


To see more, click on Photos in Rosko's myspace.

All this pinching reminds me of an old sketchbook page of mine, from 1996, depicting a lecherous "Mr. Cat." -

Murder Most Foul

Check out this mystery game that SHC Stephen Smith put up on his Birmingham Free Press web site: Murder Most Foul


Roam the streets of B'ham as you try and figure out who murdered Anna Himalaya! The game features some lovely art by Stephen, and some very nice photos of the city.

The Anna Himalaya story was originally printed years ago (when the Birmingham Free Press was actually in print), with the futuristic date of March 12, 2009. Now that this date is nearly upon us, the Anna Himalaya issue will be returning to the streets of the city. Look for Birmingham Free Press boxes to start popping up in March.

Happy Anniversary to Us

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU
...to us?
...well, somebody!
...anybody?
:-)

AND ANOTHER THING!!!

I'd just like to say I love that Frankie Fowl!

me again

In reply to Chris's comments here:

Actually a couple of other guys created the backstory and were developing that video game. I just did some artwork for them to put together a little demo. It would have been a pretty cool game, I guess. I am not into video games so I can't really evaluate them, but it seemed pretty cool to me. It was called "Space Cadets" and it had something to do with an alien Police Academy, if I recall correctly.

ANYWAY - no graphic novel coming from me on that one, but I have just started serializing a Crazy Boss graphic novel on jabberous. If I can stick with it, it will probably take about two years to get this thing finished, so wish me luck. In the meantime, I think it may be interesting to watch this thing slowly unfold backwards.

Happy Birthday SHJ!

See birthday info below. Which prompted me to get in here and post something. Here it is. A few years ago I worked on these paintings for a video game proposal that never made it beyond the development room of the company that was developing it. Last weekend I cut up all of the scattered little paintings and am going to group them into collaged paintings that I can sell at a con, or hang on a wall, or something... someday... I took this pic to remind myself how to arrange it all if/when I get back to working on it, then I stuffed them all in an envelope, where they will probably sit until doomsday, but hey, that's me, Unfinished Martin!

Fun fact - January 11 is my brother's birthday too! Now I will never forget Salty Ham's birthday again!

Our One Year Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, everybody! Salty 'Ham Cartooneestas is one year old. No, I didn't buy you any flowers. But I did make you this crazy quilt, from images on the main SHC page.

I put this image close to the top of the main SHC page, in the Mission Statement post.

There's a square for each member (38, so far, plus a square for the ham mascot, and a square for the Salty 'Ham Jam, so that it adds up to an even 40 squares). If you'd prefer a different image in your square, just email it to me, and I'll change it out. cgarrison[at]bham.rr.com Please make it 2" x 2", RGB, at 72 dpi.

At some point, I want to transform the main SHC page from a blog-style-thing into a real web page. Do any of you web-savvy cartooneestas have any ideas about that? I mean, suggestions about hosting or design, etc.? Offers of help, perhaps?

I want to keep up the search for new recruits, but I'm really busy on my current project. So please, if you know any folks you think should join up, send them to the site. You never know when it'll come in handy to have these connections! Maybe you'd like to visit some of the artists in this Coalition of the Unwilling list, and bug them about signing on.

Here are a few nice results from the existence of Salty 'Ham Cartooneestas, that I know of so far:

I went to see my fellow SHC Chris Fason at the local sci-fi convention, and I bought some of his comic books. I wouldn't have been in touch with him, if it weren't for the SHC page.

I thought about applying for a grant from the Cultural Alliance, but I'd pretty much decided my chances of getting it were too slim to even try. Fellow SHC Don Stewart encouraged me to apply anyway. Thanks to his goading, I applied after all, and I got the grant! I wouldn't have been in touch with him, if it weren't for the SHC page. (Of course he's shaking his fist in the air now, because I got the grant, and he didn't. This is why we should never try to help others.)

I hired my fellow SHC Tim Rocks to assist me on my grant project. I think Tim is enjoying the money he's being paid, along with getting an entree into the world of cartoon animation. I wouldn't have been in touch with him, if it weren't for the SHC page. Also, when Tim was part way through working on his recent comic story (Frankie Fowl Adventures), he put it aside and started letting it languish. I encouraged him to finish it, and he did! So now we can all enjoy the fruits of his labor, partly due to my bothering him about it. And it wouldn't have happened, if not for Salty 'Ham Cartooneestas.

I was able to tell some SHC's about some possible cartoon map jobs that were available. I haven't gotten the latest scoop, but last I heard, it sounded like a couple of them just might actually be taking those gigs. Chalk up more points for Salty 'Ham Cartooneestas! (unless those guys turn out to hate drawing cartoon maps or something)

Has anybody else made any helpful connections through the page? If so, please relate them in the comments below. Or shoot me an email about it. cgarrison[at]bham.rr.com Thanks!

Frankie Fowl clips

As you know, our fellow SHC Tim Rocks recently completed a nifty 20-page comic story, called Frankie and the Money Bags.

> cover image <

> read the full story <

In case any of y'all still haven't read it, I thought I'd just post some of my favorite bits, here. To whet your whistle. Tim, is this okay with you? I'm trying to avoid any real spoilers.

These are just a few of my favorite drawings and gags:








And that's just SOME of the fun to be had, when you read the whole thing.

Frankie Fowl comic now online

Plans to make actual copies of this comic probably won't happen, but I did post the story online here: http://www.kpcinema.com/timrocks/frankie.html

The 20-page story is a very serious analysis of a duck couple and their relationship. It's the story of what happens when two ducks come into some money, and the scheming interior decorator who tries to separate them from it.

Crusemas

Hey all, we just got this holiday greeting from (Honorary Ex-Pat) SHC Howard Cruse:


It came with this reminder:

www.howardcruse.com
Don't forget to visit LOOSE CRUSE: THE BLOG occasionally! — http://www.howardcruse.com/loosecruse/

Anti-Christmas Card

I don't have any holiday art this year, so I'll put up something I did last year. I'm a scrooge, but that doesn't mean I don't want you to have a nice day. So I drew this little guy:

merry christmas, from Cartoon By: Rosko!

I thought of this last year, right after X-mas, and have waited a long year to unleash this jolly bastard onto the world...

The Lord taketh away; the Lord giveth.

In the wake of our loss of Sarah White, allow me to introduce the newest Salty 'Ham Cartooneesta: Brian Ratigan!

Brian's the first one to embed animation in his SHC post, so check it out. He does stop motion stuff, like this:



He's also the guy that's working with Nolen Otts on the other animated short (besides mine) that got a grant from the Cultural Alliance. Can't wait to see me some of that!

imagicon march 2009

imagicon site
hey guys, the art director for the new imagicon contacted me asking if i'd like to be in their art show... well, i'm not really much of an art show guy but i did suggest that if they would think about setting apart an "island" of tables at a good rate, maybe a bunch of us cartooneestas could invade the con. any takers? you can sell some art and maybe take part in discussion panels and worksops. please comment if you're interested. maybe i can work something out w/ these guys...

Losing a Cartooneesta

SHC Sarah White is leaving us! As I understand it, she'll be somewhere in upstate New York, where her fiancee is stationed, for at least 2 years . . . perhaps never to return! I offered her Honorary Ex-Pat status, but she said let's just take her post down, and if she comes back to Dixie, she'll join up again. I'll keep it up for another week, so you can all revisit her links and such (click her name at the top of this paragraph to get to her post).



So long, Sarah, and good luck. You were definitely one of the shining stars of our little group, here.

Caricatures of Jewish Celebrities - 2

Check it out - SHC Garth Potts somehow got to exhibit a 2nd batch of his Jewish Celebrity Caricatures at the Levite Jewish Community Center! . . . I guess it doesn't hurt that he's the Executive Director of the place.


You know where it is, right? On Montclair Road, in B'ham. Here's the web site: bhamjcc.org
The show is up 'til the end of December, so drop in and see it!

Garth, you might take some inspiration for your third installation from Adam Sandler's now classic Chanukah Song (youtube link), where he names a whole bunch of awesome famous Chosen People.

Jenn & Bueno's First Book is Now On Sale!

Hey, look: SHC Andrew Willmore just put together a book of his Jen & Bueno pinup pieces. Nice, dude!


Order one for $21.00, and it will come signed with a quick Bueno sketch! Go here:
The Studio Bueno Studio Blog-o
and more specifically, here:
The post about The Jennifer & Bueno Collection

Happy Holidays

Tis' the season for holiday themed cartoons!!! Lets have 'em!

more duck comics

Here's the cover to the comic I just finished.. It's basically done, although I might have to come up with a few filler pages to pad it out since I've only got 20 pages of actual story. Maybe some ad parodies, or see if anyone wants to contribute 1-3 pages. Of course I'm only going to xerox a small number to give to friends and gerbils (there's a surprisingly large contingent of comic book readers among the gerbil population) so I don't know why anyone would contribute, but still.

Random Showcase - Brian Hamner

I think, to keep this blog alive, I'll sometimes do a random showcase, highlighting the work of a Salty 'Ham Cartooneesta. So today, let's look at some stuff by Brian Hamner.

Brian's primarily a fantasy artist, and not a cartoonist (as far as I know). So why is he a Salty 'Ham Cartooneesta? Well, for the purposes of SHC membership, I have a broad definition of cartoonist. Let's say a cartoonist is someone who uses unrealistic exaggerations and juxtapositions in his or her drawings. So that includes Brian.

Plus, the talents of a fantasy book artist and a wacky cartoonist can totally overlap. After all, look at Frank Frazetta (awesomest fantasy artist of all time). He drew some really kick-ass funny animal comics. (click here to see some)

Anyway, back to Brian:


Here's a guy leading his giant horned toad around some old ruins. Cool!


And here's a real crazy one. I like this color scheme. All grays, with just a twinge of yellow in the hair, plus BRIGHT blue cables. Or are they tubes? And is she being tortured, or might she be enjoying this arrangement? I guess I'll have to read the book.

I like how the wires are neatly coiled up on the left side, there. When hooking a young lady up to a giant machine, we have to be careful not to get our extension cords all tangled up.

Rock On, Brian Hamner!

ImagiCon!

Hey, there's another SciFi/Fantasy Convention coming up in Birmingham: ImagiCon


It's in March. It looks to me like maybe the organizers of Omega Con are hoping to start over and do a better job this time or something. Fason, do you know if that's the deal?

ROSKO'S 24 HR COMIC AVAILABLE ON MYSPACE

Hey, cartooneestas! My 24 hr comic "Burrito Fight" is available for reading on Myspace.com/Roskorillist! Go check it out. Guaranteed to leave a stain on yer brain!

Have a sample:

We Are Legion

Our numbers just keep increasing! Here's yet another new guy: Brandon McCullar, of Tuscaloosa.

Halloween Challenge

Chris Fason suggested not long ago (here) that we draw creepy costume versions of ourselves for Halloween. He sent us this disturbing piece, and Aine sent us this fun sketch. I've been a hermit in recent times, so I guess I won't dress up this year. So I don't really have an idea for a response to that challenge. In lieu, I decided to check in on Ptooey and Loogie, to see what they're doing this go 'round:


[For any latecomers, Ptooey and Loogie are characters I invented specifically for Salty 'Ham Jammers to play with (explained in greater detail here). Since then, four of us did a 3-page comic jam about them, called The Secret Sorcerer. And I did 4 other strips about them myself.]

It occurs to me now that I must have a penchant for horse-costume gags, because I just recalled drawing one for a Halloween party invitation some years ago. Checking the files . . . and here it is!


Oh, and Happy Halloween.

Got Another'n

Here's yet another new SHC - Deon Wills. You may have seen him in the 24-Hour Comics Day video post of two days ago.


This isn't really typical of his style, so be sure to visit his SHC post and the links you find there.