A Group
For me, a fun exercise in pulling materials off of shelves and sometimes off of walls to share with readers. [apologies for the poor photo: too much sunlight + old digital camera = blurry photo. I’ll try for a better photo soon, and replace this]
Starting from the left, a truly wonderful New Yorker original by John O’Brien. It appeared in The New Yorker October 9, 2000. I immediately fell in love with this drawing when I saw it in the magazine. A perfect combination of stars and a soft drink.
Next to the observatory drawing is a Liana Finck New Yorker original, published December 22, 2014, titled Snow Falling On Accountants. This piece falls within her first few years of being in the pages of the magazine. The drawing has such a great feeling about it. The combination of snow and accountants isn’t generally “a thing.” But in this drawing, Ms. Finck has convinced us they’re made for each other.
Following the accountants is a Gluyas Williams original that appeared in Robert Benchley’s 1937 collection, From Bed To Worse. Years later — five to be exact — it showed up on the cover of Inside Benchley (tho it’s not in the book).
The little booklet in the forefront is something silly I put together one day after thinking about the various questions asked (of me, and, I’m guessing every one of my colleagues) over the years about cartoon ideas. These include the #1 question: “Where do you get your ideas?” as well as the ominous, “Do you think you’ll ever run out of ideas?” and then there’s, “Do you just do the drawings, and someone else writes the words?” This booklet guarantees you’ll never ever run out of cartoon ideas. Get yours today!
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The A-Zs of Artists mentioned above:
John O’Brien Born, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1953. His New Yorker work includes both cartoons & covers. First contribution appeared in the issue of August 3, 1987.
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Liana Finck (Photo: John Madere) Born in 1986. Studied at Cooper Union College, 2004 – 2008. Fulbright Fellowship to Brussels, 2009. Her graphic novel A Bintel Brief was published by Ecco Press in the winter of 2013. New Yorker work: February 25, 2013 -. Website.
Gluyas Williams (above left undated; right:1 975) Born, San Francisco, 1888. Died, Boston, Mass., 1982. One of the pillars of Harold Ross’s stable of artists, and one of Ross’s favorite cartoonists. His beautiful full page drawings were a regular feature in the magazine. Mr. Williams illustrated a number of Robert Benchley’s collections, providing the cover art as well as illustrations. NYer work: March 13, 1926 – Aug 25, 1951. Key collections: The Gluyas Williams Book (Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1929), The Gluyas Williams Gallery (Harper, 1956).