Today April 1, The Economist reports about a new theme park being built in Europe. You can read the entire article here.

While much attention is focused on how we cartoonists are adapting to the new president… there is another person whom we must master. The First Lady may not dominate the news as her husband, yet Michelle Obama is clearly becoming a household personality.  I enclose one of my earlry versions of Michelle Obama from this week’s Economist.

On March 24 the award winning public affairs series Frontline will air a special program titled “Ten Trillion and Counting”.  I was asked by the producers to create a simple cartoon image as a lead illustration and advertisement of the show.  You can see the artwork above. You can get information about the show and where it is airing in your area here: Frontline show.

On March 24 the award winning public affairs series Frontline will air a special program titled “Ten Trillion and Counting”.  I was asked by the producers to create a simple cartoon image as a lead illustration and advertisement of the show.  You can see the artwork above. You can get information about the show and where it is airing in your area here: Frontline show.

I had the privilege to draw the cover for this week’s edition of The Economist. The cartoon involves caricatures of European leaders Angela Merkel of Germany, Nicholas Sarkozy of France, and Gordon Brown of Great Britain. The cartoon did develop quickly during the 24 hours that I had to create the piece… particularly the waiter on the left.  

My first attempt in the pencil sketch had a fellow that was not instantly recognisable as a waiter. My second attempt (on the color art below) created a better waiter but he was perhaps too large and had the potential to distract from the main characters.  

You can see at the top of the post the final artwork with a diminished waiter-like character inhabiting the scene.

 

In the Christmas edition of The Economist you can find a new board game called “Credit Crunch”. I conceived of this game while in the UK in September and have been developing it since.

I created and designed the board and rules. Editors and journalists in London then took turns playing the game. Their suggestions were incorporated then I went on to design the currency and palying cards.

The main figure on the currency is Walter Bagehot an early prominent editor of The Economist (1861-1877).

Anyone interested in playing can download all the componants of the game (Rules, currency, risk cards, board, and player pieces) online by going here. I would be very interested in any feedback from players with useful tips on how to improve play.

                         

Tickets are now on sale for “The Art of Satire” on October 7 at Philadelphia’s fabulous Kimmel Art Center.

Sponsored by The Economist, the show features sketch comedy, interactive animation, live drawing lessons and more. Tickets are moving fast so I suggest that your reservations soon. 

Go to http://artofsatire.economist.com/ for more information.