Day 1

A greeting from me as I register for the National Cartoonists Society annual meeting in Hollywood, California.

The ‘Reuben Weekend’, as the NCS annual event is referred to, started with talks by cartoonist Steve Moore, animator Eric Goldberg and the incredible illustrator Drew Struzan. I first saw his work in Variety in the late ’70s and have been a fan of his ever since. He was very kind to sign books and chat with us after his presentation. That’s me and Drew Struzan above.

Here Struzan speaks with John Read (of ‘Stay Tooned’ magazine), Nick Meglin (of MAD magazine) and Ed Black (Cartoonist, photographer and cartooning historian).

The evening of the 22nd was our annual reception. Above is Craig Anderson (of Marmaduke) and Tom Stemmle (Cartoonist and beer taste-tester).

DAY 2

We sstarted Saturday with our business meeting. First we had the old board get up and the new board get on. Below is a sketch of NCS Prez, Jeff Keane and movie director J.J. Abrams who came to the meeting to suggest us get involved with a charity he’s involved with.

Chad Frye brought some of his fantastic art. I actually begged him to bring it. He’d been showing the progress on Facebook. Admiring the art is Andy Eng (Left) and John Norton (Center).

We had a number of panels. Above is during the future of comic strips panel.

That evening was the annual Reuben awards. Above is winner for Cartoon Illustration, Sam Viviano (on right) and fellow MAD colaborator, Nick Meglin.

Here is Momma’s Mel Lazarus and Hi & Lois acrtoonist Bill Janocha.

Here’s Archie Comics master cartoonist Stan Goldberg and his lovely wife Pauline. Stan holds the secret of who Archie Andrews will pop the question to!

Here’s someone who greatly inluenced me, Don Orehek. His wife Suzy has dragged him kicking and screaming into the internet world recently with a blog and Facebook page. Way to go, Suzy!

Rose is Rose artist Don Wimmer gives the typical rection to one of Tom Stemmle’s jokes. Tom’s wife Marie quickly leans away from Tom and starts asking everyone around her who this stranger is sitting beside her. (Tom, Marie and I are good buddies and love to rib each other….Until he calls his Jersey friends to visit me…..)

The Silver T-Quare Award went to Jeff Bacon who spearheaded and organized the resurrgence of visiting military hospitals and Veterans Administration locations in the U.S. and abroad.

Day 3

The next morning the Stemmles and Jerry and Jeri Dowling and myself made our way to Mel’s Diner, made famous in the film,’American Grafitti’. To the left is a sketch I drew of an unused bar in the back.

Here I am with the closest I can get with a photo of Dino.

Tom Stemmle and I were going to a favorite Frakie haunt, Musso and Frank’s. They were closed but I did get this interesting photo of the sign as a bird came by.

Our next group stop was at, Cathy cartoonist , Cathy Guisewite’s house. There was a theme that is self explanitory by the costumes worn by Cathy’s parents. Receiving dinner instructions is agent Bill Kellog. Just past him it Family Circus creator Bil Keane.

My Swiss cheese meory fails me now! This is, gag cartoonist, James Este’s daughter and husband holding a drawing they asked me to do.

We all got to tour Cathy’s house. Here Jerry Dowling examines Cathy’s work area.

Cathy asked us all to sign the toy piano and vase. Here John Norton and Bill Schorr scribble away.

I got to meet a hero. It’s humorist extrodinaire, Stan Freberg!

After Cathy’s house we were taken to a club to hear editorial cartoonist Mike Ramirez’s band, which is on stage above.

Here George Pieper belts one out during karoake, which followed Mike’s band! Below is a sketch I made of a band member.

Contagious is the word for Illustration Friday. It’s a very busy week. so I didn’t have time to color.

A rather varied collection read through the past few weeks. Ronald Kessler’s The Bureau is a follow-up to his earlier book ‘Inside the FBI’. It’s a very good history of this government department.

‘She Woke to Darkness’ is a Mike Shayne entry with Mike making a trip to New York. The difference is that most of the story is told through the eyes of Brett Halliday, A.K.A. David Dresser in real life. Not one of the best stories Cresser assembled. The bad guy is a bit too obvious.

Former Mayor Carl T. Langford’s 1976 book, ‘Hizzoner the Mayor is probably the best book I read this year and certainly is one of my favorites. Full of wit and wisdom, I’ve not read a book that has better to lay out the needs to be a politician and a leader. Langofrd, as is his style, doesn’t mess around and tells it like is it. It’s sad that it’s so hard to find that today.

Sandra and Rob made their way to the Suncoast Inkslingers meeting in Pinellas County. It was held at writer Sandy and brainy scientist/bass choral singer Bill Huff’s large property.

Above is a film of Rob cartooning a suggestion by Ron Johnson at the meeting. Sandy Huff broke open a pile of sketch pads and colored pencils. Rob took advantage of them. Under the film is the drawing Rob drew. Ron is telling a story of an interesting encounter, if you can hear it.

Below is a photo of some attendees: Kurt Wright, Jim and Dan Smith.

My second attempt to film me sketching. The batteries ran out, but I got a solid minute nevertheless. I’m sketching on of the original building from the rearly 1900s of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. By the way, I went to Rollins, my sister went, my mother went, etc.

Below is the final sketch.

Later we had a birthday dinner at my favorite steak spot in the world - Linda’s La Cantina. Below is the table beside us as the waiters were cleaning the table.

My first entry of my new Rob’s Video Sketchbook. Friends, J.R. Griggs and Mark Shilensky suggested this and I’m giving it a go. The first one is clunky, but it’s a start. below is the sketch. All done at the Steak ‘n Shake on 17-92 in Winter Park.

Here’s a young person working through the hierarchy per Illustration Friday. This was zipped through in between projects. Hope it turned out OK.

Started off an event by drawing a large caricature of the fellow who put on the show. That’s him above, Ken McArthur.

Here I draw J. R. Griggs.

Jonathan Freeman gets his drawing.

Here’s Marc.