Doug Donates Gag Roughs to Toonseum

Doug recently donated two gag rough "rejects" to the Toonseum in Pittsburgh; one will be auctioned later this summer to raise funds for Toonseum activities.

The second one - a spin-off gag line from the popularity of the Marge Simpson November 2009 Playboy Collector's Edition - has been added to the Toonseum's permanent collection.

Joe Wos, executive director of the Toonseum, called it "a piece of cartoon history."

In addition to appearing on the cover of the November 2009 issue, the Collector's Edition also had a 3-page pictorial spread titled "The Devil in Marge Simpson."

Her appearance in Playboy commemorated The Simpsons' 20th anniversary.



(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

2010 Convention Schedule

Doug's remaining 2010 comic-cartoon convention schedule includes:

July 21-25 - Comic-Con in San Diego with Big Wow Art

August 27-29 - Fan Expo Canada in Toronto as a Special Guest

October 8-10 - New York Comic Con in Artist Alley

Stop by and say "hello" and check out new limited edition 11 x 17 prints as well as a 24-page Preliminaries Sketchbook. Doug will also be doing commissioned pencil and ink sketches during convention hours and personalized sketches in his 52-page book Unpublished Sneyd.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sightseeing After C2E2

After spending Monday morning at the Shedd Aquarium, I'm taking a break before Doug and I walk down to the Adler Planetarium.

You can't beat that beautiful Chicago skyline!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Visits With Sculptor Clayburn Moore

Both Doug and Clay Moore were busy talking with attendees during the 3-day convention, but Doug was able to visit the CS Moore Studio Ltd. exhibit right after C2E2 closed to the public at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 18.














(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Uses Aniline Dyes by Dr. Ph. Martin's

The "tools of one's trade" - whether an artist, chef or designer - are especially important; Doug gives Dr. Ph. Martin's Synchromatic Transparent Watercolor credit for creating his translucent, lovely ladies for Playboy, his limited edition 11 x 17 prints and commissioned artwork.


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Kristin: Doug's Last C2E2 Sketch

While Doug sketched Kristin (from Malta, Illinois), he learned that she was also an artist, doing comic book babes and pin-up girls.





(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Jane the Phoole Loves Her Sketch!

Jane the Phoole, Queen of Jesters definitely seems to have enjoyed having Doug sketch her.


Ann-Elizabeth Shapera has assumed the personae of Jane the Phoole for more than 15 years at Renaissance and Shakespeare festivals worldwide.





(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sketches Jimi and Heather

Jimi seems pleased with her sketch.








Heather (from Mattoon, Illinois) is a fan of Doug's cartoons in Playboy.





(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sketches Ryann and Angela

Ryann (from Madison, Wisconsin) had Doug personalize Unpublished Sneyd to Kyle, who stayed back in Madison to go cycling because the weather was so great there!






Angela seems pleased with her sketch!






(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

C2E2 Attendees Enjoy Those Costumes!

Costumes certainly make comic-cartoon conventions interesting; when I noticed Jane the Phoole, in 16th century costume, near Artist Alley on Sunday afternoon, I had to take her picture for the blog!


Ann-Elizabeth Shapera (from London but now living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) has been Jane the Phoole, Queen of Jesters for more than 15 years, performing at Renaissance and Shakespeare festivals worldwide.








(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

C2E2 Artist Alley: Greg Horn

Greg Horn had a table in Artist Alley right across from Doug.

Doug first met Greg at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con while exhibiting with the Big Wow Art group.

If you're attending Comic-Con July 21-25, check the exhibitor program for the Big Wow Art booths. Doug will be exhibiting there again - selling personalized copies of his 52-page book, Unpublished Sneyd, and limited edition 11 x 17 prints. He also plans to do commissioned convention pencil and ink sketches during the 5-day convention.


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Photo Opportunities at C2E2

Doug enjoys one of the bonuses of being a cartoonist.




This bunny misses the Playboy icon by a hare!


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Chalk Artist Creates Larger-Than-Life Murals

C2E2 attendees had a great chance to see and talk with chalk artist Eric Maruscak, who creates super-sized murals of comics, anime and video game characters. He had 3 days to work on the C2E2 program cover featuring artwork by Alex Ross.


Around the perimeter of his work area, he showed examples of other work he's done around the country - most were commissioned by corporate sponsors of comic-cartoon conventions.




















(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Day 3: Chalk Artist Finishes Mural of C2E2 Program Cover Artwork by Alex Ross

By mid-day Sunday, April 18, chalk artist Eric Maruscak finished crafting a chalk mural on the C2E2 show floor adjacent to Artist Alley.








(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Cartoonist-in-Residence at the Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum

Richard Pietrzyk (left) bears the title of "Cartoonist-in-Residence" at the Woodstock, Illinois Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum, where he does special promotions, classes and workshops.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Uses Arches of France Paper

People frequently ask Doug about the medium he works in when rendering finishes - whether for Playboy, a limited edition 11 x 17 print or commissioned artwork.

The success to his luscious, lovely ladies is attributed to using aniline dyes - namely, Dr. Ph. Martin's Synchromatic Transparent Watercolor - and Peterboro HI-ART, Made in Canada, Watercolor Board. The surface is 100% rag by Arches of France, which he's used since the early 1960s.

He recalls being in Montreal and talking with the art director at Weekend Magazine, which for a number of years featured Doug's illustrations. The art director recommended Arches, a quality paper manufactured in Lorraine, France since 1492. Prior to this conversation, Doug said he used any number of illustration boards, but decided to give Arches a try - he's been using it ever since!!!

Arches is among the most popular watercolor papers in the world - because, when compared to wood-based papers, 100% cotton provides strength and resistance to scraping and repeated washing and erasing.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Mary Jane and Michele: Last Sketches for Saturday, April 17

Mary Jane (from Chicago) seems happy with Doug's personalized sketch.






C2E2 was Michele's first comic-cartoon convention. Doug's pencil/ink sketch should be a perfect souvenir.






(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Enrique: C2E2 Volunteer

Volunteers help make conventions like C2E2 run smoothly; Enrique said volunteering during the 3-day convention gave him the opportunity, during his "off" time, to visit the exhibits and talk with artists.




(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Florida Tattoo Artist Participates in C2E2 Tattoo Pavilion

Kelly Rogers is the owner/artist of Gearhead Tattoo in Cape Coral, Florida.











(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sketches Veronika, Visits Her Gallery

While personalizing a copy of Unpublished Sneyd for Veronika, Doug learned she owns a gallery in Chicago - Gallery Provocateur, 2125 North Rockwell Street.


Monday, April 19, was a free day for sightseeing. During the day Doug and I visited the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium; that evening we met Veronika at Gallery Provocateur.








(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)