Sunday, July 31, 2011

Dark Horse Comics Plans Second Printing for The Art of Doug Sneyd

Doug's editor at Dark Horse Comics just emailed Doug that because of strong sales since the launch of The Art of Doug Sneyd mid-July, a second printing has been ordered.

The 248-page hardcover features over 270 of Doug's full-page color cartoons that have appeared in Playboy; his first cartoon was published in September 1964.

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner wrote the Foreword; Lynn Johnston, creator of For Better or For Worse, wrote the Introduction.

The book is organized into themes, and Doug's eleven chapter introductions feature anecdotes and personal reflections. He also shares his creative process by including a number of original gag roughs and lead-up pencil and color roughs.

Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the U.S.
(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Custom Cars and Motorcycles Make Debut at SDCC 2011

Before SDCC attendees entered the convention hall on the Wednesday 6-9 p.m. preview night, exhibitors and artists participating in the July 20-24 international event had an opportunity to check out displays.

This year's "star" attractions included a number of cars and motorcycles.




(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

SDCC Exhibitors Finish Displays for 6 p.m. Opening on Wednesday, July 20th






(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Exhibitors Set Up Tuesday Afternoon for the Wednesday Evening, July 20th Opening of SDCC 2011




(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week



(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, July 24, 2011

SDCC Dark Horse Comics' Signing Schedule

SDCC attendees who would like to have Doug sign copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd can come to Dark Horse Comics - Booth 2615 - on Sunday, July 24 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

The 248-page book - with a Foreword by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and an Introduction by For Better or For Worse creator Lynn Johnston - features over 270 color cartoons by Doug, whose cartoons have appeared in Playboy since September 1964.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

New Sketchbook Debuts at 2011 SDCC

In addition to original artwork, personalized copies of Unpublished Sneyd, and 11 x 17 limited edition prints for sale at the July 20-24 San Diego Comic-Con, Doug has published three 24-page sketchbooks; the newest - Gorgeous Gals - debuts this year at SDCC.

Doug is again exhibiting with Big Wow Art - Booth 4903.

SDCC attendees can also stop by Big Wow Art and have Doug sign copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Comics, exhibiting at Booth 2615.



(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Gag Writer Rex May Reviews The Art of Doug Sneyd

"I'm known as a cartoonist, of course, but before I was a cartoonist, I was in what might be the most anonymous profession of the business — gag writing. You'll see the occasional comic strip or panel with two creators mentioned, like Parker and Hart on The Wizard of Id. In most such cases, one is the cartoonist and the other is the gag writer. But the vast majority of cartoons and comic strips and panels just have one name on them, that of the cartoonists, but a surprisingly large number of them are written largely by one or more anonymous gag writers.

My career started back in 1973 when I sold a short story to National Lampoon. I followed that up with some more writing sales there, decided that I liked that method of making money, and looked around for other such things to do. Then I saw a list of "Cartoonists Needing Writers" in Writers' Market. I started writing gags at that point, for some of the cartoonists listed there, and after a year or so I was selling to lots of freelance cartoonists and to a few syndicated features. Don't try this trick at home, kids. Or, rather, do try it if you want to, but don't quit your day job. Anyhow, I was doing all right that way, but after I'd written a few thousand gags, I had several of them that nobody had deigned to buy, so I drew them up myself, in my crude style, and started selling cartoons directly. And you can follow the links on this blog to see that I've done several thousand over the years. Well, somewhere in there, I tried some gags out on the unique Doug Sneyd, of Playboy, and scored. Since that time, I've written several gags for Doug to sell to Playboy.

. . . Doug is unique. His work is called 'cartoons' because they show up in magazines where cartoons usually appear, but there are fine artists out there who aren't nearly up to Doug's level. It's funny, really. Doug and I are both cartoonists, in much the same way that Dostoevsky and Danielle Steele are both novelists. I've been envying Doug his incredibly beautiful art style for years, and this book - The Art of Doug Sneyd published by Dark Horse Comics - is a treasury of his work. This is a book worth buying. None of your black-and-white stuff. This is the full-color, full-page stuff that first appeared in Playboy, only now it's printed on super-deluxe paper, handsomely bound, as they say, and big and heavy enough to knock a small horse down with. And the best part is, I'm mentioned on page 186. It's worth owning just for that :)"

CS Moore Studio Blog: Sneyd Mermaid Statue, Part 3/Tail Revisions

"After talking with Doug, I lengthened her tail and slimmed it in the hips and rear area. You'll see in the photos a bit of an evolution in that once I made the adjustments, I decided to give her tail somewhat of a feminine legs crossed look or at least the illusion of that. It gives some variation and a more vibrant, dynamic feel to the tail. I also gave it a nice flip at the end. Once I started in on the changes as per Doug's input, I immediately saw the improvement and once I sent the photos to him, he was very happy with the result."

SDCC attendees should stop by the CS Moore Studio booth - 2800 - and talk with sculptor Clayburn Moore about the limited edition collectible statue based on a never-before-published Sneyd mermaid cartoon. The 1/8 scale statue is scheduled to ship in Third Quarter 2011.

Keep checking on Doug's blog and the CS Moore Studio website blog for updates on the development of the Sneyd Mermaid Statue.







(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Dark Horse Comics Schedules Doug To Sign The Art of Doug Sneyd on Sunday, July 24 from 2:30-3:30 at SDCC

Dark Horse Comics will sell The Art of Doug Sneyd at the July 20-24 San Diego Comic-Con at Booth 2615; Doug is also scheduled to sign books on Sunday, July 24 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

The 248-page book features over 270 of Doug's Playboy cartoons as well as anecdotes and personal reflections in the eleven chapter introductions. He also shares his creative process by including a number of original gag roughs and preliminary pencil and color roughs.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Original Artwork For Sale at 2011 SDCC

In addition to personalizing copies of Unpublished Sneyd and doing pencil and ink commissioned sketches during the July 20-24 SDCC, Doug will have several portfolios of original artwork available for sale. The classic Sneyd beauties featured below - in pencil with a Dr. Ph. Martin aniline dye wash for accent - were rendered earlier in his studio on 10 x 14 Arches of France watercolor paper.

Doug will again be exhibiting with Big Wow Art - Booth 4903.

SDCC attendees can also stop by the Big Wow Art booth and have Doug sign copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Comics and sold during the convention at the company booth - 2615. The 248-page book features nearly 270 of his 450+ Playboy cartoons as well as a section focusing on the development process from the original gag rough to preliminary pencils and final color roughs.


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

CS Moore Studio Blog: Sneyd Mermaid Statue, Part 2/The Torso

"At this point, I felt the most important aspect of the sculpture was to capture Doug's approach to Chlorine's torso. I worked in the body and more or less finished out the surface to give Doug a good idea of the direction I was going. I studied Doug's work and did my best to sculpt breasts that he would feel captured that "Sneyd" aesthetic.

I wasn't too worried about her tail yet, although I did want to show a nice shape and realistic weight to her lower body - as if she really were sitting on a rock. At the same time, I was going to work on finishing the tail soon, so I was hoping for some feedback and I needed to have enough there so that Doug could comment . . . and he did. While he liked the body and commented very favorably on that, he explained that the tail was too thick at the hips and too short to work well with the look of Chlorine's upper body and for the overall composition."

Follow the development process of the first-ever limited edition collectible statue based on Doug's work by visiting the CS Moore Studio website blog. Chlorine, as the statue is fondly called, is scheduled to ship in Third Quarter 2011.

SDCC attendees can visit the CS Moore Studio booth - 2800 - to get additional information about Chlorine, a 1/8 scale statue based on a never-before-published Sneyd mermaid cartoon.






(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

CS Moore Studio Blog: Sneyd Mermaid Statue, Introduction

The CS Moore Studio - which creates licensed statues, busts and more based on pop culture, comic book and fantasy properties as well as original creations - is collaborating with Doug to create a limited edition collectible statue based on a never-before-published Sneyd mermaid cartoon.

Follow the development of the statue, fondly named Chlorine, on Doug's blog and in greater detail on the CS Moore Studio website blog.

Here's an excerpt with photos from the first website blog entry by sculptor Clayburn Moore concerning the development of the 1/8 scale statue scheduled to ship in Third Quarter 2011.

"One of the greatest and most rewarding things about being in this business is having the opportunity to work with some of the best and most talented artists in the comics and cartooning world. I've admired Doug Sneyd's cartoon art for as long as I can remember and when the chance came about to work with him, I was absolutely thrilled. At the same time, it's daunting because Doug has that rare and indefinable ability to draw his women with both a deep and powerful sensuality and a genuine innocence that flows together and complements one another seemingly effortlessly. This is aside from the difficulty of capturing Doug's approach to the faces of the girls he creates, which we'll discuss later.

. . . Doug's women have a softness and curviness that does not preclude their also being athletic and vivacious. This applies to his mermaids as well as his human women. In approaching the figure, the first order of business was to capture those qualities in the body language and attitude of the mermaid's body, which Doug has christened "Chlorine." While Doug draws his women's bust lines in a very recognizable way, at this point, they're unnecessary. The key is to capture the arch of the back, the curve of her tail, and the attitude implied in Chlorine's torso, and then to see what Doug thought of her so far.

. . . So here is Chlorine so far. Don't worry, she'll have all the important body elements in the next update!"




(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Danube - Rhine River Cruise Ends

Miltenberg was another quiet, lovely medieval town we were able to visit during our 15-day river cruise on the River Countess.

While in Rudesheim, we took a gondola ride up to the Niederwald Monument, passing over acres of grapes used in the production of Rheingau Riesling.

The Niederwald Monument, high above the city of Rudesheim - its history dates back to Roman times, was built to celebrate German unity.

Each city on our 15-day river cruise offered ample opportunities to stop and enjoy a coffee at a lovely cafe.
Heidelberg is a well preserved Baroque city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany's Castle Road; ruins of the Heidelberg Castle loom over the historic city.

Although we had to get out our umbrellas while touring the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, it was well worth the effort to see such an impressive historic site.

Before flying out of Basel, Switzerland, we had a morning visit to Strasbourg, known as the Crossroads of Europe. The canal ride showcased a lovely historic city, especially the Petite France neighborhood with cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and flower-filled window boxes.

It was a wonderful 15-day river cruise on the Danube and Rhine; Doug and I returned home with wonderful memories as well as lots of photos from visits to charming cities and the delicious food served on the River Countess.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, July 10, 2011

2011 SDCC: Limited Edition Prints For Sale

Doug will again exhibit with Big Wow Art at the upcoming 5-day San Diego Comic-Con, the largest comic-cartoon convention in North America.

In addition to original pencil and ink/watercolor artwork, personalized copies of Unpublished Sneyd and 24-page sketchbooks available during the July 20-24 SDCC, Doug will be selling a number of 11 x 17 limited edition prints, including his classic bunny in black, Vampirella and Zatanna.

SDCC attendees can also stop by Big Wow Art - Booth 4903 - to have Doug sign copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Comics and sold at SDCC Booth 2615. It features over 270 of Doug's full-page, full-color Playboy cartoons as well as his personal reflections and anecdotes in chapter introductions. He also shares his creative process by including a number of original gag roughs and lead-up pencil and color roughs in the 248-page book.



At C2E2 (Chicago), Doug sold a number of his 11 x 17 limited edition prints of Zatanna.

And at the New York Comic-Con, Zatanna fans stopped by Artist Alley to have pictures taken with Doug's artwork.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Wurzburg and Rothenburg

Fortress Marienberg was home to the *Prince Bishops from the 13th to the 18th Century, when they moved into the imposing Baroque Wurzburg Residence. It was severely damaged by the bombing raid which destroyed much of the Wurzburg - some 60 miles southeast of Frankfurt - in 1945. Restoration, however, went on for decades - all the way through 1987.

*Prince Bishops were clerics elected by Catholic church chapters who also functioned as secular rulers. Their money, tastes and thirst for the high life lured some of Europe's finest artists, architects and musicians to the region of Franconia in the 18th Cenutry. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, one of the leading Italian artists of the 18th Century, worked at the Wurzburg Residence from 1750-1753; his epic ceiling fresco crowning the grand staircase was magnificent.

Wurzburg, best known for its white wines, is the center of the Bavarian wine producing region of Franconia.

After our tour of the elaborate Wurzburg Residence, Doug and I enjoyed a wine tasting in the former Prince Bishop's Court Cellar.

Rothenburg's fortress walls still stand to protect the core of Gothic churches and gabled houses on the Market Square.

If you're serious about Christmas, you had to visit the original Kate Wohlfahrt Christmas shop and museum that displays vintage toys from as early as the 17th Century.

After our morning tour of the historic district, we had some free time to explore on our own. Doug decided to check out the Medieval Crime Museum, which our tour guide said featured the best collection in Europe of antique objects and documents pertaining to crime and punishment.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)