Sunday, January 29, 2017

Playboy Press: The Happiest Hookers, Doug's Cartoons

The Happiest Hookers, a 128-page paperback book published in 1974 by Playboy Press, featured 36 of Doug's cartoons, including the front and back cover art.



caption:  "The way I see it, promiscuity is its own reward."

The full-page color cartoon was published in the July 1972 issue, p. 93 and later on p. 22 of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Books in July 2011.  The 248-page hardcover book, featuring 270 of Doug's full-page color Playboy cartoons, is now also available in a softcover edition.



caption:  "Well, now he knows what a nice girl like me is doing in a place like this."

The full-page color cartoon (back cover) was published in the August 1968 issue, p. 169.


caption:  "Could I interest you in a 20th Century piece?"

The full-page color cartoon - published in the June 1971 issue, p. 239 - was reproduced (black and white) on p. 101 in The Happiest Hookers and on p. 84 in The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Books in July 2011.


caption:  "Now, that piece is an outstanding bedroom bargain, Gilbert."

The full-page color cartoon - published in the May 1971 issue, p. 191 - was reproduced (black and white) on p. 109 in The Happiest Hookers.


caption:  "Well, Mary Beth, the results of your aptitude tests are in and I'd like to be your first customer."

The full-page color cartoon - published in the October 1972 issue, p. 170 - was reproduced (black and white) on p. 120 in The Happiest Hookers.


To contact Doug regarding available Playboy cartoon originals, visit his website:


or the Doug Sneyd Premium Gallery at:  


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Printemps du Louvre Celebrates the Chinese New Year

The famed luxury-brand Paris department store Printemps in 2014 opened a store on the Louvre shopping mall.   We didn't visit the Louvre to shop, but I was interested in the display at the store entrance - after all, the year of the rooster began this weekend. 


The Chinese New Year is calculated on a lunar calendar and begins on a new moon; years rotate through the 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac.  This year, the year of the rooster began Saturday, January 28.  (February 16, 2018 will mark the beginning of the year of the dog.)


While there, we decided to check out some of the brands Printemps sells.








(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Dinner at Le Procope

Doug and I recently returned from a 3-week vacation in Paris.  Yes, it's chilly in January, but we avoided endlessly long lines during the summer at museums, restaurants, etc.  Truthfully, "there's no bad weather, just bad clothing!"

Our one-bedroom apartment in St. Germain des Pres was on the Seine overlooking the Louvre; on our first night in Paris we decided to have dinner nearby at Le Procope, opening in 1686 and proud to have been a favorite to the philosopher Voltaire and the young Napoleon, who apparently would leave his hat as security while he went searching for the money to pay his bill.



my starter and entree, scallops



Doug's entree


one of the first floor dining rooms


the bar is the first thing you see after entering the restaurant


fresh seafood is displayed (on the right) adjacent to the bar, tucked under the staircase going up to the second floor dining rooms


memorabilia displayed on the staircase



a second floor dining room


when leaving the restaurant (on the right), you'll pass by Napolean's hat


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Pre-Orders for Secret Sneyd: The Unpublished Cartoons of Doug Sneyd

Dark Horse Books has collected 250 of Doug's "finest, funniest and most clever" previously unpublished gags submitted to Playboy since the early 1960s.

The 272-page hardcover book - Secret Sneyd:  The Unpublished Cartoons of Doug Sneyd - will be released on April 18, 2017 and is now available for pre-order at:



(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Rejects - Enjoy!

In the years since Doug's first cartoon was published in Playboy (September 1964), he's submitted thousands of cartoon gag roughs to the magazine.  

Stop by Doug's booth at Pensacon - Friday through Sunday, February 17-19 - to check out some of his available "unpublished favorites!"




(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Charity Donation Limited Edition Print for Pensacon 2017

Pensacon is again selling 11 x 17 limited edition prints of a classic Sneyd mermaid; all proceeds will support the Manna Food Pantries, a local grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to fighting hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa countries, Florida.

Prints, priced at $20.00, will be available - Friday through Sunday, February 17-19 - at the Pensacon Merchandise Booth; Doug will be happy to sign prints - at no charge - at his booth.



This was Doug's 11 x 17 limited edition print donated to Pensacon last year, with proceeds again supporting the Manna Food Pantries.




(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

The Star Weekly, Toronto Illustration: Princess Margaret's Royal Wedding

After I watched the 10-episode series of The Crown on Netflix last November, I remembered Doug did a lovely 2-page illustration in The Star Weekly, Toronto that commemorated the wedding of Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones (a former society photographer) on May 6, 1960 in historic Westminster Abbey.

When Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh on November 20, 1947, the ceremony was recorded and broadcast by BBC Radio to nearly 200 million people around the world; Princess Margaret's wedding was the first televised Royal wedding, with nearly 300 million watching the ceremony in Westminster Abbey. 



In the 1950s Doug lived in Montreal and then Toronto doing commercial illustration work; he later decided to pursue a career as a freelance illustrator, working for textbook and magazine publishers in Canada.

(Doug's first full-page color cartoon for Playboy was published in the September 1964 issue, p. 205.)

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, January 8, 2017

New 10 x 14 Watercolor Original

Doug's 10" x 14" watercolors are rendered on Arches of France cold press watercolor paper using Dr. Ph. Martin's aniline dyes.


To see more 10 x 14 as well as 11 x 17 original artwork, visit the Doug Sneyd Premium Gallery at:


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Interview: Mark Cuban, January 2006 Issue

Like millions of Americans, Doug and I enjoy watching Shark Tank (season eight began in September 2016) so, of course, I had to read the Playboy Interview with Mark Cuban in the January 2006 issue.

The outspoken entrepreneur, investor and owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavricks has been a "shark" on the ABC reality program since season three in 2012. 



Doug's full-page color cartoon  - "Welcome to the Nutcracker Suite." - was published on p. 107 in the January 2006 issue and reproduced later on p. 223 in The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Books in July 2011.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Playboy January 1995 Issue: Doug's Cartoon

caption:  "Last year's resolution didn't last too long.  It was ruining my sex life."


Despite Hef suggesting changes to the caption in the approved gag rough, the original caption was used at publication.


To see more of Doug's Playboy cartoon originals and pencil/color preliminary roughs, visit the Doug Sneyd Premium Gallery at:




(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)