10 x 14 Original: Redhead With Lavender Eyes

The 10 x 14 original, on Arches of France cold press watercolor paper using aniline dyes, is loose and colorful yet features a classic Sneyd female and a vibrant background wash.

To see more of Doug's original art, visit the Doug Sneyd Premium Gallery at:

www.comicartfans.com

Please note: This is a scanned photograph of the original.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

The Face: 1972 News Cartoon - Nov. 1971 Playboy Cartoon

Doug had hundreds of news cartoons published in newspapers throughout North America during the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s.  Most focused on politics, business, health or science, but sometimes he decided to entertain with a "play-on-words."

This single-panel cartoon, published in 1972 and distributed by the Toronto Star Syndicate, made me recall similar humor regarding a lovely actress in a full-page color cartoon published in the November 1971, p. 147 issue of Playboy.  

The movie director, standing at the foot of a bed next to the actress, is obviously irritated and yells, "Make-up!"

It was also one of 270 of Doug's Playboy cartoons published (on p. 125 in Chapter 6, The Arts and Entertainment) in The Art of Doug Sneyd.  The 248-page hardcover book was published by Dark Horse Books in July 2011.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

AGO Exhibition: Art Spiegelman's Comics

Doug and I visit the Art Gallery of Ontario several times a year; during our recent 4-day stay at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto, we made plans to see a number of exhibits, including Art Spiegelman's Co-Mix:  A Retrospective.

Over 300 Spiegelman works - trading cards, magazine covers and original manuscripts for his celebrated graphic novel, Maus - were featured.

While at the AGO, we also saw:  Memory Unearthed:  The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross (until June 14th) and What's So Funny? Recent Acquisitions of Humorous Art (until May 9th).

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Visiting the St. Lawrence Market

Since the St. Lawrence Market, one of Toronto's top "things to do," was a short walk from the Omni King Edward Hotel, Doug and I decided to check out the delis, bakeries and meat shops before going to the Gardiner Museum to see Women, Art & Social Change:  The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise.  The exhibit closes Monday, May 18th.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Entertaining Friends at the Omni King Edward Hotel

Doug and I entertained friends during a recent weekend stay at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto.  We'd eaten at the hotel's Consort Bar/Lounge before and enjoyed the food; the real plus, though, is being able to converse while dining.  Carpeting, drapes and upholstered/leather furniture help reduce distracting background noise.

Two of Doug's long-time Playboy gag writers, who both live in Toronto:  (left) Paul Marshman and (second from right) Chris Kemp. 

Owners of Girasol Collectables: (top left) Leigh Mechem and (top right) Neil Mechem visit us in Orillia throughout the year as well as when we exhibit in Artist Alley at Fan Expo Canada.

Chris Houston - Marketing Director at Tourmaline Editions Inc/exclusive representatives of DK - exhibits at Fan Expo Canada; we enjoy talking with him and buying DK books during the 4-day convention.  It was great fun meeting his wife Rebecca at lunch.

Since I had my camera with me, I decided to photograph a few of our meals at the Consort Bar/Lounge:

beer battered halibut cheeks

ginger shrimp saute

fettuccine with seared shrimp

Bulgogi burger

Doug's oldest daughter Julie and her husband Doug stopped by for an afternoon visit.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Income Taxes Due: Time To Pay Up!

With the April 15th tax deadline only a few days away, I thought some humor - a Playboy gag rough reject and 2 news cartoons from the 1970s - might be needed.

In the years since Doug's first cartoon was published in Playboy - September 1964, he's submitted thousands of cartoon gag roughs.  Of course, not all can be selected for final art and ultimate publication.  

Here's a favorite Playboy gag rough reject to enjoy as the IRS deadline nears.

For nearly 20 years, starting in the mid-1960s, Doug's news cartoons appeared daily in newspapers across North America.

This tight-Playboy style single panel cartoon was published in April 1977.

This loose-style single panel news cartoon was published in 1971.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Preliminary Pencil Rough: June 2011, p. 67 Playboy Cartoon

Doug's preliminary development pencil and color roughs for his Playboy cartoons are done by hand; he does not use a graphics tablet like the popular Wacom Cintiq.

The caption for the June 2011, p. 67 Playboy cartoon is:  "I know I have the right to remain silent, but I want you to know I'm a screamer."

The 8 x 10 pencil prelim is on standard tracing paper; you might find it interesting to see changes - like Doug's signature logo, the background sun and the girl's shoes - between the pencil rough and the published cartoon.

To see more of Doug's pencil and color roughs, visit the Doug Sneyd Premium Gallery at:

www.comicartfans.com

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Zatanna: Preliminary Pencil and Color Roughs

We thought you might be interested in seeing Doug's preliminary development pencil and color roughs for an 11 x 17 Zatanna limited edition print.

To see more preliminary roughs, visit the Doug Sneyd Premium Gallery at:

www.comicartfans.com

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)