Sunday, September 25, 2016

Pencil Roughs: Blond Reports Missing Frog

In addition to having his full-page color cartoons published regularly in Playboy magazine, Doug also had cartoons selected for Playboy Press Special Edition collections.

A pregnant blond reporting a missing frog was published on p. 50 in Playboy Presents SEX and Other Late-Night Laughs, 1990.  

It was also reproduced on p. 173 in The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Books in 2011.  The 248-page hardcover book, also available now in a softcover edition, features 270 of Doug's Playboy cartoons; his first cartoon was published in the September 1964 issue.

caption:  "Short, about six inches, pale-green complexion, hops, eats flies . . ."


Doug's preliminary roughs are all done by hand; his originals - approximately 14 1/2" x 19 1/2" - are rendered on Arches of France cold press art board using Dr. Ph. Martin's aniline dyes.



(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Playboy September 2009 Issue: Doug's Cartoon and Preliminaries

caption:  "If you don't think I'm right for this job, feel free to try me in any position you'd like."


The cartoon (p. 81) was also reproduced on p. 140 in The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Books; the 248-page hardcover book features 270 of Doug's 500-plus Playboy cartoons.

It is also available in a softcover edition through:


approved gag rough


early pencil rough - done on heavy tracing vellum


For the color rough, Doug typically xeroxes the final pencil rough and then tests color choices -

(6 x 7 1/2 on 8 1/2 x 11 Arches of France cold press watercolor paper using Dr. Ph. Martin's aniline dyes))


additional color testing




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


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug's Self-Portrait

In 1969 Doug and his family moved from Toronto into their new home in Orillia, which is 80 miles north of Toronto.  

This 30" x 42" self-portrait in oils was one of the first things he did in his spacious new third-floor studio; it still hangs in the main floor of the 3-story home overlooking Lake Couchiching.


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Preliminary Pencil Rough: September 2008, p. 103 Playboy Cartoon

caption:  "If that coffee doesn't keep you up all night, I'd like to take a shot."






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


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)


Sunday, September 4, 2016

New Loose-Style 10 x 14 Original

Like his 500-plus full-page color Playboy cartoons, all of Doug's 10 x 14 originals are rendered on Arches of France cold press watercolor paper/art board using Dr. Ph. Martin's aniline dyes.

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



(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Illustrations for Star Weekly, Toronto Magazine

After working in Montreal during the early 1950s at Rapid Grip and Batten, an advertising design firm with one of the largest art studios in Canada, Doug moved (in 1955) to Toronto - working first at Mercer Studios, a small advertising agency, and then starting a freelance career in commercial art.

Besides creating covers and illustrations for major Canadian textbook publishers, Doug's work appeared regularly in the Star Weekly, Toronto.

June 27,1964

January 25, 1964

January 12, 1963

November 21, 1964

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)