What's scarier than a politician?

Getting ready for Halloween, everyone?

I did this drawing recently for the New York Press, and it reminded me of what scares me more than anything (especially around voting time): extremist, right-wing, religious fundamentalists. Add Republican to the description, and I'm running for cover. And these folks really get scary when they get a hold of a little power. The current state of the nation frightens me. The only thing offering relief is the growing disapproval of Bush. Sure, I've always hated him, my friends have always hated him, and many many other New Yorkers hate him...but what about outside of New York and the big cities? It's so easy to forget that there are still so many Americans out there who are rallying behind that man. It's unbelievable!

Anyone willing to alter the Constitution forever in favor of prejudice should be STOPPED.

If you are still on the fence about gay marriage, then I recommend a really informative documentary to help you make your decision:
Tying the Knot

Alright, now that I got that out of my system, I thought it would be cool to post the "before" and "after" of my recent illustration assignment. It's about politicians using the internet as their podium, if you will. I did the black and white sketch first, and really loved the energy of the scratchy pencil lines, so I was going to use it as is with color. However, the art director opted to soften the image a bit, which I can understand. I suppose my early version is a bit "fire and brimstone" whereas the art director wanted "enthusiastic". I guess I'm happy with the final result, but it could've had so much more impact and emotion!

As queer as queer can be

Inbetween working on various freelance jobs, I've been doing little illustrations for an advice column in a gay weekly. Here's a recent chunk of all the cartoony hunks...

There's a topic for everyone!

STDs:


tops and bottoms:


cleanliness:


risky behavior:


and...excessive sweating:


Wouldn't Mamma be proud!

Another reason why I love my Mom

My Mom's going to be on TV in South Carolina promoting Gay and Lesbian rights! She and other P-Flag (Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays) members are opposing Bush's constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. (I hope you are, too.)

Watch her by clicking on the link below:

South Carolina Equality Coalition

This November, initiatives banning same-sex marriages are expected to be on the ballot in Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. In 2004, 13 states approved initiatives prohibiting gay marriage or civil unions, with 11 states casting votes on Election Day.

One of my favorite pieces of animation

"All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and when they catch you, they will kill you... but first they must catch you."

- from the beginning of the film, Watership Down

When I read Watership Down as a child I was deeply moved, but I was especially taken by this animated introduction to the movie version of the story. Stylistically, it stands in stark contrast to the rest of the (traditionally animated) film, with the exception of a few lyrical moments scattered throughout that exhibit the same stylistic flourishes.

I still get goosebumps watching this as an adult, and it reinforces in my mind the profound messages that can be relayed through simple, pared down, conceptual animation. I believe it was inspired by the UPA animation style of the fifties and sixties, and I'm not sure if we'll ever see animation as simple yet so profound again. It also reminds me of the Hubley family's animated works, which also have a deceptively simple looking visual style. However, there is nothing simple about the design and themes within this animation.

Thematically, it cuts so deep on so many ethereal levels that you can flip to nearly any page in a history book and see a parallel. Its Native American motifs, Inuit forms, and African stylings suggest the abuse, eradication, or attempted genocide of several more innocent societies that populate Earth.

It's even relatable to Art Speigelman's Maus series of graphic novels, which depict the Jews of WWII as vulnerable mice in a world of Nazi predators.

I also can't resist giving El-ahrairah (the rabbit prince) a homosexual slant, comparing him to how our culture has treated gays in the past and present. It comforts me, because in this animated myth, Frith blesses El-ahrairah with his own tools and tricks for survival, proving that all the world's creatures have a place on this Earth.

And now for a little break...

All this work on Betty Boop makes me tired. I worry that all this work is putting circles under my eyes. Click on the link below to see what products I'm considering to aid the situation. (Haha...not really, but click on it, you'll be glad you did...)

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