July 2016 – Andertoons Cartoon Blog

Fast on the Draw – Death Cartoon

July 14, 2016January 10, 2017 andertoons

There’s a seeming disconnect between the music and the image in this cartoon about death, but it also kind of works.

What do you think?

Andertoons in the Smithsonian

July 7, 2016January 10, 2017 andertoons

As posted recently, my family and I just got back from a two-week road trip from Chicago to Washington DC and points between. It was just an incredible trip, but one of the most exciting and surprising moments involved one of my cartoons.

A few years ago I was contacted by someone at the Smithsonian who was setting up an exhibit that included a history of the food pyramid. They wanted to add my USDA Canine Food Pyramid cartoon at the end of the exhibit just for fun. I of course agreed immediately. As the years went by I wondered occasionally where it ended up, how it might have been used, and if it was even still on display anymore, but figured it was something I’d never get to see.

So one of the vacations stops was the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. We were in the FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950–2000 exhibit. I was admiring the old Marvel Slurpee cups when my wife yelled “Mark! Mark, it’s you!” I walked over and was flabbergasted to see my cartoon on display.

I could not believe it. Never in a million years would I have thought we’d stumble across it on our vacation.

The Mrs. and I took it all in, showed it to the kids, took loads of pics, and then surreptitiously watched other visitors discover and share the cartoon.

I have to say, it was an incredible experience. And a huge thanks to my wife for keeping an eye out for it. I hadn’t even thought to look!

Here’s some more pics of it:

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Tour

July 6, 2016January 10, 2017 andertoons

As posted yesterday, we’re just back from our family’s summer vacation, and one of our favorite stops was the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum in Columbus, Ohio.

Everyone really enjoyed the Children and Comics and Little Nemo exhibits, but by far the best part was the terrific behind-the-scenes archives tour given to us by program assistant, Amy Chalmers.

I’ve taken the tour before at previous festivals, so I knew a little bit of what was in store, but with rest of the family loved learning about Bill Blackbeard‘s six truckloads of comics, seeing Milton Caniff’s creepy life mask, and being in the presence of original art from Schulz, Watterson, and more.

Here’s just a few pics from our tour:

Thanks so much, Amy, for showing us around. It was a true highlight of our entire vacation!!

2016 Vacation

July 5, 2016January 10, 2017 andertoons

Just about a week ago my family and I returned from a two-week road trip. It took almost a year and a half of organizing, saving, and planning, but it went off without a hitch and we had a terrific time.

We started out from Chicago, visited Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, spent a week in Washington DC, and then came back the way we came.

We were gone 15 days/14 nights, traveled 1940 miles, spent 43:26 hours in the car, took 1271 pictures, and ate twice at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.

Here’s a list of the places we saw: