P.O.W.! Challenge 14--EDITORIAL CARTOONS

[Ilaekae]

P.O.W.! Challenge 14
Deadline: Sunday, October 5, 2008, 11:59 pm anywhere in the world.

Topic: EDITORIAL CARTOONS

We're taking a break and doing something a little different while I get the other comic variations arranged. This time out, we're going to do FIVE Editorial Cartoons like the do for the Opinion/Political section of most newspapers. These are ONLY black and white, but can be done in just about any media (line or continuous tone) that would allow newspaper reproduction without getting all ugly. This rules out extremely subtle shadings and "wispy" drawings that are on the weak side.

To give you an idea of what we're looking for, I've posted a few samples from various sources below that cover the political range from Right (Mike Lester) to Left (Steve benson) and and everything in between (Chuck Asay, Daryl Cagle, Matt Davies, and Robert Arail). One of the artists is black (Keith Knight).

Editorial cartoons are NOT necessarily POLITICAL. They cover just about every thing that might make people think or get excited--ecology, industry, corporations, the world, war, global warming, teenagers/babies/elderly, etc. The idea is to make a point as fast as possible in a clean, incisive way.

Sizes vary, but for our assignment, we're going to use a panel that's approximately 6 inches high and seven inches wide. Anything close in proportion or size is acceptable--I just want to make sure it comes across on the monitor screen.

These are usually done ONE A DAY, but for our Challenge, I'm going to be nice and give you THREE WEEKS to do just FIVE cartoons. Scatter the subject matter as much as you can. (Just look through your newspaper or the TV news to see what pisses you off or tweaks your interest.)

All five should be done in a recognizable style that you think you're comfortable with so you appear as a "standard" item and your audience can find you quickly. The word cartoon is used here, but for editorial purposes, that term covers a lot of territory. You can be as cartoony or as realistic or graphic as you want. Just do it consistently.

This thread will be the place you ask questions on this challenge, trash talk, post WIPs and post your final art.

Good luck. Ask questions if there's something confusing or I forgot something.

P.O.W.! Challenge 15 will be posted before Sunday Midnight, October 5, 2008.

[Sundance]

Yeah.....

I don't think I can resist...

I certainly have plenty of ideas.

[Ifman1]

Do they have to be humorous? Well, do they have to be intended to be humorous? Or can you go for thought provoking or like a tear jerker kind of moment?

[arttorney]

Some are serious. They just need to be topical. This is not my work. It came from Union Leader.com.

Edit: Damn! The Fed just mooted the idea I had for tomorrow's editorial cartoon. I'm still doing it anyway because it makes sense overall.

[Ilaekae]

The panels don't have to be humorous. It can go any direction you want, as long as it will get read. Editorial cartoons are the same as an editorial or opinion article/column, except in visual form. When I did them back in the sixties/seventies, most of mine were pretty serious, but there was a lot going on that wasn't too funny...

Keep in mind that these are five STAND-ALONE images. They don't have to (and shouldn't) relate to each other, but they can include a few different takes on the same idea.

[S.C. Watson]

I love political cartoons. I simply love them. I actually did a stint as a political cartoonist a few years back for an online forum which went debunked:

(scary how much things don't change .... )

I'll dig up some of my others if I can find them

All the best,
~Oreg.

[Ifman1]

in the 60s and 70s?!?!?!? How old are you? They had printing presses back then?

This sounds like a lot of fun, I don't know if I'll get to do too much with it though, we're packing up to fly home!!! Yay, I'm done with Iraq folks! I can doodle at home!

[Ilaekae]

Have a safe trip. I want you in one nice piece when I hurt you...

[arttorney]

Here's my first one. For you out-of-towners, that's supposed to be Ben Bernanke, the Chairman of our Federal Reserve Board.

This is my second one. I didn't do it yesterday because I was afraid it was tasteless, but a friend encouraged me.

[Sundance]

Just to prove I am doing something with this. Here is my first in pencil...I'll ink it before long, so feed me some crits if you have some suggestions.

[arttorney]

I like it. I need to practice caricatures. I've always been afraid to try them. Don't forget to shade her stylish dunce cap.

[Ilaekae]

I think Palin needs a bit of work. Here's her official portrait...

I'd make her mouth bigger and her eyes open and "Barbi-Like"

[arttorney]

She's got some totally Clockwork Orange eyelash thing going on.

[Sundance]

Nice update arttorney.

[arttorney]

Here is #3.

Here is #4:

[JL.Alfaro]

does this qualify?

[Ilaekae]

I can see this one running in Milwaukee...

[Sudsy]

Just presenting the other side on the first cartoon, and also a typical moment any parent goes through raising kids (based on personal experience too...).

Of course, editorials require a grain (or 40lb bag) of salt...

[Ilaekae]

Here's a teaser to prove I'm actually working...

I have 23 penciled, will probably get another 14 done in time for posting.

[Sudsy]

Any one else felt like this? One reason I never owned another cell phone after the first one... Despite the persisting temptation to grab a Blackberry or Pocket PC, Palm, or any other wireless digital device... Computers should just stay put, if I need a phone, theres always the pay phone. If I need something wireless away from home, I'll get my ham license!

[Ilaekae]

Second...

[MiniGoth]

Hahahaha!

Ilakae got some MAD linework skills!

I'm going to do some stuff after work tomorrow, promise - this has been a bad week for leisure time.

[Sudsy]

Sometimes crazy stunts are just starting points for revolutions in technology... Others just become crazy stunts... But only time will tell!

[Sudsy]

One of those frustrating things... Good news never really gets out, you might get lucky and just get no news when things are going good. Which is the origin of no news is good news! Another personal experience, and why I look at the world the way I do sometimes.

[Ilaekae]

Third...

This might give you some small idea why my warped sense of humor was banned from some underground papers in the '60s...

[arttorney]

Number five.


I think this is shaping up to be a great round. Come on Sundance, JL, and MiniGoth. Don't be laggards. You too, IfMan. Hope you made it home OK. There are three days and a whole world of news to make fun of. The debate tonight ought to be hilarious.

[Sudsy]

Think this'll be my last unless inspiration hits again! Got to love the Chonger! Makes a great cartoon character!

I did however break my style here, going back to ink after doing the first few all digital. So if this one doesn't count, I'll understand!

Arttorney and Ilaeke, I envy your consistency in style! Well defined styles! I guess I'm still working on defining mine...

[Sudsy]

Third...

This might give you some small idea why my warped sense of humor was banned from some underground papers in the '60s...

Warped? This would have gotten you banned? I'm amazed... But then, I must have the same warped sense of humor in some ways...

[Ilaekae]

I was thrown out of a west coast paper because I did a Christmas card...

It said, "Merry Christmas, Lyndon..."

The guiding Christmas star was a sparkle on the tip of the grim reaper's sickle as he hovered over a landscape of dead bodies and skeletons going into the far distance...

[Ilaekae]

Fourth...

More gag than editorial, unless it qualifies as pro-feminist...