Canvassing for charity
November 27, 2012 in Events, General, News
Cartoon canvas © Robert Thompson @ Procartoonists.org
Many cartoonists have contributed small canvases to the Stars on Canvas 2012 charity auction, which runs online until 2 December.
They include Procartoonists.org members Jonathan Cusick, Noel Ford, Tony Husband, Royston Robertson, Robert Thompson, above, and Kate Taylor. There are also canvases by names from the worlds of sport, music and entertainment.
The auction is in aid of the Willow Foundation, which arranges special days and experiences for seriously ill 16 to 40-year-olds. More details here.
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by Royston
Have publishers lost their Phiz?
January 24, 2012 in Comment
An article on the Independent website — Where have all the book illustrators gone? — appears to have provoked some rather angry debate.
The piece wonders why we do not see much illustration in books aimed at adults, something that was common in the days of Charles Dickens, who collaborated with illustrators such as Hablot Browne, aka Phiz, above.
Much of the angry reaction is directed at Dan Franklin, of the publisher Jonathan Cape, who claims that “there aren’t that many great illustrators … it’s hard to find someone who can draw the human figure, it seems to be unfashionable now”.
The PCO’s Jonathan Cusick contributes, conceding that it is true that drawing of the human figure is not taught on art courses to the extent it once was. Though, as Jonathan’s work shows, that hardly means accomplished artists are not still out there.
Bloghorn wonders how much cost is a factor. Is the absence of book illustration at least partly due to publishers’ reluctance to pay the proper rates for cartoons and illustrations? We can’t help thinking that many publishers are waiting for the day when Patrick Tresset’s drawing robot, which went on show at the London Art Fair last week, is available for commercial work.
Tags: book illustration, Charles Dickens, illustrators, Jonathan Cape, Jonathan Cusick, Phiz, Procartoonists.org No Comments »