Spectator Article: the future of cartooning

A rare mass-gathering of Private Eye cartoonists in 2013 (Rob Murray standing, 9th from right) Rob Murray writes in response to Nick Newman’s Spectator piece (see previous post): Nick Newman, one of the UK’s best and most prolific gag cartoonists, has written an article for this week’s Spectator about the challenges facing our art form. […]

Fun in the sunshine at Herne Bay

The sun shone on the Herne Bay Cartoon Festival yet again this year. Here’s a selection of photos of the live-drawing day, 2 August, by Kasia Kowalski and Gerard Wyman.

We say gags, they say single-panel

Pete Dredge offers a British perspective in reaction to an American cartoonist’s views on the cartooning game “Single-panel” or “gag” cartoonist? The former is the default description from over the pond and is infinitely preferable to the UK’s more downmarket “gag” label for those of us who create the stand-alone joke. Apart from that, there […]

Exhibition is animal magic

The exhibition Animal Crackers: A Cartoon and Comic Bestiary is at the Cartoon Museum in London from this Wednesday (July 25). It looks at how animals have inspired all kinds of cartoonists across the ages, whether they are working in comics, political cartooning, magazine gag cartoons, newspaper strips or animation. The show promises something for […]

Husband's charity cartoon show

Another Pair of Underpants, an exhibition of cartoons by Tony Husband, is at Tom’s Chophouse, Cross St, Manchester, until November 10. It features around 350 pieces — strips, topical gags and sports cartoons — along with a series of large photos of Tony at work by the photographer Wolfgang Webster. Everything in the exhibition is […]

Private Eye: Looking good at 50

Private Eye celebrates its 50th birthday next month and appears to be in rude health, bucking the downward trend for magazine circulation in the digital age. The anniversary is October 25 but the celebrations start on Tuesday (September 20) with the release of a new book Private Eye: The First 50 Years, a history of […]

How to not get into The New Yorker

Cartoon © James Sturm If you don’t follow the Bloghorn on Twitter (you should: @bloghorn) you may have missed this article that we highlighted recently. James Sturm, an artist better known for graphic novels, decided to try his hand at gag cartooning for the most competitive, exclusive market there is. He writes about his exploits […]

In praise of the gag cartoon

Whenever the media spotlight is turned on cartoons it is often those of a political variety. These cartoons shout the loudest and have news impact. But Bloghorn writer Royston Robertson thinks it’s time to speak up for its more modest cousin: the gag cartoon. I have been drawing gag cartoons for the magazine market for about […]

Cartoonists doing it for themselves

Cartoonists are continuing to use the print-on-demand services provided by various websites to get their work out there. These sites mean that they can print collections of their drawings as and when they are needed, so they don’t end up with boxes full of unsold books cluttering up their sheds. While the cartoonists probably won’t […]