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My Surroundings

I always enjoy seeing other people’s studios and work stations, so here are a couple pictures of my working environment.  As you can see, it’s a delicate ecosystem…

You can see some of my robots, including Voltron, Robbie, and Gigantor; a Gizmo statue, my Chris Ware lunchbox, the first issue of GUM, and a year-old christmas card from John Kerschbaum.

Toys!

More toys!

Even more!

A good chunk of my robot collection.  Although upon closer inspection it’s clear that one of these things does not belong here.

This last picture deserves some explanation… my parents, on my birthday, mailed (to my office) this weird fake cat on a bed of tinsel.  There’s really no explanation, but it’s quite funny.  He’s gained an adoring fanclub around the office and has adopted the name Stiffy.

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llessur

My good friend Russell is having his first solo photography show in Toronto this weekend, for all those who are interested.  He has a great sense of humour and sense of design, both of which show in his work.  Check it out if you can.

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Get Fuzzy, Canada Style

Bucky and Satchel of Get Fuzzy spent this week and last in Halifax and Antigonish.  It’s nice to see intelligent and honest Canada jokes (in American entertainment) that don’t resort to beer, Celine Dion, and “Eh” jokes.  Go give ‘em a read and see why Darby Conley’s strip is one of the best in the papers today.

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Boff!  Zapp!  Gloosh!

Brett Lamb is a local Toronto cartoonist whose blog I visit regularly—today he links to me and has some very kind words!

Brett, I assure you there’s nothing to be jealous of.  Besides, you get the joy of being able to sign your name with the onomatopoeic BLAMB! which has a coolness factor surpassed only by comic artist Stephen Platt, who of course, can sign his name SPLATT!

Go check out some of Brett’s comics.  They’re blambtastic.

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Some Designy-Type Things

Okay, designers—prove your worth with this visual quiz: Arial or Helvetica?

Also, check out the gorgeous designy-type gifts at 9th Exhibition.  Lots of cool stationery, housewares, and vintage toys!

Designing any logos recently?  Need some inspiration?

This site seems to collect old British tv logos and, for some reason, recreates the retro tv graphics in flash.

And finally, some photos of Toronto.  (look hard enough and you can even see where I work)

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Wheeze!

I haven’t been updating the Sketchbook Journal lately, waiting for better inspiration I suppose.  But the last week of my life pretty much looks like this anyhow:

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A Calvinist Hermitage

Bill Watterson is unique for several reasons, not the least of which is his adament refusal to merchandise his strip Calvin & Hobbes (The strip is about a stuffed tiger for chrissakes!).  But when Watterson retired at his prime, at the height of his strip’s success, he pulled a J.D. Salinger and up and disappeared.  A recent story in the Cleveland Scene suggests that not much has changed for Chagrin Falls’ most famous recluse.  If anything, the cartoonist is even more private now.

The writer of the article mentions that it is rumoured that Watterson burns every oil painting he does upon its completion, fully adhering to the adage “the first 500 paintings are always just practice”.  I hope this is true if only because it adds to the crazy hermit image that I find so appealing about Watterson (and all hermits for that matter).  Even if it isn’t true I love that such a rumour even exists.

“Y’hear about old Bill Watterson?  Folks say he went mad up on that hill.  Say he done killed a man.  Say he wears nothing but crinoline, eats plastic, and talks to the ghost of his dead mule Willoughby.  Say he’s never been the same since his boy done got caught peeing on all them trucks.”

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