Yearbook Project: Excelsior 1968
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Last year I redrew my mother’s entire high school yearbook from 1968—over a thousand heads. Good cartooning, to me, is all about simplification, and this was a fun experiment in distilling each person’s likeness down to a simple cartoon version and learning to draw efficiently, with both speed and as few details as possible.
I’ve published the project as a book called Excelsior 1968, which I debuted at last summer’s Toronto Comic Arts Festival. You can buy the book from my new online shop, and you can see entire thing over at Flickr.
Joe Martz says:
Is it just me or do guys from the late 60’s have freakishly large ears?
Bob Flynn says:
Wow, this is a great idea. I’ve been meaning to practice drawing more kinds of heads. It would work on my own yearbook, but maybe I can dig up my mom’s or my wife’s. Great said of heads, btw.
maura says:
wow - what a great project & a fun idea! it would be funny to see a high school set from the 80s - haha! great drawings, too.
Johnny says:
Yeah, if I ever do this again, I want to be a yearbook from the 1980s. You can’t beat the clothes and hair.
Lost In Wonder says:
Oh, what a great and fun exercise. About the big ears, maybe parents in the 60s still pulled their naughty children around by the ears? By the 80s, it was frowned upon to drag children by the ear?
Dude says:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92762086@N00/sets/859996/
Johnny says:
Dude, yes I’ve seen John Ralston’s project. In fact, he and I shared a table at TCAF where we traded each other’s books.
rickdog says:
ah, do you have a social life?
George Coghill says:
These are excellent! What a great idea.
Box Brown says:
Wow! that’s totally neat-o. Hoo-ray for Robot johnny!
Jeff Andrews says:
John these are great! Let me know when you need that 80’s yearbook, I’ve got a few.
brett burton says:
Any of your mom’s classmates know about this project? I’m imagining a fifty-something Keith Knipfel discovering this and freaking out.
Dan says:
this is great but I would love to see the pics side by side with the originals.
hillary hartley says:
this is great! my mom is a ‘68 kid, too, so i totally recognize the outfits, hair, and the headbands!
great work, and thanks for posting everything at flickr.
alanocu says:
incredible! just amazing!
:: jozjozjoz :: says:
So awesome!
dave schlafman says:
Wow...wow. I’d love to see these printed out on a huge wall.
Wendsong says:
Surely some of them were good looking, weren’t they? Need to practice not only the features, but the personality.
alec says:
It would be great if you posted some scans of the yearbook, for comparison.
But great!
Sassy says:
Wow, man-- what a great project!! I love how even though the pictures have been converted to cartoon faces, each one of them has some aspect that makes them memorable or recognizable, which is really hard to do when reproducing that many characters. I totally agree with Dave Schlafman-- this would be great as a large-format gallery installation too.
Jason Gulledge says:
This is a brilliant idea and excellently executed. Great job.
My only request is to see the original image from the yearbook. I’d love to see the images next to the caricature. You should think about it.
Jason
Rob James says:
I love it! This. . .this is a good idea! When I saw this I said “Why didn’t I think of that!?”. Anyway, if I ever imitate your method (drawing from my mother’s sketchbook) you must know that it was because of your work that I was inspired. Just making sure.
Johnny says:
Thanks everyone!
Wendsong, while I agree that my style tends to favour the grotesque, I fail to see any flaw in how I’ve captured their personalities. Tell me your high school yearbook isn’t full of mostly-pleasant, half-smiling, awkward teenagers.
Claire says:
That is so awesome! I am totally inspired to draw more disembodied heads.
Al Myers says:
Who said you could use their images and names for your “art”? If I were one of the people, I’d sue your ass.
Johnny says:
Al, the names have all been changed. Have a nice day.
Tim says:
Goodness gracious, Al. All you see in his art is the possibility of a lawsuit? Sad.
Rossi says:
I just bought this book because I’ve been laughing at the characterization and it’s beautiful simplicity. I wish I had the ability to draw characters. Or anything, for that matter!
And actually, Al, he would likely win any lawsuit if someone was retarded or absurd enough to sue. These students posed for photography in a book that one could argue is in the public domain. Likeness already out there. I wish he’d not switched names although what a respectful way to handle hurting anyone’s feelings.
Frankly I looked like a total dork. Maybe Al, you still do--hence your issues?
Don’t sue me! Don’t sue me! It was a question not a libelous statement.
Corey Pierce says:
All I can say is that I wish I had thought of this first. Guess instead I’ll have to do a months worth of obituary pages… oops. better keep my mouth shut.
Joel Blake says:
Yes, all my friends from the class of ‘68 frequently remark on how people’s ears have been shrinking since we were young. Maybe it has something to do with rap music.
Terri says:
Amazing! Another vote for one from the 80s, too...I can send you mine!
Slack-a-gogo says:
I love drawing cartoons from yearbook portriats, but I never have the patience to stick with it for an entire book! Nicely done.