! ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 ! AUTUMN 2005 The Jester
GB OR NOT GB?
“Whaddya mean it looks nothing like you?” TIME FOR A NAME CHANGE? / BIG DEBATE DEFLATED PAUL BAKER ON THE STRANGE LIFE OF STEPHEN NEMETHY BILL RITCHIE’S TRIBUTE TO JOE LEE / FASHION FUNNIES TIM HARRIES TAKES FLIGHT / CLUB WEBSITE’S NEW LOOK EMBARRASSING MOMENTS / PLUS STRIPS, NEWS & MORE
The Newsletter of the Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Jester News Issue 378 - October 2005 Published 11 times a year Satirists face jail by The Cartoonists’ Club ANYWHERE else in Europe, political of Great Britain cartoons would be considered harmless satire, designed more to amuse than to undermine the State. Not so in Belarus. The CCGB Committee When animated mini films featuring Chairman: Terry Christien President Lukashenko appeared on the 020–8892 3621 internet, the KGB, the Belarussian [email protected] security service, responded Secretary: Richard Tomes immediately. It raided three apartments 0121–706 7652 in Minsk, confiscated 12 computers and interrogated Andrei Obuzov and [email protected] Cartoon Art Trust Pavel Morozov, the two men who put Treasurer: Jill Kearney wins £2,500 the cartoons on their website, for five 020–8590 8942 hours. Prosecutors have begun legal ANITA O’BRIAN, curator of the proceedings against them and Oleg Les Barton: 01895–236 732 Cartoon Art Trust, won £2,500 in the Minich, the creator of the cartoons, [email protected] Everyday Entrepreneur competition which could result in jail sentences of five years. Clive Collins: 01702–557 205 organised by The Guardian. The The cartoons mocked the leadership [email protected] money will be spent on publicising the CAT’s Cartoon Museum plan. style of Mr Lukashenko, his reputation Neil Dishington: 020–8505 0134 The CAT was established in 1988 to for rigging elections and his love of ice [email protected] promote and preserve the best of hockey. One showed a weeping Ian Ellery: 01424–718 209 British cartoon art. But in April it was Lukashenko wearing an ice hockey kit [email protected] forced to leave its temporary home in being comforted by President Putin of Russia, wearing judo gear, after being Graham Fowell: 020–8590 8942 the Brunswick Centre, near Russell deposed by a revolution. [email protected] Square, London. Since then, Anita has been fundraising to create a new From www.timesonline.co.uk Pete Jacob: 01732 845 079 museum in permanent premises. © Times Newspapers 2005 Helen Martin: 01883–625 600 She told The Guardian: “I’m the only [email protected] member of staff so my job involves Roy Nixon: 01245–256 814 everything from painting walls to Shock Jock Jed Pascoe: 01767–682 882 curating exhibitions to organising [email protected] cartooning workshops. Britain has a CCGB committee member Jock proud history of satirical and comic art Roger Penwill: 01584–711 854 Williams-Davies appeared on The but few, if any, places dedicated to Jerry Springer Show on September 9, [email protected] sharing it with the public. on ITV1, with his wife Trish – though Derek Quint: 01984–632 592 “The Cartoon Museum has a the subject was not “I’m leaving my Jed Stone: 020–7720 1884 collection of more than 1,000 original husband because of his terrible jokes!” [email protected] artworks, all currently in storage at In fact, Jock, and another bloke, Mike Turner: 01206–798 283 another museum. We hope to open the were appearing as Jerry Springer [email protected] new museum at a site in central lookalikes. So next time you see Jock, London early next year. But we have don’t forget to chant “Jerr-y! Jerr-y!” Jock Williams-Davies: to raise £500,000 simply to keep our 01473–422 917 heads above water over the next five [email protected] years. We get no public money so the chair of the trustees and I have to raise Jester Editor: it all ourselves. Publicity is essential. Royston Robertson The £2,500 will go a long way towards publicising the relaunch.” 01843–871 241 Everyday Entrepreneur, launched in jester_magazine @yahoo.co.uk conjunction with Zopa.com, offered £2,500 to people with “interesting, Front cover: Tim Harries innovative, worthwhile ideas on how Back cover: Pete Shea to spend the money”. Anita was the Keep ’em coming ... winner of the Arts category. The other categories were Alternative and “The sporran is worn on the Lifestyle. outside, sir.” 2 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Chair
WOTCHA, members so dear. Trust portant aspect: whenever the club you’re inwardly digesting these shows, displays, exhibits or publishes Jester pages? They’re coming along its members’ work to the wider very nicely thanks to the Ed, world, the committee of the day Royston. And the mention of his should exercise its editorial control name accompanies our congratula- by selecting the best work from tions to Royston and Kath on the members to be put forward – birth of their daughter Penny. How thereby keeping us all on our toes. did he manage it? Every word of the The other role of the handbook is to text for this issue is straight and reveal the contact details of mem- upright – quite extraordinary after bers, in order that, if it so pleases us, so much wetting of said baby’s head! we can interact socially. With the Well at September’s meet we had advent of suitable technology, this the so-called “heated debate” and should now not be beyond the wit of some useful stuff surfaced. Just a pity your committee to produce an up-to- more members couldn’t make it to date contact list every year for distri- Midlands meeting contribute. It was strongly felt that bution with The Jester. our present handbook didn’t really A wish for the club to remain with ALEX HUGHES is keen to arrange a reflect the current status of cartoon- its original social contact, get- regular CCGB meeting for members in ing in Britain. This is more than together type status was strongly the Midlands. The caricaturist told likely because we were using our expressed. This prompts us to ask the The Jester: “If anyone in the area is handbook page to advertise to one membership what they want from the interested in meeting on, say, the first another while not paying enough club, in a “tick the boxes” fashion, to Wednesday of the month at a pub in attention to simply putting down a be sent out very shortly. the city centre, can they let me know at good idea, which is what commis- We would love to see more out-of- [email protected] sioners would expect to see. towners from time to time – try to or on 0121-605 4449. If there’s enough This apart, the handbook takes a make it by combining the trip with interest I’ll see if I can get something year to publish (by the time the some sightseeing, a play, museum, or moving.” membership responds and it’s all who knows what. compiled) by which time it needs Stay bright! updating! This brings us to an im- Deadline change Terry Christien
THE deadline for entries for the Best Cartoons Never Seen book has been Dedicated extended until October 10 (5pm). Cartoonists are invited to submit followers ... work that they are proud of, yet has never been published. See last THANKS to all who month’s News for more. Visit sent in fashion-related www.bestneverseen.org to enter. funnies this month. They’re scattered throughout the issue as Website relaunch usual. I’m also interested in hearing IF YOU have not been to the club your suggestions for website for a while, now is the time to future themes, as I visit – you won’t recognise the place! usually think the next Ian Ellery has been hard at work one up as I’m typing giving the site a contemporary new this ... Off the top of my look, adding new features and head then, as England content, and making it more easily did quite well in some navigable. The address is, as ever, cricket thing recently, www.ccgb.org.uk. If you have any next month’s theme is suggestions on things that could be sport and games. It’s added to the site, email Ian: Fitness Funnies ... [email protected] (See also page 7) Games Giggles etc – Ed 3 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK HAVE YOU PAID YOUR SUBS?
If you are one of the CCGB members who has yet to pay the annual subscription, please note that these must be paid by Friday, October 14. If payment is not made, you will not receive your super soaraway Jester from next month and will lose access to the members’ area of the website. Please send your cheque for £35, payable to CCGB, to Jill Kearney, CCGB Treasurer, 18 Cliff Drive, Radcliffe-on- Trent, Notts NG12 1AX. Your club needs YOU! Remember: Outstanding subs must be paid by October 14. It’s a last-chance type thing!
The Paranoid Cartoonist Andy Vine
4 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Dear Jester
Wait, he’s not finished yet ... (just joking) and get the old pen out and draw a funny gag … FURTHER to my earlier tirade, and Neil Dishington having just watched a programme on ageism on the tele, AND having had Best not a glass of red wine, or two … I would like to point out that most of I WAS interested to see the bit on the best cartoonists in this country Best Never Seen cartoons [See are older, if not all. News last month]. Having a I know it appears to be a dying cupboard full of rejects, I have often Second nature “trade” but where are the young thought there should be a Salon des Honeysetts, the Dickens, Heaths, Refusés exhibition somewhere, but I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY agree with Thompson, McLachlan, Austin, a book is a good idea. However, I Dish [See Letters last month]. Get Collins (sorry Clive, to lump you have been unable to download the away from your computer screens with the more mature), Holland etc? entry form from the website on to and get outside. Take a walk. Be If the latest batch of young political my Mac, I keep getting what looks aware of nature. cartoonists in The Guardian are like a turd in a red circle with a It’s best summed up by a McLachlan reckoned to be the next generation, I diagonal across it – no doubt due to colour cartoon in Punch. The cartoon despair. Not funny, not well drawn, my own computer ineptitude. showed a family in a darkened room, and tame. I was rather put out at the Louis Hellman surrounded by electronic gadgets. The August committee meeting, at the young lad has drawn back the suggestion that because some of the curtains to reveal a glimpse of green older members of the club did not lawn and yellow daffodils, the only know how to turn on a computer it colour in the picture. The caption made them less worthy. reads: “Dad – the computer was right. When some of our members start It is spring.” being as funny as some of the Our Editor has to be congratulated members who have done it, and are on introducing a monthly theme to still doing it, they can talk. We are a bring out our cartoon talent. There’s cartoonist club, not a computer club. no excuse for our members to not Right, I shall email this, see if I have any email myself, check a have a go with at least one cartoon for “Yes, we his monthly themes. flight to Barcelona, scan a drawing in, file it, look on the club website have no Bill Ritchie bandanas.” MIKE TURNER
Letters can be sent by post to: The Jester c/o Royston Robertson 20 Upton Road, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2AS
Letters can also be sent via email: [email protected]
The deadline for letters and all other content for The Jester is the 12th of every month. Letters may be edited to fit space requirements.
5 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Website forum
Time to drop the land, it is said with tongue firmly em- Great Britain? bedded in cheek.
Roger Penwill: I am very proud of Doug Davies: Steve, Great Britain is being British and I feel Britishness is not a reference as to what we think of something we should celebrate and ourselves, but, refers to our island ge- promote. However, I wonder if it is still ography. appropriate to have “of Great Britain” in the club’s name. It does sound Andy Gilbert: I too am very proud of somewhat old-fashioned and arguably being British. Therefore, promoting the reinforces the conservative image our Cartoonists’ Club of GREAT BRIT- The new-look CCGB profession has in the eyes of some in AIN is one that I relish. I see no reason website can be found at: the media world. I can’t think of any whatsoever to change this. Maybe a other society for any other interest or little time and energy should be de- www.ccgb.org.uk activity that has GB in its title … I voted into ascertaining why we have To access the forum, click suggest the club should shorten its lost so many members from our flock “Members’ Area” then “Enter name and leap enthusiastically into the over the years … I wonder how many the Members’ Forum” 21st Century as The Cartoonists Club. of them departed company because they weren’t happy with the name? Don’t try to fix something that isn’t When posting messages on Noel Ford: An interesting and bold idea, Roger. broken. After all, wasn’t it the Royal the forum, please be aware Mail which was rebranded and look that some content may be Ian Ellery: It’s a good idea to rebrand. what a fiasco that turned out to be. reprinted in The Jester I wouldn’t totally drop the “of Great Britain” though. I would keep the RP: I don’t think comparison with The forum sections are: name, just make it of less significance Royal Mail is fair. They gave them- The Cartoonist Pub on the public face of the club. selves a new name that was totally meaningless so its failure was not a Have a chat in the surprise. (Can anyone remember the Cartoonist private-members Royston Robertson: I agree that it sounds stuffy, and more that a bit self- name now? I think it had “con” in it). bar about anything and important. When I talk to anyone about everything it I already say “I’m a member of the Paul Hardman: I am in full agree- Cartoonists’ Club”. And saying “See ment with Roger on this one. I don’t Spittoon The place for See Gee Bee” is a hassle! But if it believe it is a case of rocking the boat uploads: images, animations, causes major problems we could, as although there’s no great harm in that if games, cuttings, links, etc Ian says, call it: all the oarsmen have gone to sleep.
Jester Archive THE CARTOONISTS’ CLUB All Jesters will be of Great Britain downloadable here as soon as they are published RP: A compromise would be to could keep “of GB” in our formal business Site News and Information name, which is only needed perhaps News, announcements for the bank account and any formal documents and promote ourselves as and questions from the The Cartoonists Club. administrators and moderators of the website Steve Bright: I’d not only drop Great Britain from the club name to give us a Dont forget: from the clearer, more accurate and more wel- website home page you can coming front (there are some non- also access the Q&A Forum. English Brits who would baulk at the This is a public forum for idea of joining any organisation that asking questions and giving includes the words Great Britain), but answers about all aspects of if I could I’d drop the Great from Brit- cartoons and cartooning ain in all walks of life. It’s pompous, elitist and vain, and in most parts of the “Famous Cartoonists UK or Framed world outside the green and pleasant Cartoons UK – take your pick.”
6 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
Pete Dredge: I think “Cartoonist Club A dog’s dinner of a job UK” has a more contemporary feel. Andy Davey: This one caps them all. Mike Turner: Are we to take it that, I just got an enquiry form a “dog with a change of name, all those who lovers’ lifestyle magazine” wanting a advocate this will then be seen at the “caricaturist to work alongside our monthly meetings? Having the words celebrity interviews”. They went on Great Britain in the name has never to explain ... “Each issue when we stopped anyone coming to the club have interviewed a celebrity, we send any more than dropping the GB will our celebrities a gift hamper including have members coming to the club. items for themselves and their pets and we’re looking to offer them a Alex Hughes: I’ll put my vote for a caricature of their dog(s) within this “yes” to a change, if it comes to that. hamper. In exchange for offering our CCGB is a fairly horribly acronym. celebrities this, we will promote you “I’m dead against changing the club and your work, with information, Simon Ellinas: Something no one else name. I’ve just bought this T-shirt.” images and contact information about has mentioned is the archaic, dusty yourself and your services and you word “club”. Does anyone really want are also able to quote work you have to belong to a club anymore? We don’t Andy Gilbert: A Friday meet would done, on behalf of ourselves for our want to be seen as a bunch of old make more sense and be more con- celebrities, for your client base.” fuddy-duddies, do we? So get rid of venient for a lot of members. So in summary: draw weekly cari- the word club as well. What does that catures of celebrities’ dogs for no fee. leave us with? “The Cartoonists”. Roger Penwill: It might encourage other halves to come along too, espe- Probably a little sparse. What’s wrong Poet’s corner with … The Cartoon Society. cially for an overnight stay and the prospect of Saturday morning shop- ping! (Bit of a two-edged sword). The following bit of inspired lyricism NF: NOOOOOooooooooooooo! came from a forum thread discussing the joys of the postal service: Tim Harries: Cartoon Society Paul Houghton: Friday definitely gets my vote too. I teach Tuesday sounds a bit too pompous to me. I My old man’s a postie think “club” strikes the right note of afternoons and Wednesday mornings, which is why, despite being really He wears a postie’s hat social interaction. The Great Britain He folds my magazines in half part I could take or leave, hadn’t keen to meet people, I haven’t met anyone else in the club. Although they’d go through flat really thought about it. I notice the I’d write a letter to complain American cartoon organisation is Anthony Hutchings: I’d be up for it But what chance of success? called the National Cartoonists Soci- They’d shake-it, break-it, then ety – no mention of America or USA. (there’s some of your ugly mugs l haven’t seen in years!) they’d take it To the wrong address! Friday meetings? What are your views on “Great Noel Ford Noel Ford: [Discussing poor atten- Britain” as part of the club name? dance at meetings ...] I suggest that it And would you prefer to attend Please don’t send your poems to the is not so much the geographical loca- meetings on a Friday? Send your usual address. (Probably wouldn’t tion as the day. Tuesday is, for the views by post or email to the Jester. receive them anyway). majority of members, an impossibil- ity. The Cartoonist is not available to us on Fridays (the best possible Important notice: Jester cartoons weekday for a meeting). So, think … what is the better option? Midweek AS PART of the redesign of the club website by Ian Ellery (check it meetings at our long-established out at www.ccgb.org.uk, it’s great!) some cartoons published in The venue, to which few members can Jester will in future appear in the “Random Members’ Images” file come, or a Friday meeting at a new on the website. The random image appears on the front page of the venue, to which those of us who are site and changes daily. prepared to make the effort, will do If you do NOT want any cartoons that have been published in our best to get to? At least on a Friday The Jester since I took over in June to appear, please let me know by we could stay overnight and thus get email or post. Please also make this clear when submitting cartoons around the abysmal train service. in the future. Perhaps it is time for the holy cow Some cartoons which have not appeared in the Jester, due to a lack which is The Cartoonist, to go. At the of space, may also be submitted to the website. Clearly only cartoons moment, the CCGB is a social club to that would be understood by the general public would be used, not whose social events only a tiny per- gags about club issues and in-jokes! Royston Robertson centage of the membership come.
7 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK At last, it’s THE HEATED ... er, DEFLATE!
After much fanfare in these pages, and on the website, the “Heated Debate” on the future of the club, which took place at the September meeting, was somewhat poorly attended. Here some members who did make the trip give their recollections of the night, starting with Andy Davey who, after all, started all this …
ALEX NOEL WATSON was unable to UNFORTUNATE to see that despite ner for the “commercialisers”, but I attend the debate as the perennial the heat generated in the “heated think he understood the concerns of globetrotter was in Prague at the time. debate” over the past months on the the “socialisers”. There was some Prior to the debate, however, he sent website forum, very few members debate about how open and broad The Jester a few thoughts on some could make it to the “live” version at the membership criteria should be, matters arising. the September meeting. I had come but the consensus seemed to be that in my wetsuit, prepared to take a few it should be left roughly as broad as THE club has long included both rotten eggs and assorted hard-ball it is. The criteria for membership are professionals and amateurs, and this vegetables. What a waste of good pretty undemanding, and there is has caused problems with the neoprene. I did have some explain- already an allowance, under existing handbook. Alongside professional ing to do to those nice constables rules, for other interested parties to work, we’ve had a few sub-standard with the big guns at Kings Cross, but join as associate members. The idea cartoons, clearly undesirable for the that’s all sorted now, as I write to (suggested in the forum debate by a image of the club. Cartoons for the you from HMP Belmarsh, awaiting couple of people) of tiered member- handbook in future should be edited deportation to Algeria. ship (silver, gold, bakelite etc.) was by the committee, with possibly one My recollections of the tepid de- taken outside into the alley and shot. or two co-opted professionals from the bate were as follows … The handbook should be scrapped general membership. Those present didn’t demur too in its present form, to reappear as a I feel that the handbook must remain; much from the overall conclusion simple members’ contact list, proba- it should not be discontinued. It can be that the club should remain purely a bly inserted into a bumper end-of- a useful shop window for us, as I have social club, although this raised the year Jester. This could also show experienced. much-discussed issue of “if it’s a one example of each member’s Social or commercial? The club has social club, why doesn’t anybody work, although that is to be decided. always been primarily a social one, turn up?” The issue of geography This would, of course, not be sent to although some commercialism has always comes up. Gone are the days external organisations. crept in now and again. No harm in of members dropping in after a hard The issue of the website is more that, even if cartoonists in general day’s slog around the bars of Fleet contentious, it seems. While some prefer to plough their own furrows. Street, but a good third of all mem- “socialisers” would prefer to remove As it has done already, The Jester can bers still live in London or the ad- all members’ pages and simply show continue to publish “Cartoons joining Home Counties, and most of a few images of members’ cartoons, Wanted” ads providing payment is those actually present on the night others seem to favour retaining these guaranteed by whoever requests the were from further afield. There was pages for displaying artwork. This is cartoons (no cons or time-wasters an agreement to ask the members still to be decided. please!) And club exhibitions with the what they actually want from the I think the proposal that any art- cartoons for sale will always be club and why they joined, via an work sent out or displayed should be welcome! That’s commercialism! inserted questionnaire in an upcom- selected, as in any other exhibition There’s one other point I’d like to ing Jester. or gallery, by a “hanging committee” make. Perhaps too much time is spent The view that the club should not was accepted, but nothing was for- talking about cartooning and general involve itself in promoting and pub- mally agreed. navel-gazing. The important thing licising individual members’ art or I’m sure you’ll all correct the above about cartooning is to GET ON business prevailed among those if I’ve struck the wrong note again, WITH IT! present. It should be noted that our but I think it is a fair summary of the Alex Noel Watson Dear Leader (El Tel) holds the cor- views expressed on the night. 8 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
ANDY DAVEY chaired the discussion nature of our business. I forget who and all were in favour of the club being made the point at the meeting (it might non-commercial. The handbook is out have been Clive Collins?) that the Forthcoming of favour due to length of preparation social club was born from the time time, mail costs and out-dated info when everyone worked and socialised club talks over four to five years. The change of within half a mile of The Cartoonist. name found no backers, non- That’s a thing of the past I am afraid. and events cartoonists can join under associate The social forum(s) we all have access member status and “who can join” was to now are The Jester, which is look- Speakers may change, or be inconclusive. This to the best of my ing as well as I have ever known it, added, so keep an eye on memory! The issues of the debate and the website. future Jesters and the Website have been aired in The Jester, seen on These are our social forums, we must Forum for updates. the web and discussed at the meeting value them – the active members use but it would still be good to hear them already – and I may be mistaken, broader views from the main body of but I think there has been a steady October: Simon Ellinas, on the members. increase in the number of other (shyer) classic Marvel comics of his Mike Turner members joining them recently. This is childhood that inspired him to not to condemn the face-to-face meet- pick up a pencil I WAS profoundly depressed after the ings which can be great fun and make November: Andy Davey meeting – having had everyone pull the basis for the friendships which December: “Santa’s Surprise” – out all the stops to have a debate, none sustain us all through the times when this is billed by Aunty Helen as of those stroppy arseholes bothered to the phone doesn’t ring. The combina- “a fun-quiz-thing-cum - tion of all three makes the club for me. turn up. I mean [names of alleged entertainment-thingy-sort-of- stroppy arseholes omitted in the inter- There are things to think about in show-type-laugh”. Well, it is ests of diplomacy – Ed] and the like. terms of meetings, I thought James I’d very much like to suggest that they Kemsley’s helpful advice from Oz almost Christmas! Come along keep their opinions tightly buttoned (available on the website now) looked and do your party piece. And if from now on, they were offered a as if it might provide some good ideas you’re feeling reticent ... there’s platform and ignored it. Bugger the about regional networks, even if they free food! chat-room and the cosy little coterie are informal. January 2006: Les Barton who inhabit it. I’ll happily draw an interactive map February: Neil Dishington Clive Collins for the website if wanted. The idea March: John MacInnerney from would be that individual members King Features talks about THE turnout was disappointing at the could email details of what they are up syndication. Plus Tim Harries – to, I’d update it on Ian Ellery’s new meeting but, to be honest how sur- “Tim’s Welsh Rare Bits” design and it would be another small prised were all of us who were there? April: Paul Baker Yup, not very. way of making people feel included in – “Baker’s Dozen Caricaturists” I thought a lot of the subsequent talk what is a very spread-out membership. was sensible and measured, even if we Other than that, I think the idea of an May: Royston Robertson were often disagreeing, and I thought annual event is good. And ideally we June: Alex Noel Watson the decision to discontinue the printed would, as Terry says, do well to piggy- –“Memories of The New Yorker” handbook (which was after all, where back it on a larger festival and hope to all this navel gazing started) was the make some cash and perhaps, wonder If you would like to do a talk, let right one. of wonders, some sponsorship. The Jester or the committee I was OK about the reaffirmation of Matt Buck know. Though the list is full the club’s role as a social organisation until next June, you may be and not a commercial one. I have al- able to squeeze in alongside ways thought the commercial side of An ideas man another speaker or take the the business should come from the place of someone who drops individual and not from the club. AT THE September meeting, out. Talks are informal, don’t As for the future, the club has three members were also entertained by main elements from what I can see: Jed Pascoe, who presented a talk have to be very long, and can 1) The membership. 200 members, called “The Very Idea”. Utilising a be on whatever subject you perhaps up to 50 “active” in the tradi- laptop and a projector, Jed showed us think may interest other tional sense of visiting meetings and/or some of his favourite cartoons, members. events around the country. arguing that even when they weren’t 2) The Jester. Monthly magazine great examples of linework, the ideas Club meetings are on the 3) The website. Daily communication really made them. The somewhat first Tuesday of every month tool. boisterous audience reckoned some Each element has strengths and of the ideas weren’t up to much at The Cartoonist pub, Shoe weaknesses but collectively they are a either, but it’s all subjective! Many Lane, London EC1, at 7pm strong thing. The problem (if problem thanks to Jed for an entertaining talk. there be) really lies in the changed Royston Robertson
9 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
A FEW years ago I placed a letter in The Jester asking if anyone had any information on Stephen Ne- methy, a caricaturist whose work used to appear in the TV Times in the mid to late 1970s. He was probably the first artist to get a quiet eight-year-old boy in nerdy NHS specs from the wilds of east Kent interested in this branch of car- tooning. I used to collect his drawings and stick them into a scrapbook – yes, I know, sad isn’t it? What an anorak. Unfortunately I got no reply and so was once again left wondering what had become of him, and why he seemed to stop producing caricatures around the early 1980s. I vividly re- member excellent drawings of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan done in the run up to the 1980 presidential elec- tion, but very little after that. At this point the only reference to him on the internet was a small car- toon he’d done for Ronnie Scott’s website, and my old scrapbook had long since disappeared. Then, one evening I got chatting to fellow cari- caturist Steve Garner. “Have you tried the newspaper and magazine archive at Colindale,” he suggested. I hadn’t, so the following week I went along and ordered up the TV Times for 1976 to 1978. Bingo! After a couple of hours of intensive thumbing I found the examples that accompany this article. Recently I’ve been thinking about doing a series of articles on caricatur- ists for The Jester, rather than my Above: From The Courier and Advertiser, August scheduled talk at next April’s meet- 25. Below left: from The Times, August 24. Below ing. I decided to do a Google search right: From the Scottish Sun, September 5. Spotted once again, and this time it came up by John “Speedy” Harrison and the Ed with an artist called Stephen Nemethy who did religious illustrations on a Benedictine Arts and Study Centre website. I emailed them to see if they were actually one and the same per- son, and received a reply from Father Peter Burns. Stephen was born in 1950, grew up in Ealing and moved to the States in the early 1980s following his work for the TV Times. In the late 1980s he decided to concentrate on sculpture with the intention of moving to Italy. This, however, coincided with the illness and death of his parents and
10 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
Finding Nemethy by Paul Baker was asked by the abbot to find some other sleeping arrangements, so he moved up to be with, and care for, Sheila. They had a very close friend- ship based on their Catholic faith, and he set up a studio in her garden shed where he produced his religious paintings. Stephen’s caricature skills can be seen in the figures in the paintings, and he once told a parishioner who spotted himself in a scene that he couldn’t draw a figure without using someone known to him – he could produce a likeness from memory. Perhaps inspired by his Hungarian roots, his art also owes much to the tradition of icon painting. Increas- ingly this became very accessible, and resembled the playful and inven- tive (maybe cartoony?) illustrations that might be found in children’s books. Which, I suppose, brings me back to where I started aged eight. Finally, after nearly 30 years I have some background information on the man who started it all off for me, but I won’t be able to thank him. Stephen gradually developed a severe asthma, Seventies icons: The TV Times and Sheila took to caring for him. On caricatures of Stephen Nemethy July 11 last year, the feast of St kicked off an obsession with the Benedict, Sheila found Stephen form in the eight-year-old Paul kneeling in an attitude of prayer at Baker. Left to right: Hughie his bedside. He had died of a massive Green, John Thaw, Wendy heart attack. Craig, Patrick Mower and Father Peter Burns suggested I write Joanna Lumley to Sheila for further information about Stephen and his work, which I Stephen returned to Ealing to nurse will do. He added: “I believe Ste- them. Their passing caused him to phen’s example and work should be experience some kind of religious properly recognised.” conversion and he decided to dedi- Me too. Enjoy the caricatures. cate his life to serving God through his artistic ability. His local parish priest allowed him to use an area under the steps of the church as a studio, and in time Stephen moved in having given away his inheritance and most of his possessions. He lived the life of a hermit, relying on what friends gave him for food, and pro- ducing banners, murals and stained glass for the church and study centre. He was befriended by many in the parish but particularly Sheila Walsh. Sheila suffered from ME and decided to move out of London to Walsing- ham in Norfolk. Stephen was now living in the Arts Centre in Ealing and
11 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
Reviews Flight Volumes 1 & 2
YOU may be unfamiliar with the majority of the artists featured in these graphic novel anthologies and that’s partly the reason they exist – as a showcase for the emerging talent on the internet and in the independent comic scene. Flight is the brainchild of California-based Kazu Kibuishi who gathered together a group of like- minded artists and cartoonists, with the aim of self publishing, and get- ting their creations seen beyond the online world. As it was being put together, the high quality of the work attracted a major publisher, and 2004 saw Volume 1 released to much ac- claim. Volume 2 followed in 2005 and work has already started on the next one. If there are influences to be found in most of the art on show, it’s more Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away) and Moebius (Blue- berry) than the usual anime/manga/ superhero themes prevalent in a lot of online work. Flight instead concen- trates on story and character, with such variety of styles and concepts that should one artist not engage you, the next surely will. Kazu has done a terrific job editing the volumes, and bringing the best out of the talented artists. Standouts in Volume 1 include Kazu’s own Copper – a tale of one boy and his dog as they attempt to take to the skies, Khang Le’s Outside My Win- dow – a delicately watercoloured peek inside a young girl’s imagina- tion, and Rad Sechrist’s Beneath the Leaves – a Disneyesque take on the growing pains of a squirrel (sounds nuts – ha!). Volume 2 has the added bonus of twice as many pages and a few
12 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
“names” including Jeff Smith, creator titioners of the various techniques and of Bone (review coming next month), programs which he seeks to introduce and the celebrated animator Don to us. Hartas also discusses advanced Hertzfeldt. An increase in size means 3-D character and set design tech- an even greater mix of styles from the niques with much vigour, as these are artists, with many telling their stories obviously a fabulous set of time- wordlessly, allowing the art to really saving tools for the strip creator. He shine. There are too many outstanding introduces us to programs such as pieces to select favourites, although Poser and Daz3D for character design, Doug Tenapel’s quirky Solomon Fix and Bryce, World Builder and Vue comes close. D’Esprit for set and backgrounds. If you’ve got any interest in seeing Each chapter has a “guest interview” what is being created by this new with artists such as Scott Reed (Last generation of cartoonists/comic book “That’s right sir, it’s a Odyssey), Steve Bryant and Paul Daly artists, these books are a great way to Stealth Bomber Jacket.” (Athena Voltaire), Roger Langridge get up to speed. There’s plenty to (Fred the Clown) and Matt Smith of admire within them and a treasure books or serial strips. Although the 2000AD. Chapters include writing the trove of ideas and techniques that we author mentions gags in his early story, setting up the page, how to as readers and cartoonists can absorb chapters, for the average one-frame handle speech balloons, and character and learn from. If you’ve got a chance gag-cartoonist perhaps much of the design. Interestingly, unlike so many to, take Flight! content is unnecessary. But this is a other “How to” art books, he doesn’t Both volumes are full colour. Vol- book for the cyber-artist – gagster or talk about the kit until nearly the very ume 1 (208 pages) can be ordered graphic novelist, this book is an ab- end of the book. And he settles the from Amazon for under £10. Volume solute gem. Mac or PC argument quite nicely, 2 (432 pages) is about £12. Highly Hartas takes the reader from the too! I’m not going to give the game recommended. basic conception of an idea through away here – get the book. For more information about Kazu the drawing and writing phases of a He devotes quite a bit of space to the and Flight, visit www.boltcity.com gag, strip or novel to final publication actual selling part of the operation, Tim Harries either on the web or in print. You’ll discussing various merits of self pub- want to throw away those congealing lication, web publishing, and print. paints and buy yourself at least one of I’ve never come across a book that How to Draw the many programs which are demon- actually tells the reader so much so strated. Each chapter ends with a list concisely. Most of us had to learn the and Sell Digital of websites for further study and en- hard way, but Hartas short circuits tertainment. much of that process and gives you Cartoons He covers all aspects of the digital the nitty gritty. Leo Hartas production of a comic strip, with The author himself admits that this “How to” stages and tips of the trade. work barely scratches the surface of THIS impressive little volume does Nothing is overlooked – from pencil- his subject. But as a learned, practical exactly what it says on the cover. ling and colouring to production with and above all, fun introduction and Well-written by an obvious master of a variety of tools such as Photoshop, long-term reference to this vastly his craft and beautifully designed to Painter and Flash (to mention but complex subject it’s an absolute must appeal to the comics artist, the book is three of the basic programs) and all have, if only for the illustrations. I’m a concentrated introduction to the pages are lavishly illustrated with keeping mine close to my Wacom. creation of graphic novels and comic- dozens of examples from major prac- Jed Pascoe
ALEX MATTHEWS
13 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
I WAS contacted via email by a librarian in the States. She had been passed my book (Learn to Draw Caricatures – £8.99 from all good bookshops now) and was wondering whether I was the same Alex Hughes from Birmingham, England, who had also written a series of books on gay and lesbian erotic French literature from the 17th and 18th centuries. Turns out they were written by Professor Alexandra Hughes, a lecturer at Birmingham University. Alex Hughes
I SENT a batch of black and white unsolicited cartoon jokes to Men Only magazine. The art editor phoned me saying how much he liked them and could I colour them? I was absolutely delighted at this prompt response and painted them up and posted them off. A couple of days later the art editor called again. What’s this, I thought, a request for more work, already? No, he was very apologetic, but he had looked at the cartoons and decided that they weren’t funny, so he would only be paying me a 50 per cent rejection fee. He explained that he had thought they were funny because he was blind drunk when they arrived, because he and the other members of staff had been testing a series of drinking games for a feature. I’ve since changed my business cards Answer: to: Simon Ellinas, jokes and cartoons page 18 that only dipsomaniacs will enjoy! Simon Ellinas
“You’re lucky – you’ve got the knees for it.”
14 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
Colin was very big in the “The hat, Steve. Only the hat trouser department goes on backwards.” Fashion Funnies
“I thought I’d better splash out before my plastic expires tomorrow.”
“Does my bum look big in this?”
15 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
LET forth cries of “Halloo, Hallay!” done. Can I have my medication now, Those gut instinct-led folk at del prado nurse? publishing, after having sniffed in every nook and cranny of hobby and fetish CAR Ads – ain’t they brilliant? My have come up with another winner – a current favourite digital creation is the Clive Collins complete collection of magazines cov- jive talking, dancing Transformer car ering the “History of Fire Engines”. that advertises Citroen. In my search for Whether there is sufficient mileage in info about it, I find that it was created Aggie: Forget it! the subject of red fire wagons to take us by a newish studio called Embassy Kim: I told that Bill Tidy years ago – from A to the dizzying heights of Z Visual Effects Inc, a Vancouver-based draw four fingers on a hand, Bill, or remains to be seen. outfit founded two years ago. In May of you’ll never get anywhere. I can recall certain Marshall-Cavendish this year, this small company walked FN: Actually he’s a great cartoonist. projects that were advertised as “The A- away with four awards at the Clios, the Kim: Pure luck. He cornered the Z of …” whatever; you were then urged advertising industry’s Oscars. You can Northern market. They’re not fussy to collect the finely crafted binders in learn more about their art at about finger numbers up there. which to lovingly keep the set, and then Aggie: Why don’t you copy someone the whole venture petered out at around else’s work? letter P. Maybe there are millions of ‘Cartoonist FN: You what? fire engine buffs lurking out there to Aggie: Well it worked for … justify the series. I just don’t want to signatures were Kim: Aggie! We swore we’d never meet them at a party. tell! I now have to own up to a pathetic little works of art, Aggie: Maybe you’re too old. It’s a hobby that I mercifully abandoned soon young person’s game these days. after my voice broke (no, no, I think often more FN: Well, I went on Draw Ten Years you’re galloping ahead of me here … Younger, and after the makeover I lost whoah!). It was when I was at school, all my spots in the girlie mags because and I would cut out and collect car- interesting than they thought I was under-age. toonists’ signatures. Before you fall Aggie [picking up a colour piece]: I about, I must take you back to the the work above it’ mean look at this. This is unhealthy. 1950s when cartoonists didn’t really Kim: All the skill of [the sound is know each other – no chat rooms, and muffled here] but none of the wit. We certainly no club in which to moan and www.theembassyvfx.com actually took some of your cartoons to discuss the profession. I was an avid MEDIA News: TV’s Aggie and Kim a couple of editors and they said the reader of cartoons, and magazines like move from How Clean is Your House? work made them feel quite ill. Blighty, Reveille and Titbits, and the to a new programme How Good Are FN: Well Steve Way said I had possi- Foulsham collections (at least I think Your Cartoons? In the pilot episode they bilities – at least I think that’s what he that was the name of the company – I call upon twentysomething aspiring said; I couldn’t really read his writing. dare say a reader out there will put me cartoonist Frig Napley. The two TV la- Kim: It’s also presentation. Look at right on that) that were published on a dies spend a week with him, trying to those creases and fingermarks. fairly regular basis. In those days, car- put him on the right track ... FN: They’re yours. toonists’ signatures were little works of Aggie: So what are you working on at Aggie: Don’t be cheeky art, and often more interesting than the the moment? Kim: Have you tried using a com- work above it – strictly from a psycho- FN: I’ve got a batch of desert island puter? With the Adobe Tosser 1.2 logical point of view; all those whirls gags to send out. I’m not sure, what do program it doesn’t matter how bad and calligraphically wrought noms-de- you think? your drawing is, or how unfunny, it’ll plume. And since I didn’t know any of Aggie: Oh dearie, dear. These will automatically present your work in a these people, the chance of actually never do. Look, you’ve got two char- saleable style with an understandable getting an autograph was highly un- acters here and you’ve drawn black up-to-the-minute caption. Marf used it likely. Thus I built up a couple of trousers on the one who isn’t talking. for a long time. volumes of the things. Kim: The reader will be totally Tomorrow night’s highlights: Chang- I know that I can hear sniggering confused. It’ll be the great Ray ing Styles, in which our team suggest coming through the walls now, so I’ll Lowry confusion all over again. trying a looser line and a different not go much further on this, suffice to Aggie: You could never join a profes- name, and Vocation, Vocation, Voca- say, that it kept me happy and quiet, and sional association with this sort of thing tion, in which Kirsty and Phil ponder didn’t damage my eyesight like many could he, dear? on whether where you live affects your other teenage activities might have FN: Well, I did think I might try … sense of humour and ability to draw.
16 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
1951, which was brought out at the time of the Festival of Britain. I also have a collection of cuttings of his Notes from the North work from the early 1960s. Why there were never any annuals of his work, I don’t know. Later cartoonists in his I WAS on holiday, with my wife When I found it, I got my wife – who style, like Giles, Jak and Mac, Anne, in Bruges, Belgium, this sum- had had more than enough by then – managed it. mer. Bruges is a delightful medieval to take my photie (big head!) Joe certainly set the style for the city, famous for its chocolate, lace- large format social comment cartoon. making and beer – not forgetting its His cartoons were immaculately architecture, canals and museums. drawn – his buildings, interiors, doors From the cartoonist’s point of view, and window fittings perfect in every there is a shop devoted to Herge’s detail, no doubt influenced by his Tintin, selling books, prints, albums early interest in architecture. He was and some amazing models of his especially good at drawing transport characters. too – new cars, old cars, Tube trains, I must admit, I had an ulterior vans, lorries and London buses. His motive in visiting Bruges: I wanted to people were well-drawn, true to type, visit the International Cartoon Festi- “It’s not the @*! Mona Lisa.” folks in pub or office, policemen, val, up the road at Knokke-Heist. street urchins, high life, low life – all After all, I had been lucky enough to well-observed by Joe’s pen. have had a cartoon accepted for the I NOTICE that there is an exhibition at the Political Cartoon Gallery called I believe the CCGB recognised his exhibition. talent in 1963, with an award for How to get there by public transport London Laughs. To me, London Laughs means the work of cartoonist special services to cartooning. Any- was our problem. We looked in at the body remember that? Did you know very fine information bureaux but the Joe Lee. Joe is best remembered for his work in the London Evening Joe Lee? English-speaking assistant didn’t Joe retired to Norwich and contin- seem to know much about the exhibi- News. Under the heading London Laughs, ued to work for the local paper and tion. Indeed, I did notice a lack of even did some work for the comics publicity in Bruges about the festival. he produced thousands of cartoons for this feature from 1934-1966. [Ed’s Wham and Whizzer and Chips, al- Eventually they did find the informa- though I can’t trace any of his comic tion on their computer and we were note: according to the CAT’s The 100 British Cartoonists of the Century, sets. Anyone know of them? And advised to get a train to Knokke and what became of his thousands of find a tram to the venue. Joseph Lee “is thought to have drawn over 9,000 cartoons, often two a day originals? I would love to have one of We boarded a train in Bruges. At the them. A great talent – I think it’s time stop for Duinbergen, I looked out of for different editions”.] Not living in London, I didn’t see his we had a revival of his work, an the train window and saw a large exhibition maybe? sign, with huge red letters, “Cartoon work first hand. I got hold of a book Festival”, and an arrow indicating the of his work, London Laughs 1934- Bill Ritchie way! We decided this must be it and we would not need to continue to Knokke. We made a hasty exit from the train. The arrow pointed along a cycle track that ran beside the railway, with the back gardens of houses on the other side. We eventually came to a main road where another arrow directed us to turn left under a bridge and, thankfully, we found the venue, the Lagunahal – more by luck than good judgment! It was well worth the journey – what a magnificent exhibition of beauti- fully framed and well-displayed car- toons. The catalogue was more a fantastic, full-colour book. The car- toons were from all over the world, with some very clever ideas, all very professionally drawn, mostly without words and in colour. Naturally I searched out my own humble effort.
17 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Welcome to new members
David Lloyd Published in DC Comics, Marvel, 1st floor Dark Horse Comics and Polystyle. 9 Portland Place Co-creator of the acclaimed graphic Brighton BN2 1DG novel V for Vendetta (excerpt, above) which is currently being adapted into Tel: 01273-600 173 a film due for release next year. Email: [email protected]
Below: from the DailyRecord. Bottom: from The Times. Both Sept 9. Drawing Together: The Big Spotted by “Speedy” and the Ed Draw meets Carnival October 2, 11am-5pm
A NUMBER of you know from previous years what a big gathering this is. Well this year they’re closing off the whole of Exhibition Road, South Kensington, for all things drawing and arty. See and meet celebs and well-known artists and cartoonists for a very full, varied day. All members welcome – bring your pens (art materials supplied anyway). Teaching people, families and children about what we do is what it’s all about. And they’re really receptive and appreciative. Check out the hundreds of events at www.thebigdraw.org.uk If enough of us respond, they can set up a special area for us to do our thing. Please contact Sue Grayson Ford on 020-8351 1719 or email [email protected] If you’re going, let me know so I can meet you there. Terry Christien
Toontrek Jesterpuz solution SUE BURLEIGH is in the last couple of weeks of her Toontrek. The cartooning nurse has been on an 80-day trip around Europe and part of the Middle East, collecting cartoons to be auctioned for Comic Relief. Sue can be emailed on toontrek@ hotmail.com. Follow her progress at www.ccgb.org.uk /toontrek/toontrek-blog.html
18 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK A word from the Editor THE DEADLINE IS THE 12th OF WHO says the general public have no interest in cartoons? EVERY MONTH When The Guardian unceremoniously dumped Garry Trudeau’s Doonesbury strip a couple of weeks ago, as part of its redesign in the smaller “Berliner” format, the paper received more than 1,000 complaints. Contributions via email: Pretty impressive, you [email protected] must admit. OK, it’s an imported strip, but it’s Contributions via post: still some good news in The Jester the world of cartoons! c/o Royston Robertson You have to wonder if 20 Upton Road The Sun would get the same reaction if they Broadstairs dumped George and Kent CT10 2AS Lynne. I reckon it Tel: 01843-871 241 would certainly be worth putting it to All articles and cartoons the test. welcomed (especially for the Talking of The front and back covers). Guardian, we’ve all seen examples of Please note: The Jester is topical cartoonists produced entirely to a regular thinking along the same template so send images and lines, but rarely have the results been text rather than complete displayed in such close pages. Email submissions are proximity. Page 23 of the paper on preferred, as then images “These old Jester gags came and text do not need to be September 9, featured a cartoon by in handy after all!” Jas: a dead Superman lying face scanned. But Luddite down in the flood waters of New submissions are still Orleans. Turn over to page 24 and baby daughter (we’ve got one of accepted! When sending what do we see? A cartoon by Steve each now, a good time to stop!) and images by email, send as a Bell: a dead Lady Liberty particular thanks to Terry Bave for jpeg at a resolution of 300dpi. lying face down in the flood waters the marvellous cartoon that If you send artwork in the of New Orleans. Clearly no one in accompanies this column. It’s been a post that you want back, the op-ed department had the nerve tricky few weeks, so if you spot any to phone one of them and ask if he glaring errors this month, you can please include an SAE. had got any other ideas. put it down to sleep deripvation. Many thanks to all who sent congratulations on the birth of my Royston Robertson Reminder: the next two club meetings are October 4 (with a talk by Membership enquiries to: Richard Tomes (Secretary), Simon Ellinas) and 29 Ulverley Crescent, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands B92 8BJ. November 1 (Andy Davey) Tel: 0121-706 7652 Email: [email protected] Subscription enquiries to: Jill Kearney (Treasurer), 18 Cliff Drive, at The Cartoonist pub. Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts NG12 1AX. Tel: 020-8590 8942 Committee: 5.30pm Website enquiries to: Ian Ellery, 25 Nelson Road, Hastings TN34 Members: 7pm BRX. Tel: 01424-718 209. Email: [email protected]
19 THE JESTER ISSUE 378 – OCTOBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK
20