Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Greeting Cards Should Be Fun

Greeting cards should be fun. Just look around you. You are unique. Your life is unique. The area where you live is unique. There are plenty of bold, interesting things to say to your family, friends, and coworkers. Things that will be shared, saved and remembered. Even framed.

Ask yourself what you would rather receive. A 50 cent card or a truly personal greeting from someone willing to share their lives with you? I make cartoons, cartoon logos, and cartoon advertisements better.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

When Clip Art And Software Robots Just Won't Work


There are many websites offering clipart and software-generated caricatures. But clipart and software robots won't brainstorm with you like I do. They possess no business sense nor sense of humor like I do. Clipart isn't going to look like you, but  my caricatures will. And robot software won't merge multiple images into a single, polished image like I can.

Cartoons, cartoon logos, and cartoon advertisements don't have to be complicated to work for you. But they need your ideas to come to life, and your ideas need cartoons to look their best. If clip art and robot-generated caricatures are art, then kids' coloring books are literature.

It's your name. Use it to your advantage with cartoons, cartoon logos, and cartoon advertising.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

We Have A Winner For The Cartoon Idea Contest

I enjoyed the funny ideas you all sent to me, and drawing the cartoons was fun, but only one of them made me chuckle throughout the entire drawing process. So, according to my Creative Quickies Laugh-o-meter, Aurora Petrovich wins for her elevated reindeer suggestion. The picture on the left shows the cartoon printed on a coffee mug in the 'Satire Department' of my Creative Quickies store.

Several other ideas were also very good and used in my store. Thanks for all the fun.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

I'm With Stupid - And He Didn't Do My Research Either

On an Everybody Loves Raymond episode, Frank wore an "I'm With Stupid" tee shirt. I was struck with another idea, and I drew it up. But after drawing it, I wondered if anyone else had thought of the same idea. So I did a Google image search for 'I'm With Stupid' and turned up dozens of cartoons using the same idea.

Despite my embarrassment at not having done my advance research,  I had fun drawing it anyway.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Still Time To Win Free Custom Artwork

Just submit your ideas for a fun cartoon. It's that easy. I turn the best ideas into real cartoons, and the one best idea submitted (as judged by me) will win free custom artwork. Here's how easy it can be ... Aurora Petrovich sent me the top left photo and asked me to redraw it as a Christmas political cartoon, which I did.


The rules are simple: Send me your idea, either here or my Facebook account. I will pick the best idea and award the prize on November 11, 2011. All ideas, winner or not, will become mine to draw and display without further obligation to the senders.


The prize is for personal art only, up to four caricatures. No business art or logos. The artwork prize must be redeemed within 60 days of winning.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Creative Quickies Shopping

My store has opened just in time for the holiday season. I apply my cartoons, caricatures and artwork to tee shirts and other merchandise for sale. I specialize in humor, so stop by and be entertained. Here's the link: www.cafepress.com/creativequickies

The store is a work in progress, so stop by often to see what new images and items have been added.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011


I create '3-D' images by layering, a method so easy that it does not affect price at all. On your left is a plain cartoon of a University of Michigan football player. On your right, it's redrawn with layered shadows. Not all of my past work is 3-D, but 3-D is always available.