Cartoons
The Splendid Marbles Studio
I would like to show you my studio, and give you a little insight regarding how I work in order to create the cartoons on Splendid Marbles – if I may be so bold as to call it “work.” (Images after jump.)
Here’s me “in action,” with my new quality control agent, Clementine (don’t let her lack of size fool you – she’s a harsh taskmaster.)
She always thinks she can do better.
Are your paws clean?
One last item: this is a sculpture that is also in my studio, made from wooden skewers.
And this is how a cartoon comes to life:
First, an idea is scribbled onto a scratch pad.
This was done on the NYC subway.
It is then filed in the appropriate soup container:
It doesn't look pretty, but it's quite efficient.
Then it is pulled from the soup container and a new image is sketched in pencil on a piece of Bristol board.
Looks a bit better, doesn't t?
An ink outline is added with technical pens.
Now it's taking shape.
A little extra ink is added for good measure.
Almost ready for an ink bath.
The final step involves applying an ink wash.
Ready for the scanner.
Here are some shots of my studio.
This is my drafting table - quite ordinary:
This is my desk - a tad messy, but fairly efficient.
This is a full shot of my working space.
I hope you enjoyed this series of photos. Please leave a comment or two – and I must state that the kitten pictured is NOT overworked, and actually is paid quite handsomely.
Check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.
While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary
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Tags: Cartoons, Commentary, Photos Discussion
6 comments for “The Splendid Marbles Studio”
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Thanks for letting us fans see where your ideas come to life and for giving us a behind the scenes look. Thank you for sharing!
Nice to see the trees out your window. Somehow I imagined you deep in a city on about the 22nd floor. Nice space and nice work you share with us. Thanks.
It is a pleasure to share my workspace with you (I was a little hesitant at first because it’s usually on the messy side). I find the whole process of developing cartoons interesting – so I wanted people to see where they are actually created – and to show off that crazy fur ball, Clementine. Cartoons really are an important form of social commentary, and the caption contest is great because the development of the cartoon becomes a collaborative process.
(Thanks for the comments, Lisa and Sandy.)
What an adorable little kitten. I hope you take her advice when she feels like offering it.
As Clementine’s grandmother, I must protest at your employing my grandkitty, an underage minor (redundant but that only makes my point more forceful). Do the working conditions conform to OSHA standards? Is her toilet area sanitary? Does she get mid-day snacks? Is she allowed to take a nap when necessary? Does she have play time? These are all important questions which must be addressed or I will have to report you to the proper authorities (her mother) and then, boy-o-boy, won’t you be sorry!
That kitten is a loafer; she’s snoozing under my desk right now. My studio is in strict compliance with all OSHA standards, and I follow the even more rigid guidelines laid out in the Feline Services handbook.