Drawmark Journal

Gay Marriage in Cali

2008-06-30T21:29:05Z

By Mark Kaufman
Fresh illustration that is running in the Queer issue of the Stranger. This drawing accompanies the introduction which offers advice to same sex couples going to California to get married.

American Affairs Desk: Iraq 100 Years Timepiece

2008-06-27T17:24:12Z

Drawmark Roadshow

2008-06-25T22:32:42Z

By Mark Kaufman
Next week I'll be attending ICON 5, the Illustration Conference in New York. I will be hawking my wares/whoring myself out at the Roadshow on July 2. I will be sharing a table with someone, but I don't know who yet. This is how I envision the evening. That is me on the left. If you are in NYC next Wednesday and you want to attend the Roadshow make sure to RSVP before June 30th, here’s more info:
ICON5 Roadshow Illustration Salon
Wednesday July 2nd 5:00-8:00pm
Roosevelt Hotel 45 E. 45th Street off Madison Avenue
RSVP by June 30th to admin@theillustrationconference.org
Use Roadshow RSVP as the subject heading

Sketching After Midnight: John McCain X-Ray Sketch

2008-06-25T16:58:43Z

By Mark Kaufman
New category, Sketching after midnight. I have slips of paper everywhere with random notes, sketches, cartoon and illustration and design ideas. Lot's of them are done late at night. In the morning or when I find them in a pocket weeks later I have no idea what they mean. Here’s one that I do know the provenance of, it is a sketch I drew of John McCain while watching some late night newscast. I am not sure whether or not I dig his oversize black sunglasses. They come across as some sort of third rate supervillain in a 1960’s spy thriller. I realize they actually serve a purpose given his melanoma problems, and for blue-blocker type shades they are about as tough looking as you can get without seeming like grampa on the way to the early bird breakfast. Anyway, that's what I think about after midnight.

Sign UP! Sheet: Dry Clean Windows

2008-06-23T17:02:36Z

By Mark Kaufman
I love hand painted signs. Roadside signs, side of the building signs, retail window signs, I love them all, they are meant to inform and to decorate and serve as a differentiator to the competing business down the street, regardless of artistic or spelling capabilities. I saw these in a local dry cleaner window. For some reason part of the visual langauge of the dry cleaning business happens to be crude hand painted window signs. So I thought I would stop and snap a couple of shots of these. Upon closer inspection these are not hand done, they are in fact stock window decals made to look like they were done by an untrained hand. Does it infer a homey feeling, a small family run business, a patron of outsider art? I don't know, but it is curious that the dry cleaning business maintains these visual cues for it’s patrons and the world at large.

American Affairs Desk: Hillary Clinton Ugggh!

2008-06-20T19:19:22Z

An American Affairs Desk comic from a few weeks back. Hillary turns the table on the Hillary cult…I mean her supporters,

Garden Party

2008-06-18T20:18:52Z

By Mark Kaufman
Some very good news today from very good friends and clients, Gavin Groves and TJ Montague Groves of Garden Party Flowers. Better Homes & Gardens Magazine has highlighted their rose stem cleaner in their “Our Favorite Tools” section. The rose cleaning device designed and invented by Mr. Groves is also available for sale at the New York Botanical Garden and at finer garden supply shops nationwide. A hearty congratulations to two very talented and hard working folks. It is always nice to see good things happen to great people.

Space Junk: Mark Kaufman 1978

2008-06-16T19:24:14Z

By Mark Kaufman
I was looking for a business card of someone I met last year, and I came across this. It’s a detail from my School of Visual Arts ID card from 1978. Many things have changed, but strangely in my current official head shot my eyes are also closed. Thirty years on I still haven’t a clue.

Tim Russert R.I.P

2008-06-13T23:37:11Z

By Mark Kaufman
Meet the Press moderator and NBC News Bureau Chief Tim Russert passed away today of an apparent heart attack. Tim provided me with countless hours of enjoyment, yelling at my TV during one of his pointless gotcha interviews or mentions of his frickin’ Buffalo Bills. I had even done an American Affairs Desk comic about him once which wasn't very complimentary. That being said, by all accounts he was a great guy, so as a tribute I am flying this Buffalo Bills flag for him at half mast. My thoughts are with his family. Rest in peace Russ.

Portfolio Edit

2008-06-12T21:24:08Z

By Mark Kaufman
These days my portfolios are never current, they are always terribly out of date. I am updating my book for ICON next month, and have hundreds of pieces scattered around the office. I never liked putting a book together, I usually had to do it on a rush basis for a meeting or presentation, but thankfully I have some time this go-round, which really helps with the editing process. What I think is an absolutely essential piece today, will look trite tomorrow. More time means the ability to find juxtapositions that work, and more importantly gives me an opportunity to think about what I have done, what I want to do, and what I want to say…which of course will probably also change tomorrow.