By Mark Kaufman
I have been meaning to mention this and one of our clients asked about art programs for kids in Seattle, so I thought I would post about a nice experience I had. I volunteered at The Link Program end of year mural project a few weeks back, it was a beautiful day, and 20 kids and volunteers each painted a panel and pieced them together and voila!, quite a nice mural to match the day. Thanks to Terry Marks and Zach and all of the kids for a great day in the park, and for all of their creativity.  The Right Brain Center for the Arts, The Gage Academy, and The Frye Art Museum also offer youth arts programs. I am sure there are many other fine programs out there, so please let me know.

By Mark Kaufman
I didn't do anything the entire long weekend except to sit in my yard and read several books I picked up at the Fantagraphics store last week. A particularly riveting read was the book The Comics Journal Library Vol. 4: Drawing the Line, edited by Gary Groth. Groth interviews Jules Feiffer, Ed Sorel, David Levine and Ralph Steadman, each one a giant of editorial cartooning, caricature and political art. If you want to read really insightful interviews about being an artist, cartoonist, and writer and a history of American and British comics and publishing, the creative process, trade secrets, influences and the artists’ thoughts on a wide range of subjects, I can’t recommend a better book. It is a great series, I also started reading one featuring Harvey Kurtzman. Also, a great opportunity at 8 a.m. EST tomorrow to get in on an interview with Jules Feiffer, who will be on live at Mr. Media Interviews, where you can listen and call in. Go here for more info on the interview.

By Mark Kaufman

By Mark Kaufman
I have been thinking about Ted Kennedy since I heard the awful news about his tragic illness. I seemed to remember drawing him at some point over the years. I couldn't find that drawing but I did find this rogues gallery of sketches from sometime in the late 1980’s. Pictured here from left to right, top row are: Tip O’Neill, Maggie Thatcher, Jesse Helms, and  Mouamar Khadafi, bottom row, George Schultz, Cap Weinberger, and Kurt Waldheim (!). The style has changed, but the evil bastards remain the same. Excepting Tip and Teddy of course.

By Mark Kaufman
It is most definitely election season. My favorite time of the year, every dang year. I just got a nice book from Sappi Fine Paper, celebrating Presidential buttons from 1840-2008. The book was designed by VSA Partners, and it is definately a keepsake item. There is also a cross promotion with 24-7 Design Heaven to design and upload your own buttons. I just uploaded the button seen here. I also came across Logoblink, a great site with campaign logos from 1960 to the present. I love elections.

By Mark Kaufman
Another hero bites the dust. Will Elder whose illustration, draftsmanship, talent, humor and genius launched thousands upon thousands of pale imitators (myself proudly included) has died at the age of 86. EC Comics, Mad Magazine, Little Annie Fanny, those three contributions all by themselves illustrate a career that had a profound impact on American society. One can argue whether or not that impact was a positive one, but one cannot argue with Mr. Elders talent, his satirical eye and his massive influence. Thank you for countless years of enjoyment from your work.

By Mark Kaufman
30 projects in 30 days is mercifully over. Seen here is a collage of all 30 pieces I did over the last month. To recap, last month someone asked me if I ever just post work that I do for fun. Thinking about it I decided to do a small project a day for a month for no other reason than to do it. Here’s what I learned from this experiment. I draw lots of human heads. I did try to stretch by doing assemblages, collage, phototography, typography, etc., but still I revert back to drawing heads. The most important thing I learned is that most people aren't the least bit interested in my haphazardly, dashed off nuggets of ego. I did gain a few pieces that I think are pretty good, and a few ideas, but overall it detracted from the purpose of this blog, to show my work, seek out interesting illustrators and designers, write about the things that interest me and hopefully others, politics, illustration, art, design and popular culture. And run-on sentences. I promise, except for an occasional sketchbook post, I won’t ever post work just because I can.

By Mark Kaufman

By Mark Kaufman
Recent illustration work I did for Hellvetika, a solo project of musician, and designer Aaron Edge.

A true giant of painting, assemblage, sculpture, collage, printmaking and performance art, Robert Rauschenberg has died at the age of 82. Thankfully you can see a bevy of interviews with the artist here.

By Mark Kaufman

Most pundits are trotting out the usual suspects; Hillary, Sam Nunn, Jim Webb… I say how about the corpse of Dale Earnhardt, or Tiger Woods, Rev. Moon, Chelsea Clinton, or Dick Cheney?

Mark Kaufman
I’ve noticed the new Alaska Airlines West Most campaign recently, and they use a wonderful graphic treatment of the airline route map, seen here in the upper left corner (appropriately enough) of the route map collage I made. I love maps and charts and information graphics of all sorts, but one of my favorite interpretations of the form are the beautiful route maps that airlines use. They create interesting patterns, they provide detailed informtaion and convey a sense of wonder all at the same time. I love them, always have. Check out the Airline Route Maps site and travel the four corners of the earth, via design and illustration without leaving your desk. Beats flying anyday.

By Mark Kaufman