Adrian C. Sinnott's Traveling Sketches » Sketches

Creig Flessel

acsinnott — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:54:00 +0000

I’ve been lucky enough to have called Creig Flessel, a cartoonist whose work dates back to comics “Golden Age,” a good friend. Creig was the first person I met when I joined the Berndt Toast Gang. His talent was truly incredible and he was a kind and wonderful friend. The members of the group adored him so much to have deemed him the “Infallible Creig Flessel.” His professional work spanned over 70 years. From “The Sandman” in Adventure Comics, to the David Crane comic strip, and even Baron von Furstinbed for Playboy. Creig passed away at 96 in 2008.

In honor of what would have been his 100th birthday on February 2nd, the Berndt Toast Gang is sponsoring a display of his work at the Art league of Long Island now through January 30th. Some pieces have never been publicly displayed before.

On January 27th, the Gang will be at the Art league for a closing reception displaying our work and drawings of Creig and his characters.

Hope to see you there!

Christmas 2011

acsinnott — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:38:14 +0000

And here is my annual Christmas card. I’m glad there are twelve days to Christmas because it means I’m still on time . . . Click the image for a larger version.

Tied

acsinnott — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:34:23 +0000

Every Christmas I paint a tie to wear at the various cartoon related holiday parties I attend. It’s always a mad rush and I’m usually hoping it’s dry as I tie it. This time around, I practically had to hang it out the car window on the way to the Society of Illustrators party in Manhattan.

Is anyone's job safe from cutbacks?

Auction to benefit injured artist

acsinnott — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:23:33 +0000

I’m donating a piece of work from one of my books, “Magnets,” to an auction in Ireland. This is to assist a Russian artist who is married to an Irishman and living in Dublin. She was viciously attacked by a burglar and the attacker cut off most of the fingers from her drawing hand. You can read about her here in the Irish Times. The doctors were able to reattach her middle finger but not the others. Adams Blackrock auction house is setting up an auction to raise some money to help with her rehabilitation.

This is the piece I’m donating along with a signed copy of the book (click for a large image):

Polar bears and penguins explaining how magnets work!

Tomi Ungerer

acsinnott — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:37:46 +0000

The famed illustrator, author, architect, and even food editor (for Playboy) was back in New York after a long absence to promote the re-publication of many of his books by Phaidon Press. My daughter and I spent last Thursday evening at the Society of Illustrators listening to Tomi and the great, Jules Feiffer, talking, joking and reminiscing about their shared time in New York in the Sixties and Seventies. Tomi also spoke about his farm in Nova Scotia and the reality of raising animals. On my way home, I was flipping through one of my sketchbooks and found a drawing I thought fit perfectly with Tomi’s farm stories. On Saturday, I headed down to Phaidon’s bookstore on Wooster Street, where Tomi did a short drawing session to the delight of the children (and grown-up children) in the audience. Afterwards, Tomi spent some time signing books including two for me. His great children’s book, “The Three Robbers” and his recollections of the years he and his wife spent on their farm in Nova Scotia.

After Tomi’s talk, I handed the sketch to his daughter but at the same moment he came by and she kindly said to give it to him personally. He was very nice, with a “but you are a professional illustrator.” Later he signed my book for me and gave a rousing handshake.

You still have a chance to meet Tomi before he heads back to Europe. He’ll be in Amherst (Massachussetts) for a book signing celebrating the opening of Tomi Ungerer: Chronicler of the Absurd at Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, located 125 West Bay Road on June 19 (1 PM). It’s free with museum admission.

Here’s Tomi sketching and then the sketch I gave to him (also used on this blog long ago).

"Let's make a deal. Instead of me eating the slop to get fat so that you can eat me. Why don't you eat the slop and we can cut out the middleman?

Team Cul de Sac

acsinnott — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:32:26 +0000

Fellow cartoonist Richard Thompson, the creator behind “Cul de Sac,” was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I met Richard at last year’s Reuben Awards. He and I were listening to hilarious stories from Arnie Roth. Richard is up for the “Cartoonist of the Year” and Cul de Sac is up for Best Strip at this years Reubens.

Chris Sparks is running a”Team” as part of Michael J. Fox’s efforts to raise funds for research. Team Cul de Sac will be producing a book of drawings submitted to the effort and the originals will be auctioned off. You can find out more here and visit the “Team Cul de Sac” blog here.

Here’s my submission, influenced by the Oct. 02, 2007 strip where Danders the guinea pig explains why he hates hermit crabs.

I’m Back!

acsinnott — Sat, 21 May 2011 01:58:03 +0000

This has been a very busy Spring. The semester is over (I teach as an adjunct at a local college) and, hopefully, not too many students want to throw darts at my photo. So, in between some ongoing projects (more details when I can), 2×4′s and spackle, and a car restoration or two, I might have a chance to post some new sketches.

This rough sketch is how I’ve felt lately. Trying to control the Frankenclient.

Alright, alright, what's another deadline. Oh, sorry . . . undeadline.

A non-traveling sketch

acsinnott — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 04:15:34 +0000

This time of year, I usually don’t have to go running out to clients or trekking into the city. So, instead of a sketch from a moving train, here’s a quick one from the drawing board. This one is done in watercolor dyes and colored pencil.

Best friends!

Little Christmas

acsinnott — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:25:47 +0000

Well, I did it. I finished my Christmas card before “Little Christmas.” Every year is the same, there’s always a rush before the holidays and then the hustle of the holidays themselves. So, I rarely get to draw the card before Christmas day.

Twas the night before . . .

acsinnott — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:31:29 +0000

Well, almost the night before and not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. That’s not quite true. I’m stirring and, as always, working on my annual Christmas card. One year it will arrive on time and no one will believe it’s from me.

You don't have to get me anything . . . well, perhaps a bit of gorgonzola.