Drawing Inspiration

Hallmark Video Contest Entry

2010-09-17T17:34:00.002-04:00

So I've seemed to become consumed with doing stuff for Hallmark with their addicting consumer-generated card contests. In July they held a Fan Appreciation Month, which included a contest for fans to submit videos on what the contests mean to them.

After much deliberation, and seeing videos as they were posted during the beginning of the month, I decided to try an animation.

It turned out to be the only animation on there, most likely because no one else was crazy enough to put that much time into it. But out of 60ish or so videos I was a runner up (which meant I won some cool Hallmark products). You can check out the video here and it's based on my winning Halloween card entry (mentioned in the previous post).

Interview with the "Vallmark Star" from AJ Klingenmaier on Vimeo.

Winner winner, chicken dinner

2010-05-14T11:59:00.007-04:00

Well, I haven't posted in a while, but for good reason. You see, between phone calls from foreign dignitaries, interviews with People magazine, and making the rounds on the late-night talk show circuit, I haven't had much free time. Why all the hoopla? Because my cartoon was picked by Hallmark to be featured on a Halloween card.

True story.

I was one of a handful of winners for Hallmark's "Scare Up Some Fun" greeting card contest. I think there was something like eleventy billion entries, and they somehow came across mine and picked it as a winner.

That was back in March. Now it's May, which means my card is ready for you, the reader, to purchase by clicking here.

There is the potential for the card to be sold in-stores, too. I'm not sure how they decide that, but it could be based on online card sales. So please purchase several, as most people grossly underestimate how many people they will have on their Halloween card list.

In preparation for a possible in-store win, I'm having Jeeves gas up the LearJet.

Hallmark announces "Birthday Your Way" card contest

2010-01-13T10:17:00.004-05:00

Hallmark Card Co. began taking submissions Monday for its latest card contest with the theme "Birthday Your Way." The prompt is to create a birthday card you wish Hallmark made. Then make it, and if they like it, they'll sell it online and give you $250.

There is a link on the site to past winners to get the idea of what floats their boat. It looks like a majority of the winners used photographs as the imagery to their cards, but I saw one or two illustrators representin' there as well.

Deadline for submission is January 25, 2010, with winners announced in March.

Behind the Scenes of Unemployment animation

2009-12-30T23:34:00.002-05:00

Here is a flash animation I created while I was unemployed this summer. The animation took about three weeks to make from start to finish, and was included in SparkCon 2009 in Raleigh, NC.

I'd love to do more animations, if they didn't take so much time and extra effort. For now the cartoons are way easier to crank out, but nothing is more satisfying than having that complete animation to show off for all your hard work.

Sixty-six out of 1,875: I Like My Odds

2009-12-08T22:23:00.005-05:00

According to Hallmark's facebook page, my greeting card submission was one of their finalists in the 2009 "Birthday His Way" card contest.

If the number of finalists posted on the Facebook page is accurate, there were 66 cards that were finalists or winners, and close to 2000 submissions.

MATH TIME!!

Total number of entries that were winners or finalists on the Facebook page: 66
Total entries, according to twitter: 1,875

66/1875 = top 3.5% percentile. Woo!

Below is the submission I sent in, and a link to the Facebook group. It really feels good to know that someone besides my wife, mom, or cat like my cartoons. (No offense, ma, but you know what I mean).

Abandon all hope, ye who read this

2009-02-25T20:27:00.002-05:00

I just finished reading a cartooning career guidebook. Its called Opportunities in Cartooning and Animation Careers by Terence J. Sacks. It should be called Opportunities in Animation and Wishful Thinking.

After reading cover to cover, I found no solid encouragement from Mr. Sacks for aspiring cartoonists. He repeatedly emphasized to me and anyone else reading that we would never, not one of us, EVER be a published cartoonist.

Period. Its over. Pack up your art pens and learn to play a guitar. Or sell your kidney for money.

Let me should you what I mean:

Page ONE:
"Cartooning...[is] not for the weak-minded or those seeking a nice stable income...You may not be able to make it, especially in cartooning...So you can see why we say that your chances of making it in cartooning are almost nil."

Page 14:
"So unless you are truly certain that you want to work as a cartoonist...you had best think about cartooning as a hobby."

Page 67:
"...it's a field that's very hard to break into. The competition is keen and becoming keener, and few have the talent to succeed. Even talent does not spell success."

Page 110:
"If you have read my whole book, and still want to be a cartoonist, just kill yourself."

Ok, the last line I made up. But you get my point.

I suppose I appreciate some brutal honesty. This book is an unflinching look at what to expect in a demanding and highly competitive field. It makes one really consider how much devotion they have to an art form.

In conclusion, I am checking craigslist daily to see how much I can fetch for a left kidney.

Drawn out dramas at the News and Observer

2008-12-29T10:36:00.000-05:00

These days having your own cartoonist is a sure sign of luxury for newspapers. It's like having a flashy and sophisticated tuxedo that's tailor-made to your paper, rather than having to rent from a syndicate. So it is no surprise that in times of economic upheaval, its the luxuries that are the first to go.

My hometown newspaper, the Raleigh News and Observer, cut more than 53 jobs in their latest round of laid offs back in September. Among those causalities were long-time editorial cartoonist Dwane Powell and multimedia cartoonist Grey Blackwell.

Powell's status had been downgraded to part-time, after a 33 year career with the paper where he established himself as a staple of the N&O's editorial page. He chose to stay on until after the November elections, when he would leave entirely. Powell's current career moves are uncertain, as the cartoonist has said he isn't sure if he will continue to work for Creators Syndicate, which distributes his cartoons, or retire for good.

Grey Blackwell began a novel flash animation career for the N&O back in September 2005, producing online cartoons for the paper's website which primarily focused on ACC college sports. Prior to that he served as the graphics editor.

For as much as the N&O paraded these two men's work around like the proverbial new tuxedo, it seems heartless that they will be snuffed from the pay roll so swiftly. Each cartoonist's departure is a tragedy in itself. Powell, after a long and distinguished 33 year career is downgraded to part-time status. Blackwell, after pushing boundaries with animated editorial cartoons and showing their worth to an online audience, is let go at the height of a promising career.

As an admirer of both Powell and Blackwell's work, and as a cartoonist trying to break into the field, it is certainly disheartening to see them leave my hometown paper. Whether the N&O will bring back local cartoonists and innovative web artists is yet to be determined.

But for now it looks like they will be rocking the cheap blazer and the rental slacks.

Former Mad Magazine Editor Nick Meglin interview with WUNC

2008-09-27T13:03:00.000-04:00

I came across a great interview recently with former Mad magazine editor Nick Meglin. As a kid, I grew up reading this irreverent and absurd "rag," so guys like Meglin were and have always been heroes of mine.

In the interview, Meglin talks about his love of illustrating and how that got him a job as a student at Mad magazine. Nick also got into humorous writing, having many fellow artist friends who were interested in the comics field, and subsequently caught the eye of many who saw he could write for comics. Of course, this was back in the late 50's and the 60's, as Mad was in its infancy and comic books were at their height.

Interestingly, Nick Meglin felt he was talented at "writing funny" but not "drawing funny." Meglin calls cartooning, "...an art form totally isolated from anything else." He mentions long-time Mad man Sergio Aragones, whose "Drawn Out Dramas" have flooded the margins of the magazine for decades. According to Meglin, Aragones often doesn't know the gag until he starts drawing; the cartoon essentially creates itself. A fascinating concept, one which I think I would have a hard time doing. My cartoons are almost always based on a concept, person, or script first, and the drawing comes later.

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Nick Meglin in Cary, NC in 2004. I was a finalist in a political cartoon contest hosted by the Raleigh News and Observer, and Meglin was the honored guest speaker at the award ceremony (held at the prestigious Barnes and Noble book store on Maynard Road).

At 17, I was fascinated to meet a hero of mine, someone associated with the most notoriously absurd magazine in the country. Nick signed a copy of his book, "Humorous Illustration" and I told him I was an aspiring cartoonist. His advice to me was to stay original and stay drawing.

I try to keep his advice in mind everytime Mad magazine sends me another rejection slip.

Listen to the interview with Nick Meglin here, as conducted by Frank Stasio for "The State of Things" on WUNC North Carolina Public Radio.

Nick's book, "Humorous Illustration."

Senior Show Exhibition

2008-05-19T22:53:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I was in my very first public art exhibition. The Fishmarket Gallery in downtown Raleigh (an art gallery completely run by students of the College of Design) hosted the annual senior show for graduating design students.

It was a pretty amazing, exciting and terrifying experience. We had a great turnout and several hundred people viewed my work and the work of my fellow design students.

My exhibit focused on my development into what I call a visual storyteller. My display consisted of hand drawn cartoons, comics, greeting cards, hand made books and a few animations. The display was a departure from the usual design school assignments, but I decided to showcase what I know and like to do best.

Overall, I think the turnout and experience was a great one. I am blessed to have been able to be a part of such a neat College of Design send off show, and I think it also helped me realize what type of art and design I enjoy the most.

The high point of the exhibit was meeting my professor's aunt who insisted that I take up political cartooning full-time.

I wish it were that easy.

Updates soon

2008-03-23T23:45:00.001-04:00

As soon as I have time, I'm going to get vids of my animations up. Stay tuned. Visit www.klingenmaier.net!

My website is live!

2008-03-11T20:03:00.000-04:00

Monday marked the official launch of www.klingenmaier.net! I'm still working on some of the design aspects of it, as well as continuing to populate it with content. In the next couple of days, look for more examples of my cartooning and digital work.