Ronald Searle Fundraiser

I'm currently harassing every artistic, creative, cartoon loving, Searle appreciating friend and acquaintance (thank you Facebook!) to contribute original art to a project that's close to my heart.
I've maintained my Searle 'tribute' blog since 2006, subsequently got to know the great man himself and came to have a scholarly level of knowledge on his career and work. Now I'm living in the U.S. and following the Searle trail here I'm planning an exhibition of mostly unseen Searle work at the Cartoon Museum, San Francisco in November.  To compliment the show I'm working on a book collecting his entire 'American era' oeuvre - all the fantastic colour work he did in the 60s for HOLIDAY magazine, Look, Life etc.  I'm raising the funds required to ship original artwork, printing costs for the catalogue and generally put the show on.  I'm doing this as a labour of love and to raise money for The Cartoon Art Museum (a registered charity) and to bring Searle's work to an American audience.

I've made a special blog here showcasing all the incredible art I'm receiving from an international group of today's top animation artists and illustrators.

Here is my contribution with the 'rough' pass below. I will be contributing both pieces to the auction which will launch mid July.  The rough is in some ways more pleasing than the finished piece-looser, more spontaneous and perhaps more Searle-esque?

It's my interpretation of one of my favourite Searle characters Mr Lemonhart, who was part of an advertising campaign for LemonHart Rum which Searle illustrated throughout the 60s.

Becoming A Successful Illustrator

A couple of years ago I helped out the AOI's Derek Brazell with a chapter on Ronald Searle for his book Making Great Illustration.  Derek's new book is a guide for graduates entering the field and he just sent me the proof pages featuring my work!
The book will be published 28th June in the UK and 1st July in the USA.

For Ronald

The great Ronald Searle passed away last week - my correspondence with him will be sorely missed but his influence on my work will remain.  We didn't meet often enough that I would consider him a mentor but I was able to show him some of my drawings and get advice from this master of reportage. He was always encouraging and positive about my work-the fact that he was even interested was astounding to me!


Out and about over the holidays I managed to make some quick location sketches around Portland, Oregon.  These were done rapidly, on the hoof, as it was a lot colder and wetter up north!

Vignette views of downtown Portland

Free standing wall in the Pearl District

'The Steel Bridge'

'The old oak'

Native American lodge recreation at Ridgefield

Back in San Francisco I passed a couple of days in and around Chinatown where I was able to make longer studies.  I've learnt a lot from studying Searle's location sketch work and always have him in mind when I'm drawing.  The example he set of sheer discipline and prolific output keeps me going on the days when I think I suck or can't be bothered!

Grant Avenue

Fruit & veg market on Grant & Pacific

Washington & Grant

Cable car intersection at California & Powell

McTeagues on Polk St.