The blog of Richard Thompson, caricaturist, creator of "Cul de Sac," and winner of the 2011 Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Seven


Cul de Sac is now seven years old, having launched in the Washington Post Magazine in its 2004 Valentine's Day issue.Above is the first sketch and the drawing used on the Post Mag cover the week it debuted. Originally it was going to be on the plastic bag holding the paper too, but that didn't happen. Which is a relief, as it might've scared away Post readers and depressed sales.

This proto-Alice is a little weirder looking than the more recent model. But I like the sketch a lot, and I wish I could draw the strips so loosely. Drawing things in little boxes cramps looseness and forces the lines to behave and stay in place. Especially when they have to share the available space with words which, for reasons of coherence, get more elbow room and the choice spot in each panel.

I do worry about one thing. My wife once suggested that seven is the age of reason. I doubt it is, probably being closer to 60, but there's something awkward about a four year old turning seven

7 comments:

Dale said...

Not to worry, cartoon characters (and cartoonists) have an exemption from all age-of-reason & maturity clauses.(It's an endorsement on your artistic license, like a motorcycle endorsment on a driver's license.)

Kat Slonaker said...

Congratulations - and thank you!

Mike Lynch said...

Happy Birthday to the Otterloops. I love their inky adventures.

chris said...

Congrats to You and Happy Birthday to Alice and everyone in the Cul de Sac.

Hinzi said...

Happy Anniversary!

Anne Hambrock said...

Happy 7th Birthday!! Here's to many, many more!!

ps my verification word for this post is "dimpo" - does that have anything to do with this "age of reason" thingy?

Jesse Cline said...

Congrats Richard!!