CcTC Spooktacular Charity Project 2011

Thanks to all of the PCS members and other folks who contributed to this year's Spooktacular for CcTC. To read more about the project and past PCS involvement, CLICK HERE. There were a ton of different styles and so many trick or treat bags! As always, the kids had an awesome time and appreciated everything.

We would especially like to acknowledge: Andrew and Oliver Hart, Marc Damicis, Paul Palcko, Dave Perillo, Melissa Lomax, Christian Patchell, Christine Larsen, Tim Durning, Anthony Pedro, Cinzia Sevignani, Jay Bevenour, Chris Wirth, Wesley Bogan, Brandon Heary, Joan Newton, James Pointdujour and Sam Heimer!

To see more of the bags, please CLICK HERE.

Lovecraft Show Fundraiser

Hey folks, hope you're all well. Just wanted to mention that in an effort to offset some of the cost for this falls 'Dead and Dreaming' art show's (including PCS and ASOP members) companion book I'm doing up some Lovecraft t-shirts. You can check it out and maybe buy one or a hundred HERE. Thanks for the support folks!

Philadelphia Cartoonist Society Shirts, etc. available now on Cafe Press

I know Cafe Press is a bit pricier than when I do a print run from a local shop, but if you ever need a quick t-shirt with the PCS logo, you can always find one at my Cafe Press store. All of the images I uploaded to the site are high resolution, and folks who use Cafe Press told me their output quality is very good.

Over the years, a lot of people have asked me about older t-shirts I've designed. It's hard not to lose money when you make a second run of shirts (unless you you a lot of people pre-order). Also folks have asked me for sizes I didn't have. So I figured this was a place they could always come to if I didn't have any on hand. If interested, please click the link below:

http://www.cafepress.com/JeffroKilpatricksShop

PCS Mardi Gras 2011

Chris DeRose, Sam Heimer, James PointDuJour (a rowdy bunch)

Members of the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society bro'd down at Jeffro's apartment the Saturday before Fat Tuesday 2011 for a Pre-Mardi Gras celebration. It was the first time in a while that so many members got together in such a big group. There must have been over 25 people crammed into this tiny one-bedroom apartment at one point. It was also coincidentally James PointDuJour's birthday. Everyone seemed to have a great night, drank, listened to New Orleans music, ate some good food and talked trash on each other like the old days. Sadly, there wasn't enough room to pick up a pencil and draw.

PCS Members in attendance included: Chris "Patch" Patchell, Andrew Hart, Andy Hoffman, Kyle Margiotta, Christine Larsen, Dave Perillo, Scott Derby, Sam Heimer, James Heimer, Paul Palcko, Concetta Barbera, Tim Durning, Chris DeRose, Rich Marcej, Chris Webb, Melissa Lomax, James PointDuJour and several other friends, wives, and partners.

It is my hope that gatherings like this can re-invigorate the crew. The next time we get together like this, hopefully it will be at a place with big drawing tables. It's good to know that the PCS is alive and well (and not only banded through the internet).

Scott Derby, Jeffro Kilpatrick, Chris DeRose, Dave Perillo
photos taken on Iphone by Emily Calvanese

An open letter to every PCS Member.

Why we work.
It dawned on me recently why the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society works. Concetta and I were taking down the World’s Fair Art Show last week and going over sales. This was a collaborative exhibition between several PCS members and a few of our friends from the UK. We did a modest amount in sales overall (more than two-grand), not bad for a group show in a gallery that is a little off the beaten path. More importantly, we did more in sales during our PCS Christmas Party. This event wasn’t about the exhibition but more in line with celebrating everything the PCS has done over the last year. The party was a means of hanging out one more time before the New Year and welcoming all the new members. That is why the PCS works; we do more sales not trying so hard.
The PCS would rather have a Beef and Beer than a gallery show. We opt for Pabst and soft pretzels over wine and cheese any day of the week. I don’t want to say we are blue collar, because that conjures images of Larry “the Cable Guy” and redneck jokes. But we work really hard, share the wealth, invite anybody and everybody to take part. We ARE blue collar.
Our work, our shows, our books come from a very unique place; Sincerity. Just look at our members. There are just as many fine artists as there are cartoonists, just as many people into underground comics as there are those that enjoy comics on the web and mainstream titles. The tie that binds is a sincere one, a love of the game as much as the outcome.
I have been the recipient of that sincerity more times than I can count. I owe the PCS a lot including my health and welfare. As a group we have helped each other get work, moved house and home and lifted each other up. As professionals our work can be seen on everything from comics (both mainstream and self-published) to t-shirts, in magazines and on greeting cards. If it requires any kind of artwork then one of us has done it.
This post isn’t meant to grandstand. I guess with the year wrapping up I was waxing philosophic as to why I love you guys and this group so much. Also, I wanted to say “Thank You” to Jeff, Andrew and Xrissy. If not for you three, there would be no Philadelphia Cartoonist Society.
An overdue “Welcome Aboard” to some of the new blood; Sam, James, Matt, Alex, Eamon, Pedro, Tim, Megan, Kristy and Mike and my apologies if I left anyone out.
2011 is going to be a wonderful year for everyone involved in the PCS. New books, more shows and continued sincerity in everything we do.
The Happiest of New Years to everyone.
Above: Jeffro, Larsen and I show off our PCS ink. Photo: Concetta Barbera.

Halloween Tradition.

Halloween is a big deal in the Lomax/Patch abode. All things spooky and hallowed have a special place in our hearts. One of our favorite traditions, right up there with the carving of the pumpkin and the donning of the costumes, is making Trick or Treat bags for the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center (CcTC). With our allegiance to the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society we have participated in creating bags for five years of this decade long tradition. We both got involved through the good graces (and mileage on his car) of one Jeffro Kilpatrick who has lent both his pencil and heart to the Crisis Center for the better part of 12 years.

This year, with the PCS being busier than ever, we were unable to get together for the customary pizza and beer to crank out our annual 100 Halloween Bags. But traditions must be maintained even in the eye of a deadline so Melissa and I set up shop in our studio to create our contribution, all the while listening to some Johnny Cash and Tom Waits.
This year we collaborated on bags. Yours truly had the task of making some spooky potato stamps and Lomax had type duty. Her elegant script has marked many a greeting card and is way nicer than my own. And what goody bag would be complete without some GLITTER?!?
These bags will be part of the 2010 Spooktacular, sponsored by Charette, the AIA Philadelphia and students of CHAD (Charter High School for Architecture & Design). The Spooktacular event provides kids at the CcTC (The Children s Crisis Treatment Center) a safe place to trick or treat and enjoy the happiest of Halloweens.
You can see some more of the bags Melissa and I created on my blog.

The Pit

A little step by step of my piece for the PCS/Autumn Society Hallowed Halloween Show...


Final Thumbnail


Pencil


Ink


Color

Show Info:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
This October 1st - 31st the Autumn Society of Illustration, the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society and Proximity Gallery present:
HALLOWED
HALLOWEEN
Opening Reception - October 1st, 2010
October 1st - October 31st
PROXIMITY Gallery
2434 East Dauphin Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125
267.825.2949

Many kudos go to one Mr. Sam Heimer for coordinating this whole shebang. Lots of amazing artists are gonna be in this!