Home Lab: "Tooth Test" Cartoon Illustrations Published in YES Mag #84 (Sept. 2011) by Mad Science

How's yer pearly whites? If you're like me, and have a sweet tooth (or two!), you're probably salivating over this cover photo from the Sep/Oct 2011 issue of YES Mag #84: The Science Magazine for Adventurous Minds.

The issue is overflowing like a sack of Halloween candies with all sorts of articles and goodies on "The Science of Junk Food." If you're not a subscriber, I sugar-highly recommend visiting your local bookstore or magazine stand to pick up a copy (candy not included!).

As a usual treat, kids can enjoy practicing a few scientific tricks with this month's Home Lab experiment written by the Mad Science Project Team on pages 24 and 25. The project is called "The Tooth Test" and I had lots of fun drawing the cartoon illustrations -- especially the little bacteria critters on Step 5!

Here's a sneak peak ...

Special thanks to the YES Mag & Mad Science Project Team!

Home Lab: "Tooth Test" in YES Mag #84: The Science Magazine for Adventurous Minds (Sep/Oct 2011).

CLOSE-UP: Bacteria Critter!

Click the above image to enlarge*.

* Please note: The sample in my portfolio section is a low-resolution copy of the finished artwork I provided my editor, Shannon Hunt, with at Peter Piper Publishing. The text layout is initially done by the magazine's designer, Sam Logan. I then illustrate the cartoon characters and materials to fit the page's design.

You can also find a copy of this Home Lab project's steps (including my cartoon illustrations) on YES Mag's website. So grab your toothbrush, toothpaste, eggs, juice, and soda pop, then head on over and see what those little bacteria critters are trying to do to our teeth each night!

About the magazine:

YES Mag: The Science Magazine for Adventurous Minds is published bimonthly by Peter Piper Publishing Inc. and is a Mad Science Publication. Mad Science is on a mission to spark the imagination and curiosity of children everywhere. Mad Science provides fun, interactive, and educational programs that instill a clear understanding of science. www.madscience.org

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

Class Acts: "Reboot" Gag Cartoon Published in Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession Magazines (Sept. 2011)

The September 2011 issues of the education trade magazines Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession are now arriving in mailboxes to members of The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).

For this issue, I peer into my cartoon crystal ball and reflect on the educational ripple effects that computer-assisted instruction via SMART Boards, iPads, and other rapidly evolving e-learning tools may have on our younger generations of digitally-immersed students. Of course, I'm sure people were saying the same thing when the first PC was introduced to the classroom.

Ontario Teachers can find my exclusive Class Acts/Quelle Classe! gag cartoons printed in the magazine's PS News/Échos de la profession sections, and are encouraged to share them with their friends and colleagues.

Here's a sneak peak of this month's cartoon that I've aptly titled "Reboot" ... Ironically, this is my first gag cartoon that I rough pencilled, inked, and coloured, completely digitally. I may need to heed my own advice!

Special thanks to the Editorial Board for selecting this cartoon!

Class Acts Cartoon: "Reboot" in Professionally Speaking Magazine (September 2011).

Click the above image to enlarge the cartoon.

About the magazine(s):

Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession are published quarterly by the Ontario College of Teachers to inform its members about the activities and decisions of the College. The magazine provides a forum for discussion of issues relevant to the future of teaching and learning, teachers' professional learning and standards of practice.

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

COMIC: "WebVoyagers in Apple Harvest" - Published in The Canadian Reader (Sept. 2011)

It's a brand new school year, and that means a brand new year of educational comic adventures across Canada with WebVoyagers, published in The Canadian Reader by LesPlan Educational Services Ltd.

This is my fourth year illustrating WebVoyagers (formerly NetTrekkers), and I'm very happy with how the comic has evolved since 2008.  Each story is written by award-winning Canadian children's author, Vivien Bowers, and features siblings Lily, Patrick and Christopher who travel to different locations in Canada by pressing the 'Enter' key on their magic computer.  During their adventures, they find out more about a region or place, then return home with a press to the 'Home' key.

In the September 2011 issue, the kids travel to the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia for the annual apple harvest.  Students learn about how to properly pick apples, tree grafting, and why farmers don't simply plant apple seeds to grow new crops.  Teachers will find related lesson plan activities and worksheets accompanying the comic in their school's copy of The Canadian Reader (or Nos Nouvelles en français).

Special thanks to my editor, Janet Wieczorek, at LesPlan Educational Services Ltd.

Here's a sneak preview of the comic ...

WebVoyagers in Apple Harvest (Written by Vivien Bowers, Illustrated by Mike Cope)

About The Canadian Reader:
The Canadian Reader / Nos Nouvelles is a classroom-ready current events resource for students in grades 3 to 5. This publication, available in English and in French, combines current Canadian events and issues with geography to expand students' knowledge of Canada while enhancing their ability to read and understand informational text.  Published eight times during the school year, each issue focuses on one of six key reading comprehension strategies – making connections, questioning, visualizing, inferring, summarizing, and synthesizing/transforming.

For more details please visit http://lesplan.com

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

"Daredevil" Gag Cartoon in Reader's Digest Canada Magazine (Sept. 2011)

The September 2011 issue of Reader's Digest Canada Magazine is now available at bookstores and newsstands.

This month, one of my gag cartoons is published in the As Kids See It department on Page 89. Special thanks to the editors at Reader's Digest Canada!

Here's a sneak peak ...

Gag Cartoon: "Daredevil" in RD Canada Magazine (September 2011).

I've titled this particular gag cartoon "Daredevil" and dedicate it to all you kids (young and old!) who dare to climb to new heights, with or without a safety net!

Click the above image to see the full cartoon.

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

Alive and ... Well ...

Please excuse the blog silence. This cartoonist has literally had his hands full since April 23rd.

Hope you're enjoying your summer!

On the subject of babies, here's a sneak peak at a gag cartoon that I recently sold to Reader's Digest Canada magazine. Watch for it in the October 2011 issue!



Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

Sneak Peak: "Class Acts" Cartoon (June 2011)

Sneak Peak: "Class Acts" Cartoon (June 2011).

Currently finishing up the next "Class Acts" cartoon for the June 2011 issue of Professionally Speaking, an education trade magazine published by The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).

Despite the coincidental resemblance, I can't say this little guy is a self portrait ... I never rode a bus to school ;)

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

"Class Acts/Quelle Classe!" Cartoons Debut in Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession Magazines (March 2011)

A few months ago, I received an email inquiring if I'd be interested in drawing some education-related gag cartoons exclusively for Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession -- two education trade magazines published by The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT). For those not familiar with OCT, "teachers who want to work in publicly funded schools in Ontario must be certified to teach in the province and be members of the College" (Source: "What the College Does").

I'm delighted to announce that my exclusive Class Acts/Quelle Classe! gag cartoons debut in the March 2011 issues.

For the sake of full disclosure, I'm an OCT member myself, so I not only consider this a wonderful opportunity to combine my passions for education and cartooning, but also a sincere honour to entertain my professional peers throughout our province. One of the best things about cartoons is that they invite us to look at the lighter side of life, allowing us to laugh at ourselves and with one another.

You can find my Class Acts/Quelle Classe! cartoons printed in the PS News/Échos de la professionsections, as well as archived online.

Here's a sneak peak of the debut cartoon that I've aptly titled "Facebook Like Button" ... Special thanks to the PS Editorial Board for selecting this cartoon!

Gag Cartoon: "Facebook Like Button" in Professionally Speaking Magazine (March 2011).

Click the above image to view the full cartoon.

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

Interview in StayTooned! Magazine

I received an email from StayTooned! Magazine editor & publisher, John Read, that Issue 6 of his wonderful cartooning publication is currently at the printer and copies should be available next week.

This issue is being dedicated as an "All-Mikes" and I'm honoured to have been interviewed alongside such a talented selection of fellow professional cartoonists named Mike.

From the StayTooned! Magazine website ...

Issue 6 (available beginning March 3rd and until it inevitably sells out) features a multitude of Mikes: new profiles (that's interviews and art galleries) of Mike Arnold, Mike Cope, Mike Edholm, Michael Jantze, Mike Lynch, Michael Maslin and Michael Ramirez; Cartoonist Surveys conducted by David Paccia with Mike Marland and Mike Shapiro; a "True-Life Adventure" told by Mike Mignola. Photo reports share John Read's "One Fine Sunday in the Funny Pages" travels to Disney ToonFest and Omaha, Nebraska, and his visit to the Cartoon Library at Ohio State University for the Sunday Funnies stamps First-Day-of-Issue ceremony. AND: articles/columns contributed by Tom Richmond, R.C. Harvey, Jim Ivey, Rich & Neil Diesslin and John Hambrock!

John's email mentioned that he'll be mailing us copies very soon, but since mine will need to travel from Madison, Mississippi to Canada, it may be a week or so before I can share any photo previews. Nevertheless, if you're a professional or aspiring cartoonist, or a dedicated fan of cartoon art, I highly recommend that you consider subscribing -- It's worth every drop of ink!!

- Mike Cope

About StayTooned! Magazine:
StayTooned! is the magazine for working cartoonists, aspiring cartoonists and fans of the art of cartooning. Each issue features profiles (interviews and art) of professional artists who draw comic strips, comic books, editorial cartoons, caricatures, greeting cards, advertising illustrations, children's books, magazine cartoons, web comics, and/or who work in the fields of animation and gaming. Rounding out the interviews are articles and columns pertaining to the art and business of cartooning in America. Each jam-packed issue is loaded with drawings, photos and information that is sure to enlighten and entertain the aspiring cartoonist, as well as the seasoned practitioner. With his unabashed "paean to professional cartoonists," publisher/editor John Read "endeavors to advance the knowledge of the craft of cartooning...and in so doing, increase appreciation for the value and relevance [of cartoonists] to our society."

Source: http://www.staytoonedmagazine.com/

2010 Cartoonist of the Year Nominees Announced

The following news comes from the National Cartoonists Society (NCS). For more information about the NCS Awards, visit http://www.reuben.org/awards.html

The official ballots have been issued to all professional members of the National Cartoonists Society, and the nominees for the Reuben Award for “Cartoonist of the Year” are:

Glen Keane
Stephan Pastis
Richard Thompson

Glen Keane is an animator, author, illustrator and director who’s credits include The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Aladdin (Aladdin), Beauty and the Beast (Beast), Tarzan (Tarzan) and most recently Tangled (Rapunzel) for Walt Disney Studios. He has recieved the received the 1992 Annie Award for character animation, the 2007 Winsor McCay Award for lifetime contribution to the field of animation, and the NCS Division award for “Best Feature Animation” in 1991. This is Glen’s first nomination.

Stephan Pastis is the artist/writer/creator of the daily comic strip “Pearls Before Swine”, syndicated by United Feature Syndicate. He won the NCS divisional award for “Best Comic Strip” in 2003 and 2006. This is Stephan’s third nomination.

Richard Thompson is the artist/writer/creator of the daily comic strip “Cul de Sac” syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate, as well as an illustrator and cartoonist on other features. He is the creator of the weekly cartoon series “Poor Richard’s Almanac” which runs in the Washington Post, and his illustrations have appeared in numerous publications including U.S. News and World Report, National Geographic and The New Yorker. He has won NCS divisional awards for Magazine and Book Illustration in 1995 and Newspaper Illustration also in 1995. He won a Gold and a Silver Funny Bone Award in 1989 from the Society of Illustrators for humorous illustration. This is Richard’s second nomination.

The winner of the 2010 “Cartoonist of the Year” will be announced on May 28th at the annual NCS Reuben Awards dinner in Boston, MA.

Congrats on the nominations!

SOURCE: http://www.reuben.org/news/?p=366

Exploring the Montréal Biodôme in WebVoyagers Comic - Published in The Canadian Reader (Feb. 2011)

The February 2011 edition of The Canadian Reader is now available for use in elementary school classrooms across Canada.

This month, the kids explore the diversity of life at the Montréal Biodôme in our WebVoyagers comic (Written by Vivien Bowers, Illustrated by Mike Cope). Special thanks to my editor, Janet Wieczorek, at LesPlan Educational Services Ltd.

Drawing the various animals and environments for this comic was very fun. Students and teachers will travel from the antarctic to the tropical rainforest, meeting penguins, capybaras, a Canadian lynx, two-toed sloth, caiman, and my personal favourite ... a Poison Arrow Frog!

Here's a small preview of the finished comic pages ...

Comic: "WebVoyagers in Under the Dome" - Written by Vivien Bowers, Illustrated by Mike Cope. Published in The Canadian Reader (Feb. 2011).

About The Canadian Reader:
The Canadian Reader / Nos Nouvelles (formerly Pleins Feux sur le Canada) is a classroom-ready current events resource for students in grades 3 to 5. This publication, available in English and in French, combines current Canadian events and issues with geography to expand students' knowledge of Canada while enhancing their ability to read and understand informational text.
Published eight times during the school year, each issue focuses on one of six key reading comprehension strategies – making connections, questioning, visualizing, inferring, summarizing, and synthesizing/transforming.

For more details please visit http://lesplan.com

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

Daily Cartoonist Articles and A Brilliant Comic Strip Cartooning Process

Last Friday, Alan Gardner posted on his professional cartooning news blog, The Daily Cartoonist, an article titled "Video: Mike Cope drawing on Strathmore Bristol Board." Since then, I've received some very kind feedback from fellow cartoonists regarding my Sweet Valentine cartoon's inking demonstration that can be watched via YouTube.

My sincere thanks to all of my cartooning friends and colleagues for their online comments and emails. A special thanks also goes out to Anne Hambrock for mentioning my video on the behind the scenes blog belonging to her husband's, John Hambrock, syndicated comic strip, The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee.

As Anne mentions, a recent critique by MAD Magazine cartoonist, Tom Richmond, regarding the quality of Strathmore Board inspired a very informative discussion on the Daily Cartoonist revolving around the tools of our trade -- from brands of drawing inks and paper to dip pen nibs. If you're an aspiring cartoonist, you'll not only love reading about that stuff, but you're also sure to enjoy reading Anne's detailed post about John Hambrock's cartooning process for Edison Lee ...

John Hambrock's Cartooning Process for Edison Lee Comic Strips.

Back in October, I had the honour of meeting John and Anne (along with their son) at Ohio State University's 2010 Festival of Cartoon Art. The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee is distributed by King Features Syndicate and was nominated for the "Best Comic Strip" division award at the 2009 National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards. Reading the strip, it doesn't take too long to find evidence supporting the hypothesis that when you mix John's wonderful writing and drawings with Anne's beautiful colour work, the results are a brilliant comic strip!

Book Cover: The Edison Files (First Comic Strip Collection).

While you're visiting, be sure to check out The Edison Store where you can find the first collection for the strip. I was lucky enough to come home from Ohio with a signed copy and can vouch on the coolness of this book. And if you're a cartoonist considering self-publishing, be sure to check out John's articles on how the Hambrocks designed and published the entire book on their own.

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

YouTube Video: "Sweet Valentine" Gag Cartoon in Reader's Digest Canada Magazine (Feb. 2011)

The February 2011 edition of Reader's Digest Canada Magazine is now available at bookstores and newsstands.

This month, one of my gag cartoons is published in the As Kids See It department on Page 117 -- Virtual chocolates and long-stem roses to the editors at Reader's Digest Canada!

I've titled this particular cartoon "Sweet Valentine" and as a special Valentine's Day treat for you, I've prepared the following YouTube video. Here you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at this very cartoon being drawn ... I hope you enjoy it!

YouTube: "Sweet Valentine" - Inking a Reader's Digest Gag Cartoon by Mike Cope (Feb. 2011).

For those who are interested in a cartoonist's tools of the trade, here's a bit about my style and process ...

Each gag cartoon begin as a very light rough pencil sketch drawn on a piece of smooth-surfaced Strathmore Bristol board using a regular 2H pencil. I ink directly over my pencil work with Winsor & Newton Black Indian Ink using a pair of dip pens and brush. The pen nibs demonstrated in this video include a Hunt 512 and a Speedball 513EF in a Koh-I-Noor Penholder (No. 127N). I favour the 513EF for 99% of all my cartooning.

The original cartoon art measures 11" x 14" and is then scanned into Adobe Photoshop, where it is coloured in CMYK format. The finished cartoon is then emailed to the editors at Reader's Digest Canada for consideration.

Of course, I can't stand working in a quiet studio, so I always has a movie, cartooning podcast, or music playing in the background. One of my favourite musicians to listen too, especially when I'm inking, is the wonderful and legendary, Glenn Miller. There's something about those old-time, big band tunes that help inspire my own toons.

Click here to see the finished cartoon.

Happy Valentine's ... and Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

Cartooning Pickles ... All in the name of Science!

If I had to make a Top 10 list of the weirdest and funniest things I've ever had to cartoon, pickles would be very close to the top, if not number one!

Maybe it's because of the way they look ...

Maybe it's because of the way they feel ...

Or maybe it's the way they sound ...

*C-R-U-N-C-H!*

Whatever the reason, I cartoon these pickles in the name of Science! And you'll be able to see them in full colour, along with my other "Home Lab" illustrations, in the March-April 2011 issue of YES Mag: The Science Magazine for Adventurous Minds.

For this "Home Lab" science experiment, kids will learn about the wonders of "Amphibian Antifreeze"*.

(* Frog legs not included.)

... Don't worry, parents, that's where the pickles come in!

For now, you can still pick up a copy of YES Mag #80 at bookstores and magazine stands. Inside, you'll find many great science articles for children themed on shipwrecks. And don't forget to try the "Home Lab" experiment on "The Nuts and Bolts of Rusting" ...

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

EVEN MORE March Break 2011 - Cartooning for Kids @ Hamilton Public Library

I need to start this post with a big, sincere THANK YOU to all of our local librarians who are expressing continued interest in my Cartooning for Kids workshops, for yet another invitation to return was received today.

And so, once again, attention all kid cartoonists (and parents/guardians) in Hamilton, Ontario! A third cartooning session will be running on March Break, this time at the Kenilworth Branch of the Hamilton Public Library.

We'll also be having fun cartooning at the Westdale and Concession branches this March Break.

WHAT: Cartooning for Kids with Mike Cope

WHERE: Kenilworth Branch, Hamilton Public Library
103 Kenilworth Avenue North
Hamilton, Ontario
L8H 4R6

DATE: Thursday, March 17th, 2011

TIME: 12:45PM to 1:45PM

AGES: 7 and up!

Complete registration details will be posted when they become available. You can also phone the Kenilworth Library's Information Desk at 905-546-3960. Hope to see you there!

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

MORE March Break 2011 - Cartooning for Kids @ Hamilton Public Library

Once again, attention all kid cartoonists (and parents/guardians) in Hamilton, Ontario! I've just accepted a second invitation to run a March Break Cartooning for Kids workshop, this time at the Concession Branch of the Hamilton Public Library.

If you missed yesterday's announcement, I'll also be at the Westdale Branch this March Break.

WHAT: Cartooning for Kids with Mike Cope

WHERE: Concession Branch, Hamilton Public Library
565 Concession Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 1A8

DATE: Thursday, March 17th, 2011

TIME: 2:15PM to 3:15PM

AGES: 7 and up!

Complete registration details will be posted when they become available. You can also phone the Concession Library's Information Desk at 905-546-3415. Hope to see you there!

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

March Break 2011 - Cartooning for Kids @ Hamilton Public Library [UPDATED]

Attention all kid cartoonists (and parents/guardians) in Hamilton, Ontario! I've accepted an invitation to run a Cartooning for Kids workshop at the Westdale Branch of the Hamilton Public Library during our upcoming March Break 2011 ...

UPDATE: I'll also be at the Concession Library Branch on March Break!

WHAT: Cartooning for Kids with Mike Cope

WHERE: Westdale Branch, Hamilton Public Library
955 King Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 1K9

DATE: Monday, March 14th, 2011

TIME: 2:30PM to 3:30PM

AGES: 7 and up!

Complete registration details will be posted when they become available. You can also phone the Westdale Library's Information Desk at 905-546-3456. Hope to see you there!

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

"Crash Course" Gag Cartoon in Reader's Digest Canada Magazine (Jan. 2011)

The January 2011 issue of Reader's Digest Canada Magazine is now available at bookstores and newsstands.

This month, one of my gag cartoons is published in the As Kids See It department on Page 63. Special thanks to the editors at Reader's Digest Canada!

Here's a sneak peak ...

Gag Cartoon: "Crash Course" in RD Canada Magazine (January 2011).

I've titled this particular gag cartoon "Crash Course" and dedicate it to all you kids (young and old!) who will be hitting the slopes and hills over the upcoming winter months with your toboggans, sleds, tires, skis, and any other snow-swooshing vehicle that you don't need a license to legally operate!

Enjoy the rides and don't let a wipeout (or two) stop you from climbing back up that hill :)

Click the above image to see the full cartoon.

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope