Reuben Awards Weekend, 2013

Well, it wasn’t pretty, but many cartoonists descended on Pittsburgh this Memorial Day weekend for the National Cartoonist Society’s Reuben Awards weekend. That town didn’t know what hit it. Throngs of us flooded the streets during Sunday’s Comic Arts Festival (sponsored by the Toonseum). You couldn’t toss a stick without hitting a cartoonist. By the way, thank you, Pittsburgh, for not tossing sticks at me.

This was a particularly special Reubens weekend for me. On Friday, I was honored to present in front of my friends and peers. Here I am with a strategically-placed mic obscuring my eyes. Someone must have known I’d want to shamefully hide after reciting a few off-color greeting cards. I had an even better time right afterward, talking to friends. Here I am with Jef and Patty Mallett. Another fun shot with John Hambrock, Chris Sparks, Rick Kirkman (who co-won with Brian Crane for “Cartoonist of the Year”) and Jef Mallett. I also had a great time doodling “Jill” with my left hand…and then right-handed. Quite a brain-muddling exercise. The Jill on the right reads, “You are so messed up.” That evening, we toured an exhibit of past Reuben winners’ art at the Toonseum. Here I am, studying an Al Capp original. I got to do some up-close and personal star-gazing at the exhibit. Here I am with the lovely Jean Schulz. And a few friends: Me, Mark Parisi, and Vicky Smart Gransee. With Mike Lynch, cartoonist and native fellow Clevelander. And a nice one with my hubby/editor/business manager, Mike. Later came the welcome cocktail party. Here’s a terribly washed-out photo of me and NCS prez,Tom Richmond. Yes, his shoulders are THAT broad. Saturday night, we had a wonderful time at the awards banquet. Here’s a pic of semi-awake Mike and myself during cocktail hour. I had more photos from the evening, but they were pretty dark and blurry. Always happens. A few character drawings we did that weekend: some, I believe, for the Toonseum, and one for the NCS sister organization in London. Sunday was the Pittsburgh Comic Arts Festival. I was part of a “Women in Cartooning” panel with true greats: Lynn Johnston, Cathy Guisewite, Hilary Price (moderator), and Jen Sorensen. The two latter women had won Reuben awards the night before — score for the ladies. Here are a few shots during the panel.       Here, the others are amused at my comic strip…or they’re very good at pretending to be. After Cathy Guisewite crumpled up a drawing during the panel talk, I collected it and she signed it for me: Afterward, we all signed books and tear sheets. All in all, a thrilling, eventful time. Between this jam-packed weekend and my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah the previous weekend, I think I’ve earned the right to relax. Or at least park my fanny in front of the drawing table again.