416. NYC Banksy Museum Sketches, Leunig Dies & Santa has a Brother!

+ Morris perfects his Baby Cobra

Welcome to issue #416 of New York Cartoons.

Well, Christmas is just around the corner. I’m at the table with all my cartooning pals in the Manhattan Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, crackin’ wise and eating chicken.

It feels strange that it has already been a whole year since this sketchbook from last Christmas in Paris, but I guess that’s how it goes:

Duck Days are Over

I woke this morning to learn that Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig had died. In 2004, Leunig told an interviewer: ''I have sometimes done cartoons that are hurtful to people, immature, spiteful stuff. Some are so self-indulgent, and some have just failed. I look back and sometimes cringe.''

I never met Leunig. He wasn’t much for socialising with other cartoonists. I would wear his artwork for a full month each year on my Melbourne International Comedy Festival tag. His work was very iconic, especially in Melbourne.

Leunig worked at The Age, part of the same Nine media group that fired me last year, forcing the retirement of the 102-year-old comic strip I’d been working on. Earlier this year, Leunig’s contract was not renewed in what he called a "throat-cutting exercise". I tend to agree.

I remember an interviewer during the Melbourne Writers Festival being shut down after calling him a cartoonist— he didn’t take too kindly to the title; “I’m a poet and philosopher who draws.” he corrected. It was an odd moment for someone who was so famous for drawing cartoons (sometimes very controversial ones.)

The loss of any cartoonist in this world is sad- especially those who have been putting this art form into the world for so many decades. Condolences to his family and friends.

New York Banksy Museum Holiday Pop-up

I was at the Banksy Museum’s* holiday market this past weekend, drawing people and their dogs. (*Yes, there’s a Banksy Museum in New York). A big thanks to ArtsClub for setting the whole thing up. You can see some of the drawings in this week’s Sketchbook below. Anyone who’d like one for themselves, drop me a line!

Speaking of Christmas…

I did a book with Simpsons writer and Producer Mike Reiss, which makes a great holiday gift for the kids in your life!

Sandy was having the time of his life in Bali. He was living the care-free island life, surfing, and hanging out on the beach with his friends. He was so content that he had almost forgotten about Christmas. That is, until he got a call from someone he hadn’t heard from in years…his big brother Santa Claus!

This hilarious holiday book tells the story of what happens when Santa’s sleigh gets stuck in the wet sands of Bali and he has to call on his estranged, lazy, fun-loving little brother Sandy to save Christmas. With witty writing by Emmy® award winning humor writer and longtime executive producer of ‘The Simpsons’, Mike Reiss and delightful illustrations by New Yorker cartoonist Jason Chatfield, ‘Santa’s Brother Sandy Saves Christmas’ is sure to be a hit with everyone on your list!

This week on Process Junkie, I take a look at turning down the volume to hear your own voice!

On Turning Down the Volume to Hear Your Own Voice

This week’s Sketchbook is a small selection from the Christmas pop-up market at the Bansky Museum in New York. I was drawing people’s dogs. And kids.