No, I’m not talking Rembrandt here, although once in a while I channel Carravagio in my compositions.  What I’m talking about are the cartooning greats:  Gary Larson, Bill Watterson, Scott Adams….recently I’ve been devouring Doonesbury by Gary Trudeau and the late, and extremely great Walt Kelly’s Pogo.  “We have met the enemy and he is us.”  Were truer words ever spoken in cartoons, let alone real life?  For some one who is notorious for only looking at the pictures in art books and not reading the text,  I am lovingly absorbing every word in these books, written by and about these cartoonist.  One comment made by Walt Kelly that was reported in the book struck a cord with me.  On being asked about the 500+ named characters, plus hundreds of un-named characters that appeared in his cartoons, he replied, “Well, I just assume that they have jobs in other cartoons when they are not here.”  People sometimes ask where I come up for the ideas for my cartoons.  I can now authoritatively say that my characters are really in charge.  I am just the person holding the pen.

The panda kindergarten at their best...

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda