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DRAWSON Blair

 DRAWSON Blair

A person wearing glasses and smiling Description automatically generated                                          The Special Birthday Book, (Annikin edition). Annick Press Ltd., 1982. Back cover.

“Blair Drawson … has worked as an editorial illustrator for many of North America’s most notable magazines – among them, Time, The New Yorker, Esquire, Rolling Stone and the New York Times Magazine.”                                    Details. 3, March/April 2018.

This Toronto based artist studied drawing and painting at the Ontario College of Art. He has appeared in Canadian publications like Maclean’s, Radio Guide, Saturday Night, Toronto Life and in newspaper inserts like The Canadian, Toronto Star Sunday Magazine and Weekend plus international magazines like Esquire, New Yorker, New York Times, Rolling Stone and Time.

He was part of a group of young Toronto graphic artists in the late 1980’s, which included Jamie Bennett, Jeff Jackson, Anita Kunz, Maurice Vellekoop and Rene Zamic whose work had spread throughout both the North American and European markets. . “I was in New York at a symposium a couple of weeks ago and everyone was talking about what a hotbed of talent Toronto has become.” Said Kunz, “Art directors now seem to be on the look out for people from Toronto.”

In addition, as can be seen below, he was in demand as a book artist.

On 5 April 2018, Canada Post honoured this illustrator with a first day cover and a commemorative stamp.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOKLET GRAPHIC:

The Special Birthday Book, (Annikin edition). Annick Press Ltd., 1982. Originally published in 1977 by Gage Publishing Ltd.

ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK TEXT:

Cover dust jacket front:

Memoirs of Montparnasse. Writ., John Glassco. Oxford University Press, 1970.

Not Wanted On The Voyage. Writ., Timothy Findley. Viking/Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 1984.

Stones. Writ., Timothy Findley. Viking/Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 1988.

The Telling Of Lies. Writ., Timothy Findley. Viking/Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 1986.

DISC AUDIO 33RPM:

Artwork:

Joy will find a way. Performer, Bruce Cockburn. True North Record. TN 23. 1975.

stealing fire. Performer, Bruce Cockburn. True North Record. TN 57. 1984.

PERIODICAL TEXT ANTHOLOGY:

Content essay:

The Canadian, March 1978: “City Span: Lip Service”. Writ., unidentified: page unidentified.

Macleans, 2, September 2002: “A Good Game Gone Bad”. Writ., James Deacon: 56.

Macleans 17, November 2003: Sex, Sex and Sex”. Writ., Victor Dwyer: 120. The image appeared again on Macleans 8 December 2003.

Weekend, 4, March 1978: “Dressed Up Vegetables”. Writ., Margo Oliver: page unidentified.

Weekend, 29-6, 10 Feb. 1979: “Fear of Loving.” Writ., Don Hammersmith: 15.

Weekend, 29-33, 18 Aug. 1979: 25 Years on the Pill.” Writ., Edward Shorter: 14-15.

Content story:

Radio Guide, 4-10, October 1985: “August 25 1983”. Writ., Jorges Luis Borges: 5

Toronto Life, 23-12, August 1989: “Two Words”. Writ., Isabel Allende: F25.

Cover front:

Graduate University of Toronto Alumni, VIII-2, November/December 1980.

Toronto Star Sunday Magazine: The City, 1, October 1978.

MERCHANDISE:

CARDS:

First Impressions Toronto, Ontario.
“The Mocking Bird” “Hot To Trot “Amorous Robot”

SOURCE:

Article periodical:

Details. 3, March/April 2018: “Great Canadian Illustrators”: 6-7. Canada Post Corp.

Article newspaper:

The Toronto Star, 20 Nov.1988: “Vital Designs.” Writ., Christopher Hume: G1.

GALLERY:

A close-up of a restaurant Description automatically generatedMemoirs of Montparnasse, 1970: Dust jacket front.

A ghost playing a violin Description automatically generatedThe Special Birthday Book, 1982. Originally published in 1977 by Gage Publishing Ltd.

A cover of a book Description automatically generatedToronto Star Sunday Magazine: The City, 1, October 1978.

A drawing of a vegetable garden Description automatically generatedWeekend, 4, March 1978: page unidentified.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\D\DRAWSON Blair, Weekend, 10 Feb, 1979, 15.jpgWeekend, 29-6, 10 Feb. 1979: 15. Also a card published by First Impressions called “The Mocking Bird”

A cover of a book Description automatically generatedGraduate University of Toronto Alumni, VIII-2, November/December 1980. Front cover.

A book cover with a picture of a ship Description automatically generatedNot Wanted On The Voyage,1984. Dust jacket front.

A newspaper article with a couple of naked people Description automatically generatedMacleans 17, November 2003: 120.

A group of people in a car Description automatically generatedCard, “Hot To Trot” First Impressions, no date.

A person in green outfit in front of a machine Description automatically generatedCard, “Amorous Robot” First Impressions, no date.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\D\DRAWSON Blair, Canada Post stamp..jpg    Image from Canada Post stamp 5 April 2018.

DRAWN & QUARTERLY

DRAWN AND QUARTERLY                                                                                              Location: Montréal.                                                                                                            Owner/Publisher: Chris Oliveros.

Chris Oliveros, a former bicycle courier, is the founder of the comic book and graphic novel publisher Drawn and Quarterly of Montreal. Circulation for its publications ranges from 5,000 to 15,000 copies per title sold in the U.S.A. and Europe as well as in Canada. The titles are published in English and translation.

He borrowed money from his father and published the initial magazine Drawn and Quarterly Anthology. It lost money as did the next anthology.

Oliveros worked on developing a roster of high quality cartoonists. Seth (Gregory Gallant) had an idea for a comic he named Palookaville. Oliveros decided to publish it. When Chester Brown’s contract with Vortex Comics expired he made a contract with him. He also signed on Quebec artist Julie Doucette’s Dirty Plotte and Joe Matt’s Peepshow. These four artists became the core of the company.

When the comics market collapsed in the late nineties, Drawn and Quarterly was little affected because of the older audience for its publications. The publications sell slowly but steadily.

In 1996 Oliveros and the Drawn and Quarterly artists were featured guests at the Haarlem Comics Festival in the Netherlands in Europe.

PRODUCT:

BOOK GRAPHIC:

Lève ta jambe mon poisson est mort. Car., Julie Doucet., October 1993.

Long Relationship. Car., Julie Doucet. July 2001.

Madam Paul Affair. Car., Julie Doucet. July 2000.

My Most Secret Desire. Car., Julie Doucet. December 1993.

BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Drawn & Quarterly…. Editor, Chris Oliveros ….
v. 3, May 2000. v. 4, July 2001. v. 5. August 2003.

Drawn and Quarterly: Twenty-Five Years Of Contemporary, Cartooning, Comics and Graphic Novels. Ed., Tom Devlin & Chris Oliveros. Drawn & Quarterly, May 2015.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:

Dirty Plotte. Car., Julie Doucette.
1, January, 1991.

2, March 1991

 3, April 1991.

4, Sept. 1991.

 5, May 1992.

6, Jan. 1993.

 7, Sept. 1993.

8, Feb. 1994.

 11, Sept. 1997.
Purty Plotte. Car., Julie Doucette.
9, April 1995. 10, December 1996. 12, August 1998.

SOURCE:

Article book:

 Drawn and Quarterly: Twenty-Five Years …. Drawn & Quarterly, May 2015:                               “A History of Drawn & Quarterly.” Writ., Sean Rogers with addition research by                Jeet Heer: 13-57.                                                                                                               “I Can’t In Good Conscience Hire You.” Writ., Peggy Burns reminiscing.: 81-87.              “A Complete Mess Of Overlapping: Living The Comics Life With Tom Devlin.                     Interviewer, Sean T. Collins: 88-101.                                                                                 “Librairie D+Q.”  Writ., Heather O’Neill: 110-116.                                                                 “Literary Supplement: A Brief and Incomplete Atlas Of D+Q’s Petite Livres.” Writ.,            Gabrielle Moser: 482-487.

 Article periodical:

Quill & Quire Oct. 2011: “High Art.” Writ., Sue Carter Flinn. 14-17.

 Article newspaper:

Globe and Mail, 9 Oct.1999: “Comic actor.” Writ., Cathal Kelly: C20.

Globe and Mail, 9 May 2015: “Picture This.” Writ., Mark Medley: B1, B12-B13.

 

DR DESTINE

DR. DESTINE

Dr. Destine who was created by Ed Furness made his first appearance in Grand Slam Comics, vol. 3, no. 10, September 1944. Unlike the other features of this time which revolved around the war this serial was purely crime fiction. “Suave, polished, handsome” Dr. Destine was a private detective with the attractive secretary Beverly for his partner. Furness patterned his character after the Nick Charles character played by William Powell in The Thin Man film series of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Another similarity with the film series is the Dr. Destine/Beverly relationship which bears a marked resemblance to the husband and wife team of Nick and Nora Charles of Mr. & Mrs. North. In a departure from the man without a country motif so common among the Anglo-American characters, Dr. Destine is located in Toronto. In the opening scenes he and Beverly are dancing at the Palais Royal which in the 1940’s was a popular night spot hall located on the Lakeshore Boulevard in the Sunnyside district of Toronto.

One gets the feeling that this was one serial that Ed enjoyed doing. The stories are inventive and by this time the Anglo-American staff are quite competent in their illustrating. At the end of the war, Ted McCall and Ed attempted to remodel “Freelance” into a private detective. Would this model have been more successful?

MEDIUM:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:                                                                            Published by Anglo-American Publishing Co.

Content serial:

Grand Slam Comics …: “Dr Destine…” Contributors unidentified. Black & white interiors.
3-10, September 1944: “… Introducing”: 31-44

3-11, October 1944: “… The Case Of The Two Mysterious Words”: 31-44.

3-12, November 1944: “… and the Case Of The Purple Scarab”: 31-44.

4-2, January 1945: “… The Mystery Of The Black Death”: 33-46.

4-3, February 1945: “ … Clue Of The Leopard’s Fangs”: 19-32.

4-4, March 1945: “… and the Poison Plot Against The Underworld”: 11-19.

“… and Five Faces To Doom”: 38-47.

4-6: May 1945: “… And The Vultures Of Death Mountain”:. 19-32.

4-6: [actually 4-7], June 1945: “… League Of The Saints From Hades”: 17-30.
Grand Slam/Three Aces Comics …: “Dr Destine.” Contributors unidentified. Colour interiors.
IV-45, August 1945: No story.

IV-46, September 1945: No story.

 IV-48, Nov. 1945: “… The Killer Of The Big House. :13-22.

IV-49, Dec. 1946: “… Fog Is The Shroud For Death”: 1-10

IV-50, January 1946: No story.
Grand Slam Comics…: “Dr Destine…” Contributors unidentified. Colour interiors.
V-51, February. 1946: No story..

V-53, June/July 1946: “ … and the Clue Of The Counterfeit Shoe”: 17-28.

5-54, August/September 1946: “… Letter From The Dead”: 18-31.

5-55, October November 1946: “… and the Mesmerized Diplomat”: 16-25.

5-56, December/January 1946: “…”: 33-46.

Three Aces, V-51, Feb.1946: “Dr. Destine and the Dolls Of Death.” Contributors unidentified: 23-32.

Cover front:

Grand Slam/Three Aces, IV-49, December 1945: Illus., Unidentified.

SOURCE:

Interview:

With Ed Furness.

GALLERY:

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON D\DR DESTINE, Grand Slam Comics 4-6 May 1945, 30.jpgGrand Slam Comics, 4-6, May 1945: “Dr. Destine and the Vultures Of Death Mountain”: 30

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON D\DR DESTINE Grand Slam 3 Aces V-49 Dec 1945 fc.jpgGrand Slam/Three Aces, V-49, December 1945: Front cover.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON D\DR DESTINE, Grand Slam Comics 5-56, D-J 1946-7,40.jpg Grand Slam Comics, 5-56, December/January 1946 [1947]: Dr. Destine”: 40.

D. Destine”: 40.

DR BLUE & BLACKIE

DR. BLUE & BLACKIE

Cartoonist Mark Borgatta an American citizen living in Montreal produced this cartoon until he was called to the American Army for World War 2. The only one identified on the serial after Borgatta was André Kulbach although it is stated in Joke 23 that a Spragett took over the writing chores.

MEDIUM:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:                                                                          Published by Bell Features & Publishing Co. Colour covers. Black & white interiors.

Content serial:

Active Comics…no date: “Dr. Blue and Blackie: …” Car., Marc L. Borgatta unless otherwise noted:…
18: “… Diamond Studded Shark”: 1-7.

19: “…”:1-7.

21: “…The Zoot-Suit Yokels?”: 1-7.

22: “…The Pay-Dirt Pugs”: 1-7.

23: “ … Mr K”: 1-7.

 24: “… Torgo The Jap Spy” Car., unidentified: 1-8.

25: “…” Car., unidentified: 1-8.

26: “…” Car., unidentified: 1-6.

27: “…”Car., André Kulbach: 52-56.

No further episodes.

Cover front:

Active Comics…no date: …. Colour.
19: Illus., probably Marc L. Borgatta. 24: Illus., Adrian Dingle. 27: Illus., Adrian Dingle.

SOURCE:

Article periodical:

Joke Comics, 23, no date : “Welcome Home Gang.” 26.

GALLERY:

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON D\DR BLUE & BLACKIE, Active 19, fc.jpgActive Comics, 19: Front cover. Illus., Marc L. Borgatta.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON D\DR BLUE & BLACKIE, Active 19, 7.jpgActive Comics, 19: Car., Marc L. Borgatta: 7.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON D\DR BLUE & BLACKIE, Active 27, 52.jpgActive Comics, 27: Car., André Kulbach: 52.

DOYLE Leslie Ann

DOYLE Leslie Ann

An Ontario based illustrator and force behind Angel Creations.

WORK:

ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK TEXT & GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content story graphic:

The Secret Loves Of Geek Girls. Bedside Press, 2015: “ A Different Kind of Fantasy Roleplay.” Writ., Brandy Dawley: 149-152.

Cover book front:

Gothic Tales of Haunted Love. Ed., H. Nicholson & S.M. Beiko. Bedside Press, 2018.

SOURCE:

Article book:

The Secret Loves Of Geek Girls. Bedside Press, 2015: “Biographies”: 275.

DOUGLAS

DOUGLAS

In 1948, Joey Smallwood commissioned Globe & Mail cartoonist Jack Boothe to draw cartoons for The Confederate a newspaper advocating Newfoundland join Canada. Booth signed the cartoons “Douglas” which was Smallwood’s middle name.

SOURCE:

Article book:

The Hecklers. Writ. & Ed.., Peter Desbarates & Terry Mosher. McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 1979: 235.