The fourth annual Erotic Art Show opens this week at the Shooting Gallery in San Francisco. Some real nice art. You can see provocative previews at their site. I thought Arf Lovers might particularly enjoy the painting by John John Jesse below. Who knew Robin had a dynamic duo?

You can see from my portrait by Kelly Freas at the top of the page that I bear an uncanny resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman. I’m not the only one. I had a party for Harvey Kurtzman, the creator of Mad magazine, at my crib back in ’92. As part of the festivities we had a Alfred look-alike contest judged by Mr. Kurtzman himself. Not surprisingly, maybe, my son Donovan (to Harvey’s right) won (the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree).. Just above Donovan is my daughter Valissa, she didn’t make a bad Alfreida. I see Brian (Hi and Lois) Walker in the crowd there and Karen O-Connell, co-author of the George Herriman bio. Karen’s hubby Patrick McDonnell was also at the party, as was Al Jaffee and the great Will Elder (who was the hilarious life of the party). The beautiful Jan Arneson, the Art Director of The United Nations is above Valissa. A good time was had by Alfred look-alikes!

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Here’s a self-portrait by Harvey that I love…

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It reminds me of the portrait Dean Yeagle did of Reamer Keller for my soon to be released Arf Museum book. Great cartoonists think alike, I guess!

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While I’m in Washington here’s some more strips by Seron who I had the privilege of meeting in France plus a drawing he did for me. I told him I was an Ass Man and he drew to please…

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Well, no, I’m not there, I’m in Washington. But, here’s some material I picked up at the Angouleme, France comics festival. Tomorrow I’ll have a few more strips by Seron PLUS a drawing he did for me.

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I was sad to hear of Playboy cartoonist Eldon Dedini’s recent passing. That happened right after Fantagraphic’s announcement that they’re doing a coffee table book on him, too. Dedini is ofen identified as a Playboy cartoonist but he also did cartoons for The New Yorker, Esquire, Look and illustrated books like Max Shulman’s Rally Round the Flag, Boys! And, Dedini did some great cartoons related to “The Unholy Marriage of Art and Comics”. To see some of those click on the Charlie Brown below to start the show!

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I read that one of the most popular gifts yesterday for Valentine’s was vibrators. That reminded me of this hilarious comic from the book The Sleazy Cartoons of Bill Plympton. When I was Creative Director/Vice President/General Manager of the Muppets I instigated sessions where I brought creative people in to present their work in special sessions to inspire the troops. Bill was my first guest and his incredible animation was the perfect kick-off. Bill is funny in his animated cartoons and in print like this comic and in person, too. But what impressed me the most?—the bodacious babes Bill always had hanging on each arm every time I saw him. I get the idea that the sleazy cartoons he draws are rooted somewhere in real life experiences!