Talented caricaturist, illustrator, and art director (recently retired) for Mad Magazine, Sam Viviano is one of my favourite cartoonists and New York friends. When Paul and I go to the city to enjoy jazz and the shows, we love to include Sam and his wife, Diane Bloomfield.
After knowing each other for over 40 years, Sam and I realized we had never exchanged original art! Exchanging originals is a great thing to do and over the years, I’ve traded with Charles Schulz, Bil Keane, Jim Davis, Will Eisner….but I hadn’t traded with Sam! When he suggested we make the long overdue exchange, I looked through my most recent work—all “spot art” for the website—and chose something I thought he might like. In return, I did not expect Sam to send me a caricature of Paul and myself—playing tunes at the Eagle’s Pub! A caricature, done by a Mad Magazine alum? That is gold, my friends! That is better than wonderful!!!
Sam has just sent me the pencil rough, which I love! He said he had planned to ink it in when he got back from holiday…but I like the rough! A pencil rough often has more life and depth than the finished art, which can be too tight and polished. So, here is a gift from a good friend—an image worth sharing. This is something I’ll treasure and frame. It’s us!
