For many, Earth Day is about picking up trash to make our surroundings more beautiful. As I thought about that, I came up with the visual idea that while Earth Day takes many forms and many activities, it is ultimately about putting our Earth back together.
Here is my initial sketch to flesh out the idea:
Here is the animated version that was published by CBS News:
Finally, I decided to complete the initial sketch and make a still graphic narrative piece, with an ending that for me, brings it all together:
I remember when I was growing up, along with the comics in the Washington Post, I always looked forward to the Sunday magazine, Parade. It was visual, so right down my alley. I am very pleased that this week, I appear in the online version of Parade. Journalist Dr. Nancy Berk did a wonderful job interviewing me in advance of my speaking at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop next week, April 5th in Dayton, Ohio. Also thrilled about that! Thanks to my friend and very funny comedian Wendy Liebman, for making that happen. Wendy is an instructor at the workshop every year. I can’t wait!
Recently, I was interviewed by the United Nations initiative, UN Women. Their mission is to help women around the globe, as “the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life, and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality.”
It was such an honor to be interviewed by them. I hope my work can in some small way help women around the world.
I didn’t realize how much I needed to take a few minutes from reality (i.e. politics) and celebrate great storytelling and great performing. I love movies, and I love watching the Academy Awards every year. This year will be my second year attending them in person?—?this time, as resident cartoonist for CBS. I will be behind the scenes, on the red carpet and in the media press room.
As always, I draw what I see, and more often than not it’s the behind the scenes. That is perhaps what I love to draw most. People working away at this great show, usually without recognition. It takes a lot of people.
I attended the rolling out of the red carpet?—?a wild event with press dashing after the rolling carpet with their cameras and microphones (and me with my iPad and stylus). I was invited into the Dolby Theater to watch the Oscar production designer, Derek McLane, work on the construction of his set. And I got a peek at the food that will be served by Wolfgang Puck and his staff at the Academy Ball.
Security, as always, was very high. Scanners, barriers and men and women in dark glasses wearing badges were everywhere. The Academy appears to run a tight and smooth ship?—?and everyone is in a good mood.
There was the actual red carpet, with gowns and tuxedos and cameras. It was mobbed with people?—?actors, writers, producers, and all their family and friends, decked out in their Oscar finest. I didn’t see any really strange gowns or tuxedos, but I saw some beautiful colors and shapes and people.
The show itself was great, and Jimmy Kimmel a wonderful, genuine, funny host. Ultimately, it will be one to remember because of the snafu at the end, giving the best picture award to the wrong movie!
It’s really fun, here they all are. Continue to follow me and CBS This Morning on twitter and Instagram for more adventures. @lizadonnelly @CBSThisMorning
Cartoons often evolve from real situations or emotions. I want to show you how a recent drawing happened.
The other day, I came home to find my husband, Michael Maslin, glued to the television set, sitting on the edge of the sofa close to the screen. We are both riveted (and not in a good way) by the news that is emerging at a fast clip out of Washington as of late.
The next day, another news story broke about the Trump administration, and I decided to draw a cartoon about this because I could feel it was something our country was grappling with in various ways on many levels. There was drama happening on an hourly basis. I thought of Michael and I drew this:
When I drew it, I didn’t have a clear idea of what I was going to do with it. Looking at my sketch above, I thought I should simplify it. And make the person a woman, because, well, why not. I try to make my protagonists female when I can. In this instance, gender had no meaning.
I looked at the hair that I drew and thought: it should go straight up! I drew this:
I thought: I can make it a two paneled cartoon with these two images. But then wait! I remembered that I now know how to animate! So I will just animate it! I opened my animation app and drew this video. Then….
… I sent it to The New York Times to see if they wanted to run it, mentioning that I could also do it as a gif. They said yes, they wanted to publish it with Nicholas Kristof’s column, which was about to be published. After an hour of fine tuning about where my signature or credit line should go, I made a gif and it ran with Mr. Kristof’s column, “What Did Trump Know, And When Did He Know It?”
It was an honor to have my gif on the front page of the New York Times with Mr. Kristof’s Op-Ed piece, in commentary about an historic time in our country’s history. Bottom line was: this gif represents exactly how I feel right now. It seems to represent others’ feelings. And for an editorial cartoonist, that’s often the best place to find ideas: in your heart.
For many years, I have live-drawn the Grammys from my television. This year, I am so excited and am honored to be live-drawing the Grammys and red carpet on location in Los Angeles for CBS News as resident cartoonist. Stay tuned!! You can follow my drawings on twitter @lizadonnelly and @CBSThisMorning and both of us on Instagram: LizaDonnelly and CBSThisMorning
