Mr. Dressup Inspired Me to Draw

Last week's Google Doodle celebrated the 85^th birthday and life of one of Canada's most beloved children's entertainers, Ernie Coombs - better known by generations north of the 49^th parallel as "Mr. Dressup".

Seeing Google's tribute got me thinking about my earliest artistic influences. No question, Mr. Dressup was one of the first.

From 1967 to 1996, Mr. Dressup was a fixture on Canadian television. The show was broadcast every weekday. Low-budget sets, forgettable songs (theme song excluded) and annoying hand puppets (Finnegan excepted) were a staple. To say the show was quaint would be putting it kindly, yet somehow the congenial Mr. Coombs was able to furnish the show with an air of dignity that made it a perennial favourite for nearly three decades.

As Mr. Dressup, Ernie Coombs was a brilliant communicator - not just as a television personality, but as someone who completely understood and respected his audience. Kids know when they're being given the business, but with Mr. Dressup, it was always real. We knew it and we loved him for it.

For me personally, the stories, songs, dress-up games and hand puppets were all pretty meh, but when it came time for Mr. Dressup to draw, I was mesmerized! Armed with little more than a marker and a drawing easel, Mr. Dressup could make concepts and ideas come alive! His cartoony style was simple, but affecting. So many artists need to sketch out an idea first before applying a finishing line (myself included), but not Mr. Dressup - No siree. He would get it right, first time - every time. His line-work and self-assurance with a pen was legendary. The very picture of efficiency.

In the wake of each show, I would sit down with a bunch of pens and a seemingly endless supply of Jumbo drawing pads (graciously provided by my mother in a futile attempt to discourage me from ruining her collection of paperback novels - to say nothing of the walls, fridge door, etc.), furiously attempting, as best my five year old hands could manage, to replicate the magic I had just witnessed. I don't have any of those early attempts at art to reflect on, but I'm fairly certain I can trace my earliest interests in drawing back to Mr. Dressup.

For that, I thank you Mr. Coombs and wish you a (slightly belated) Happy 85^th Birthday!

The "Twinkie Takers" Have Won

A world without Twinkies? It's difficult to imagine! Dismay and concern permeates social media circles today with news that Hostess plans to declare bankruptcy in the wake of a nationwide strike by company workers. Gastronomically speaking, the disappearance of Twinkies is no big loss, yet there's no denying the cultural significance of the brand. Ads for Twinkies and Hostess Cupcakes were ever-present in the comics I grew up with as a kid (check out this Ross Andru drawn touchstone of the silver age):

Not all is lost however for afficianados of the artery clogging treat. Here in Canada, Twinkies are produced by Saputo and are thusly unaffected by the strike. My American friends are always welcome to come up and sample our northern cuisine, which will apparently now include Twinkies alongside Beaver Tails, Tim Horton's Donuts, Poutine and other delights.

(EDIT: I was wrong. Saputo hold the rights, but apparently don't make Twinkies here in Canada. Sorry about that USA. Looks like you're out of luck. You might want to try the Ah Caramels though - they're awesome!)

Quick Thought on the US Election

Still bleary eyed from staying up to watch the US election results, but it was worth it on so many levels. First of all, the guy I was pulling for won, so yay on that, but mainly I stayed up to watch the talking heads blithering back and forth - and also to watch CNN's John King work the magic board. Win on all fronts!

With regards to the acceptance speech, who the heck was that guy? O's speech was full of fire and passion sadly lacking during campaign 2012. He looked downright Presidential! Had that version shown up earlier on the trail, the beat-down would have been even more epic.

Hello

Welcome to my new blog.

Actually it's not that "new". In fact, it's kind of ancient. Only now am I giving thought as to what to do with it.

I'm inclined to write about what I do for a living (graphic design, marketing, etc.). But at the same time, I'm opinionated enough to offer views on a much broader array of subject matter.

What a conundrum.

In time, I expect the blog's raison d'être will come into sharper focus, or maybe it won't. Either way, I'm glad you're here and hope you'll stick around to see where it ends up.