429. Rejected Shorts, Purim Sketchbook, & Drawing NYC Mugshots
+ MoCCaFest 2025, Picture This 10th NYC Anniversary, New Joke Night + Art Gallery Comedy & Morris gets on the payroll
…Coming to you from the base of the Chrysler building, welcome to Issue #429 of New York Cartoons!
I just spent days at a conference at the Javits Center; I was hired to draw peoples’ faces on Mugs— Mugshots, if you will. The line didn’t stop from the moment I sat down to the moment I ran out of branded mugs. Who knew this was a thing?
Anyway… if you have something coming up in NYC with a conference booth and you want to attract people, I guarantee you’ll become the thing people remember most about the event (apart from the bad WIFI).
RELATED READING:
I am, of course, obliged to tell you that the new book is available for Pre-order now, and is getting some really nice early reviews:
“A graphic novel you can easily read in one sitting and are guaranteed to smile all the way through! I laughed so many times! The examples here were extremely funny and made me want to squeeze my dog lovingly until he gets that panicked look in his eyes. 🙂↕️ The artwork was really good and portrayed different situations in cute and hilarious ways.
There are also a few drawings that tell a separate, beautiful little story, and they almost made me cry! They were unexpected but were probably my favorite part!
If you own a dog (AKA you're his best friend and/or the dog basically owns you), I'm sure you'd absolutely love this book! It would also make for a perfect gift for any dog owner! Definitely recommend; I'm sure I'll reread it in the future!”
~ Paola, Goodreads
“I mean... I have a dog, and I can see us (me and my furry best friend) in ALL of the illustrations. How could I not enjoy this? How!?! I can't wait to have this at home. It was funny, and I felt so seen as all those things happen to us all who have dogs. SO SO SO good!!!”
~ Sara, Goodreads
“Can I eat it?”
~ Morris, Couch
Preorder your copy today!
Thank you, as always, for subscribing, and I’ll…
This week’s Sketchbook is from last Thursday’s Purim celebrations on the Upper West Side— I was drawing live caricatures of the kiddies in their costumes for the holiday.
New Joke Night at West Side Comedy Club
When comedians try new material, it’s basically the same level of anxiety and consternation as their very first gig— there’s no way to tell if something is going to land the way you think it’s going to. I tried out a bunch of new material this past week at West Side Comedy Club on the UWS and, by some miracle, ended up getting enough good stuff to try again and hone later in the week at other shows.
When I used to host open mics in the East Village every night, I would hear every version of every bad idea or joke premise in existence— much of it would never again see the light of day after it was tried in that godforsaken basement. But, once in a while, you hear a bit take shape and eventually end up on late-night TV or a Netflix special. That’s why you stick with it.
If you want one of the best Substacks on comedy writing, I highly recommend Funny How: Letters to a Young Comedian by Matt Ruby: He’s a font of comedy-writing and performing knowledge, and backs it up with years of experience.
Society of Illustrators: MoCCaFest 2025
It was great to see everyone at this year’s MoCCaFest event (no, not an art fair dedicated to chocolate coffee products), the SOI’s amazing weekend-long comic arts festival in Manhattan. Learn more about it here.
Oh, and Bill Janocha’s book about Mort Walker (below) is finally in the world and available to buy now wherever you buy books.
I’m a F*cking Artist
I did a comedy show at an art gallery space in my old neighbourhood on Friday night for the monthly “I’m a F*cking Artist” show organized by Chloe Fimiano. It was a lot of fun; and I got to show some of my cartoons, to boot! Follow Chloe to find out when the next one will be.
10 Years in New York: Picture This’ Big Birthday Show is This Saturday!
Where does the time go?
This Saturday will mark 10 years of performing Picture This! in New York. I started out drawing and performing on Picture This! back in 2013 during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival when it was still a new show finding its feet. I would race off stage from my own hour-long stand-up show across town to jump in the saddle and draw for a slew of guest comedians who would pass through on their way to the bar - it sort of became the unofficial comic hang of the festival; seeing which big names would show up for a spot.
Now, we do two shows every month: One in LA and one in NYC, with some of the world’s biggest comedians and artists on every show. This month’s show will feature…
Comedy from:
Joyelle Johnson, Jes Tom, Brian Bahe, Brandie Posey, & Sonia Denis
and Animation from: Jason Chatfield, Bryan Brinkman, SMO, Dan Pinto, Edel Ferri, & Celina Bertoncini
Tickets and info here. (Hurry, it’s nearly sold out!)
Rejected Shorts
Selected Shorts is an NPR program where celebrities read award-winning short works. Rejected Shorts is that show's evil twin. Rejected Shorts invites people to share their scorned satire, bad headlines, failed essays, and other art that didn't make the cut. It's cathartic. It's funny. It's for anyone who’s ever heard the response, "Thanks, but no thanks".
If you’re in New York on April 6 @ 5pm, I’d love you to come by to hear my excruciating tale of trying to get a joke sold to the New Yorker over the course of several years.
Lineup:
Jason Chatfield (The New Yorker)
Sydney Duncan (UCB)
Jared Goldstein (Just for Laughs)
Paige Smith-Hogan (Dead Parents Society)
Luke Stratham (The New Yorker)
Talib Babb (Burnt Excellence)
Miriam Jayaratna (New York Times)
Jess Elgene (Less of a Man)
Hosted by Michelle Cohn.
Well, CAN you eat it?
Remember my mom…the dog shower with 8! dogs. Just preordered your book with delivery set to her. Exciting!