Struggling Artist Mugs

"This next one is a typical blues number about exceeding your data plan limit, cracking your ipad screen, and losing your new ear buds."

'This next song is about a close call and a near success. It's called The Grant that Got Away.'

"I see the art budget's been cut again."

"After years of cartoon rejections, Bill stooped to trying a little shameless product placement."

"I would like a tube of lemon yellow, cadmium red, cobalt blue, ivory, black, and zinc white, a sixteen-by-twenty canvas, a couple of brushes, and that book 'Painting in Oils'."

"I'm gonna be a 'New Yorker' cartoonist. You're not supposed to understand it."

"How the hell is that supposed to feed us?"

'I really wanted to only take accounting courses, but my parents made me take this cartooning class so I would have something to fall back on.'

'Miss Donahue would give him an F.'

"Oh, don't mind that, it's just my body of unseen work."

"My wife has always encouraged me... ...to quit this stupid dream and get a real job." ... "You have a wife?"

Children's Imagination

"Move, Gary."

Brian, I hope you're taking this seriously.

"Wow, these are great cartoons! We have to let them go, and anyway, cartoonists are on the endangered species list..."

"I've made a fortune as a successful artist! I couldn't see this happening if I became a soldier or a worker..."

"Maybe I haven't suffered enough. Why don't you whip up some of your curried pork balls and refried rice for dinner?"

"So you're the artist dating my daughter? I've seen your work...you MUST be starving."

"That'll be the day!"

'Oh Rats! I can't be creative with a box of flat crayons!'

'Today's unwilling nude model is Ralph.'

"I've been an emerging artist for ten years now..."

"By the way, HarperCollins decided your book did not warrant publication."

'I need to practice painting the human figure, MOM! Models cost money!"

A military officer daydreams

'She leaves before I finish her portrait.'

"If you wish to see your artwork displayed, don't forget your bio."

Small Business Loan of Pencils

"My art speaks for itself."

A painter drawing a ship

Painter drawing bird of prey gets preyed on.

So You Want to be a Cartoonist?

'Just think of it as graphic design, Mom.'

Paint by number

"I can't help but feel I'm destined for something greater than having a job."