Marketing day

Today I'm starting my day by making publicity cards for my cartoon "Cafe con Leche." I found out a long time ago that as an artist, you have to be part entrepreneur. Ask any syndicated cartoonist not named Scott Adams and they'll tell you that you can't rely on the syndicate alone to promote your stuff. While I do appreciate what they do, it's also a smart idea do help yourself. Particularly with "Cafe con Leche," a cartoon about a bi-racial couple. Well, I'm off to the the post office. Crossing my fingers.

Locked out

I spent most of today and yesterday locked out of my Queens studio. I finally had the good sense to call a locksmith, not realizing that locksmiths are as reliable as used cars here in the QB. I spent hours just sitting on the curb waiting for locksmiths to show up. One finally did today, but I not cartoons done yesterday. I hate wasted days.
The locksmith had to change the lock on the door. I'll have to email the guy I'm subletting from that his key will no longer work. Such is life, I guess. The good news is that I have a pretty promising interview for a day job next week. As most know, I've been sans-day job for about 2 months. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? I need something to support this nasty cartooning habit. It truly is like a drug, not that I'd know anything about that subject(wink wink).

An "Ugly" encounter

Very strange things happen in New York City. Case in point...
Yesterday I ascended from the E-train on my way to my studio in Queens when I saw a bunch of TV cameras all over the place. People were gathered around the block to take a peek at what the hell was going on. This is weird, since Queens folks could see a dead body laying in the middle of an intersection and wouldn't care. I asked one of the camera dudes what was happening. He told me that they were filming part of an episode for the TV show "Ugly Betty." Apparently they were filming right at the corner of 23rd and 44th rd. inside of the Palace Fried Chicken joint (which is a dump). I didn't get it. Of all the places to film in L.I.C. they picked the Palace?
I've eaten there and got all kinds of heart burn. Grease truly is the word. Like any curious person I stuck around for a few minutes but had to retreat to my studio to get some work done. Strange because I've never seen so many celebrities in my life. Since moving here I've seen a top model, Lou Dobbs, and now the "Ugly Betty" cast. Oh, well, back to work.

I'm back!

Sorry for the extended delay, but I had to take care of a few loose ends back in Florida. I'm back in my Queens studio today with renewed energy to create some decent cartoons.
I've been reading a lot of industry news lately and it seems that the newspaper cartoonist is in danger, particularly the editorial cartoonist. With the advent of the web and syndication I've been seeing editorial cartoonists' jobs drop like flies. As newspapers contract one of the first positions deemed 'disposable' is the cartoonist.
Comics page cartoonists aren't faring any better. We're seeing comic pages shrink all over the place, leaving limited space for cartoons. I've been trying to help myself out with freelance lately and I feel that might be the way to go for a while. At least until we all learn Flash.

At the airport

I'm here at JFK Airport in beautiful Jamaica, Queens NYC. Well, it's not so beautiful. I'm on my way to Florida to visit my mother and take care of a few nasty legal things down there. Pardon me if I make a few typos, there's an older lady sitting next to me trying her best to lean over and take a peek at what the hell I'm doing.
This trip doesn't come at a great time because I'm still adjusting my life up the in the City. I'm going to miss my morning runs up and down Central Park. Which reminds me, I was pretty annoyed yesterday morning. There were a ton of barricades all over the place due to the Bon Jovi concert in the park. I could barely run, which sucked. Oh, well, such is life.
Hope to get some of my mother's down-home cooking and maybe some of her down-home advice on some things.

Trying new things

In the past few days, I've been doing other freelance work to supplement my income. I just finished a cartoon for Playboy magazine, which hopefully will run someday. I also went back to my editorial cartoonist roots. You see, before Cafe con Leche and Working It Out, I was an editorial cartoonist. I would frequently submit work to the Chicago Tribune when I worked there as a graphic artist. Sometimes they would run it. Didn't get paid for it though (that was a mistake).
Well, here's a new cartoon that I draw which I'm submitting to publications here in the tri-state area. Hope you like it.

Rough day

Just getting over a rough day of cartooning and job searching. I heard that the weather was wonderful here in the city. Too bad I didn't get to enjoy it much. Went to a job fair down on 18th St. (at 6th). Pretty much sucked. Literally back to the drawing board. Talking to Skyy at the moment. I'll check back witcha later.

Chill time

After a very tough day I'm sitting here on a couch with a very beautiful lady. Can't beat that (I guess). I had a friend of mine recently stay in my art studio. That was some hectic stuff. Fortunately we went and blew off some steam by drinking copious amounts of alcohol at the L.I.C. Bar last night. Didn't think about cartoons at all. Okay, I'm lying.

Party Time!!

Tonight, after I finish a few cartoons, I'm going over to the Graphic Artist Guild (GAG) function.. It's the big ICON 5 party being held at Rosie O'Grady's on 52n'd. It's mostly a networking thing, but it's supposed to be fun. They did specify that they have an open bar. That's all I needed to know. I hope to find so good connections there, or at least have a good time. If you're looking for me, I'll be the guy holding the gin and tonic.

Giving credit to an Orlando institution

I don't if you have noticed, but this week's batch of "Cafe con Leche" cartoons have centered around Trey's 20-year high school reunion. I decided to name the fictional high school in the comic strip after an actual school in Orlando's inner-city: Jones High. I think I've blogged about this in the past, but it had a reputation of being pretty rough. I thought that I'd give it some credit this week.

Blog name change

As some of you may have noticed by now (I'm talking to you, Rick) I recently decide to change the name of this blog from "Charlos Toons" to "The Charlos Chronicle." After thinking about it for a while, I decided that "The Charlos Chronicle" was more fitting due to the fact the I am chronicling my life as a freelance cartoonist in New York. I thought that it was appropriate. I included the subhead "because cartooning ain't nothing but a hustle" because that how I really feel. As much as I love being a syndicated cartoonist, the reality is that it's a business. Basically an old-fashioned hustle. I'd like to hear what you think about the new changes.

Clowning around

Just got back from an interview in midtown for an sportswear company. The interview went good, I think. I'm spending the rest of the day scanning cartoons and thinking about ideas for future cartoons. In the meantime, I'm here in my studio clowning around. Shot this pic before my interview.

Interview day

Well, today is the day. I have to leave my Fortress of Solitude (aka my Queens studio) to interview for a freelance gig over in Manhattan. This seems oddly strange, since I haven't gone on an actual interview in about 3 years. The company wants me to do some cartoon illustrations for them, which shouldn't be a problem. Now I have to get some cartoon work done before I have to jump on the E train and head back to midtown.