CTcartoonist

Divine Intervention....

2011-06-12T00:48:00.010-04:00

Here's a pencil sketch I did recently of John Travolta
and Samuel L. Jackson (aka: Vincent and Jules) from
the movie: Pulp Fiction

Their idea of Divine Intervention is:
"God came down from Heaven and stopped these muthafucking bullets."

The Dude...

2011-03-05T15:40:00.007-05:00

Here's a recent sketch I did of Jeff Bridges' character
"The Dude" from the movie The Big Lebowski.

Enjoy.

A New Year = A New Blog...

2011-02-27T09:52:00.010-05:00

...Technically , it's the same old Blog, but with a NEW look, new artwork, new ideas.

Speaking of new, we have a new Governor here in Connecticut. His name is Dannel Malloy. He's the former Mayor of Stamford of 14 years. Is he a good Governor?... It's too early to say. But so far he has lived up to one of his campaign promises... to our raise taxes! That's ALL taxes, for ALL taxpayers, Unfortunately...

...I think this comic gets the message across.

Back to Blogging

2011-02-26T23:18:00.009-05:00

OK... maybe it's not by "popular demand"... but I am back!

The truth is, I stopped posting on this Blog back in '09 because I had a few other things going on. I figured I'd get back to it when I had more time for it. Well 14 months later... I'm back with new art and new ideas.

Post your comments and let me know what you think. Thank you.

The End....

2009-12-22T22:33:00.007-05:00

Yes, it's official - Governor Jodi Rell will NOT be running for re-election in 2010. Of course I'll miss her, mostly because I enjoyed drawing comics about her, and I'm sure I'll enjoy drawing the NEXT Governor as well.

Original 1930's Artwork....

2009-12-11T20:35:00.004-05:00

I recently purchased 4 pieces of artwork at an Estate Auction. They're all original Editorial cartoons dating back to the early 1930's. The 2 drawings on the top are from C. D. Russell , (Pete the Tramp) and the lower right side is from Joseph Morgan, and I'm not sure about the lower left side as I can't quite make out the artists signature.

Although you can't tell by looking at the picture above, the size of this artwork is approx. 20 inches by 27 inches (poster size), they're all drawn on a heavy stock board. I'm not really sure why the artists drew the image so large, knowing that the final printed version would end up being only about 5"x7".

As you can see, the edges of these boards are in rough shape (torn, stained, etc.) , but then again, these pieces have been passed around and mishandled for the better part of 70+ years.

If there's an artist out there or anyone else who can give me any advice or insight of the proper care for artwork this old, it would be much appreciated. Otherwise I figure I'll just get them framed as I would any other artwork.

Swine Flu In Connecticut....

2009-09-15T06:50:00.003-04:00

Budget Troubles

2009-08-11T20:39:00.007-04:00

In my Humble Opinion... I think Gov. Rell & Senator Williams really need to come to some kind of agreement and settle Connecticut's Budget issues A.S.A.P!

KILL BILL: Jodi Rell Style....

2009-06-08T21:57:00.006-04:00

A little spoof with Gov. Rell & the Kill Bill: Vol. 2 movie poster.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine....

2009-04-29T22:24:00.008-04:00

What if... Young Logan (a.k.a. Wolverine)
tried out for the school volleyball team?

....In Theaters now....

Random Sketches...

2009-03-26T23:36:00.007-04:00

This is just one of many sketches that I'm working on. A buddy of mine gave me the outline of a story he's working on, and this sketch (and others) goes with the story line. I know... I usually do political comics, but this one is not political, it's just a cute and humorous. A nice break from the usual.

Color Brings It To Life...

2009-02-27T19:19:00.006-05:00

This is "Joe the Trucker", This is the piece that Prophesy
decided to use for their FREE T-shirt Promo!

Enjoy!

More Freelance Work...

2009-02-26T20:17:00.018-05:00

Here is a couple more of those Freelance Illustrations for Prophesy.

Warehouse Wally....

The client liked this one, "Approved with no changes."

__________________________________________

and Operators are standing by...

The client really liked the concept of this one - but with a few minor changes... they asked that I gave her more of chin, a happier face.

Freelance Illustrations....

2009-02-25T23:50:00.011-05:00

Here is just one of eleven illustrations I finished up this week for a company located in Bloomfield, CT called Prophesy . This company produces Transportation Software, for the Trucking Industry.

The Marketing team was putting together a great 4 page mailer for their customers, and asked for my artistic assistance. You might remember, I did some Freelance Illustrations for them last April. (click the link to check it out)

I'll post more finished artwork later this week.

Treading Water In Connecticut...

2009-02-19T19:05:00.008-05:00

I know Rell's plan is meant to help the average taxpayer,
But this is what it really feels like. Sink or swim.

White House Basement....

2009-01-30T20:52:00.004-05:00

It was reported the other day, that after President Obama settled into the White House and the oval office, He then preceded to take a tour of the White House basement. He didn't discuss what's down there, which just leaves us to our imagination...

Budget Deficit.....

2009-01-27T23:33:00.006-05:00

Here's a quick glimpse of Governor Rell fighting to get the budget deficit under control.

From one crook to another....

2008-12-18T23:37:00.004-05:00

"Trust me" ... He say's, as he grins like the Cheshire cat.

Real - vs - Fake

2008-12-12T23:13:00.003-05:00

If you're looking for a reason to buy a fake tree this year....
this would be it.

Rell's Big Budget Plan....

2008-11-25T18:03:00.012-05:00

Yesterday it was reported that, Part of Gov. Rell’s budget reduction plan includes $13.8 million in unclaimed bottle deposits. Rell thinks that the nickel deposits consumers pay for soda and beer bottles, many of which are never redeemed, belong to the state.

But of course, by the time I was able to scan and post this comic, the issue of using unclaimed bottle deposits is no longer on the table. However, Democrats said, this issue will come up again when the legislature convenes in regular session in January 2009.

oh boy... I can't wait.

One of My Favorites....

2008-11-21T22:03:00.011-05:00

I was recently talking to some friends about my editorial comics, and I was asked "where go you get your ideas from?" Well it's simple ... I said, "from every day life. From the headlines in the papers, a news story on TV, a DJ on the radio. Anywhere and everywhere."

And it's not always political. It could be a Hollywood celebrity, a popular show on TV, a new fad sweeping the nation, a new movie in the theaters, Anything.

When I thought back on all the different subject matters I've focused on, one comic stands out as one of my favorites. Not because of the people I was lampooning, but because I was able to take a couple of different subjects and draw them together in one comic,

A few years ago, the Sub Base in Connecticut was in danger of closing. Four Connecticut politicians (Gov. Rell, Joe Lieberman, Chris Dodd and Joe Simmons) came together to fight to keep the Sub Base open and they succeeded. Around that same time, the movie The Fantastic Four had just opened in the theaters.

It was a No-Brainer.
I combined those two subjects and came up with this comic.

CT Newspapers - Closing....

2008-11-12T19:24:00.008-05:00

Newspaper publisher - The Journal Register Co. plans to close up to 13 newspapers it owns in Connecticut if it can't find a buyer for them. 2 of the newspapers are dailies (New Britain and The Bristol Press), the other 11 are weekly papers.

Employees of The Bristol Press and The New Britain Herald were told Monday that the daily newspapers will close if a buyer isn't found by Jan. 12. In a memo, publisher Edward Gunderson said that "in the event that there is no buyer, then we anticipate the facility will be shut down."

It wasn't immediately clear how many workers would be affected if the papers went out of business.

Election 08....

2008-11-01T14:12:00.001-04:00

Random Sketches....

2008-10-23T21:06:00.004-04:00

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the current financial crisis is a "once-in-a-century credit tsunami" which will have a severe impact on the U.S. economy, driving unemployment higher.

Random Sketches....

2008-10-16T06:56:00.009-04:00

"You can't depend on your eyes, when
your imagination is out of focus"

~ Mark Twain

The Pancake Man

2008-10-07T21:20:00.005-04:00

Here's a piece I did not too long ago, for a local church that was hosting a pancake breakfast. A friend asked me to draw this for the church newsletter and flyers to be passed out around town.

A simple drawing for a noble cause. No charge.

Random Sketches....

2008-09-23T18:23:00.008-04:00

No formal comics today, Just a quick sketch I did while watching TV. Sometimes I get inspired while channel surfing. I came across the movie "Witness" (starring Harrison Ford). I started sketching comics of the characters from the movie. This one is the Amish Kid.

Price Gouging...

2008-09-15T18:41:00.014-04:00

First it was reported that, state officials and investigators are in the field, watching for possible price gouging at gas stations in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

So today, Gov. Rell has asked Connecticut residents to start reporting suspected price gouging I guess this is one way to keep the gas station owners honest.

Nothing new....

2008-07-09T18:32:00.006-04:00

I know...... It's been a while since I posted any new comics or drawings. I'm working on an outside project right now, so I haven't had too much time to Blog. Maybe, I'll try to scan some of my old work for your viewing pleasure, until then, hang in there....

A Song & Dance....

2008-06-27T11:41:00.008-04:00

In My Humble Opinion - All politicians are the same. When some kind of bill or ruling comes across their desk that they don't agree with (or they just don't like it), they VETO it. Then they try to please the voting public with some kind of song & dance routine, and our own Governor Rell is the same as all the others, the only difference is, I suspect we all know who's pulling the strings now.

Random Sketches.....

2008-06-18T19:39:00.008-04:00

Here's a couple of quick sketches I drew of some Connecticut Politicians.

Former Connecticut Governor John Rowland

New Haven Mayor, John Destefano

Happy Father's Day.....

2008-06-15T09:13:00.012-04:00

Yes, Today is June 15th, Father's Day, and I'd like to take a moment to wish all the Dads out there a Happy Father's Day.

Here is a Caricature I drew of my Dad last year.

No Moral Compass in Connecticut....

2008-06-10T17:59:00.014-04:00

My editor asked me to draw a comic based on the now famous (or should I say infamous) Hartford "Hit & Run".
Click here to watch Surveillance Video of Graphic Hit-and-Run .

Please don't mistaken this drawing for anything other than a statement of moral conscience. I am NOT making fun of the gentleman that got hit by the car, But instead I'm making a statement about the lack of humanity in what happens (or in this case, what doesn't happen) AFTER the hit & run.

As the Gentleman lies in the street helpless and paralyzed, A full minute passes - before a crowd steps off the sidewalk and gathers around him, and at least eight vehicles drove past him, one SUV pulled over, as if to acknowledge that they witnessed the hit and run, but then a few seconds later, pulls back into traffic and drives away. Even a guy on a scooter circles him, and then drives away.

All this takes place in just over a minute, before the police just happened to be on route to an unrelated call.

How sad that no-one immediately came to the mans aid, even just to hold his hand, or say, "I'll stay with you until the police arrive". He just laid on the ground in pain, as everyone else went about their business.

This comic shows five people holding something and each one has the label of a different city in Connecticut. The point of this, is to show that this sort of thing happens in every city across the state. It's not just isolated to Hartford. More often than not, it seems that more and more people in this state have an attitude of "Don't get me involved" or "It's not my problem".

Congratulations people ..... Connecticut got national attention, because nobody did anything.

I, Doddious....

2008-05-31T20:49:00.036-04:00

I just watched the movie Gladiator for the umpteenth time and realized, if you look past all the action and the drama of this movie, you can actually get a sense of how politicians played a big part in society back in those days, so then I was thinking "What would a Senator from today's world look like as a Roman Senator"?

...and now we know.
(minus the briefcase of course)

Gas or Groceries......?

2008-05-28T20:54:00.009-04:00

I came up with this comic last week after I went to the grocery store. I thought to myself, which is worse.... The price of gas, or the price of our groceries?

It cost me about $50 to fill my gas tank each week (that's $200 per month). It cost a lot more than that for groceries to feed a family of four each month (yeah, A LOT MORE!)

(The groceries listed in this comic are fairly accurate.)

CTSPJ Contest Winner's are Announced.....

2008-05-24T16:53:00.014-04:00

This past week, the CT Society of Professional Journalist's held their annual dinner for the 2007 Contest winner's. And of course one of the categories was - Editorial Cartoons. I am pleased to say, I won First place award of 2007 (See the image below).

(Click on the image for a larger view)

Here is a list of this Year's Contest Winners »
(My name is at the bottom of the Fist page)

- Cheers!

CT Mortgages Crash and Burn....

2008-05-18T15:08:00.007-04:00

This comic speaks for itself...

.....'nuff said

Democratic Primaries.....

2008-05-14T17:13:00.010-04:00

At the end of the evening, after all is said and done, I think the Cable company is the definite winner of the political debates. They charge advertisers hundreds of thousands of dollars for a thirty second spot, before, during and after the debates. And why do they do it? Because they CAN!

Here's the rough sketch....

The State Economy....

2008-05-01T22:09:00.013-04:00

As I was listening to NPR on the drive into work, I heard some news casters squawking about the economy on both local and national level. One person mentioned a new tax proposal in Connecticut, and the other one said, "new taxes in Connecticut were popping up like weeds!" It's like a light bulb was turned on...

...and this is the image I saw....

...And for those interested, Here's the rough sketch...

Dead voters in Connecticut....

2008-04-23T07:57:00.006-04:00

I read and article the other day that said, State investigators found at least 300+ names of people that were DEAD, still on Connecticut voting ballots. I can just here it now... Every politician that lost an election, with a close margin will be yelling - "I demand a RE-COUNT!"

Freelance Illustrations...

2008-04-18T22:03:00.015-04:00

Here's just a couple of the many illustrations I drew for a client in Bloomfield, CT. Prophesy, (a Trucking software company), who's putting together "mailer/Brochure" for their customers.

I was asked to draw a guy in front of his PC,
...and he's "BLOWN AWAY" with the program
So this is what I came up with,...

This illustration, shows a guy who loves the software , SO MUCH,
he never wants to let it go.

After a couple rough draft sketches, and several revisions, I think they turned out quite well,
(but of course I drew them, so what else would I say).

What are your thoughts?

Parolee Transit Schedule....

2008-04-15T23:08:00.004-04:00

Ah, Yes.... Connecticut has proven once again, their "Parolee Drop-off system isn't working. It's sort of like M.C. Escher's concept of the "Möbius strip", a never ending cycle, going around in circles and never really getting anywhere.

No Child Left Inside....?

2008-04-04T06:40:00.006-04:00

I thought this program sounded like a good idea, so I asked my daughter (11 years old) if she'd like to go outside to play, Ya' know.... maybe shoot some hoops. She asked if she could bring her laptop..... Seriously.

My thoughts behind this comic...

2008-04-01T06:48:00.010-04:00

I originally posted this comic earlier in March, and I've received several Emails asking why I drew the gunman in the background. Let me explain....

This comic shows on two things going on in here.

1. Governor Rell seems so overly-obsessed on getting rid of Billboards along the highways in CT., that she seems to have lost focus on more important issues like the growing crime rate in CT.

2. The gunman in the background is more like an "in your face" type of statement, and everyone knows how serious the crime is in this state, but yet, nobody really wants to do anything about it.

I always thought that the crime in CT should be in the foreground instead of the background. I hope this helps. Cheers...

Rell - vs - The Legislature

2008-03-28T06:33:00.005-04:00

This is a comic I drew last year, and yet it's still just as news worthy today. This comic shows the obvious - Governor Rell fighting with the Legislature over the spending and budget priorities.

Rell's Billboard Blight.....

2008-03-21T06:38:00.008-04:00

It would seem that Governor Rell has made it her new mission to get rid of ALL billboards along the highway. Well that's fine if she could multi-task. But she seems to have turned a blind eye to the increase in crime in a lot of the major cities across the state.

What Surplus....?

2008-03-12T19:41:00.007-04:00

As the U.S Government begins sending out the "Economic Stimulus" checks, the Connecticut government is preparing to do the same, but our Governor has her own opinions...

Connecticut Politics...

2008-03-09T22:58:00.011-04:00

OK . . . so here's my latest take on Governor Jodi Rell

and her "Exploratory" plans.

Photo ID for Sex-Offenders....

2008-03-05T06:30:00.012-05:00

I was reading an article last week, on how sex offenders in Connecticut may be required to get special markings on their driver's license, (Why? So we know who they are?) so I came up with this drawing. Does anyone remember the movie "1984"? Two words: Big Brother.

Dodd makes his choice.

2008-02-27T17:23:00.017-05:00

How many people out there follow the electoral debates? Ya' know.... Hillary vs Obama, and McCain vs Huckabee, Independent or green party. Well anyway, I follow them as much as I can, (it kinda goes with the job) so I can draw the candidates at their best, and this comic shows Senator Dodd buddying up with Obama (Obie), and I'm sure Dodd has his own motives for doing so. If he's not asked to be Obie's V.P., I think Dodd's willing accept some other position in Obama's cabinet, just as long as Dodd can get himself in the White house.
Of course, that's just my opinion . . . I could be wrong.

Welcome to my BLOG...

2008-02-24T13:01:00.014-05:00

Hello everyone! My name is
Jeff Vella, Welcome to my blog!
I am an Illustrator / Cartoonist, and I figure it's about time I post some of my cartoons and other artwork out on the big bad web. But please, have a little patience while I get some control on the look of this blog. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy viewing my comics of past, present and of course future. Feel free to post any comments, (good or bad - I can take it)

Oh, and hopefully my postings will be about 2 or 3 times a week, but it all depends on schedules and unexpected happenings in the real world.