CARTOONING and Caricatures

Van Allen can provide toons in any style for any occasion.

The above was done for the late great and totally original artist,cartoonist and all around eccentric goof ball, Al Simons.He claimed it cured him out of the hospital.I don't know,but it did get him laughing so hard he lived for a few more fun years.

This young lady was designed to adorn a very catty nightclub of a feline persuasion-yeeeow.The dress code was quite strict but pith helmets were optional.

I got a chance to draw in the style of the great Fred Moore as sort of a cartoon tribute on this Disney concept for a Kelloggs campaign for the Martin Agency.

Seen here is a rare shot of the Phantom of the Byrd Theatre on his way to the concession stand.

Sometimes us big kids are called upon to draw stuff for the little bity kids.It's then that we must put ourselves back to where we once were,staring up out of the crib or car seat at a strange, wonderous new world, and seeking warm and cuddly friends to keep us company.

Van Allen CARICATURE SERVICE


To capture the essence of a personality in a few lines is the art of caricature.Above are some famous artistes de rocke appearing on a poster for John Winn's School of Rock class at Virginia Commonwealth University. John is a very talented jazz ,pop and classical musician and composer,and a really fun professor as well. At right,some other notables of showbiz yesteryear haunt the Byrd Theatre on a promo sign for caricature gigs.The Byrd is a great old movie palace in it's original silent movie glory located in Carytown, in Richmond.It's supposed to have a real ghost,but with all these characters I doubt the poor wraith has a chance for so much as a boo boop a doop.One does not walk into the Byrd,you float, making your own twirling steady-cam shot as you gawk at the chandelier and other delectable appointments.(I've been known to haunt it myself).Great films, live organ and shows, at affordable prices. Watch out for Phil Donahue, he's deadly with that mike.

Logo for the Family Resource Center, Richmond,VA. A non-profit organization where families in need are treated quite well,and are given resourses they need for survival in the urban environment.

Cartoons have the ability to communicate any concept or mood, that may be found in text or other media,and in a way that often is more accessible to it's audience.Whether selling a product, communicating a vital service,information, political opinion,or making people laugh,cartoons are your most immediate and effective form of communication.See ya in the funny papers!..or web pages,video,DVD or some sort of media not invented yet...perhaps flying 3D holograms?


	Of course sometimes you gotta just let yourself go!-BLAAAAH!!--let it all hang out cartoon-wise, and make you really FEEL it! A cartoon cartharsis I calls it.....(to paraphrase Thomas "Fats" Waller).The kind of thing that was started in the exuberance of the 30's & 40's by Tex Avery and Bob Clampett,and carried forth by other great pratitioners such as Basil Wolverton, Don Martin,and Big Daddy Roth.

The above was done for a T-Shirt design for screen actor Mark Joy's off -off road biking team.Mark is doing well now,but no longer eats trees.At right is an appropriately smarmy caricature of the dear boy himself. Mark's exciting new crime film,"Beast of Burden",filmed along the rocks of the James River is now available for purshase at http://www.markjoyfilms.com