…but it’s with sadness to report that whilst this is my first full colour cover for a some years (and the first under the new format), it’s likely to be my last cartoon for Tribune. Unless funding is found by Friday, the magazine is to cease publishing with this issue. You can, however, relive my cartoons for Tribune going back to my very first one back in 1995 here! You can also order your very own print of this cartoon here, and indeed many more from the archive. If you’re interested in purchasing a print of any older cartoon (or, prior to 2008, original artwork!), please let me know which one and I’ll see what I can arrange.

It was partly an exercise in drawing and blogging, and partly an attempt at making a sellable product. Whilst I certainly succeeded on the first point, having produced the full deck (plus a Joker), I failed on the second point, despite a number of attempts. The plan was to sell a printed deck of the finished set of caricatures (and possibly other printed material, such as posters or mugs), but I was unable to find a cost-effective way of producing and distributing the product. A number of people contacted me with the aim of purchasing a deck, so I believe there is a market; indeed, a printer did contact me about producing the deck commercially (about which I’ll say more later). There are a number of companies that produce print-on-demand playing cards (or similar products) but they are mostly limited by having a minimum order (often around 500 decks), being rather expensive and being based overseas – usually the USA, making importing even more expensive.

However, I learned a lot from the project and over the intervening years, I’ve considered re-starting it a few times, but haven’t quite got round to it. This year, however, a couple of things have come to my attention that might make this project a ‘goer’. Firstly, the realisation that the graphics software I use to draw my cartoons – Manga Studio EX – has a two-point symmetry ‘ruler’, which would make the two-headed nature of the cards significantly easier to draw (and a feature I wish I had spotted sooner). Secondly, moo.com (who I already use for my business cards) have added playing-card-like ’rounded corners’ to the range of services they offer. Now, the new round-cornered cards come in packs of 50, wherein lies the another problem, that this is two (four with jokers) cards short.

The other issue was raised by my potential commercial printers I mentioned earlier – that these would sell better if they were out in time for Christmas… which, of course, if I was working on making a topical 2012 deck (starting in January) wouldn’t be practical.

Then I got to thinking… perhaps these two limitations (a 50 card deck and the need to be available before Christmas) could be used to each other’s advantage. Theoretically, by the end of November I could have drawn 50 cards (48 weeks + 2 Jokers) and get these printed  and to the customer before Christmas (and therefore something to put under the Christmas tree), with the proviso that the outstanding four cards will be supplied early in the New Year.

Would you buy a deck of 2012 celebrity playing cards? Would you mind if the remaining cards arrived after Christmas, or would you prefer them all to arrive together? How much would you pay for a deck? Using this model I can’t see them coming at much under £25 per pack, including VAT, delivery and a modest profit for myself. Of course, with enough advance orders, this may bring the price down, but I’d need a ball-park idea of numbers. I’d be going for a bit of a redesign on the previous deck – and possibly a different set of suits. Any suggestions – it’s the Olympics in 2012, so there should be a fair few sporting figures in the news (for a couple of weeks at least), so I could assign a suit to ‘Sport’. Or an all current affairs deck – ‘Government’ and ‘Opposition’ etc. Or ‘Music’ and ‘Films’ (say). Other ideas include abandoning the standard playing card idea and going for a different set entirely – would you prefer Happy Families or Top Trumps? Could I fund the project differently through a crowdsourcing site like Kickstarter or IndieGoGo?

So… what do you think? Is this a goer? Please add your comments and thoughts below…

There’s no Tribune published this week or next, so no cartoon. Here’s one of my holiday pics in the meantime…

Anyway, the break-in, the move (and all the kerfuffle involved in that), and an unexpected unseasonal up-turn in business means I’ve been neglecting my blog of late, which is a shame, as there’s been a number of exciting things happening recently. Stay tuned…!

Up for grabs:

• A0-sized drawing board
• draftsman’s chair
• Grant enlarger (a lovely bit of old-school design kit)
• leather Chesterfield sofa [SOLD]
• two large desks
• office chair
• filing cabinet
• electric radiator
• fridge [SOLD]

Please click on the photographs below for more detailed descriptions of all the items. All offers considered. The only provisio being that you have to collect it by the end of January, as that’s when I will be moving out.

I should be in the studio at various times over the course of the next week, please contact for more details or if you’d like to view any of the items.

Contact me at alex.hughes@alexhughescartoons.co.uk or by phone at 0121 683 0237

Update:
The sofa has been claimed, and I’ve had enquiries about the desks, filing cabinet, and draftsman’s chair. The drawing board, Grant enlarger, office chair, fridge and radiator very much still available.

Another update:
Fridge has now also been sold. Only two days left!

Update

Erm, looks like the BBC have been tinkering with their schedules again…. and we don’t have a broadcast date after all. More news when I know it.

Update 2

Looks like we have a new (provisional) date for broadcast, so Remember, remember the Fifth of November.

To my surprise, I was recently informed by Tom Scotney of the Birmingham Post that I’d been quoted in GQ magazine. I rushed out to get a copy of the January 2009 issue, assuming I’d been singled out for my natural sartorial style (hah!), but upon turning to page 48 I discovered in the bottom right-hand corner that GQ Spy and co-editor of ConservativeHome Jonathan Isaby had taken my quote about Eric Pickles from my recent spread in Tribune following the Conservative Party Conference in September. Anyway, here’s the text:

…and here’s the accompanying sketch from that Tribune feature:

Eric Pickles - Drawn at the Conservative Party Conference 2008

So what was my role in all this? Well, I was asked to provide a running cartoon commentary of proceedings on a flip-chart at the front of the room, drawing what is being discussed and throwing the odd gag in here or there. Now, understandably, this was a little daunting – I’ve been vaguely approached about doing scribing or graphic facilitation in the past, and of course I’ve been doing live caricaturing for many years now, but this was a little different, drawing in front of a live audience without a safety net. On the other hand, I could see the potential of offering this as a service in the future, so a little freebie here would be good practice. Though I was a little nervous at first (the wine helped this this though), I soon got into the swing of things and, to my surprise, actually rather enjoyed the experience, feeling rather energised by the end. Certainly judging by the number of people who came up to me after the event, it was well recieved, and I’ve been asked to come back for the re-scheduled event with Michael Wolff later in the year.

Anyway, Stef has a full report here (argh – with more photos), and my illustrations from the event are here. I’ve made the decision to step back from the content of the debate and merely reflect on my contribution for sake of this post, but it is an important debate, and it looks like this event has kicked off a good deal of discussion in the city’s corner of the blogosphere – there’s commentary on the event and it’s conclusions by Paul Groves, Graphiquillan and Dave Harte, and a report at Created in Birmingham.

Commissioner Alex Hughes, chief executive of the Salvation Army in the UK.

Professor of Twentieth-Century French Literature Alex Hughes, Head of the School of Humanities at the University of Birmingham and author and editor of such books as French Erotic Fiction and Heterographies: Sexual Difference in French Autobiography – I’ve been mistaken for her (yes, her, short for Alexandra) once before by a librarian in the States, as she’s also from Birmingham – see here for an example why.

Late British reggae star from the 70s Judge Dread ‘The World’s Number One Rude Boy’ (born as Alex Hughes), died on stage 15 March 1998.

Lecturer in Geography at Newcastle University, Dr. Alex Hughes, another Alexandra.

Associate Justice (whatever that means) Alex Hughes from the Student Government of the University of New Mexico.

Bass guitarist Alex ‘Blues’ Hughes for Noah Hunt and the 420 All-Stars from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Research student in Computer Vision Alex Hughes at the University of York.

Not quite sure about this Alex Hughes (the IV no less) – apparently owns a company called LexCorps, which has ominous shades of the baddie from Superman.

The Australian child actress Alex Hughes of ‘Don’t Blame the Koalas’ and ‘Snobs’ fame.

Another Alex Hughes who may or may not (judging by the graphic at the top) have some sort of aspirations to being a cartoonist. Bugger – that could be confusing.

An American estate agent Alex Hughes from Portland (not sure exactly where, but guessing Oregon). Interestingly it appears he has one of those Sedgeway personal transport thingys.

Black gay porn star Alex Hughes of such classics as Juice in the Hood.

The Scottish sci-fi fan and net security expert Alex Hughes.

Professional Disc Golfer Alex Hughes – no, I’ve got no idea what that means either.

Rugby Union centre Alex Hughes for Weston-Super-Mare.

An old picture of Alex Hughes, apparently pre-measles.

Swimmer for Central Washington University, Alex Hughes is originally from Anchorage, Alaska.

Former employee of the City of Baltimore Mayor’s Office, Alex Hughes.

You tell me – this website by Alex Hughes is still Under Construction.

This Alex Hughes appears to be a coin collector, who donated a 2 oz. sterling silver, Indiana State flag bar. Whatever that is.

Federation CPD Event Approvals Administrator Alex Hughes for the Royal College of Physicians.

The actor Alex Hughes, apparently playing Oedipus.

Investor contact Alex Hughes for Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Junior Moto-cross rider Alex Hughes and his brother, Nick.

And last, but not least (for now at least) Alex Hughes Bannister (alright, can’t help the double barrelled bit) who is apparently leading a team of camels around Australia on ‘an exciting IT orientated expedition attempting the first circumnavigation of Australia with camels. Incorporated into our physical objective is an on-line educational project for schoolchildren, focussing on the environment and cultural awareness.’

Phew! That’ll do for now, I’m sure there’s plenty more out there, please feel free to contact me if you are an Alex Hughes, or even if you are lucky enough to know one.