My Copy of Good Intentions by John Cuneo

Good Intentions, John Cuneo's latest collection, was published on March 11. I ordered a signed copy back in January from The Golden Notebook, an independent bookstore in Woodstock, New York. The books were brought to the artist's studio where he did indeed sign them but also added drawings and a bit of color, too. All in all, this is a pretty sweet deal.

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My Copy of John Cuneo's Coping Skills

John Cuneo is surely one of today's most talented, not to mention provocative, illustrators. His latest book, Coping Skills, has just been published by Fantagraphics. Naturally, I was eager to find myself a very special copy of this volume of "helpful drawings." With as yet no in-person book signings in the offing, I preordered a personalized copy from The Golden Notebook of Woodstock, New York.

https://goldennotebook.indielite.org/pre-order-your-signed-copy-now?fbclid=IwAR2XCyUP5rYoRN84PnIK7xDn_H-LIC3Sf1krRmG7qFGmYFDnrXY0a4tT4pQ

Happily, the book arrived this week, signed and with an original sketch. Here it is, in all its glory:

 

Live Drawing—Uncensored!

John Cuneo with Joe Ciardiello

Society of Illustrators

Note:  On his Illustration Art blog, David Apatoff reviews the book here.

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MoCCA Fest 2018: Not Waving But Drawing by John Cuneo

It is said that Bach could improvise at or above the level of his musical compositions. John Cuneo, I would argue, produces seemingly spontaneous sketchbook drawings that are at least as intriguing  as his finished illustrations. It's a good bet that the artist's sketchbook drawings are unlike anything else you have encountered. They are intensely personal yet broadly relatable, arcane yet accessible, erotic yet grotesque, morbid yet hilarious. To me, they somehow recall the sketches of Heinrich Kley and Auguste Rodin in their technical prowess and ability to surprise, yet they have an esthetic and a character that is all their own. And now we have a book full of 'em!

John Cuneo
Not Waving But Drawing:  Dark Thoughts, Lightly Rendered
Seattle:  F.U. Press, 2016

Signed and personalized with a drawing by John Cuneo

Note:  David Apatoff's unsurpassed Illustration Art blog is as fine a place as any to learn more about the work of John Cuneo. He always loved larking.

This week's posts are devoted to the fascinating items I collected at MoCCA Fest 2018.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

John Cuneo

MoCCA Arts Festival

Signed Books with Original Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's Uncensored Index

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Carlos Danger: John Cuneo New Yorker Cover Art

Last weekend's MoCCA Arts Fest included one example of original New Yorker cover art in the MoCCA Gallery. It was last year's "Carlos Danger" cover by John Cuneo and it came from the collection of the artist. Carlos Danger, of course, was the online pseudonym of Anthony Weiner, the disgraced politician who felt enough time had passed since his Capitol Hill sexting scandal that he could now redeem himself by running for Mayor of New York City. Instead he became embattled over further details of the lurid scandal and was forced to withdraw from the race.

It is a little unusual, although not unheard of, for the original artwork to be smaller than the actual printed cover. Cuneo's watercolor technique is rich in detail and saturation, supporting the artwork's enlargement for reproduction. It looks to my eye as if contrast has been added to the printed cover. The original artwork allots more space to the news helicopters on the right than appear on the actual published cover.

John Cuneo, "Carlos Danger"
Original cover artwork, The New Yorker, August 5, 2013
Framed alongside the published cover.
Collection of the artist.

The true issue date is August 5, 2013.

"King Kong" (1933)

http://kingkong.wikia.com/wiki/King_Kong_(1933_film)?file=King_Kong_1933.jpg

John Cuneo, "Carlos Danger"
The New Yorker, August 5, 2013

Note:  Other examples of original New Yorker cover art may be seen on the blog here. Let me know if you have any cover artwork you might like to share on this blog.

Anthony Weiner makes another tasteful appearance in the Drew Friedman "My Way" post here.

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