Hello! My name is Mindy and Ill be your host for this Far Side challenge. This is my first time hosting, so I'll do my best...

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The Far Side comic strip was created by Gary Larson in 1980, when he got a gig at the San Francisco Chronicle. It took off, and people LOVED it. By the time his contract expired in 1984, he already had a Far Side book published and he moved up in the world to the Universal Press Syndicate. He had no previous college or art education, he just had the determination to get a job doing what he loved most: cartooning. He's always used nature as his main source of inspiration. Nature is never lacking in humor, if you know how to see it...



My Challenge,

There are two parts to this challenge, all levels of skill are encouraged to participate, you may take part in one or two or both if you wish.

Part One, simply draw one of the references I have provided, or find one you'd rather draw.

Part Two, make up your own comic Far Side style! Just please keep in mind: No religious references please, as many people are easily offended. Same goes for sexually explicit cartoons, children being eaten, you get the idea. Keep it nice & funny.

You may use any type of medium you like but please no computer graphics , all drawings must be hand drawn. You may use your computer for text or coloring if you wish but please post your original drawing first.


Hope you all enjoy this challenge, a very special thanks to Brian David for his help & support.
--Mindy

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Wow Mindy, this looks fantastic, I love your drawing and your introduction. Thanks so much for hosting , I hope to find time to participate.

Happy drawings,

Brian.

Oh! right up my alley Mindy!

I have a sick,sick, sick, sense of humour and I love Larson...............I took a leaf out of his book when I did a cartoon series for the Safari ATC swap that we had here ..........I am going to have to join this one..........here's a few that I did for the Safari swap:

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Thanks Brian, I'll be looking forward to it.

Sue, those are so funny! You definitely have the same gift as Larson in making people laugh.

wow Mindy, this is very cool, and you couldn't have chosen better for this time of the year. I did not know these cartoons but they seem like lost of fun, and also alows you alot to work with creativity.
love your introdution and your drawing way to go Mindy!!

Sue, Those are very apropriated for this challenge very funny

Fine, It seems a very interesting challenge, Mindy. I´ll try to find some time to participate.

Thanks Clara, these are very fun cartoons, glad to introduce them to you.

Daddy, can't wait to see what you come up with, you're so talented.

Hi Mindy,
I don't usually draw cartoons and have not yet participated in the Snoopy 101 but the Far Side is one of my all time favorites, I am definitely going to have to try this one. Thank you for hosting.
This is going to be fun.
Regards,
Trish

Trish, I'm so glad you'll join us!

Here's one I've always been fond of. My wish to all of you is: Whenever you're having a Helluva bad day, may you be as care-free as this guy.

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"I just don't think we're getting through to this guy..."

those are sooo funny. i shall try to do one as well.

Hey i worked with someone like that once

Sue i especially love the ones you did..you should do your own cartoons..

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one of my favs. i did it in marker..

Thank you for your contribution, dear Kay. I imagine it was the guy's appendix, he probably didn't need it anyway...

Mindy, I love your drawing, we should all have that spirit, it is dificult sometimes, but it sure helps

Kay, what the ******are they doing?, feeding the dog with bits of the guy laying down?????? next time I have to be on an operation table again, I'll have to make sure no dogs are around


I was doing some research on Gary Larson and guess what I found out.... the real reason why dinausors have been extinted....wow the thing you learn with cartoons...

here is the reason in colored pencils...

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Kaly, I think you really found the answer we everybody are asking ourselves. Why dinosaurs were extincted. This is the answer, LOL.

Wow Clara, that's great coloring. Mystery solved.

Sue, Kay, Mindy, and Clara, I love your drawings.

Here's my same drawing colored in with Crayola crayons (no shame in that, right Ernest? ) I think it adds drama.
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"I just don't think we're getting through to this guy."

this is a fun one..Clara, nicely done, i am afraid i shall go extinct as they have **cough**

i should have put an organ (body part, not the kind you play) in the guys fingers so everyone could tell he was feeding SCRAPS to the dog

ewwwwwwwww!!

I agree the color does give it more "umph" mindy..

<soapbox>
Not at all. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think it's a really smart idea to encourage people to try it. I don't know about you, but I feel that using expensive art materials makes me a little less likely to experiment; I feel a little less free to try things "just to see." It seems to me that using crayons gets rid of all that, and builds confidence. Then when you use those expensive Prismas again, you'll feel less inhibited.
</soapbox>

OK, back to cartooning, folks!

Ernest you have convinced me..i am going to buy the biggest box of crayons i can find next time i go to walmart..150 is what the boxes are up to now i believe..that is a lot of crayons.

Here's a cute one. Gary Larson actually worked at the Seattle Times for a few months, doing a comic strip titled Nature's Way. They canned him because his humor didn't seem appropriate for younger readers, but fortunately for him this happened just as he was landing his job with the San Francisco Chronicle. This is one of his Nature's Way comics.
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"Last one out's a rotten egg!"

Danielle and I made up a Far Side panel together, and then we each drew our own version (they're both in Prismas). Enjoy!
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Berry Wood Ernest friedmand hill (very good)

Wow Ernest, those are both great! Danielle is a very impressive artist, I like how she drew the wagon with hay and pitchfork, and your barn looks nice!

Mindy, that is great, last one out is a rotten egg

Ernest, very nice cartoons, both your's and Danielle's I also laughted at the fhrase....CHICKEN!!

Mindy, I can see there are already very good cartoons. I say hello to all the challengers. Here is my first Gary Larson´s Cartoon. Marker and colored pencils.

fantastic dear Kain

That is too funny Kain. Great drawing and coloring.

You are very kind Kaly. How bad that your printer is broken now, I hope you´re back on the challenges pretty soon.

Thank you. I expect to send you another one tomorrow, Mindy.

Hi all,

I have been working an absolutely crazy schedule lately, finally found some time and I am sitting here laughing out loud as I review this thread. You are all so talented and creative.

I learned Gary Larson actually worked at the Humane society to supplement his income, and married a Anthropologist in 1987. He really was quite a Cartoonist with many achievements.

Ernest, once again you and your daughter put a smile on my face, funny , creative and a joy to see such wonderful drawings.

Kain, I am still laughing at yours, what a awesome drawing you did just fantastic.


I had time for a quick one and also decided to try part two of Mindy's challenge. Thanks Mindy for the great challenge, I hope to try another,

Happy drawings,

Brian.

oh thats LOVELY Brian, I want one of those sharpeners, my hand hurts!!;)

Brian, that's genius. I'm putting one on my X-mas wish list!

Brian, I need a termite pencil sharpener too, what a fun cartoon. How good you liked my drawings.
Kain

Just now saw this thread.. Did this for a coworker some time ago.. Airbrushed on white Tshirt.
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I should probably attend that school too, I've pulled on doors that plainly say push and vice versa. It's always embarrassing.

Thanks clara, Mindy and Kain for your kind words on my pencil sharpener creation.

I admire your air brush work airscapes, you sure are talented, great to see you.



Mindy, I had time for another quick one , again part two of your challenge.

Happy Friday,

Brian.

another great one Brian...you rock;)

Happy Friday to you too

Thanks Brian for another great drawing. Can you explain this one a bit? I'm afraid I don't understand what the turtle is doing.

Thanks dear Clara,

Thanks Mindy, I forgot to add some text so maybe this will help explain, soory for my poor drawing of a fish.

Very cute, Brian.

Hope everyone had a nice Halloween!

Sorry Mindy, I made a mistake. Now I´m sending the drawing about the dog and the cat. Thanks for the warning about the mistake.
Kain

no Kain, it wasn't a warning, just a reminder. I saw this wonderful drawing of yours in the member's gallery, but was confused why you never posted it for the challenge. I love this, the dog trying to outsmart the cat... you worked a long time on this one I'm sure, and it turned out fantastic! Thanks for all your participation, sweet Kain!

I love this catoonist! I have both of his books that are HUGE and bible sized...... just putting it out there

Excuse my poor english Mindy, yes I meant reminder. How good you liked my drawing.

That's great Fred! Now I know you have your own weekly drawing challenge to attend to, but I hope you'll find a few spare moments to draw your favorite Far Side comic.

Hi all,

another fantastic cartoon Kain!!!

I tried another quick one,


Happy drawings.

Brian.

Wow Brian! You did this from your imagination?! That's just amazing, and it even looks like a character Larson would draw! I still haven't been able to come up with my own comic that would be even remotely funny. It doesn't seem like it would be that hard, but it is. So thanks again Brian for contributing to make this very funny thread.

Kain, that very funny! I think dogs are very clever!! but then again so are Cats ;)well done

Brian, Is he looking for for Snoppy 101 in the A section?! nice drawing! very creative!

I feel so bad without my scanner I hope it arrives this week!!!!

Thanks Clara "A" what was I thinking

Thanks Mindy, the idea is original with Snoopy 101 but I did reference one of Larson's characters and made him slightly different. I am always honest about copyrights with characters, and yes seems easy but really takes practise to create and come up with something of our own.

I find a great way to create characters is I think of my most favorite artist for example Charles M Schulz the creator of "Peanuts" and my pal Snoopy. I think if he was around today, what would be his very next character he would create for his comic strip, only you create and draw it. The same can apply to Larson.

Cyn was a huge inspiration for my Cyn Kid Cartoon Character, and too I was thinking of Dr.Seuss at the time I drew her and never would have imagined my Native Indian version would wind up as part of world wide downloadable free stationary collection on Cloud Eight Internet.

Another great way I find to create is simply by looking at people, many cartoons are actually modeled from humans, caricatures especially.

Thanks for being such a wonderful host, I am enjoying your challenge,

best wishes,

Brian.