Where:  Dorky’s Arcade

754 Pacific Ave.

Tacoma, WA 98402

Come down to Dorky’s and get your Wile E. on.  What If?  Wile E. Coyote Edition is simply what if Wile E. was on a different show, movie, band, etc.  Come and share in some fun and laughter as we recreate a classic cartoon character’s image.

This year the Four Eye Council, with support of the Talons of the CLAW, declare the White Elephant rules as:

1. Gifts, if new, should be less than $10.
2. Once a gift is taken of the table it MUST be unwrapped.
3. A gift can be stolen twice, and then it is locked in.
4. A person cannot steal the same gift twice.
5. You can only get a present if you bring a present.
6. You can bring more than one present.
7. Spare presents number will be awarded though a rock-paper-scissors competition by all who want to participate.

Date: Wednesday, Dec 7th 2011
Location: The Amocat Cafe, 625 Saint Helens Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
Time: 7:30 p.m.

(written by Mark Brill)

The Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians is leaving 2011 behind in a busy cloud of dust as we work our way through several year-end projects! In October CLAW was represented at the “Beyond Crayons & Finger Painting 2.0 Youth Art Project” event hosted by the B2 Fine Art Gallery in conjunction with the Tacoma Art Museum, the Museum of Glass.

The CLAW continues to expand as it welcomed Member #18, Michael Daley to its ranks during the Open Swim event in October! The theme of the artwork created at the event was Halloweenies. The results were as enjoyable as they were disturbing!
In November, our final Member’s Only meeting for the year took place at the usual Comic Book Ink venue. Plans were discussed for the upcoming Great Yearly Ceremony!

GREAT GIFT IDEAS to SUPPORT LOCAL CARTOONISTS

Winterfest on Sunday, Decemeber 4th at the Tacoma Art Museum will feature CLAW members doing sketches and selling their wares.

Dragons!

In preparation of Tacoma’s First Night Celebration, the many talons of the CLAW will be drawing dragons. Keep an eye out for them here, on FeedTacoma, our member’s blogs, and other locations between now and First Night. Further details of Dragon CLAWs at First Night will arrive as the date draws near.

Another White Elephant

The final Open Swim of 2011 will be held on Wednesday the 14th of December at the Amocat Cafe at 625 St. Helens Ave, Tacoma, and it will be our annual “White Elephant Gift Exchange”! Anyone who brings a gift (wrapped please, since unwrapping them is half the fun) to the event can participate. Numbers will be drawn, gifts will be stolen and re-stolen. (But don’t worry–everyone involved will end up with a gift!) And laughs will be had by all! Gifts are supposed to be either around $10 or something fun and amusing from one’s Closet-of-Abandonned-Presents-Past. Festivities begin at 7:30 PM.

In 2012, the Open Swim meetings will be moved back to their original dates of the forth Wednesday of each month and will be held at a new location: Dorky’s Bar Arcade! The address is 754 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402. Come join in the fun!

YEARLY END OF THE WORLD CLAW RITUAL

Finally, the C.L.A.W.’s GREAT YEARLY CEREMONY is also coming up at the beginning of 2012. Monday, January 2nd, in fact, and will again take place at the wonderful Knights of Pythias “Castle Hall” Temple, located on Broadway in Tacoma’s Theater District. Tickets for the event will be sold at several retail venues around town, such as Comic Book Ink and Dorky’s. Please see the CLAW website for further details in December. It will be a gala event featuring a cast of several and costing tens of dollars! New Council of Four Eyes members will be inducted, official “Friends of CLAW” will be honored, a MUCH-faster-than-last-year’s slideshow will be presented, and most importantly, there will be cake! Don’t miss out! Additionally, it should be noted that all proceeds from the purchase of GYC tickets will go into the CLAW Students Scholorship Fund!

MORE VIRTUAL WONDERS!

You can find us, and see CLAW members work on our CLAW DRAWS sketchbook, Facebook page and Flicker group.

October 20th, THIRD THURSDAY at AMOCAT CAFE 7:30 pm

Come prepared to DRAW DRAW DRAW your favorite HALLOWEENIE !  Whatever you think that means.  By popular vote the winners will get their pick of LEXX cult classic Canadian science fiction DVD’s.  Maybe even witness a few CLAW new member swearing in ceremonial rituals!  We will post all artwork to the CLAW DRAW site.

Outrageous #occupytacoma fun! See you there, Comrade.

The Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians formed in October of 2008. That previous summer Frost Park (named after slain police officer Frost) was saved from having a fence placed around it when RR Anderson issued a challenge to one and all that an hour contest draw on the sidewalk with chalk to see who was the greatest illustrator in the universe would be held at Frost Park. The Frost Park Chalk off quickly became a Friday tradition. But as October drew near, so did the merciless rains, which would make chalking impossible. Four magnificent souls from the contests had a lunch to discuss what could be done to keep the fun going over winter. Thus it was that the brainchild of the CLAW was born over Sushi and chalk.

The Tacoma Art Museum, recognizing an organization that was actively fun and terrific PR, asked the CLAW to become involved in some of it’s events. So it was on August 6th that the CLAW participated, for the third year running, along with many of the Frost Park Chalkies, in a chalk art competition at Tollefson Plaza, across the street from the art museum. The theme of the competition was “Identity”. The public via the TAM Facebook page will submit votes to determine the winner.

SEE ALSO MARK BRILL’S blog:

1. COWBOYS & DINOSAURS
2. COWBOYS & DINOSAURS – THE PROCESS 

The CLAW holds a publically accessible Open Swim meeting the third Thursday of each month at the Amocat Café. July had the Dockyard Derby Dames volunteering for an evening modeling session. The theme for Augusts’ meeting will be Win-Loose-or CLAW, a team drawing completion involving everyone who attends. Member-only meetings are the first Wednesday of the month and are held secretly at Comic Book Ink. If you would like to become a member of the CLAW applications can be found at the website under “About Us”. Potentials are voted in by all the membership based on their cartooning skill. You can find us, and see members work at our Facebook page and Flicker groups.

In Other News

• The Tribulations of Mr. Fiddlesticks
• NEW CLAW member spambot comic launched!
• NEW CLAW member zombie comic  launched!
• NEW CLAW Draw’s the Derby Dames
• NEW CLAW member no. 17 – welcome Brandon!

[Gong - Gong - Gong]

Q: What Are Robots?
A: [redacted]

Q: Zombies Must Die!
A: [redacted]

Q: [clapping]
A: [redacted]

Please be seated!

ITEMS OF DISCUSSION:

1. MEMBER ONLY + SPECIAL GUEST C.L.A.W. BBQ will be held at STOWE‘s house. Event will be combined with STOWE’s Meaties BBQ tournament. Weird vegetarian food will be served to space aliens who cannot process earth meat. If you would like to attend, contact your favorite CLAW member for secret location and time.
2. CLAW VS. WORLD bowling challenge (canceled)
3. CLAW subdomain member sites – ACTIVATED!  So far the only one in use is BOTFans by Honorable Botmaster Stowe. If you’re having trouble accessing your personal subdomain contact RR.
4. NON PROFIT STATUS? – Monlux reports can’t find proper forms [whatever!!!].
5. CLAW FACE BOOK GROUP – RR reports CLAW member RSS Feeds have been jammed in there for automatic member posts. JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP!
6. GOAL – post more AMAZING ITEMS on our CLAW blog! like This Guy!
7. SHOW AND TELL – RR Anderson has acquired a THEME SONG for his television drawing show. Thanks Death by Stars!
8. SHOW AND TELL – Mark Brill, STOWE both have new art blog/comic projects (see #6, #3)
9. SHOW AND TELL – RR Anderson is still selling copies of his TACOMA POLITICAL CARTOON FUNNY BOOK!
10. CLAW GIANT COMIC ANTHOLOGY – in pre-production now. ALL NEW ORIGINAL STORIES! A REAL COMIC BOOK! STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES.

CLAW MAY OPEN SWIM MEETING NOTES:

CLAW cartoonists and several CLAW fans gathered at the AMOCAT CAFE to draw FEMALE VERSIONS of FAMOUS MALE TRANSFORMERS…

[please post pics.. most of mine turned out blurry]

[R2-Dcup2, not actually a Transformer Robot by Debivans?]

[Kickback, Grasshopper Robot Transformer by RR]

EVERYBODY who DRAWS votes…  and the grand winner is….

MARK BRILL! NICK BUTTLER! JAMES STOWE! Right?  I think.  Please post your winning entries!

MEANWHILE!   STUNNING CHALK ART EVERY FRIDAY NOON AT FROST PARK in tropical DOWNTOWN TACOMA!  9th and Commerce!

watch in REAL TIME on FeedTacoma.com

We’re thinking about moving our public artist-game hang out nights. Fill out the survey to help us pick the best time!

Transform your favorite Transformer.

Although genderless, the male to female ratio left many female fans of the Transformers without role models. So let’s imagine a world where the transformers were mostly fem-bots and Draw your favorite autobot or Decepticon as a Ladybot or Deceptibabe.

WEDNESDAY
May 25, 2011, 7:30pm

AMOCAT CAFE
625 Saint Helens Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402

Join CLAW at the Amocat Cafe (625 St. Helens Ave, Tacoma, WA) for the April

Open Swim (Wednesday, 27 April 2011 7:30 pm).  We’re cutting albums, well

drawing album covers.  Top 40, Punk, R&B, Funk, Metal–serious or parody–it

doesn’t matter.    Just make sure yours is number #1 with a bullet.

March 23rd Open Swim at the Amocat Cafe  7:30 pm

Presentation song:

You know that times are tough.

It’s hard to make ends meet.

The world is dog-eat-dog,

And you’re a bacon treat!

Too many folks in line…

I think it’s SUPPERTIME!

Cannibal PSA by Brill 9

Come join the CLAW for another another Open Swim! This theme will be public service announcements, the smarmier and sillier the better.

Also, please purchase food and drink at the Amocat during Open Swim to support their extended hours for hosting us!

When: Wednesday January 26th, 7:30 PM

Where: Amocat Cafe

"What is reality?" by RR Anderson

IN A WORLD OF SHADOW,
ALL CREATURES OF TERROR
COME TOGETHER
once a year to ELECT…

PRESIDENT OF THE UNDERWORLD!

these horrible nightmare monsters have
all dumped huge sums of anonymous cash
into the creative mega-hive mind of CLAW
(Cartoonists’ League of absUrd Washingtonians)
to come up with A KILLER CAMPAIGN POSTER!

1. step 1 – pick a monster
2. step 2 – position your candidate (e.g. Mummy is old – lots of experience!, Dracula – time for fresh blood!)
3. step 2.5 – DRAW DRAW DRAW!
4. step 3 – stump speech
5. step 4 – VOTE!

secondary under-theme: EVERY BODY DRAW STAN SHAW DAY!

ALSO: OCTOBER ZINE FOLDING PARTY!

help fold zine and take one home! (you can see my page contribution attached)

Wednesday, October 27, 7:30 PM 2010 A.D.
AMOCAT CAFE in tropical DOWNTOWN TACOMA!
FREE PARKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PHOTO: left to right, Thorax O'Tool, Mark Brill, RR Anderson, JUDGE NO. 1, The Jinxmedic, CLAW CADET Nick Butler]

We owe a debt of gratitude to month of September CLAW Open Swim MC – Adam M Botsford (aka Number 11) for coming up with the killer concept of DRAW A MUPPET MASHUP with MUSICAL ROCK GROUPS.  We cartoonists of the Fez packed the tiny Amocat Cafe to capacity!

[PHOTO: MC ADAM M. BOTSFORD  photo courtesy of MARK MONLUX]

We had puppets, many non-claw civilian cartoon hobbyist guests the combination of which erupted in spontaneous a cappella renditions of The Muppet Show Theme,   and Kermit’s Rainbow Song (double rainbow remix) you had to be there to believe it!

But enough digression ON TO THE ART CONTEST WINNERS!

MARK BRILL – FIRST PLACE WINNER! Teenage Mutant Ninja Muppets

KENDRA – SECOND PLACE WINNER! Meepwood Mac

STOWE – 2ND SECOND PLACE WINNER! Axl Grov

MARK MONLUX – Third Place – Andrew Bird The Mysterious Production of Eggs

RR ANDERSON – 2nd Third Place – Q: Are we not muppets? A: We are DEVO!

CLAW CADET NICK BUTLER – Honorable Mention

“DEBIVANS” – Honorable Mention

MC ADAM M BOTSFORD – Honorable Mention

SEE MORE GLORIOUS PICTURES!

other Items of interest: We absolutely love Amocat! Morgan was thinking about removing a wall to better fit the needs of our humble organization. Excellent service!  Also noticed a young couple in love chose our event as part of their ‘date night’  We approve of this activity. A very moral choice!  Young ‘at risk youth’ in love choose C.L.A.W.  for intellectual stimulation (Please come again dear Anna and Joe)!  Several CLAW members were missing… Anique, Electric Elliot, Shawn Clayton, Jeff ‘logjam’ H. what a horrible thing to neglect your C.L.A.W. brothers and sisters! Fez of shame!

Some Muppet Rocking! Thanks to Muppet’s Studio!!

Art students and professionals alike are invites to an open draw with local cartoonist group The C.L.A.W.

This influential (and sometimes infamous) group of artists offers a wide range of skilled and talented artists all looking for a chance to get to know more artists. The goal is to learn and share within the art community. All artists welcomed…cartoonists, illustrators, comic artists, political cartoonists, and inventors encouraged!

Special tip for students: This is a great chance to network with a group that offers a student scholarship. Free money?! What! Be there!

Where: Amocat Cafe (Downtown Tacoma)
625 St. Helens Ave, Tacoma, WA
When: Wednesday, September 22nd @ 7:30 pm
Cost: FREE!!! (coffee/drink purchase advised…as they are delicious and fuel your brain)
What to bring: sketch books, art ideas, chaotic brainstorms, laptops, and drawing supplies
What to Expect: Hijinks, great drawing, ridiculousness, and general amusement.

Open Swim September 22nd

Robot Calendar - February

This month’s Open Swim is going to be filled with Tips and Tricks from the drawing masters. Those of you with laptops with Adobe Photoshop installed are highly advised to bring them. There will be traditional advice as well. So brush your teeth and comb your hair, a little hygiene never hurt anyone. And come to the CLAW’s first EduCLAWtional Open Swim. And don’t forget to bring your own drawing tools!

Oh! The CLAW has decided to stir things up and try a new venue for this event. Come and join us at…

Amocat Café
625 St. Helens Ave, Tacoma, WA
WEDNESDAY, August 25th @ 7:30

Disclaimer: The CLAW Open Swim is an adult oriented meeting. Language, art, and varied other bad influences will be uncensored PG13 – R – X.

Stowe's Co-Winning B-Movie Poster from the Open Swim

Brill's Co-Winning B-Movie Poster from the Open Swim

Other entries include:

Monlux's attempt at B-Movie Poster from the Open Swim

* * *

RR’s “Aliens vs. Pet Detective vs. Predator”

* * *

Debivan’s FREDO PLANET

* * *

Classic Attack of the 50 Foot Woman Movie Poster

Mark Monlux, Big D, Double D, Wonderboy, Electric Elliot and Adam Botsford in The Man Cave

Check out the podcast at http://nwconvergencezone.com/wordpress/2010/07/the-boys-have-a-secret-meeting-with-c-l-a-w-and-talk-with-the-falcons/

Purchase original cartoon mystery art!

RR Anderson is going to pump you up!

Mark Monlux can’t control his mind!

Stowe is merry

Ms. Stowe is kind

Business is brisk!

Derek and RR discuss photography in the field

Mr. Fusion wins hearts and minds

Jinxmedic and Jr. CLAW Cadet

Electric Elliot is a true patriot.

“I love cartooning!” ~ Anonymous

Mark Brill, Winner of Best Fez People’s Choice

Anique can’t stop drawing!

Adam M. Botsford owns the mean streets

Kevin.

Thorax O’ Tool aka Larry (Government Informant)

Stowe Signage

Ms. Darcy enjoys drinking

“Look at all these awesome cartoon fans!”

Art is selling like hot cakes!

Adam the Alien doing his thing

Ms. Fusion, bowler roadie

]]> http://www.cartoonistsleague.org/claw-does-100-monkey/feed/ 0 http://www.cartoonistsleague.org/100-monkeys-was-a-success/ http://www.cartoonistsleague.org/100-monkeys-was-a-success/#comments Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:53:34 +0000 MarkMonlux http://www.cartoonistsleague.org/?p=1156 http://www.flickr.com/photos/markmonlux/4729912345/in/photostream/

Everyone loved the cartoons at the 100 Monkeys

Cave Monkey - 100th Monkey tile #57

Evolution meets Creationism dead on in this clash of critters that time forgot which is 100th Monkey tile #57!

Space Invaders the Summer Blockbuster (winning entry by Mark Monlux)

Stowe – Second Place

Adam – Steam Punk Mario Brothers (Second Place)

Mark Brill -

McWars by Thorax -

Anique “Moby Dick and Monster Trucks”

SpeedRunner! (Junior Guest CLAW Cadets)

Jihadfield by RR

* * *

Join the CLAW tonight at 7:30 PM at Mandolin Cafe’s back room! This week’s OPEN SWIM cartoonists game activity will be to REBOOT any intellectual property; making it appealing to today’s audiences with their cynical, post post modernist world views AND pitch the TV show/comic/movie to the group who votes on the best one.

ACTION STEPS:

1 . split into teams

2. pick your character franchise that could really use a reboot.

3. DRAW DRAW DRAW! (Transformer Babies? Lego Garfield Video Game? Family Circus with Zombies? Fraggle Emo?)

4. Make your pitch.  Sell it!

Thanks to Terra Organics for the prize and congrats again to RR and Thorax for their brilliant product: the Eco Pancake.

The winners: R.R. & Thorax. photo by Kevin Freitas

The winning entry in the Open Swim Game for 4-28-2010. By a gigantic margin of ONE vote, this brilliant creation of Thorax and RR causes side stitching-laughter… and stomach-pumping, should you eat it.

…and to think of what you miss when you don’t go to the Open Swim.