Former editor of The Guardian, Peter Preston has written a piece in The Observer newspaper bemoaning the decline in numbers of editorial or political cartoonists being used in newspapers. You can read it here.

Preston focuses on recent job losses in the United States, which mirror the speedy decline of the print media there, but this trend has been long established. The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists made an awareness campaign – Black Ink Monday - back in 2005 in which all the practising professionals in US newspapers devoted a day’s work to highlighting a decline in the published drawn art form.

So, Bloghorn thinks Preston’s observations are a simple statement of fact. There are many fewer cartoonists employed by both UK and US newspapers than there were in the heyday of the print media before the advent of the 24 hour digital publication tools.

The decline in the use of print cartoon content comes as the media companies who own the print products reduce their costs to try and maintain their profits in competition with the digital media.

Preston also argues the digital media doesn’t suit the traditional drawn forms of communication, Bloghorn doesn’t agree on this point, but thinks the old print and emerging digital media industry is yet to find right method of presentation for the future of drawing about life.

If you know better please tell us why in the comments below.

Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 31st July 2009.

One: Mike Williams in The Spectator: “Excuse me, could you pass me that magazine?”

Two: Martin Rowson in The Guardian: Waiting for the Iraq inquiry

Three: Morten Morland in The Times: Too many twits

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Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 26th June 2009.

One: Christian Adams in the Daily Telegraph: on the Iraq inquiry

Two: Kipper Williams in The Guardian on bankers

Three: Glen LeLievre in Prospect in Narnia

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MPs are back in the news again with the release of their heavily blacked-out expense reports, so Bloghorn has a special round-up of the best of the redacted, censored and otherwise obscured cartoons for the week ending the 19th June 2009.

One: Matt in the Daily Telegraph gives us a historical perspective on the story.

Two: Mac in the Daily Mail shows us a sneak preview of the upcoming Iraq enquiry testimony from Gordon Brown.

Three: There’s a brand-spanking new ceremonial role in the Houses of Parliament in Peter Brookes cartoon for The Times…

Four: …whilst Dave Brown lets it all hang out in the open for the Independent

Five: Steve Bell in The Guardian goes with Tony Blair’s knowledge of torture in interrogations.

Six: It’s all done in the best possible taste for Andy Davey in the Sun

Seven and Eight: …and finally, Paul Thomas in the Daily Express and Tim Sanders in the Independent just can’t find the words…

Note: in the spirit of openness, and unlike the Goverment, Bloghorn believes that you should know all about this. Simply highlight the text above to reveal the redacted sections.

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The Guardian recently ran this piece on a series of political caricatures of the candidates in the upcoming Iranian presidential elections. The cartoons are (unsurprisingly) anonymous, and are being distributed virally by email and blogs.

Earlier political events in Iran have been covered in cartoon form by Marjane Satrapi in her graphic novel (and later movie) Persepolis. More Bloghorn coverage of Persepolis can be found here.

Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 8th May 2009.

One: Matt in the Daily Telegraph: Atishoo!

Two: Ros Asquith in The Guardian on loyal service

Three: Alex Matthews in Prospect on projecting the right image

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Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 17th April 2009.

One: Zapiro in South Africa’s Mail and Guardian on Nelson Mandela’s shoes.

Two: Pete Dredge in the Spectator on smoking confessions.

Three: and finally, Harry Venning’s Clare in the Community in the Guardian on youth slang.

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PCOer John Jensen watches a conversation with Posy Simmonds and Steve Bell and finds them to be cartoon chalk and cheese

Posy Simmonds and Steve Bell, both satirists but so different from each other and both so good, were brought together at Kings Place, London; the Guardian’s new glass and glister home.

Posy Simmonds at work, with not a computer to be seen

On stage in front of a full house in a modern theatre there was some amiable bumbling about. Drawings were not easily found, one was left at home. Posy leaning down to scrape sketches and sketchbooks from the floor. It was all comfortingly, mythically English.

Informally chaired by the Guardian art critic William Feaver, the event brought forth snippets of interest: Steve, for example, claimed he can’t invent characters. He must caricature, and fortunately politicians just present themselves. How does he do it? He Googles a lot, takes photos at party conferences, and of anything of interest anywhere, and the whole lot is piped onto CDs: “I’ll show you my family snaps if you like.”

Posy does invent. Brilliantly, of course. No caricatures. She is meticulous and possesses the sharpest eye for detail and ear for dialogue of any living person. Posy is like one of the nurses she sometimes draws in her strips, smiling and saying, “This won’t hurt a bit”, as the needle slips in deep. Her patients awake stunned to find a whole landscape peopled with characters of the artist’s imagination but who remind us of everybody we have ever met and more than a few we would cross the road to avoid.

Excerpt from Tamara Drewe © Posy Simmonds

She uses no computer. Reference material is is stored in Posy’s retentive memory but, as back up, much is filed away. Posy treasures many clothing catalogues so that if shoes from, say, the 70s are wanted they can be found with a simple indoor search. (Just great if you have the space.)

A miniaturist in drawing production, Steve thrashes and whacks about in his same-size-as-printed space using a sharp pen as the bluntest of instruments. His strip “If …” is drawn in the morning and “the Big One”, his political cartoon, during the afternoon.

Guardian Comment cartoon © Steve Bell

He claimed that that day’s deadline [the event was last Monday, April 6] was 7.30pm and he started work on his big political only by 6.30pm. That was pushing it a bit and I suspect is not entirely typical. However, it may help explain the occasional uneven nature of his work. When inspiration flags (not often) it shows, but when (usually) he is on form you can hear the cries of pain all the way from Whitehall. Posy’s work is leisurely, lucky woman, and probably timeless.

Steve’s voice, unsurprisingly, is resonant – good timbre – particularly when giving a maniacal cackle at something which amuses him. Posy, is quiet even when speaking but is also crystal clear. She is slim, was dressed smartly in a black trouser suit, as cool as you please. Red shoes. I don’t remember the colour of Steve’s shoes but his belly is potting nicely,
thank you.

Two great talents together on top of their form on one fine evening. The Guardian’s Kings Place entrance currently sports an exhibition of Posy’s drawings and strips. Go!

Link: Posy Simmonds speaks about Tamara Drewe

Bloghorn spotted this great work during this week ending the 3rd April 2009.

One: Adam Singleton in The Spectator on another exclusive for Jade Goody.

Two: Viz comic contributes to the bankers bonuses debate in Sir Fred Goodwin the Fat Cat (web preview).

Three: Something a little different: Patrick Blower in the Guardian draws some cartoon reportage of the G20 Protests.

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An exhibition of political and satirical cartoons goes on display at Bath Central Library from this Wednesday (April 1).

Many of the 50 or so cartoons are rare and will not have been seen before. They include caricatures of Bath during its Georgian heyday by Thomas Rowlandson (creator of Bath Races, above, from 1810) images from Christopher Anstey’s 1766 New Bath Guide and modern cartoons which satirise some of the city’s current woes.

The show, which runs until April 12, has been organised in partnership with the organisation Bath in Time and the Bath Comedy Festival.

It takes place at Bath Library, The Podium, Northgate Street, Bath BA1 5AN. Opening times are: Monday 9.30am – 6pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9.30am – 7pm; Friday and Saturday 9.30am – 5pm; Sunday 1 – 4pm. (Closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday.)

Prints will be available to buy from the library. Many images are from the Bath In Time archive which can be viewed at www.bathintime.co.uk

More exhibition news:

An exhibition of Posy Simmonds’ original artwork from the 1970s to the 1990s will be held at the new offices of Guardian News & Media, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London. It will run from this Friday (April 3) until June 4. The gallery is open daily from 10am – 6 pm and admission is free.

And…in later news despatches…

Cartoonists Kate Charlesworth & David Shenton exhibit ‘Drawn Out & Painted Pink’ at the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art (GoMA) from April 9th – June 7th 2009 Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow 0141 229 1996. Opening Times: Please check Gallery of Modern Art, current at time of posting: Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm; Sun 11am – 5pm