Taking a peek at our big draw

Dec 13 2007 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

JOURNAL Culture Club members have been given a sketchy look behind the scenes during a one-off workshop.

Two readers spent the day with cartoonist Nicholas Whitmore developing ideas on to paper in a humorous manner.

It comes after the launch of Nick’s new book, Levity 2007, which features some of the best cartoons depicting this year’s breaking news.

Tony Erskine, 61, of Shiney Row, Houghton le Spring, County Durham, and Chris Francis, 45, of Washington, Sunderland, helped create two personal illustrations.

Mr Erskine said: “It was interesting seeing the process of putting together cartoons and the pressures as well.

“We have just been throwing around certain news ideas and working out funny ways to express that.

“There are so many cartoons around so it is nice to be on the other side of the fence and to see how they develop.”

Nicholas, whose first cartoon went to print when he was 17, has previously enjoyed steady success with work in Private Eye, The Spectator and Reader’s Digest.

For each cartoon depicting the day’s main issues which make it into The Journal six days a week, another two will have to be rejected.

Mr Francis, added: “It has been very interesting watching the process of what goes on behind the scenes and watching what makes a cartoon rather than just an illustration.”

Nicholas, whose work has appeared in The Journal since July 2006 in the paper’s Page 2 Levity spot said: “The days has been good with a lot of interesting ideas. They have done very well.”