Publication date Fall 2008

Harry's artwork for the 2008 Collaborative Summer Library Program (Catch the Reading Bug) can currently be seen in public libraries all over the United States.
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This week has been an illuminating one for me. Recently, I was accused by John Rau of plagiarizing one of his gags. I'd like my readers to know that this is not true. I'd never been to Rau's site, nor have I ever seen his cartoon. Ideas are transient, and if you are a creative person, you know that its not entirely unlikely that two people will have the same idea. To think that you, and only you are capable of coming up with an idea is frankly a bit naive. In this instance it appears Rau beat me to the punch. It happens. And will probably happen again. It's a bummer for me, but to write 10 gags a week that play off relevant things happening in the world, sooner or later I'm going to write something similar to something that has been done.

I would imagine if someone were to examine Rau's output, with a bit of time, similarities would occur. I'm sorry that Rau took it personally, and believe that the Jack Kirby attribution issue I recently had probably played a bit of a role here.

As to that, well... its been stated more than once by the NYer, I meant that as a homage to the King. The image I picked was not obscure. It was one of the 4 or 5 iconic pre hero Monster covers Jack did for Marvel, and I looked at it as fair game. If I were to use an image of the Mona Lisa, I wouldn't credit DaVinci. It's assumed the average Joe would know what it was.

In hindsight, given the way Jack has been treated over the years, I can certainly understand his fans coming to the rescue. Know that I too am a fan, and was doing something that I thought brought my hero into the limelight. I never thought for a moment that anyone would think I was somehow claiming that as my own work. I riff of popular culture. Without the refrences, nothing would work.

Harry Bliss

"O.K. I'm at the window. To the right? Your right or my right?"
Winning caption by Patrick House
Palo Alto, Calif.

Drawing by Harry Bliss, after Jack Kirby

http://www.cartoonbank.com/CapContest/CaptionContest.aspx

Show and Tell by Dilys Evans (Chronicle Books/spring 2008)

Harry Bliss and 11 other top children's book artists are included in this terrific new book by Dilys Evans. Beautifully produced, insightful -- an essential in-depth work for anyone interested in the fine art of American picture books.

Buy on Amazon.com - Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration