Today’s Guest: Drew Friedman, artist, Old Jewish Comedians, Too Soon? and Warts and All
Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of actual, working caricaturists gathered here for their annual convention… in the NEW new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida!
Drew Friedman is BETTER than Picasso!
So says Howard Stern, and who is Mr. Media to argue with the King of All Media?
Drew is the king of modern caricaturists. His work has been featured on almost every major American magazine, from The New York Times and MAD to Entertainment Weekly and Field & Stream.
DREW FRIEDMAN podcast excerpt: “Howard Stern — the uglier, more disgusting I draw him, the more he likes me.”
In recent years, he has turned much of his attention capturing a generation of sometimes unheralded entertainers: Old Jewish Comedians. In fact, it’s become virtually a brand for Drew, starting with his first collection, Old Jewish Comedians, then his second, More Old Jewish Comedians, and now his third, Even More Old Jewish Comedians.
Who knew there were so many Old Jewish Comedians? Is there any chance he’s making some of these people up as he goes? Who knows? Who cares – it’s funny and the artwork is impeccable.
Drew has been on Mr. Media before and he recently connected me with his father, legendary humorist and novelist Bruce Jay Friedman. And the family act continues next April with a reprint of Drew’s first book of comics from the pages of Raw magazine – co-authored with his brother, Josh Alan Friedman.
Today we’re meeting in person at the TradeWinds Resort in beautiful St. Pete Beach, Florida, where Drew is the keynote speaker at the International Society of Caricature Artists annual convention. We’ll use that as an excuse to talk about craft.
A very special feature of the video of this interview is a 17-minute, over-the-shoulder demonstration of Drew Friedman’s caricature technique, as he draws me and then a real celebrity, Robert Crumb. Don’t miss it!
Drew Friedman Blog • Art Prints For Sale • Order Even More Old Jewish Comedians by Drew Friedman
The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!