Hats Off! Ian David Marsden cartoon submissions to the 25th Euro-kartoenale Kruishoutem
As a cartoonist, there’s something magical about taking a theme and letting it evolve into visual storytelling. For the 25th Euro-kartoenale Kruishoutem, this year’s theme—“The Hat – Hats Off”—offered endless opportunities to blend humor, satire, and creativity.
I’m thrilled to be one of the 16 participating cartoonists from France, contributing five original cartoons to this international cartoon competition. Each of my works explores hats not just as accessories, but as powerful symbols of culture, evolution, and individuality.
Exploring the Evolution of Hats Through Cartoons
From ancient alien theories to playful nods at fairy tales, my cartoons for this year’s Euro-kartoenale cover a wide range of interpretations:
• “Crown Wars” – Two kings engage in a comical power struggle, measuring their wealth and influence with ever-expanding crowns that defy logic (and balance).
I am delighted to share some exciting news: I have joined the incredibly talented international community of cartoonists at Cartoon Movement. As a platform dedicated to showcasing editorial cartoons from around the world, Cartoon Movement connects artists with a global audience, offering fresh, insightful, and sometimes bitingly satirical takes on current events.
For those unfamiliar, Cartoon Movement is an independent platform that brings together professional cartoonists from across the globe. Founded with the goal of promoting press freedom and political commentary through cartoons, it provides a space where artists can share their work and engage with an international readership. The platform regularly features political and editorial cartoons tackling world affairs, culture, and social issues, offering a diverse array of perspectives through visual storytelling.
Through this collaboration, my Ian David Marsden editorial cartoons will now have the opportunity to reach a much wider audience—perhaps finding themselves being scrutinized, debated, and misunderstood in multiple languages before ultimately being used as placemats under coffee cups. I’ll be regularly adding new work to my page, and you can find my latest contributions here:
For those who enjoy a good editorial cartoon—whether it’s an incisive take on current politics, a visual commentary on society, or just an artistic way of saying “Well, isn’t this just a fine mess we are finding ourselves in again?”—I hope you’ll follow along.
When Tom Geudens from Elephant Bird Consulting entrusted me with creating an illustrated workflow explainer video for graph database modeling, I aimed to deliver a clear, engaging, and visually appealing presentation. This project followed the development process step-by-step, showcasing how the architect, database administrator, and developers collaborate to build a successful graph database.
Tom, one of the foremost experts in the field of graph databases, illustrates the collaborative process of graph database development. From the initial client briefing to the architect’s strategic planning, through the database administrator’s management of technical workflows, and finally to the developers bringing the project to life, the video uses custom illustrations and animations to tell the story. Each character was designed to embody their specific role, creating a clear and engaging narrative. As a regular client of mine, Tom entrusted me to visually communicate the intricacies of this process, showcasing his deep expertise and the teamwork required to build successful graph databases. This video not only simplifies complex concepts but also highlights Tom’s leadership in the field.
Using my expertise in illustrating and animating custom explainer videos, I designed vibrant character illustrations and graphic elements that simplify the workflow while maintaining audience engagement. These animations connect technical concepts to relatable visuals, making the information accessible for viewers of all backgrounds.
Whether you need an illustrated workflow, a custom explainer video, or engaging visuals for marketing, training, or product demonstrations, I can create tailored solutions that connect with your audience, simplify complex ideas, and elevate your brand’s presence.
Ein Schweizer am Oktoberfest: A Cartoon by Ian David Marsden
This vibrant cartoon, titled Ein Schweizer am Oktoberfest, captures the lively energy and cultural contrast of Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest. Created by Swiss illustrator Ian David Marsden for the print edition of the renowned Satirical Magazine Nebelspalter, the piece humorously portrays a cheerful Bavarian in traditional attire, complete with a feathered hat, raising a hearty toast with frothy beer mugs. Beside him sits a Swiss tourist, a blend of amusement and slight trepidation on his face, embodying the spirit of a newcomer navigating the exuberance of Oktoberfest.
Illustrateur et dessinateur installé près du Pic Saint Loup
Je suis illustrateur et dessinateur freelance basé à Claret (34270), un village viticole proche de Montpellier, dans la région du Pic Saint Loup. Depuis près de 20 ans, je m’inspire des paysages et de la vie quotidienne de cette région qui m’a profondément marqué. À travers mes illustrations, je cherche à capturer la convivialité et le charme unique de cet endroit que je suis heureux de pouvoir appeler chez moi.
Mon approche artistique
Originaire de Los Angeles, j’ai découvert ici un rythme de vie différent, empreint de chaleur humaine et de simplicité. Mon travail, mêlant dessins faits à la main et aquarelle, s’adapte à une grande variété de projets : de l’illustration éditoriale à la publicité, en passant par les bandes dessinées et les livres pour enfants.
Quelques créations autour du Pic Saint Loup
“La vie en rose” : Deux amoureux en Vespa se dirigent vers un pique-nique romantique avec, bien sûr, un rosé local dans leur panier.
Clean and clear line-art illustrations intended to explain how to prepare and use Henkel cleaning products (Bref, General) and their effects and lasting protection in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. The artwork needed to be understood without words / language independent.
I’m Ian David Marsden, an internationally experienced illustrator and cartoonist. I also provide an additional service. I create custom, commissioned cartoon portraits from photographs for all kinds of uses. Social Media cartoon avatars, wedding or anniversary gifts as framed artwork, company or sports teams, vanity projects such as custom stationery or stickers, even artwork which is then transformed into actual tattoos. High resolution digital files are provided to you which allow you to produce items from cups, t-shirts, magnets, stamps, letterhead, stickers. Want to advertise your business with a fun portrait of yourself or your team? Suprise a loved one with a cartoon featuring a memorable (or embarassing) milestone from your lives? Digital files or actual hand drawn, inked and colored original artwork on high quality watercolor paper as a super exclusive and elegant present.
Let’s not forget birthday cards, company, team or family Christmas or Holiday cards with custom seasons-related illustrations. Graduations, Awards, Invitations, Parties, Special Events…
Crafting Your Unique Tale
What sets these portraits apart is the level of customization they offer. It’s about capturing the essence of individuals, the soul of a band, or the heart of a family. For instance, a blues band desired to have each band member’s distinctive head portrayed with their instruments, all of them cruising in a classic VW van. Families often want their pets to be part of the picture, their house in the background, enterprises might want their company logo lovingly hand-drawn on the holiday card featuring their team portrait. When I say customization, I mean anything is possible—it’s your story, after all.
This is not an anti-AI post. It’s remarkable to see how far artificial intelligence (AI) has come, to the point where it can now compete with human abilities. I stare in marvel (and horror) at the current generation of AI generated images.
Maybe the above logo will become the art equivalent of the BIO labels at grocery stores
I am not someone who shies away from new tools or techniques, nor am I a technophobe. As someone who has been an avid fan and user of computers since childhood, I have experienced the evolution of technology firsthand. It always seemed inevitable that this day would arrive at some point, I think what is most surprising is how rapidly it is suddenly advancing. It is difficult for us to understand, because the human brain is not wired for exponential growth. We simply can not understand and imagine it.
1st May to 21st November 2023 Galerie Vidourle Prix, Sauve (30) 4 rue des bourgades +33 (0) 4 66 88 76 33 galerievidourleprix.com
I’m honored to be participating in an exhibition in homage to Aline Kominsky-Crumb (1948 – 2022) at Galerie Vidourle Prix in Sauve. The noted underground and feminist comic artist and wife of Robert Crumb, who sadly passed away after a brief illness in 2022. The exhibition will feature a retrospective of her art, as well as new and unseen artwork by over 20 artists, including myself and also Robert Crumb and their daughter Sophie Crumb. The exhibition runs from May 1st until November 21st.
As we celebrate the holiday season, I’m excited to share with you a project that truly captures the spirit of joy and togetherness. I had the distinct pleasure of working once again with AN2V, the Association Nationale de la Vidéoprotection. Established in 2004 by Dominique LEGRAND, AN2V stands as the foremost authority on videosurveillance and videoprotection in France. Their commitment to facilitating the exchange of experiences in the field of security technology is both impressive and inspiring. AN2V’s unique approach, bridging the needs of public and private users with the expertise of security technology companies, sets them apart as true innovators in their field.
Now, let me take you on a journey into the heart of the holiday season. I am delighted to introduce you to an elegant and captivating animated holiday card I had the pleasure of bringing to life. This enchanting card features the newly designed 3D version of AN2V’s logo, representing the evolution of their visual identity, which I had previously crafted for the client. Picture a serene winter night, where a charming chalet stands amidst a blanket of snow, surrounded by towering pine trees. Warm light spills from the chalet’s windows, casting a gentle glow on the pristine snow below. In the foreground, a beautifully adorned Christmas tree adds a touch of festive magic, while a welcoming wreath graces the chalet’s door. AN2V’s logo rests gracefully in the snow, bathed in the soft radiance of the holiday season. What sets this animated card apart is its timelapse transformation, evolving from intricate black lines into a vibrant, heartwarming scene that captures the essence of the season.
Ich freue mich sehr, hier meine jüngste Illustration im Nebelspalter Nummer 4/2023 mit euch teilen zu können.
Der Cartoon ist als “Tor des Monats” in Begleitung zu einem Text von Ralph Weibel entstanden, und bildet eines der neuesten Abenteuer des Schweizer grünen Politikers Bastien Girod ab. “Cartoon Nebelspalter – Wenn Bastien Girod zweimal klingelt”
Die Szene ist in einer luxuriösen Wohnung angesiedelt, wo eine schnelldenkende Dame ihre Haustiere kurzerhand in Menschenkleidung in Szene gesetzt hat, um es so aussehen zu lassen, als ob sie viele Mitbewohner hätte. Girod, als Karikatur hoffentlich erkennbar, macht gerade einen Überraschungsbesuch, um seinen Vorschlag zur Umsiedlung von alleinstehenden Menschen, die in großen Wohnflächen leben, zu diskutieren. Wie Sie sich vorstellen können, wird die “viele Bewohner”-Illusion bei Girod nicht unbedingt ankommen.
Mascots and comic art are powerful marketing tools that businesses of all sizes and types can use to effectively communicate their message to audiences of all ages and completely transcend language barriers.
The Power of Comic Strips
Comic strips can communicate concepts and ideas to audiences of all ages and completely transcend languages. They can be used to give friendly reminders, offer tips, and provide educational material. For example, Coca-Cola assigned me to create wordless comic strips to remind people to recycle cans which were printed directly on the cans. These strips can also be used for internal purposes such as employee training and skill development, corporate training and executive briefings, or to enhance presentations and PowerPoint slides. They are also a wonderful media for e-learning or educational material.
Andy Boller (Andrew Phillip Boller), Blues and Rock singer and pianist extraordinaire (and also contestant on “The Voice of Germany” asked me if I could design and illustrate a cool logo for his band “Take the 55” featuring caricatures of all the band members. A fun design that the band could use on t-shirts, on social media and also posters, flyers and other merchandising. #logodesign#caricature
I had seen Andy live on several occasions and as a fan, I of course immediately jumped on the opportunity.
Below a gallery of the final artwork featuring caricatures from photographs and a classic VW bus.
