SCOTT CLARKE MAKES PEOPLE SMILE ONE TOON AT A TIME

I have never met artist Scott Clarke in person. We became Facebook friends, in 2014, during Cher's Dressed to Kill Tour. 

I began seeing his toons on Facebook.  Scott's toons are unique in that he adds a verse to his drawings. The verse may be a quote from the celebrity featured in the toon or a line from a movie they may have been in. Whatever the verse may be, it is always positive and fun.

Scott doesn't remember how old was when he started drawing. He remembers sitting next to a girl when he was in the third grade, who drew well. He coped some of her techniques. He believes all artists influence each other, no matter what age they are.  Being an only child meant he spent a lot of time alone. Drawing helped fill that time.

Scott's first drawings were of The Flintstones/ He liked the drawing style of Hanna Barbera. He even created his own versions of TV shows like Gilligan's Island and I Dream of Jeannie. As a teenager, he became fascinated with designer Bob Mackie and Cher. He began drawing his own versions of Mackie's creations for her. He/loves drawing Cher/ He has drawn over three hundred toons of her. He has drawn over one hundred toons of Barbra Streisand and three hundred other stars.  He also has a greeting card line called Crabby Cards.

Scott has taken a few classes. He did not like the structure of a class. He likes to find his way on his own. If he needs direction, he'll ask.

Scott's celebrity toons started when he posted a toon of Cher on Facebook.  "People seemed to like it so I  dove into it!"

"The first toons I did were people/celebrities that were cartoonish, larger than life characters with incredibly recognizable characteristics. I still find those kinds the MOST enjoyable to do. Cher, Barbra, Dolly, Bette, Liza!!! All fabulous and FUN!"

Drawing a toon is not just about the drawing. Scott researches a celebrity by watching videos and reading the person's bio/ This helps him get to know the artist as well the person/ It helps in the creative process.  It takes about twenty minutes for Scott to draw a toon. He may draw a toon and write the verse for it later. He draws and writes whenever the inspiration strikes him/.

Scott has never had a negative response to his art. Most celebrates are flattered. He does his best to make his toons positive and flattering. Scott leaves the negativity to the political cartoonists/ His goal is to make people happy, to inspire, entertain and to help people remember happy moments from the entertainment industry/

Scott has a list of celebrities he has yet to honor with a  toon. His shining moment came last year, Cher used one of his toons on her birthday cake. Scott spoke to Cher on the phone/ She asked him to do a toon for her mom, Georgia. Georgia's happiness made Scott happy too.

Both Cher and Barbra have seen Scott's toons and they approve.

Scott also draws toons for various charitable organizations. A portion of the proceeds from Scott's Cher-toon bool are going to Cher's favorite charity, Children's Craniofacial Association. ccakids.org

The Barbra-toon and Cher toon books are just the beginning. More books are coming. Even coloring books, A portion of the profits will go to charity because to Scott that's giving two smiles in one.

Scott Clarke is making people smile one toon at a time.

 Barbra-toons  https://www.amazon.com/Barbra-toons-illustrated-tribute-Scott-clarke/dp/1535196629/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472052174&sr=8-1&keywords=scott+clarke+barbra-toons

Cher-toons  https://www.amazon.com/Cher-toons-heartfelt-tribute-illustration-Clarke/dp/1535196327/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472052418&sr=1-1&keywords=cher+toons

Crabby Cards  http://www.zazzle.com/crabbycards/products


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GOING HOME

I always looked forward to the weekend when I lived at home. Especially summer weekends when it was warm and the darkness did not come until almost nine o'clock.

. My caregiver would arrive at four o'clock. It took a few minutes to get ready, but as soon as we were, we'd get in my van and drive to Pietro's, my favorite restaurant., http://www.pietrosdining.com/ My mom and I ate there almost every Saturday night for many years. After she died I couldn't imagine going anywhere else most Saturday nights.

We would ask for our favorite waitress, Julie. Julie only worked at the restaurant on Saturdays. Her husband taught at Meramec too. Julie would always keep me informed of anything new happening there.

One of my favorite dishes to order was Pasta Florentine. If I had room, the dessert would be a slice of Tiramisu. Oh, and my dinner would not be complete with a glass of Pinot  Grigio. A good dinner in a friendly atmosphere. A nice way to spend a Saturday night.

I am now thirteen miles away from the city. Call-A-Ride doesn't come out here on weekends because this area doesn't have regular bus service on weekends. They have to make a route. It costs almost as much as my dinner to go into the city on weekends. Needless to say, I have not done it that often. I hope that Call-A-Ride will provide disabled people weekend service sometime without charging us high fares

I'm sure that there are restaurants out here I could go to. I am also sure that those restaurants serve delicious food. Going to Pietro's is like going home for me. It's not only about the food, but it's also about the memories. We had dinner, with friends, at Pietro's before going to a Cher concert years ago. Our church held luncheons there too.

We went to lunch at Pietro's after my mother's funeral. She always ordered decaf coffee with Kahlua. She would make sure to add, "And don't forget the whipped cream."  That day, in her honor, I ordered decaf coffee with Kahlua. And, I made sure they didn't forget the whipped cream.

AN HISTORIC NIGHT

I wanted to blog about the groundbreaking events of last week. Not only did a woman accept the nomination for President of the United States, but Disability Rights were front and center at the DNC. 

What could I add about the ADA and the Disability Integration Act that hadn't already been said by Anastasia Somoza, a young woman with CP, and Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa?

Plus, I am a week late. I have learned, by , writing for The Mac Wire, how fast stories become old news. You have had probably forgotten all about the speeches made last week concerning Disability Rights. I have not.

I am including them in this post. The messages in the videos are important to me and every Disabled American. Please take a moment to watch them.

Senator Tom Harkin 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCI6TxOeOM

Anastasia Somoza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TqWpj9Sqfk

Nursing homes are for those who are sick. I am not sick. I will not die here. I should not have been institutionalized because I need care. I am a person with goals. I need to be productive. I need to be a part of my community again.

 I do not know where the funds should be allocated from in order to make the necessary changes. I just know changes need to be made.  I hope that the incoming administration does not forget. about the disabled community. There are 56 million of us. We are too important to ignore.

On the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, a group of disabled Americans marched in Washington. I will end this post with the words they chanted.

"Our homes, not nursing homes."