The Cartoonist and the Principal: Wordless Wednesday
by MarianBeaman | Jun 19, 2024 | Cliff Beaman artist, Education, Family / Nostalgia, popular culture, Uncategorized | 37 comments
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Good morning, Marian! A very different look for Cliff. 🙂 The principal looks very uncomfortable.
Yes, the students liked the experience more than the principal who was definitely being a good sport. Cliff also did a caricature of a student who volunteered. Thanks for checking in as number one today, Merril! 😀
You’re welcome, Marian! 😊
A great picture! I love Cliff’s shirt.
The shirt is a dashiki, and the design of African origin. Thanks for noticing, Darlene. 😀
Cliff has a gift for caricature!
Thank you, Shirley. . . will pass on the compliment. 😀
What era was this? The shirt!
Yes, the photo is vintage, probably the 1980s, and the shirt is called a dashiki, popular with some in the era. Thanks, Melodie. 😀
The Rev. chalking up the principle of art.
Very, very clever, Carolyn! 😀
Hi,
I don’t know your husband, but I can say he has a pleasing smile. He looks like a very friendly person.
Shalom shalom
Both the cartoonist and the principal are smiling, probably for different reasons–ha! Thanks for checking in again, Pat. 😀
Fabulous, Marian.
Thank you, Robbie! 😀
Oh how fun to see Cliff drawing and wearing a dashiki! 😊
I’m glad you enjoyed it. L. Marie! Dashikis were very popular in the 1970s and 80s. Every once in a while, I see someone wearing one. 😀
I didn’t know this type of shirt had a name or that it was popular in the 1980s. I just know it from Congo. Hardy had a couple of these shirts and often wore one when we were speaking about our work there while on home leave. Cliff looks like he’s totally in his element!
I’m not surprised that Hardy wore a dashiki. It would be a great way to identify with the Congolese because the shirt has African origins. Yes, Cliff is totally in his element and he has enjoyed the interaction with students in schools. Thanks, Elfrieda. 😀
I suspect that the principal was trying to stay frozen for Cliff, but his stiff body language appears to say, “Why did I volunteer for this?” I’m sure the students loved it, and the principal was a good sport for doing it. Has Cliff ever done a drawing of you?
You’ve sized up the situation very well, Pete. Thank you!
Yes, Cliff has done more than one drawing of me, but one you can see is on page 223 of my first memoir, Mennonite Daughter, which I’m pretty sure you’ve read and reviewed. 😀
Cute, Cliff looks happy, Mr. Principal Man doesn’t look happy. What fun!
Way to go, Ally. You’ve observed the tension and the “fun” implied. 😀
Oh, how FUN!
Thanks, Laurie! 😀
That’s a great shot, Marian. Cliff has so much talent! He could sit at street corners in touristy areas and make money as a cartoonist! 🙂
Liesbet, Cliff has done that in earlier years. It’s really hard work but good exposure when you want to get established. 😀
I haven’t seen anyone sporting a dashiki in quite some time! Cliff looks very comfortable in it. As for the principal, he is looking decidedly uncomfortable.
Cliff held on to that dashiki for a very long time, but I don’t see it in his closet any more. Thank goodness, the principal was being a good sport and probably pleased with his likeness sketched on newsprint. Thanks, Liz. 😀
Fun photo. Cliff look as as if he’s having a good time.
You have that right, Linda. Thank you! 😀
The Principal is a very good role model to his students that’s it’s possible to sit (or stand!) still for a period of time, haha. Cliff is totally in the moment. 🙂
Your insight is spot on! Thank you, Melanie. 😀
Hi, this is Cliff. A few remarks to Marian’s writing and reading friends.
Pat–Yes, Pat, I’m mostly pleasant 🙂
Elfrieda–I think some of the hippies in the 70’s wore Dashikas, but I loved it and felt as soon as I had put it on (Carolyn) I was ready to take the stage. Also Elfrieda, when I performed in a church without a sports coat and tie, some pastors thought I must not be too spiritual to minister to his flock with a get-up like that.
Pete–When I was presenting my “History of Art” Show (you’ll find a section on that in Marian’s My Checkered Life memoir), using cartoons to show the history of art to thousands of K-12 graders in the southeast during 1971-1973…and (Shirley)…as the music was playing as the students were filing in the auditorium or gym, I would take note of a pretty older student and draw a realistic sketch of her, before I drew a caricature of a “campus clown” and finally the principal.
Ally–One time near the end of one of my History of Art shows when I was drawing the lady principal (by the way I would usually ask their permission ahead of time). As I was drawing she fainted and slowly collapsed in slow motion, along with the 8×8 foot rear projection screen, while I valiantly tried to hold on to her AND the two 4×8 heavy wooden panels (to the left and right of the screen). That was quite a dramatic encore to that performance.
Liesbet–For several years I did cartooning in Doctors’ offices (the Dr. and staff and drawings were framed in their hallways), civic and business groups, cartoons for educational projects, and in a restaurant. When money was scarce I set up a place to draw in one of the malls in Jacksonville during Christmas time, cartoons and realistic pastels.
Liz–The Dashika was very comfortable while I was creating the mural which the organization selected, along with music (that you see in the photo behind me while drawing the principal). It took about 35 minutes to complete the mural with vibrant lecturer’s chalks, accompanied with special lighting effects.
Cliff
FYI my old business name while cartooning was CliffToons
Cliff, just for the records, because this was a wordless Wednesday post, I couldn’t mention that you would usually ask permission to draw the principal ahead of time. Thanks for the follow-up. 😀
Cliff is rocking that shirt, Marian – loved the 70s! The principal looks a little worried!
Of course the principal was worried, “What if the artist mangles my face!” I believe he was relieved when it turned out okay. Thanks, Barb!