I'm sure I'll be hearing from the Pope soon.

This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest, and the rules are pretty simple.

• Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.)
• You are allowed FIVE submissions.
• I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, November 15th, 2009.
• I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday, November 16th, 2009.
• That’s it!

Now, if you would be so kind, take a minute to vote on last week’s “Elephant Pogo” contest.

This is what democracy is all about.

And, here’s last week’s winner:

Nice work, Mr. Modom!

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary.

Please note: I will send out an email on Mondays to remind you about the contest. I will NOT pester you at any other time during the week, and I will NOT share your email with another living soul – or organization run by the living. AND, I will take you off of the list as soon as you request to be removed – just send a reply email with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. Thank you, and have fun with this week’s cartoon. (Please be advised: I reserve the right to remove comments that contain foul language.)

Intellectual Property Statement: By submitting your caption(s) to SplendidMarbles.com, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of SplendidMarbles.com and you grant SplendidMarbles.com permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows SplendidMarbles.com to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language. In return for submitting captions, SplendidMarbles.com will give you name recognition every time your caption is published.

I'm at a loss.

This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest, and the rules are pretty simple.

• Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.)
• You are allowed FIVE submissions.
• I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, November 8th, 2009.
• I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday, November 9th, 2009.
• That’s it!

Now, please take a minute to vote on last week’s “Weapons Mart” contest.

(This beats the crap out of voting for governor in NJ.)

Here’s the winner of the “Lion Pool” caption contest:

Congratulations, OZ!

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary.

Please note: I will send out an email on Mondays to remind you about the contest. I will NOT pester you at any other time during the week, and I will NOT share your email with another living soul – or organization run by the living. AND, I will take you off of the list as soon as you request to be removed – just send a reply email with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. Thank you, and have fun with this week’s cartoon. (Please be advised: I reserve the right to remove comments that contain foul language.)

Intellectual Property Statement: By submitting your caption(s) to SplendidMarbles.com, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of SplendidMarbles.com and you grant SplendidMarbles.com permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows SplendidMarbles.com to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language. In return for submitting captions, SplendidMarbles.com will give you name recognition every time your caption is published.

She's harboring quite a grudge.

This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest, and the rules are pretty simple.

• Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.)
• You are allowed FIVE submissions.
• I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, November 1st, 2009.
• I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday, November 2nd, 2009.
• That’s it!

Now take a minute to vote on last week’s “Lion Pool” contest.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The winner of the “Squid School” caption contest is at the bottom (sorry for the crappy layout, but Wordpress is acting naughty again, completely ignoring my wishes.)

Magnificent job, Keith in Dallas.

The Cartoonist has a request: Give a shout out to the captions you like best (in the comment section) when you visit the site. It doesn’t guarantee that they’ll be selected at the end of the contest, but it let’s everyone know what you think is funny – and that’s important. And, if you don’t like the captions The Fiancee* and The Cartoonist select, let those inhabiting the Splendid Marbles Universe know – but please don’t throw a hissy fit because your caption was not selected (remember: humor is subjective); your opinions will be taken so much more seriously by everyone involved if you show your support for someone else’s submission.

*”The Fiancee” will become “The Wife” this Friday, October 30th (Woo-hoooo!!!). We’re getting married in NY State and planning a big bash for next spring. I am truly the most fortunate man in any and all universes, real or imaginary.

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary.

Please note: I will send out an email on Mondays to remind you about the contest. I will NOT pester you at any other time during the week, and I will NOT share your email with another living soul – or organization run by the living. AND, I will take you off of the list as soon as you request to be removed – just send a reply email with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. Thank you, and have fun with this week’s cartoon. (Please be advised: I reserve the right to remove comments that contain foul language.)

Intellectual Property Statement: By submitting your caption(s) to SplendidMarbles.com, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of SplendidMarbles.com and you grant SplendidMarbles.com permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows SplendidMarbles.com to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language. In return for submitting captions, SplendidMarbles.com will give you name recognition every time your caption is published.

The first photo, posted below, shows the canvas after my first session.

The second image is the result of my second round with the opaque oil pens. (Note to parents: Do not use these pens on your children as a substitute for a proper Halloween costume – they are quite permanent.)

The third photo is a close up of an area that I’m happy with; it was relatively easy to build this out from the work I completed last week. (See, a straight forward explanation – no art babble, and not a word of childhood years spent laboring in a coal mine.)

In the fourth shot, I’ve highlighted an area that will create a challenge going forward. This part of the piece is very different from the others, and will have to be reined in.

The fifth photo shows my point of entry for the next time I reach for my oil pens. (I don’t have to start there, but it’s good to have an accessible on-ramp.)

One last photo. This is Gracie, doing her “Demon Kitty” impersonation for the Halloween season.

Click here for the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest.

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary

Have fun with this one.

This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest, and the rules are pretty simple.

• Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.)
• You are allowed FIVE submissions.
• I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, October 25th, 2009.
• I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday, October 26th, 2009.
• That’s it!

Now take a minute to vote on last week’s “Squid School” contest.

Choose from one of the captions listed below.

And, here’s the winner of the “Fan Day” caption contest.

Very funny indeed. Nice work, Emily P.!

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary.

Please note: I will send out an email on Mondays to remind you about the contest. I will NOT pester you at any other time during the week, and I will NOT share your email with another living soul – or organization run by the living. AND, I will take you off of the list as soon as you request to be removed – just send a reply email with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. Thank you, and have fun with this week’s cartoon. (Please be advised: I reserve the right to remove comments that contain foul language.)

Intellectual Property Statement: By submitting your caption(s) to SplendidMarbles.com, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of SplendidMarbles.com and you grant SplendidMarbles.com permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows SplendidMarbles.com to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language. In return for submitting captions, SplendidMarbles.com will give you name recognition every time your caption is published.

This canvas has been sitting in my studio for many months, taunting me (I can hear it laughing at me while I fill my tiny pieces of Bristol board with cartoons for my weekly caption contest.) Well, it’s laughing no more. I decided it needed to be brought down a notch or two, so I started drawing on it with oil pens last night. Although, I must admit, there’s still a frightening amount of naked canvas left to fill. But, I’m determined to finish this very large painting/drawing project, and I’ll update my progress once a week.

I’ve completed a lot of fine art drawings overt the years, some of them are even in color. I’ve posted two below; ( more can be found in my gallery).

I finished this one several years ago.

Here’s one in color:

This one was completed about three years ago.

Here are a few photos of my first attempt to tackle a large-scale project.

Giant empty canvas.

I would have gone further, but my oil marker died on me.

Here's a closer view.

After the marker died, the kitten decided to get a tan.

I've got a very, very long way to go...

Click here for the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest.

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary

Channeling Charles Addams again.

This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest, and the rules are pretty simple.

• Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.)
• You are allowed FIVE submissions.
• I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, October 18th, 2009.
• I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday, October 19th, 2009.
• That’s it!

Take a minute to vote on last week’s “Fan Day” caption contest.

Vote for your favorite caption.

Here’s the winner of the “Human Projectiles” caption contest:

Congratulations, Catherine Algiers!

I’ve started a new painting. It’s going to be huge! I’m not kidding, the canvas measures three feet by four. Click here to see how it looks so far .

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary.

Please note: I will send out an email on Mondays to remind you about the contest. I will NOT pester you at any other time during the week, and I will NOT share your email with another living soul – or organization run by the living. AND, I will take you off of the list as soon as you request to be removed – just send a reply email with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. Thank you, and have fun with this week’s cartoon. (Please be advised: I reserve the right to remove comments that contain foul language.)

Intellectual Property Statement: By submitting your caption(s) to SplendidMarbles.com, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of SplendidMarbles.com and you grant SplendidMarbles.com permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows SplendidMarbles.com to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language. In return for submitting captions, SplendidMarbles.com will give you name recognition every time your caption is published.

Is it Monday morning again?

This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest, and the rules are pretty simple.

• Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.)
• You are allowed FIVE submissions.
• I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, October 11th, 2009.
• I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday, October 12th, 2009.
• That’s it!

Please take a moment to vote for the best caption for last week’s “Human Projectiles” contest from the five listed below.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The winner of the “Van Trouble” caption contest is right below the Human Projectiles cartoon (Sorry for the awkward layout, but Wordpress is being quite uncooperative today.)

Congratulations, Julie Stahnke!

And, the winner of the “Funeral Theater” contest:

Nice work, DeeAnn S!

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary

Please note: I will send out an email on Mondays to remind you about the contest. I will NOT pester you at any other time during the week, and I will NOT share your email with another living soul – or organization run by the living. AND, I will take you off of the list as soon as you request to be removed – just send a reply email with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. Thank you, and have fun with this week’s cartoon. (Please be advised: I reserve the right to remove comments that contain foul language.)

Intellectual Property Statement: By submitting your caption(s) to SplendidMarbles.com, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of SplendidMarbles.com and you grant SplendidMarbles.com permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows SplendidMarbles.com to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language. In return for submitting captions, SplendidMarbles.com will give you name recognition every time your caption is published.

Time for new travel agents.

This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest, and the rules are pretty simple.

• Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.)
• You are allowed FIVE submissions.
• I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, October 4th, 2009.
• I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday, October 5th, 2009.
• That’s it!

There was a three-way tie for last week’s “Van Trouble” contest. I’ve been running this contest for almost a year, and this has not happened before. Please vote and break the tie so we can all get on with our lives. Below the three-way tie is last week’s “Funeral Theater” contest – don’t forget to cast your vote there as well.

Please break the tie.

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary

Please note: I will send out an email on Mondays to remind you about the contest. I will NOT pester you at any other time during the week, and I will NOT share your email with another living soul – or organization run by the living. AND, I will take you off of the list as soon as you request to be removed – just send a reply email with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. Thank you, and have fun with this week’s cartoon. (Please be advised: I reserve the right to remove comments that contain foul language.)

Intellectual Property Statement: By submitting your caption(s) to SplendidMarbles.com, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of SplendidMarbles.com and you grant SplendidMarbles.com permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows SplendidMarbles.com to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language. In return for submitting captions, SplendidMarbles.com will give you name recognition every time your caption is published.

O'Sullivan's is now available for children's parties.

This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest, and the rules are pretty simple.

• Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.)
• You are allowed FIVE submissions.
• I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, September 27th, 2009.
• I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday, September 28th, 2009.
• That’s it!

I originally posted this cartoon in May with my own fairly lame caption. This warped little cartoon attracted some decent feedback, so I decided to post it today to see if it could inspire some truly twisted captions. Please, enjoy.

You can vote on last week’s “Van Trouble” caption contest:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

This was another really difficult contest, it was even a battle to narrow it down to a top twenty list. That’s why I went with seven finalists as opposed to only five. I want to thank you all for giving me a massive headache today. (The winner of the “High Heeled House” contest is located below.)

Nice work, Jerry Davis!

And, check out more cartoons and the winners of the caption contest in the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Gallery.

While you’re here, sign up for my feed so you can get some of the best in original political cartoons and commentary

Please note: I will send out an email on Mondays to remind you about the contest. I will NOT pester you at any other time during the week, and I will NOT share your email with another living soul – or organization run by the living. AND, I will take you off of the list as soon as you request to be removed – just send a reply email with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. Thank you, and have fun with this week’s cartoon. (Please be advised: I reserve the right to remove comments that contain foul language.)

Intellectual Property Statement: By submitting your caption(s) to SplendidMarbles.com, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of SplendidMarbles.com and you grant SplendidMarbles.com permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows SplendidMarbles.com to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language. In return for submitting captions, SplendidMarbles.com will give you name recognition every time your caption is published.