My Kickstarter project to print my very first artist sketchbook has begun. The campaign is scheduled to end on December 24, 2013.

If successful the book will be 150 page sketchbook of contracted characters and cartoon illustrations from cartoonist/illustrator Malane Newman whose professional portfolio includes Mattel’s Barbie – A Fashion Fairytale and The Toon Studio’s Fairy Tale High.

Hi. My name is Malane Newman and for those of you who don’t know my name, don’t feel bad because very few do (outside of the industry) but you may have seen some of my work!

I’m a professional cartoonist and illustrator who is regularly hired to create cartoon artwork for different products; like Barbie – A Fashion Fairytale storybook, or (more recently) doing some licensed character work for The Toon Studio’s Fairy Tale High; or for those of you who’ve been in the Army, you may have seen some of my work as a lead illustrator in some editions of PS Magazine (an all-cartooned monthly magazine published by the U.S. Army). You may have even purchased a toy or food product with my work on it.

As with most freelance cartoon and illustration work, my name is seldom identified with the product I illustrated or helped decorate. I would like to change this “unknown status” and come out publicly – so to speak. I thought a good way to start was to create an artist sketchbook…and encourage pledges through offering some really great rewards…I hope you’ll agree and want to participate!

The Project:

The Art of Malane Newman; 2013 Cartoon Sketchbook is my very first artist sketchbook. It’s an exploration of people, animal and anthropomorphic characters and backgrounds sketches. It also includes (24+ pages) of some works taken through to their full color conclusions…The book will provide hours of viewing enjoyment as well as benefit up-and-coming artists wanting to better their own skills by seeing what I do and what clients are buying…

The book will be 8 ½” x 11” in dimension, perfect bound and contain 150 pages (approx. 24+ pages in full color). The interior pages will be standard 60 lb paper stock. The cover will be a durable softcover 10pt cover stock printed in full color with gloss lay-flat film lamination on the printed side.

The Goal:

The basic goal covers the cost to fund the first manufacturing run of this book, the printer’s freight costs to my southern California location, the Kickstarter and banking fees that come off the top, as well as pay for the additional printing of the rewards listed in the various pledge tiers. And boy do we have some really great rewards planned!

The Rewards:

Depending on your pledge level, the rewards vary and may include a copy and/or signed copy of the printed book, a PDF version of the completed book, one or more 81/2” x 11” limited edition and numbered prints, character bookmarks and postcards, your name listed in the book, one or more hand-drawn mystery character sketches from the book, and even a 16” x 20” multi-character poster!

And for those wanting to do some serious participation, an original character sketch designed in your honor! You both specify and name the character and get a finished signed sketch for your collection archives.

And for those wanting your participation memorialized, an original character designed in your honor taken to the final full color rendering. You not only get to specify and name the character, get the finished signed sketch, you also get unlimited personal use of the final high-resolution, full color art!

The Risks:

The risks are minimal. I already have the book designed, laid out, and ready to go to the printer. I already have a commercial book printer lined up and waiting for our files. The commercial press-ready art for the rewards are completed and ready to go to the various on-demand and local printers. Once the funding is received, this will allow us to immediately proceed with the printing of the book and all of the rewards without delay.

That leaves just the signing, sketching, handling and shipping out the rewards to the fantastic people who made this all happen! This is where some challenge may arise due to not knowing the final number of participants. To combat this, I will make this my #1 priority and use my extreme organizational skills and get it done. To be safe, I doubled the anticipated time needed to deliver (from one month) to two months to hopefully cover this unknown. The worst case scenario is that you receive your rewards sooner than expected!