Nick Raciti Filling In

Nick Raciti just posted this great Soapy strip on the Cartoonist Conspiracy site… thanks Nick!

If there is anyone out there still checking this site, I assure again you the strip has not been abandoned, it is merely on hold while I work on a children’s book… which I made a nice big dent in over the holidays, so hopefully the strip will be back sometime early this year with a little luck.

NOSLO Cartoons and Games

I haven’t posted in way too long, and I’ve decided to take a break from the strip to work on a children’s book for a while… the strip will be back sooner or later continuing from where it left off, but I figured I’d give anyone who still is reading this an update. To tide you over in the meantime, here are some cartoons I’ve done recently at my day job as a flash developer/animator…

I’ve been having some fun recently building a holiday site called NOSLO.com for the company I work for (OLSON)… NOSLO is the holiday of the future where you send “Sacks of Joy” to your friends and loved ones to spread the joy. Here are the “Sacks of Joy” I’ve animated so far.. send ’em to your friends and spread the joy, if you’re inclined:

Sack of Joy #1: Joyous NOSLO Song

Come spread the spirit and sacks of Joyous NOSLO, the holiday of the future, with this rousing NOSLO carol.

Sack of Joy #2: The Soul Seal

No one can resist the charms of The Soul Seal. Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #3: Snowcat

The flying feline of the frozen frontier. Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #4: Come Take a Trip in My Airship

An animated plea for aerial romance from a more innocent era. Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #5: The Mustache Game

Are you man enough (or facial-hair-challenged woman enough) to triumph over the challenges of the mustache game? Only one way to find out. Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #6: Fuzzy Love

An animated fuzzball expresses affection in a manner congruous to his deeply damaged fur-lined psyche. Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #7: In Space No One Can Hear You

An animated astronaut explores the aural possibilities of deep space exploration. Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #8: The Magical Unicorn

Magic! Sparkles! Fancy! The delirious joy that can only be expressed through a unicorn and a rainbow, or through inhaling fumes of magic glitter glue in a confined space. Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #9: The Fractal Weasel Tree

Traditions! No Joyous NOSLO holiday would be complete without summoning and chopping down a Fractal Weasel Tree. Joyous joy! Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #10: The Marshmallow-Loving Chihuahua Vs. The Teacup

Whether you lean towards oolong, jasmine or mint you’ll feel compelled beyond your own will to help this marshmallow-loving chihuahua defeat the sinister teacup. Joyous NOSLO!

Sack of Joy #11: The Little Blue Bird of Joy

Sometimes it takes a little blue bird to remind you that, in spite of life’s hardships, joy can be found regardless of circumstance. Joyous NOSLO!

Bottomless

Poor Soapy is really getting neglected these days as my life is getting in the way… I’ll post more strips eventually for the patient among you, so if you are enjoying our ongoing serial, do not despair… it will continue some time soon.

I have pictures of Soapy at the state fair to post as well, but they are currently on my wife’s computer… those should be up soon as well.

In the meantime, I just finished laying out and scanning my >23 and <25 hour comic from this year's festivities... here it is for your reading pleasure (750k PDF)...

Seedy Soapy Wins a Blue Ribbon!

Hooray! I just got this message from master Crop Artist David Steinlicht:

Hey Steve,

Soapy the Chicken in seeds won a blue ribbon in the Minnesota State Fair Crop Art competition! (That is, in the Advanced Amateur section, the irregular shapes category.)

You can see the chicken in the Ag-Hort-Bee building in the south-east corner of the fairgrounds. The Ag-Hort-Bee building has the Space Tower ride on the east of it and the Haunted Mansion to the south west of it.

Don’t forget to get some honey flavored ice cream while you’re at the Ag-Hort-Bee building.

David Steinlicht

I always knew Soapy had an irregular shape!