Clifford McBride Insect Life

Clifford McBride was best known for his comic strip Napoleon. His lesser-known daily titled Insect Life had great art, too. This original measures 8.5" x 6" and I've had it for so long I forget where I got it. I always loved his pen and ink technique. Definitely old school, but it's another one of those lost arts.


This is inscribed to Don McCoy in the margin and signed by McBride. Click on the image to make it bigger.


I have no idea what kind of pen McBride used, but you can feel the scratches on the surface of the illustration paper. It's definitely not brushwork. It must have been a ridiculously flexible pen nib.


I love the sloppy spontaneity of his inking. Very loose, very nice.