It's a rare chance to comment on two passings today, and both regarding artists.
The first is LeRoy Neiman (91), who made his reputation painting sports events and athletes, but I know as the creepy moustache guy who hung out with Hugh Hefner and made shitty scribbles of naked women on the Playboy joke page. I will say that he made pretty good use of color, in an almost psychedelic way, but like much of the art I've seen, I have to wonder who the hell is going to buy and display it. I get it if you want an impressionist twist on a picture for a game program, but what wall needs a painted Mark McGuire?
The other is for the Life In Hell comic strip, that Matt Groening is ending after three decades. The strip, which ends after it's 1669th publication, was once in close to 400 publications, but in now in under 40. Known for anthropomorphic bunnies Binky and Bongo, and fez wearing homosexuals Akbar and Jeff, the comic was serialized in many publications "_______ (Life, Childhood, School, etc.) In Hell", and was key in getting Groening the gig making animated shorts for The Tracey Ullman Show that led to The Simpsons. The strip stopped being interesting or funny once he shifted to Akbar and Jeff as the focus, but some of his 'toons are gold.
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