Cartoonist Bob Eckstein was the artist-in-residence for the 2022 and 2024 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. He "live-drew" the workshop, providing illustrations of keynote speakers, presenters, attendees and events.
Eckstein is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author, New Yorker cartoonist and New York University adjunct professor. View his website. To read his notes for each drawing, click on the image or title in the gallery below.
Artist statement
Before my first visit to the annual Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, I prepared by researching who the speakers were and sought out photos of them online. Before my plane landed in Dayton, Ohio, I did some pencil sketches of some of the speakers to warm up and get myself familiar with my subjects and practice drawing them. All the other drawings were executed on the spot. I sat in on as many sessions as I could; I started the illustration during the class and would finish the drawing about the time it concluded. The drawings were done on an Apple iPad Pro with Apple Pencil. I used the absurd software Art Set.
I was enjoying taking the classes myself. I teach humor, writing and drawing in colleges around the world (this year at NYU, New York City; Marywood University, Pennsylvania; and Yonsei University, South Korea), but I learn more than anything else. I learned a lot from my class hopping at the workshop, so I was taking notes and searching for takeaways to add to the drawings. Without my quotes, I feel the drawings lack context and are merely snapshots of a moment. I want all my creations to share what I learned.
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Cartoon: You Are Here
Artist's statement about this piece: This was the first drawing, done well before the conference and pitched as an idea for the conference T-shirt, which I was thinking should be something silly yet cerebral. I did a handful of ideas, and this was the most primitive. The reaction to this was very positive. It does in a subtle way convey the sentiment of converging here in Dayton to overcome any blocks one might have as a writer.
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Illustration: Amy Paturel and Bonnie Jean Feldkamp
Artist's statement about this piece: I was surprised to learn that these two women didn’t know each other before the conference because I thought they had chemistry, and both had a similar level of professionalism and spark. I have since kept in touch with both of them, and we hit it off so well they expressed interest in collaborating down the road in some capacity. And I like the drawing. The minimal shapes and forms in the background reflect their no-nonsense approach to dispensing what they know.
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Illustration: Ann Garvin
Artist's statement about this piece: Ann is electric, and despite running out of time and being unable to draw her, I knew I had to find a way before I left Dayton to do a drawing of her. Great workshop. I blurbed her new book, Bummer Camp. Very funny.
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Illustration: Beth Lapides
Artist's statement about this piece: Most embarrassing moment of the conference: While Beth was performing, she said a key word or password which inadvertently triggered my device to turn on Siri and prompting the computer to ask what I wanted and interrupted Beth mid-sentence. She asked what happened, and I blurted that my computer heckled her, or something to that effect. I wanted Siri to help me crawl into a hole. I apologized later, and I took my time executing her drawing to make up for the horrible distraction I created. I THINK all is forgiven, and Beth is happy with the drawing.
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Illustration: Dark Humor (2024 Total Eclipse Bonus)
Artist's statement about this piece: This was a drawing used in the promotion leading up to the conference, which overlapped the much-hyped total solar eclipse of April 8. I was so crazy busy throughout my trip that I had forgotten to buy eclipse glasses. Sarah Alice Keiser, one of the organizers, was kind enough to send me a couple of glasses, and I was excited to see that the frames were decorated with the Dayton skyline I drew.
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Illustration: Faculty at Dinner
Artist's statement about this piece: I did not do this drawing on the spot as I wanted to be careful that everyone would be happy with my rendition. Amy Jones on the far right is a friend, but she is also my boss at Writer’s Digest. So, about half of this was done live, and I finished it later back in my hotel room using photos I took as reference. Each night, I would be up until around 2, 3 in the morning. And I also had to prepare for my own workshop I gave.
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Illustration: Jane Friedman on Freelance Business
Artist's statement about this piece: I tried to capture how cool Jane is in person and how people in the business perceive her. It was a tricky one because I’m trying to soak in her class at the same time I’m doing my job. At the time of this session, we are halfway through the conference, and I’m in a groove and confident that I can workshop-hop a couple of sessions at the same time. I'm also hopped up on cookies and coffee. Still recovering from that now.
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Illustration: Laura Spinella and Audrey Bennett
Artist's statement about this piece: I met Laura and Audrey in a shuttle from the airport, and I didn’t realize then that in a few hours I would be drawing them. I feel good that I helped and promoted their session ahead of time. Part of my job is to shine a light on what classes are available and get participants excited about the schedule.
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Illustration: Leighann Lord
Artist's statement about this piece: Leighann was the main star, the main host of the conference, and I left it elegant and no words. I was very glad she was pleased with the drawing, which had very little adjustments — it’s just her and probably my favorite drawing.
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Illustration: Lori Jakiela
Artist's statement about this piece: I met Lori beforehand and thought she did a great job. I may be wrong, but I believe this was her first Bombeck conference. I probably was running between two other workshops based on how little detail is here. I’d rather do three rushed drawings than one finely tuned one — I want to include as many presenters as possible, and how my drawings are judged or seen is really not that important; it’s about me spreading the word and trying to include everyone.
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Illustration: Mark Shatz
Artist's statement about this piece: Mark and I work together, and we did the workshop at the conference together. I used his session to do a crowd scene, as I realized my drawings didn’t have enough time to include many attendees. Some of the great benefits from attending these writing conferences are the friendships I made like Mark’s.
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Illustration: 'Mastering Voice' with Jessica Strawser
Artist's statement about this piece: I know Jessica, but I didn’t know how. She used to head up Writer’s Digest many years ago, but she looks too young, as you can see from the drawing. Anytime she runs into me, she always gives me a big hello and welcomes me into the group. The conversations I had during lunch and breaks were always so much fun. It’s rare to find a group so devoid of ego and attitude. It’s all support and warmth.
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Illustration: NYC to Dayton ... via Vancouver
Artist's statement about this piece: This was a drawing I did in the airports while dealing with flight delays and shuttling all over. It’s exaggerated for the sake of humor but not far from the truth.
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Illustration: "Please Prepare to Meet All Your Writing Goals"
Artist's statement about this piece: I have no memory of this new joke except to say it sounds like one of my jokes.
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Illustration: Robing of Erma Bombeck Anna Lefler Humorist-in-Residence Program Honorees
Artist's statement about this piece: I was near the two winners of the Anna Lefler Humorist-in-Residence program at dinner, and it was fun to see how much they enjoyed this moment. It’s two free weeks with room service, and you’re supposed to be working during that time. I spoke to Annmarie Kelly-Harbaught (on the left in the drawing) a couple of times later. She is a real cut-up. The other winner, in the center of the drawing, is Kara Kinney Cartwright.
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Illustration: Stand-Up Comedy Night - Jill Enders and Host Jane Condon
Artist's statement about this piece: Humor is subjective. For my money, Jill and Jane had me lose it. I was the loudest laugher in the ballroom, and Jill (on the left) thanked me for that when we met in the lobby hours later. Jane, on the right, is a polished professional. We shared the flight home. I learned one of my best friends, a stand-up, knows Jane and is a huge fan as well.
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Illustration: Tiffany Yates Martin
Artist's statement about this piece: This drawing was done carefully, after the conference was over, as the first drawing was text-heavy and done very fast due to time constraints. I become fast friends with Tiffany and wanted to give her something suitable for framing.
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Illustration: Workshop with Tiffany Yates Martin
Artist's statement about this piece: Tiffany’s workshop will help me with my next book, and I am reading her latest book (Intuitive Editing) now. I’ve since appeared on her podcast, and it was one of the best conversations I’ve ever had on writing. I encourage people to check it out.
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Illustration: Zibby Owens
Artist's statement about this piece: Zibby Owens was so instantly likable that I now understand her popularity. She’s so popular I could not get near the front podium where she spoke but instead drew Zibby from a monitor that was way off to the side.
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Keynote Illustration: Anna Quindlen and Marsha Bonhart
Artist's statement about this piece: This was one of the first drawings and pretty straightforward. I had already drawn Anna Quindlen earlier and had met her at a gala fundraiser back in New York City for public radio. That evening I asked her if she wanted to be in my new book on great writers.
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Keynote Illustration: Jacquelyn Mitchard
Artist's statement about this piece: I loved meeting Jackie and loved her frankness and humor. I have no idea if she is a real New Yorker, but I’d like to think she is. It was a joy drawing her.
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Keynote Illustration: Wade Rouse
Artist's statement about this piece: Wade had the whole room crying halfway through his speech, and many presenters agreed it was the best speech they could remember. Just a natural storyteller. I got a chance to hang out with his husband afterwards, and that led to us keeping in touch and then appearing on his Facebook show, and he helped me promote my new museum book.
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Keynote Keepsake: "Will Work for Blurbs"
Artist's statement about this piece: We had a few cartoons to choose from, and I kept pushing for this one if only because it had the least number of words and was the quickest read. If anyone wanted to put this on a wall, nobody wants something that requires reading. I honestly didn’t realize how this was going to be used and be such a big deal. If I had known, I would have sought a solution that had no words and was more visually dynamic. I’m sorry it’s just a writer leaning against a wall.
Editor's note: Every person who received this keepsake loved it. Bob need not apologize.
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Portrait: Anna Quindlen
Artist's statement about this piece: This is a portrait done of Anna Quindlen before conference to convince her I would do a good job if she was included in my great writers book. When she ultimately saw the drawing, she loved it and asked to have it for social media. But she also asked not to be in the book; don’t know why. Perhaps she’s too modest?
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Illustration: Gravesite of Erma Bombeck
The gravesite trip on Saturday was a welcome change to be outside and to walk around the beautiful grounds of the university campus. I found myself talking with the University Archivist and Coordinator of Special Collections, Kristina Schulz, who shared plans about a larger, more formal housing of the Erma Bombeck archives. I am going to speak with her again in the near future to discuss her participation in my next book, The Most Fascinating Museums. I only took photos on this trip and started painting it at a bench, but the circumstances were such that I waited until we returned to the hotel to finish this illustration. After over 20, I was a bit tired. The elements in the picture are not quite that close together, but for the sake of the illustration, I placed them a bit closer so they could be included in one.
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Keynote Illustration: Alan Zweibel Introduces Laraine Newman
Alan Zweibel is someone I’ve been emailing with during the pandemic, and because I knew him ahead of time, I was a bit nervous about what he would think of the picture. I redid his face more times then anyone else's, perhaps five times before I captured the right expression, which is one that is not his usual online photo of looking straight ahead and smiling. I wanted to show his earnestness and sincerity he has with the audience. By the way, I learned later his wife loved the piece. That was satisfying. I want everyone’s significant other pleased. This is not a roast.
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Keynote Illustration: Katrina Kittle
I found myself seated far from the stage during the crowded luncheon for Katrina Kittle’s speech. I did the best I could and worked on a couple of changes before I posted this. I knew that I needed to run into Ms. Kittle later and amend that and do a proper portrait of her.
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Keynote Illustration: Laraine Newman
This last speech of the event was all about the energy of the crowd, and I had already done a portrait of Ms. Newman earlier that I felt was spot on. So I created the most festive rendition I could of the evening. I was also being approached by many who wanted to speak to me, so this was the fastest one I did.
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Session Illustration: Susan Pohlman
Susan Pohlman’s session, "Fear Not the Blank Page," deserved a conceptual treatment and something out of the ordinary. Many cited this as a favorite — I feel like I indeed conquered the blank page.
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Sketch: Katrina Kittle
So I found Katrina at dinner, took a couple of pictures and dashed out this exciting, fast sketch of her that many complimented, to my relief.
