WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (SPECIAL) – After decades of living almost exclusively in print, a number of prominent cartoonists have banded together in the digital age to create a new website called TheCartoonistStudio.com. The website is a place where fans can have a direct interactive connection to the artists who draw their favorite comic strips, participate in amateur contests, see their studios and purchase greeting cards and other merchandise.

“About 23 cartoonists joined together to form TheCartoonistStudio.com as a way to bring us closer to the fans who enjoy our drawings,” says Peter Guren, the cartoonist behind the popular “Ask Shagg” cartoon and chairman of TheCartoonistStudio.com. “Many of our fans have followed our cartoon strips for decades and have a natural curiosity about us and the characters that we bring to life. It’s amazing how many people begin their days on a cheerful note by reading our comic strips, and we’re truly honored to be part of their lives.”╨

“TheCartoonistStudio.com is a place where our new and existing fans will be able to get to know us even better in a ‘behind the scenes’ format. They’ll even get to see our work studios,” he added. “In other words, TheCartoonistStudio.com offers a one-stop way to personally get involved with all your favorite cartoonists and cartoons. We also want to connect with our fans and get feedback from them about our characters, our story lines and our humor. After all, fans are the ones who make our worlds possible.”

TheCartoonistStudio.com also features an Amateur Cubicle to help identify new talent and give them a venue to be viewed alongside professional cartoonists. For many new cartoonists and illustrators, TheCartoonistStudio.com will open doors that might not have otherwise been opened at all.

“Our hope is that the Amateur Cubicle will become a widely recognized forum for emerging cartoonists and give them a venue to showcase their talent online in an era of shrinking opportunities at traditional print media outlets,” Guren said. “We already have dozens of amateur cartoonists who have uploaded their work to our site, and much of it is fantastic.”

TheCartoonistStudio.com will launch a contest on Feb. 28 in search of emerging cartoonists. The winner of the contest will be awarded a development contract with Creators Syndicate, creating the opportunity for a talented amateur to join the ranks of professional cartoonists.

Guren added that TheCartoonistStudio.com evolved as a result of the increasing popularity of social media outlets and other online forums that foster interaction between consumers and the brands they cherish, which in this case, are cartoons. He is quick to point out, however, that TheCartoonistStudio.com is not a replacement for tradition print media.

“Our fans should have no worries about not seeing their favorite strips in the newspapers,” Guren said. “Cartoons will be available on our website. Fans will, however, be able delve more into their favorite cartoon strip with the ability to literally see the spaces where we create our work as well as purchase limited edition drawings, books and rare memorabilia.”

In addition to Guren, other cartoonists presently featured at TheCartoonistStudio.com are: Chuck Ayers (Crankshaft), Tom Batiuk (Funky Winkerbean), Ray Billingsley (Curtis), Chip Bok (editorial cartoons), Jenny Campbell (Flo and Friends), Dave Coverly (Speed Bump), Brian Crane (Pickles), Jan Eliot (Stone Soup), Greg Evans (Luann), John Hambrock (The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee), Bill Hinds (Tank McNamara), Jeff Keane (The Family Circus), Rick Kirkman (Baby Blues), Mike Luckovich (editorial cartoons), Mark Parisi (Off the Mark), Dan Reynolds (greeting cards illustrator), Tom Richman (MAD Magazine) and Jerry Scott (Baby Blues).

Guren said an App also is being developed to allow easier access to the website from mobile devices. “Our Website will continue to evolve as we gather feedback from fans,” he said. “If you know anything about cartoonists, you know that we’re never still very long. We’re always looking for the next frontier, and we will be sure to share the news first at TheCartoonistStudio.com.”

For more information, please visit www.TheCartoonistStudio.com