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Toth, Alex

Alex Toth was a very prolific pen pal, and all those doodle pages were sent with letters to his friends and fans. There must be thousands of similar pages out there.

Alex Toth once said: “For the first half of my career I was concerned with discovering as many things as possible to put into my stories – rendering, texture, detail. For the second half of my career, I have worked as hard as I could to leave out all those things.”
I actually prefer those doodles to finished, polished pages. So rich and inspired! From the master's brain directly to the paper, uncensored, fresh, wild, crazy! I love some of those pages as much as any, say, Krazy Kat Sunday or Kirby/Sinnott Fantastic Four, because they are, regardless of their simplicity and spontaneity, expressions of a superior artistic mind.

Here are some excerpts from Alex Toth’s introduction to ‘The Alex Toth Doodle Book’, by Alex Toth & John Hitchcock (Octopus Press 2006):
“Why doodles? Living alone as I do, have, for 16 years now, I’ve turned more and more to having a pad before me on this tablefull of clutter, a small TV, jugs of markers, pen, pencils, etc., ... radio, music tapes, tons of mags/books, etc., keep my wheels turning, alert, aware, of wotnhell’s going on out there in our diminishing, noisy, evernastier world – everhoping for good news, to cheer me on – but, no, too rarely so, damn it – so, as I fuss and fume over too-much bad shocking depressing outrageous news and/or stuff labeled ‘entertainment’, I’m doodling, reflecting or deflecting the content of all of it, as it filters thru the little gray cells and lowers my boilingpoint, I doodle – like a pianist’s finger-exercises, playing bits, or all, of a piece, or just venting spleen – counterpoint, at times, to bad news, I might draw happier imagery – as balance – as escape – yes – and this, while thinking in many directions, fleetingly or at length, often surprises me, with reactive results – links to my past, people, places, things, events, that I’ve seen, recall – and bits of countless silent / sound / live / animation / movies / shorts / features / theatrical / TV / flit in and out – faces, of all sorts, pop-up, lots, and accidents with them hook up – to others – I catch lookalike-faces spilling out on paper – and sometimes label such, does this look like an actor / actress / public figure, of then – or now? I see resemblances – others may not – ever! Such little moments may bounce me into other related characters, subjects, etc., assessing results, as worth noting – or dismissing them as mere fillips – of mood – a curious brew of flashes. Investigative doodling of architectural subjects, of planes, cars, gadgets, ships, etc., or casual abstract / geometric / designs – patterns / textures / light and shadowplays on 3dimensional objects / figures / faces – all intrigue me! I love to doodle as many variations as I can of racial, ethnic, regional, native facial / figural types, avoiding others’ cliches, stereotypes, offensive distortions – yet, too, if in a loose cartoony mood, I’ll play with those shorthand renditions. ...
My bias is for smaller ones, 8x10”, or the 6x9” notepads, 200 or 100 sheet, drugstore / supermarket types, inexpensive, blank or lined, for us, the blank’s best – smaller drawings are easier to control, proportions-wise, handling, and it forces one to simplify, deal with shapes, form, mass, the overall, so one doesn’t get distracted with fussy details – tickling – technique – for it’s own sake – no grandstanding / showboating / just think: “No one’ll ever see my doodles” – so you can freely mess-up / tear up / change mindset / approach / do as you like – enjoy the process of investigating / experimenting / discovering – you – revelations – of alla prima – direct – lead – or ink – or even light/ medium gray bulletnose markers. ...
Doodles, exercises, betters one’s pro’, paid for, work! It’s preparation, homework, study, introspective self-education, stretching, pushing up, out, to higher levels of observation, execution, basic drawing / interpretive skills – rendering – composition – the whole ball of wax!
Life drawing, of course, the great teacher – lots of it! Learning the abstract interlocking forms / shapes / weights / lines / tonal masses / of face / figure / anything – you’ll do it – for you – love it, too! The more, the better – for you! You will always be your own best teacher! Doing more thinking than drawing! But doing lots – of both! For you!
See, observe, remember! Increase wider interests / curiosities / about everything!! Figure ‘em out, your subjects – know them! So you commit them to memory – and, 30 yrs, or days, later, you’ll remember them, be able to draw them – well! Understand what you see – really see! It’s fun to learn – stretch your limits – bust thru! Truly see – the beauty – in commonplace subjects – and the uncommon – exotic – complex or simple – find ways to depict the complex simply. ..

There are 111 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.     19 through 36 shown.

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Doodles 88

Art Details

Artist:
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	374
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/16/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 88
Artist: 374 Views

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Doodles 87

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	635
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/16/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 87
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
635 Views

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Doodles 86

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	735
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/16/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 86
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
735 Views

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Doodles 85

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	694
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 85
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
694 Views

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Doodles 84

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	772
Comments:	1
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 84
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
772 Views, 1 Comment

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Doodles 83

Art Details

Artist:
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	331
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 83
Artist: 331 Views

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Doodles 82

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	539
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 82
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
539 Views

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Doodles 81

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	524
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 81
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
524 Views

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Doodles 80

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	462
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 80
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
462 Views

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Doodles 79

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	519
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 79
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
519 Views

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Doodles 78

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	387
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 78
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
387 Views

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Doodles 77

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	516
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 77
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
516 Views

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Doodles 76

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	406
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 76
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
406 Views

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Doodles 75

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	476
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	10/12/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 75
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
476 Views

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Postcard with Hägar

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Pin Up
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	706
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	5/11/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Postcard with Hägar
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
706 Views

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Self-portrait

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	888
Comments:	1
Added to Site:	4/28/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Self-portrait
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
888 Views, 1 Comment

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Self-portrait on postcard

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	581
Comments:	1
Added to Site:	4/28/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Self-portrait on postcard
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
581 Views, 1 Comment

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Doodles 74

Art Details

Artist:	Alex Toth (All)
Media Type:	Marker
Art Type:	Sketchbook
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	457
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	4/23/2010

About the Owner

Rarebit Fiend
Member Since:	February 2005

Doodles 74
Artist: Alex Toth (All)
457 Views

There are 111 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.     19 through 36 shown.

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Search This Gallery Art By Type (within this Gallery) Interior Page (13) Other (35) Pin Up (1) Sketchbook (62)   Art By Popularity (within this Gallery) Most Impressions Most Comments Most Likes   Art By Year (within this Gallery) 2013 2010 2008 2007 2006 2005

Art By Artist (within this Gallery) Alex Toth

 

About the Owner Rarebit Fiend Premium Gallery Owner Joined: February 2005 Last Login: September 2025 Ebay Id: rarebit-fiend Country: GERMANY On CAF: Rarebit's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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