Winter Lecture – Cartoonist at Sea: Two Years Sailing the World Through Photographs and Cartoons

For over twenty years, Jim Toomey has been bringing the sea into the homes of millions of newspaper readers through his comic strip Sherman’s Lagoon. Jim will discuss what inspired him to draw a comic strip set under the sea, and with a live-drawing demonstration, he’ll demonstrate how he creates his comic strip.

In the second part of his talk, Jim will discuss his experiences living on a sailboat for two years with his wife, Valerie, their two kids and the family dog, and how he managed to continue publishing a daily comic strip about the ocean while living on the ocean.

Presenter: Jim Toomey | Writer & Cartoonist 

About the Presenter: Jim Toomey is an internationally published humor writer and syndicated cartoonist best known as the creator of the popular comic strip Sherman’s Lagoon, published daily in over 150 newspapers, including The Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Chicago Tribune. The strip’s underwater theme, featuring a great white shark named Sherman and his cast of ocean-going friends, appeals to adults and children alike. Jim has just completed his 27th book, published by Andrews McMeel.

Sherman’s Lagoon combines Jim’s two life-long passions:  drawing and the sea. Jim’s been engaged in the former activity since he could hold a crayon, and his love of the sea dates back to his early childhood. Jim has done two TED Talks, the first in April 2010, at an ocean-themed TED event in the Galapagos Islands, and the second in 2016 in Cannes, France. He has given similar talks at a variety of venues, from the Royal Society in London to Harvard University to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to his children’s kindergarten class.

In the summer of 2015, Jim and his family purchased a sailboat and embarked on a 14,000-mile journey, which covered most of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe, some of North Africa, a trans-Atlantic jaunt, most of the Caribbean, and the east coast of the USA.  The cruise ended in June 2017.

Jim currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife and two children.

About the Series: 

The Annapolis Maritime Museum holds its annual Winter Lecture Series over eight consecutive Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. from mid-January through early March. You will be challenged to question and to learn by engaging speakers on diverse topics including maritime history, local history, science and maritime art.

The 2023 series will be held in person at the Museum Campus (723 Second Street Annapolis, MD 21403). Pre-registration is strongly suggested, space is limited. Registration fee of $10 per person at the door – first come, first served. Free admission for First Mate ($150) and above.