New cartoon series begins today

Beginning today, the Southeast Missourian adds a weekly cartoon series called "It's that time of the year" to its Learning section. The feature is drawn by artist Taylor Crowe, who grew up in Cape Girardeau.

The cartoon will take a new look at a topical subject like a holiday, obscure fact about the date or a season of the year.

Crowe, 20, has been working with graphic arts for several years but also has drawn cartoons, several of which were published in "Tipoff."

He was selected to attend the California Institute of the Arts three years ago. He will spend part of the coming summer as an assistant director in the animation department at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Sitka, Alaska.

His work received an honorable mention in the 2000 "Art for the Health of It" display at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Crowe is a graduate of Central High School. He is the son of David Crowe and Sandy Blankenship.