Jeff MacNelly. Fine Art Prints & Original Paintngs

Jeff MacNelly is best knows as the creator of the comic strip Shoe and for his long and and prolific career as an editorial cartoonist, most notably for the Chicago Tribune. Jeff won three Pulitzer Prizes for his political cartooning but always said he was more proud of the two Reubens which are bestowed by his fellow cartoonists.

Jeff's genius lay in his ability to perceive life as an IMAX screen. Consummately observant, his tolerance with the vast spectrum of human foibles and his intelligence are abundantly represented in his painting.

Jeff and his wife Susie had been visiting Key West for years and moved there part time in 1990. I was at their house admiring Jeff’s latest painting one day. “Jeff, why don’t you let me take that down to the gallery and sell that for you?” Being one of the most extraordinarily un-pompous people ever Jeff said. “Huh, really?”

“Jeff, it’s fantastic work and you have THREE PULITZER PRIZES. I think I can sell your painting.” Off they went sailing and off I went to the Gallery on Greene with Mutt and Jeff. By the time they were back from sailing that painting was sold.

Work like the Dragster, Dot Calm, and Lady Godiva represent Jeff's love affair with Key West's colorful inhabitants and visitors.

Other paintings reflect his abiding humor with 'the real world' -- Follow Me (Bill Clinton), The Diplomat and Turn of the Century.

Witty and wry, Jeff was also a master craftsman and his paintings incredibly detailed. You can see the quality of his workmanship on each individual painting page, although of course no computer monitor really does his work justice.

Jeff's cartoons have been collected into over 20 books; "27 Years of Shoe. World Ends at 10, Details at 11" , "Golf Tips: How to Succeed in Golf Without Really Trying, " and "Play Ball! : All I Ever Learned I Forgot By The Third Inning."

Jeff and Dave Barry had a special relationship with Jeff illustrating Dave's weekly column. Their long history of collaboration also resulted in a number of books; "Dave Barry's Homes and Other Black Holes" and "Dave Barry is Not Taking This Sitting Down."

Please click here for his full bibliography.

"If you asked any cartoonist to name the best in the business, the odds are the answer would be Jeff MacNelly. He won every major cartooning award, including three Pulitzer Prizes, the first one at age 24. He also created the nationally syndicated "Shoe" comic strip, which appears in more than 1,000 newspapers. Jeff did me the honor of illustrating my Sunday column in The Miami Herald for 13 years. He was the best friend and co-conspirator a person could ever have wanted." Dave Barry

Nance Frank, Gallery on Greene (305) 294-1669 galleryongreene@bellsouth.net