Anne Gibbons - Cartoonist Survey #255

Anne Gibbons is an award-winning cartoonist, illustrator and designer who is based in New York. After earning a B.A. in Sociology and a Masters in Physical Education, she spent a few years teaching Phys. Ed. She soon realized that teaching was not for her and decided to pursue a career in art. Anne began taking continuing education courses through the Art Students League, the School of Visual Arts and Parsons, where she studied under legendary cartoonist, Mort Gerberg.

Now close to 30 years later, her cartoons, illustrations and designs have appeared on just about everything including: greeting cards, newspapers, magazines, books, websites, t-shirts and more. Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Reader’s Digest, Ladies Home Journal and Redbook are just a few of the magazines that have printed her cartoons. She is a prolific creator of greeting cards and has left her mark on the greeting card industry. Recycled Paper Greetings, Marcel Schurman, Marion Heath and Pictura have all used her work. Admired by those in the cartooning community, Anne was honored by the National Cartoonists Society’s Division Award for Greeting Card category in 2000.

Anne’s humorous illustrations have also been used by many major corporations such as Lifetime Television, IBM, MasterCard, F. Schumacher and many others. Many of her cartoons have been reprinted in books, including “Crème de la Femme”, “This Could Be The Start of Something Stupid”, “When Cats Talk Back”, “Woman’s Glib: A Collection of Woman’s Humor” to name a few. As if all this weren’t enough, she has also been the Thursday cartoonist for the 'Six Chix' cartoons since 2007.

Anne lives in New York City with her husband, Ivan Braun, who is also a very creative individual. Be sure to go to Anne’s website to see more of her work, and you can learn more about the Six Chix strips here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I love Globe Bowl Pointed mapping pens but now I "ink" on a Cintiq tablet.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I use a 4-H pencil so I can erase easily.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
I color on the computer, using Photoshop for "Six Chix" cartoons and Illustrator for greeting cards.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
I used to use gouache, watercolors and watercolor dyes.

What type of paper do you use?
I do pencil sketches on Bienfang Graphics 360 100% rag paper and then scan in to "ink" on a Cintiq.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Cars.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I shop at local art supply stores in person, never big chains and never, so far, via websites.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I try to meditate before writing and/or drawing but don't always get myself to do that.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I listen to Internet/radio programs about hair raising issues we don't hear about on mainstream media, programs about holistic health and old time radio shows.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I loved reading comics as kid and I remember enjoying "Bringing Up Father" and "Miss Peach” a lot.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
I guess I'd say "Tintin" but I love many comic strips for different reasons, no one true favorite.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
I didn't really have one.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I didn't go to art school formally. I have taken continuing education classes in drawing, cartooning and illustration at Parsons School of Design, the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both.

Did either of your parents draw?
My father used to draw cartoon characters like Dick Tracy and Joe Palooka for fun.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My husband, Ivan and a very good friend named Karen.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes, always.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I taught a cartooning class to children ages 7 through 12. Didn't enjoy it enough (and didn't earn enough) to do it again.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Talent and passion are important, but having something unique to express and being disciplined about doing your best work are equally important, to my mind.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I don't collect anything. I'm always trying to get rid of things.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
I am drawing a complete blank here.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Something in holistic health.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
I have a drawing board on a big wooden desk against one wall. Against the opposite wall is a table with iMAC and my Cintiq tablet on it. I swivel back and forth between them.

Do you play any musical instruments?
No.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Find your own unique style and voice.

Who is your favorite artist?
Matisse.

Thanks again Anne!

Be sure to read the answers to the Cartoonist Survey from these other Six Chix cartoonists.

Rina Piccolo (Cartoonist Survey #54)

Stephanie Piro (Cartoonist Survey #65)

Benita Epstein (Cartoonist Survey #66)

John Forcucci - Cartoonist Survey #254

Cartoonist Survey #254 is John Forcucci, and his survey is brought to you with a little twist. John’s bio has been written by a guest writer, John’s good friend, and none other than Bill White, Cartoonist Survey #1.

Bill, thanks so much for putting us in touch with John and for contributing your words of wit and wisdom to the blog. Enjoy!


John Forcucci may be the best illustrator you've never heard of. I first met John when he was doing "live" caricatures around New England. There are a ton of people in New England doing caricatures at live events (including me!), but John's work stands out.

Although John is a wonderful "live" caricaturist, his studio work is even better. Most of his work is done, "behind the scenes", doing illustrations and storyboards, for companies like Hasbro. John has worked on a wide variety of properties, including, "Chuck the Truck", "Spider-Man", "Star Wars" and "Transformers".

If this wasn't enough, he has also done the covers for Todd Debonis' "Monkey King's Daughter", series of novels.

He is also an awesome bass player. He is so freakin' talented, it would be easy to hate him, but I can't. His work is too good.

See more of John's work here on his Boston Story Boards website, his personal website and his blog.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Staedtler Pigment liners (different sizes). Marvy "Ball and Brush" textile pens for drawing live caricatures.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Most of my contract work is done start to finish in Photoshop. When doing studies, life drawing or sketchbook stuff it's col-erase pencils (blue, carmine red and black) in addition to a Tombow Mono 2B.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
All Photoshop.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
I've been playing with Copic markers, watercolor and FW inks. Also doing some painting with acrylic and oil.

What type of paper do you use?
Plate Bristol

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Nothing really - things sometimes get uncomfortable if I'm unfamiliar with a subject so I'll hop online for reference and try to see whatever it is from different views.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
All the above - I like the convenience of having stuff shipped to the door in one big pile. That said we have a lot of local stores in Boston - it's fun to walk around and have the tactile experience.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Grab a cup of coffee and acknowledge how grateful I am to be there.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
It depends on the task at hand – sometimes I need silence (with thumbnails, for example). When I do listen to tunes it can be anything (except atonal stuff – all my respect, just not my taste). Most often it’s the Beatles. I enjoy podcasts a bunch as well - mostly creator interviews.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
John Byrne's run on Marvel Team-up and Mike Grell's Legion of Superheroes got me hooked. Discovering "back issues" sealed the deal with all those 70’s Marvel Gil Kane covers. I lost my mind.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin & Hobbes - for comic 'books' it's a toss up between 100 Bullets and New Frontier.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
Night Shift which was lost in the last move.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I have a "degree" in art . . . but there was no training involved. Lots of self-discovery, hanging out with art-peers and trolling the web for info is a continuing process.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
That depends - it's indispensable for reference, marketing and new information . . . and can be a true "time vampire" procrastination tool.

Did either of your parents draw?
My mom a bit.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My wife is a terrific support and a trusted critic.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Absolutely - I recently discover how important and useful the sketchbook is thanks to Stephen Silver (Cartoonist Survey #192).

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Only a handful of after-school programs and some storyboard lectures. I do enjoy it and hope to do more in the future.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
That's a fun debate. My 'current' belief is that there needs to be at least a spark of what folks call "talent" or an affinity for drawing. That said when you see success - passion and consistent, focused work seem to pop up again and again.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I have an art book addiction. I'm fascinated by and collect material on illustration including the Famous Artists Course books, Loomis, Rockwell, out of print How-to texts, "Art of . . ." books and artist's sketchbooks.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
If I could pick - it would be that Ant who always get the best of the Aardvark. I think his name is Charlie.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I'd be playing music.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
A Cintiq and second monitor surrounded by books, knickknacks and framed comic book art. Just shy of cluttered.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Bass guitar - I played, taught, did studio sessions, etc. for a living for about 15 years.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Treat your development seriously by allocating the time necessary to practice and grow.

Who is your favorite artist?
Depends on the day! It usually comes back to Norman Rockwell. John Byrne and Gil Kane started it all. Other big inspirations have been Alex Toth, Chuck Jones, Gregory Manchess, Eduardo Risso, Rudolphe Guenoden, Stephen Silver, Glen Keane, Bill Watterson, Darwyn Cooke, Friz Freleng, Sean Gordon Murphy, Sergio Aragones, Olivier Coipel, Brian Stelfreeze, Ben Caldwell, Scott Fischer, Stuart Immonen, Leinil Yu, J.C. Leyendecker, Massimo Carnevale, Adam Hughes, Travis Charest, Albert Dorne, Mort Drucker . . . the list is endless and ever-growing!

Thank you again for participating John!

And another thanks to Bill White for the introduction to John's work.

Issue #18 of Hogan's Alley magazine out now!

Yesterday, after a grueling day at work, I came home to find the latest issue (#18) of Hogan’s Alley magazine waiting for me in my mailbox. This is a great magazine, chock full of cartooning goodness that is well worth every penny of its $6.95 cover price. If you are a fan of the cartoon arts and you aren’t subscribed to Hogan’s Alley, now is the time to do it. Click here to subscribe now. There are also some really cool vintage cartooning, pop culture, and comics-related ephemera for sale here at the Hogan’s Alley Zazzle store.

In addition to Hogan’s Alley, you should also subscribe to John Read’s wonderful Stay Tooned! Magazine. Profiling professional artists from all of the major fields of cartooning, Stay Tooned! is a must read for anyone interested in cartooning.

Nate Powell - Cartoonist Survey #253

Graphic novelist, writer, publisher and musician Nate Powell was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1978. He began self-publishing comics with friends Mike Lierly and Nathan Wilson when he was only 14. In 1994 he started publishing zines and also started a record label. Nate would go to punk shows and sell comics, zines, tapes and records. After graduating from North Little Rock High School in 1996 he spent a short while at George Washington University in Washington, DC. He then attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City and graduated in 2000. While at SVA he received the Outstanding Cartooning Student award and the Shakespeare & Company Books Self-Publishing Grant.

Nate used some of the grant money to self-publish his 2001 comic series “Walkie Talkie.” From 1999 to 2009, in addition to cartooning, Nate worked full-time providing support for adults with developmental disabilities. He was also an actor and skit writer for the North Little Rock sketch comedy show Fun And Games for six years between 1997 and 2002.

“Tiny Giants” is Nate’s debut anthology of work. Released in 2003 and published by Soft Skull, “Tiny Giants” contains work that spans the years 1998 to 2001. His next release was 2004’s graphic novel “It Disappears” that tells the tale about a journey of self-discovery resulting in the realization that everything eventually disappears. In 2006 “Sounds of Your Name”, another collection of his work was printed, including comics, zines and his first two books “Tiny Giants” and “It Disappears”. Nate’s collection of four autobiographical stories, “Please Release” also came out in 2006.

Nate’s next effort, “Swallow Me Whole”, spotlights the effects mental illness has on families. In 2008 “Swallow Me Whole” was awarded the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Debut. The next year it received the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist and the Eisner Award for Best Original Graphic Novel. “Swallow Me Whole” was also a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist for Young Adult Fiction in 2009.

“Any Empire” is his latest graphic novel. Debuting last September, “Any Empire” looks at the damage that war and violence causes middle American children by shattering their innocence. Nate recently finished illustrating Mark Long and Jim Demonakos’ semi-autobiographical tale about civil rights struggle in 1967 Texas, “The Silence of Our Friends.” He is presently drawing “The Year of the Beasts” which is written by Cecil Castellucci and is scheduled to come out in May 2012.

On top of all of the above, Nate also managed the DIY punk record label Harlan Records for 16 years and has performed with numerous bands including Universe, Divorce Chord, Soophie Nun Squad, Wait, and Boomfancy. He’s also a fill-in writer/artist for DC’s Vertigo Comics series "Sweet Tooth" (by Jeff Lemire) and was a contributor to the acclaimed fundraising anthology "What You Wish For: A Book for Darfur." He lives in Bloomington, Indiana with his wife Rachel, their two pets and their brand new baby girl, Harper. Visit Nate’s blog here where you can see much more of his work and purchase comics, books and CDs.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I do about 50/50 work in Hunt 102 crowquill and Windsor & Newton 7 Series #2 brush.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Until a couple of months ago, I just used a regular HB pencil, but have recently rediscovered the joy of a mechanical pencil after watching my friend work with one.


Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
By hand.


If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
I color with FW Acrylic Artists Ink and a brush, directly on the line art.

What type of paper do you use?
Strathmore 400 Smooth Finish Bristol.


What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I feel that I’m weak at drawing feet, cars, and sleeves because I’m lazy at observing them. Also, horse anatomy and babies.


Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I split my orders between Dick Blick and my local shop, Pygmalion’s.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
My entire daily life is one big routine. It’s the only way to keep discipline. A typical morning (before my new baby arrived) was this: wake up at about 8, drink water and eat breakfast while checking email, reading news and Cracked.com; spend about 45 minutes gently waking my wife up at 10-minute intervals, then taking my dog on a walk through the cemetery next door. The whole ordeal takes about 2 hours.


Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
This last year I’ve listened a lot to Genesis, ^(Arc), La Roux, V Manuscript, Bernard Herman, Fat Shadow, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, New Order, Please Inform The Captain This Is A Hijack, Tammar, Dreamers Of The Ghetto, Morrow, Moby, Brian Eno, Harold Budd, Anthrax, Megadeth, Neurosis, Black Sabbath, Portraits Of Past, Yes, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Antelope, and lots of 1980’s DC hardcore.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Of course! I started reading comics when I was 3, thanks to a steady diet of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Wonder Woman. Until I was in about fifth grade, I loved G.I.Joe, Transformers (the comics shop in Alabama even carried totally separate British versions of both series, which were awesome and brutal), and The ‘Nam. Once I actually started coming into my true self, I devoured all X-Men related books, Daredevil, the original TMNT run, Appleseed, Orion, and Akira.


What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin & Hobbes, of course.


What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
Hands down, it would be "Bunnicula", and I still have my old copy at the ready.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I got a BFA in Cartooning from School Of Visual Arts in New York City, Class of 2000.


Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
It’s the Internet.


Did either of your parents draw?
My dad and both of his parents are/were pretty skilled at drawing, though none of them spent too much time focusing on it. My dad’s mom, Elaine Powell, began painting in 1980 for something to focus on while recovering from cancer, and lo and behold was quite good at it. From a very early age, I have strong memories of watching Bob Ross programs, smelling oil paint, and collaborating with her on paintings, adding snakes and dinosaurs to her rural Southern landscape paintings.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My wife Rachel Bormann is a huge support in every facet of my life, and provides crucial feedback and insight to my comics (and we’re known to crank out a few stories together like “Cakewalk”), and my best friend and collaborator Erin Tobey is a direct and constant presence with the work I do, from concept and editorial phases to art production assistance to website management. The journey would be so much harder without these two peeps!

Do you keep a sketchbook?
I have kept a sketchbook/journal fairly consistently since 1995, and have probably filled up 20 or so journals along the way. Throughout my twenties, I relied more and more on my sketchbook work to make sense of an increasingly messy and unpredictable life. As things have grounded themselves a bit more, and as projects are more long-term, I’ve virtually stopped my journal entries and simply thumbnail my books in them. I’ve never actually kept a sketchbook of life drawing, or kept in practice with it.


Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I’ve done a variety of presentations and workshops in several public libraries throughout the land, and during 1999-2002 I was an art teacher at a skills center for adults with developmental disabilities in my hometown of North Little Rock, AR. Any presentations about comics had much more to do with opening up the field for folks’ specific questions—pulling back the curtain—than teaching drawing, semiotics, or the technical side of comics.


Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
I feel that focus is more important than either, but if I had to pick one, it would maybe be talent—which seems kinda lame. But I think that part of talent in this sense can also be the developing skill set that focus brings forth in a person’s drawing, harnessing the passion and intuition that drives you to observe and create.


Do you collect anything and if so what?
I have 2,000 records, but I don’t think I would consider those a “collection” any more than my library of books or comics—maybe the difference is that these collections are constantly used and referenced. I mean, I do put all my records in little plastic baggies and stuff, but that’s because I plan to keep using them throughout my lifetime.


If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
I’ll go transgender (and transspecies) on this one, as one of my cartoon heroes is Mrs. Brisby/Frisby from The Secret Of Nimh.

Are you a righty or lefty?
I follow the right hand path.


If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
If I couldn’t make a living drawing comics, I would still gladly be doing support work for adults with developmental disabilities, a career I had from 1999 to 2009. My brother has high-functioning autism and some other disabilities and lives a very independent, functional, highly social life. Growing up with and through him gave me a natural inclination to work and communicate well with folks with disabilities, and to see the urgency of providing advocacy for folks who our society consistently wants to sweep under the couch.


In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
A lifetime’s detritus, stuffed into rows and shelves as if my studio were the final shot of Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I play bass decently, and play guitar, keyboard, and percussion most indecently. Over the years I’ve been in the bands Soophie Nun Squad (1992-2007), Gioteens (1999-2001), Boomfancy (2000-01), Wait (2005-2007), Divorce Chord (2008), and Universe (2008-2010).

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
More essential than anything else is developing and maintaining true discipline. “Draw comics every day” is a nice gesture, but it won’t cut it. After drawing comics full-time while working my job full-time for 9 years, I finally had a brief window to take a chance on full-time cartooning, but the only way I can stay afloat is working about 9 hours a day, 6 days a week, 50 weeks a year. And it’s essential to factor in several hours a day doing email/communications/media/promotion/pitch stuff on the computer. It’s a rough ride, but then again, you do get to listen to music and draw all day. It’s just that it’s ALL day.


Who is your favorite artist?
My all-time favorite mainstream comics artists are Arthur Adams and Michael Golden. These days, my very favorite cartoonist peers are Gabby Schulz, Erin Tobey, Gabriella Giandelli, Genivieve Elvrum/Castree, Dash Shaw, Becky Cloonan, Farel Dalrymple, Anders Nilsen, John Porcellino, Vanessa Davis, and Lisa Hanawalt, to name a few. It’s a great community.



Thank you very much Nate and a big congratulations on the new addition!