Cartoonist Survey #68

Born in Ohio and now living in Florida, writer and cartoonist, Nate Fakes attended Wright State University in Ohio. He was the artist and cartoonist for his college newspaper, The Guardian, drawing political cartoons and the strip Break of Day. During college Nate received an invitation from MAD magazine to be an intern. It only took a little over a year before he was publishing articles in MAD. He still continues to provide material for MAD and he has a new comic series, Twisted Toaster Tales, which will start appearing in the March issue, #503. In a couple of weeks he will be launching a new webcomic based on Twisted Toaster Tales. In addition to MAD and freelance work, Nate is also the illustrator for the comic strip, Knocking on Heaven’s Door. He has been collaborating on Knocking on Heaven’s Door for several years with comedian Tommy Blaze. In December Nate and Tommy put out their first book and the first edition quickly sold out. The second edition is now out and available for sale here. Nate’s website is going away, but fear not, he already has a new one.

What is your favorite pen to use?
The most frequently used (and favorite) is my Hunt 513EF pen nib and dip pen.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I use a 4H drawing pencil. The mechanical ones seem to always give me a hard time.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
A little bit of both. Most frequently I use digital color, but for some projects I do it by hand.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Watercolors. I used to use crayons back in 3rd grade.

What type of paper do you use?
Strathmore 400 series smooth Bristol board. Nothing else has worked out.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Cars and long legs. I don’t know why that is, either? I can draw them, but I HATE drawing them. Might stem from my childhood when I got my leg stuck in a car (I don’t know if that happened or not, but it’s just a hunch).

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I buy little items locally, but I get the paper, ink and the essentials shipped in after being purchased online.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Coffee first, and if I really want to go full-throttle I’ll scarf down a donut as well.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre? I’ve got my regulars like Mozart, The Doors and the surprising mix of music on NPR. Hannah Montana is NOT in my collection.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I never (and still have not) got into action/superhero comics. I had Garfield, Calvin and Hobbes and Farside books more than anything else. I’d say they were my favorite as a kid.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin and Hobbes and Peanuts are a pretty close tie for first. Of course, I did have my Ziggy-phase for about a day or two (or a couple of minutes).

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
I met illustrator Stephen Kellogg as a young kid, and his book ‘How Much is a Million’ was a real favorite. No, I sadly don’t have the book anymore.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I took art classes in college for fine arts. Never had any digital training or cartooning lessons.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
I don’t really know - a little mixture of a devil and an angel maybe? I kind of miss the days when you would actually submit by mail and read in print.

Did either of your parents draw?
Dad used to paint, but not much at all while I was growing up. My mom didn’t, but she was very musically talented.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Wife, family, and friends.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes, but what I sketch more than anything else is text. I never got into sketching drawings on a regular basis. I learned the most from just diving right into a project, and learning from mistakes that way.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I taught at a community center to a bunch of kids in grades K-5. All they wanted to do was learn to draw Sponge Bob, no matter how hard I tried to teach them something better. I enjoyed helping them draw Sponge Bob though.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
PASSION, for sure – passion! If you’re not passionate about something, it doesn’t matter how talented you are, you won’t get anywhere.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
MAD Magazine is about the only thing. I’ve got to study what is funny a lot.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Probably Cap’n Crunch, because I’m always craving those Crunch Berries.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Nothing comes to mind. I’d be miserable.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
It’s organized chaos. I’d describe it as worse than the inside of a woman’s purse. I have everything in a corner of my studio, but all of the loose paper scraps, pencils shavings and ink stains are important to me.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Inspired from the movie ‘Amadeus’, I can play the piano - backwards.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Once you think you know everything about the industry, there is twice as much that you don’t know. Stay persistent, because you WILL get frustrated.

Who is your favorite artist?
Pollack, he was a frustrated one!

Thanks Nate!

Ex-marine biologist turned cartoonist, John Hambrock, shares his answers next.

Cartoonist Survey #67

Illustrator, cartoonist, animator, website and game designer, Bob Flynn has been creating comics since he was a little kid. He received a BFA in Visual Communications from Washington University in St. Louis. In his senior year, his love of animation lead him to make a 3-minute cartoon called “Jinx the Monkey” for his thesis. Now “Jinx the Monkey” is the name of his website, which is loaded with wonderfully drawn monsters, animals and strange creatures. Highly skilled in Flash and web page construction, he is the Lead Designer at the Boston based educational media company FableVision. While at FableVision, some of the clients Bob has worked with include MIT, Carnegie Hall and the National Academy of Sciences. He drew the Sponge Bob comic for Nickelodeon Magazine and is a regular contributor to ARGH!, a Spanish comic anthology magazine. You can see much more of Bob’s work at his website including the above mentioned "Jinx the Monkey" thesis cartoon. You should also check out his blog where you will find some very good tutorials that guide you through inking and also drawing in Flash. Read more about ARGH! here and check out FableVision’s blog called Creative Juices.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Lately I've been doing a lot of inking with the Pentel Pocket Brush pen. But I also draw a fair amount in Flash with a tablet.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Yes, standard—either a 2H or 2B.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
I do all my coloring on the computer—in PhotoShop, Flash, or Art Rage.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
I've dabbled in watercolor, gouache, and acrylic...but not in a long time.

What type of paper do you use?
Mainly Strathmore Bristol Series 300.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Good question—I'm not often asked this. I have a hard time with anything mechanical or specific, because I like to be able to make things up. Certain kinds of anatomy are tricky, especially in the animal kingdom (horses come to mind). Backgrounds in general drive me crazy, but it's a good feeling when I knock one out. And lastly, anything boring.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
A mix—Blick is the closest to me, but in Boston there are a number of smaller stores like Artist & Craftsman. I order specialized tools online.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Not so much, except putting on the tunes and sharpening my pencil.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I guess I'd call myself an indie rock guy, but I'm friendly to most genres of music—new and old.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Leaps and bounds above anything else, Calvin & Hobbes. And the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin & Hobbes is definitely at the top, but Herriman's Krazy Kat is a close second.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
For some reason, Charlotte's Web comes to mind. My copy is probably tucked away at my parents. I loved anything by Roald Dahl, too.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I have a BFA in Visual Communications (Illustration) from Washington University in St. Louis.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
A complete blessing—especially in staying connected with other artists.

Did either of your parents draw?
My father is great with crafts, and my mother has shown me drawings she did of the Peanuts characters when she was a kid, but neither of them really draw.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Back in the day, definitely my parents—and they still very much are. And I would lump all my friends and family into the bunch now.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
I certainly do. I'm a doodler—a sketchbook is essential for tapping into weirdness and coming up with new characters.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Not in an official teaching environment, but I enjoy helping other artists grow and would consider it a privilege to teach some day.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Drawing is more important than anything else. Passion is useful in terms of raw output (an energy source). Talent gives you a bit of an edge.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Not really. Maybe art books and comics?

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
SpongeBob. In spirit, anyway...I like to think I'm more optimistic than people take me for. He's my favorite cartoon character, too.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Right-handed.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Hard to say, because I love it more than anything else. But physics would be up there.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
The corner of a small room in my apartment that I like to call the Studio. A drafting table with room to spread out.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I used to play trumpet. Haven't picked it up in a while.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Don't worry about picking a style—it should find you. And make art that is honest.

Who is your favorite artist?
I can't say I have one, to be honest. But I have a ton of respect for Bill Watterson, George Herriman, Robert Crumb, Jim Woodring, Chris Ware, and Richard McGuire, to name a few.

Thanks again Bob!

Up next is cartoonist and writer, Nate Fakes.

Cartoonist Survey #66

Northern Californian cartoonist Benita Epstein was a medical and scientific researcher before becoming a cartoonist. She earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Entomology and then spent the next twenty years studying such things as yellow fever mosquitoes, autism and photosynthesis. She even traveled to islands all over the world collaborating with her husband in ecological field research. Her strong scientific background plays a key part in her cartooning specialties of medicine, science and education. Her cartoons have been published in the highly respected American Scientist magazine. In addition, Benita’s drawings have appeared in hundreds of other publications including The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest and Barron’s. She is a very successful greeting card cartoonist, having been nominated for the Reuben award in the greeting card category. She is one of the “chix” for King Features’ syndicated Six Chix comic strip, being the cartoonist on Fridays. See more examples of Benita's work at her website.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Sakura Pigma Micron Brush.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Any pencil that's already sharpened.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
99% in PhotoShop.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Watercolors.

What type of paper do you use?
HP LaserJet. It's very smooth.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Cars, bikes, trains, airplanes or anything mechanical.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I get the pens at Michael's, sometimes online.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Listen to music.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Yes, classical.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Not really. They scared me. I was able to handle Casper the Friendly Ghost, though.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Cul De Sac, Between Friends and Tina's Groove.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
I had collections of Chas. Addams and Edward Gorey and still have them.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I took art in high school and a few classes as an adult.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Absolutely a blessing until the electricity goes off.

Did either of your parents draw?
My mother dabbled in pastels.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My husband, my parents when they were alive were huge fans, my siblings, cousins, friends.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes, mostly to write jokes in.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I gave demonstrations to adult developmentally disabled and other handicapped students. It was fun and the people seemed to enjoy it, too.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Talent.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Not really anymore. Every year I want less and less stuff hanging around.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Marge Simpson, I guess.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Right-handed.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Train dogs.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
I draw at a light table I've had for 18 years. All my art supplies are there, but I really only use a pencil, eraser, turkey feather to brush crumbs away, various Pigma pens and sticky notes.

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?
Go to college.

Who is your favorite artist?
Richard Thompson.



Thank you very much Benita!

Cartoonist, animator and game designer, Bob Flynn provides his answers for the next installment of the Cartoonist Surveys.

Cartoonist Survey #65

New Hampshire cartoonist, designer and librarian, Stephanie Piro, is originally from New York where she attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. She started her Strip T’s Design Company in 1984 through which she sells T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and many other gift items with her designs on them. Her cartoons have been published in many magazines including, Ms., Glamour and the Funny Times. There have been three books published that collect her work; Men Ha!, Caffeinated Cartoons and My Cat Loves Me Naked. Stephanie has her own daily cartoon panel that she writes and draws called Fair Game, which appears on her website and in newspapers around the country. If all of that wasn’t enough, she is also Saturday’s cartoonist for King Feature’s strip, Six Chix, which is in over 125 newspapers worldwide. The National Cartoonist Society recently honored Stephanie by featuring her on the cover of their magazine, The Cartoonist. She loves kitties and has won awards from the Cat Writers’ Association for writing and illustrations she has done featuring cats. Read Stephanie’s daily panel at her website and buy something from her Cafepress shop. Follow the Six Chix strip here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
A Koh-I-Noor Artpen.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I never pencil!

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
I used to use Dr, Martens liquid watercolors, but now I primarily use adobe PhotoShop.

What type of paper do you use?
Copy paper.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Cars and things like furniture. My work is pretty stark.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Staples for paper. Ink through eBay.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I write first, so I have to have quiet. Then I just brainstorm ideas as they come to me and write them down. Sometimes I'll leaf through magazines for ideas.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Not while I draw, but if I'm cleaning things up in the computer I'll listen to folky music or Pandora where I make channels like western soundtracks or Cat Stevens or Conor Oberst.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Peanuts, Pogo, Archie comics and Mad Magazine.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Peanuts was my most consistently favorite. I also liked Brenda Starr.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
I loved "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" (I was a big Lewis Caroll and John Tenniel fan) Charlotte's Web (I loved Garth Williams) and the Velveteen Rabbit. I also really loved Weekly Reader books like "The Pink Motel" and "No Children, No Pets" both about Florida. I still have all these books.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I went to SVA in the late 60's/early 70's.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
I LOVE the Internet!

Did either of your parents draw?
My Mom was a pretty good artist and a wonderful photographer.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My parents were very supportive.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
No, I write and sketch on clipboards filled with paper.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I've been running a cartoon club for kids at the library for 7 years. It's great fun to see their enthusiasm and to see how they tackle an idea and develop styles.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
You've got to have some sort of natural talent. Passion will only get you just so far if you don't have your own style.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Books. Movies. Affordable art.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
HMMMM, animated? Rocky the Flying Squirrel. A girl did his voice (June Foray), so I think that's OK.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I work p/t at a library, so I'd be a librarian. Second best job ever after cartooning!

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
A futon and a drawing board with an artcart filled with pens. I can't do the stool and drawing board.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I wish. Kazoo.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Have a regular job to pay the bills while you establish yourself, unless you have a patron or rich parents who love you a lot!

Who is your favorite artist?
Joseph Cornell. Also Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, Max Ernst...oh, too many to narrow it down!

Thank you Stephanie.

The next set of answers will be from another Six Chix cartoonist, Benita Epstein.

Cartoonist Survey #64

Cartoonist Mick Stevens started drawing cartoons for The New Yorker over 30 years ago. Originally from Oregon he did a stint in San Francisco working in the underground comix scene. In 1979, when The New Yorker accepted his first cartoon, he packed up and moved to New York. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Barron’s, USA Weekend and The Harvard Business Review. Mick’s cartoons have been released in cartoon collection books including Poodles from Hell, If Ducks Carried Guns, Mystery Wrapped in an Enigma, and Things Not to Do Today. He is also featured in both of The New Yorker’s Rejection Collection books. Learn more about Mick and see other examples of his work at his website and his I Really Should Be Drawing blog. You can watch a tour of Mick’s studio here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
One answer for your first two questions: I use felt-tip pens for my every-day drawing, and mechanical pens and ink for finished work. As we all know, sometimes the rough drawings turn out better than the finished work, because the roughs are more spontaneous. I actually prefer the felt-tip versions most of the time, but they tend to fade after a while, so I use ink for finished originals.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer and if you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
In some cases I use a PhotoShop-tweaked version of the original rough drawing, usually without tone, for publication, especially if the work is for the web. In other instances, like finished work for the New Yorker, I use ink and a gray wash. If I'm doing color, it's either PhotoShop or watercolors, depending on what the drawing is used for.

What type of paper do you use?
I splurge a little on paper: I use White 24 lb. Capitol Bond/Light Cockle, which I buy by the case. I use it for everything because I like the texture of it and the way it reacts to the pens I use. For finished original work, for the New Yorker, etc., I use acid-free watercolor paper, usually Cotman 140 lb.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I enjoy drawing almost anything, but try to simplify things for stylistic and readability reasons. If the reader's eye gets lost in the artwork, he or she is distracted from the joke, which for me is the important thing. Contemporary magazine cartoonists are often not that proficient at drawing in the classical sense, myself included. For some of us, the drawing style, including flaws, is part of the general feeling of the joke. There has to be a match between the style of the drawing and that of the humor.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I use online stores for everything except the aforementioned bond, which I get from a local printing supply store.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I'd like to say that I do: (I always wash my hands before drawing. I never wear a shirt. I have a lucky charm in my shoe.) but I don't.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I can't listen to music or anything else when I'm coming up with ideas. Partly, this is due to another of my interests, which is playing the saxophone. If I hear music, it distracts me completely. I'm constantly trying to understand the musician's language, which for me is like cracking a code, and it takes all my concentration.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Before I discovered magazine cartooning, I loved the Sunday comics and for a time almost worshipped Walt Disney. I devoured all the Disney comic books as soon as I got a hold of them. I wanted to be an animator or a comic-strip artist and kept trying to become one of those things. Later in life I did a few animated things for Sesame Street, and nearly sold a couple of cartoon-strips, but eventually discovered I didn't really have the attention-span or patience necessary for that kind of work. Magazine cartooning was a perfect match for my temperament, as it turned out: The shortest distance between the idea and it's expression.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
I stopped reading comic strips some time ago, but have a lingering affection and respect for some of the greats, like Walt Kelly's "Pogo" and Johnny Hart's early "BC" strips. I thought "Calvin and Hobbes" was great, too.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
Mostly anthologies of early Punch cartoons and annual or semi-annual collections of previously published American cartoons called something like "Cavalcade of Cartoons", with examples of work from the big magazines of the time, like "The Saturday Evening Post", etc. I have a lot of New Yorker collections, etc., but no more "Cavalcades". They used to be easy to find in used book stores.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
No formal training at all. I'm just making this up as I go along.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both, no doubt. Magazine cartooning is being transformed very quickly now by technology. We can no longer expect to get paid for our work in the way we once were, since the concept of copyright and ownership of the work is now up for grabs. What we used to think of as theft (The use of our work without permission or payment) is now commonplace and for all intent and purposes legal, since people, some of whom are unaware of the previous state of affairs, simply download what they like for free. This could be the end or a new beginning for what we do, depending on how print media adapts to the new realities.

Did either of your parents draw?
No.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
I've been encouraged by almost everyone I've known or met. There were a couple of exceptions, professionals who saw my early work and actually told me to give it up. (When I look back at that early work, I can't blame them much.) but what they said had the effect of spurring me on, just to prove to them and myself that they were wrong. In that sense, these guys did me a huge favor.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
No. I have an "Idea-box" where I collect my daily doodles and potential cartoon ideas, ten or so of which I select to do up for my weekly batch of cartoons for the New Yorker.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I'm not sure it can be taught, outside of the basics of drawing in general, like the use of color, perspective and composition. Once again, this applies mainly to magazine cartooning. Other forms are more draftsmanship- and design-oriented, closer to illustration, which can be taught. Humor is the important ingredient in what we do, and it's either in you or not.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
50/50, maybe. (It's possible to produce salable work without either.)

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Does dust count?

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Maybe one of those early dinosaurs which evolved eventually into birds. It would be a very long movie with an upbeat ending, me singing while perched on a tree-branch, maybe.

Are you a righty or lefty?
David, let's keep my sex-life out of this.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Play the saxophone in Grand Central Station and become a legend.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
A room, a drawing-table, a computer, a few books, cartoons by other artists on the walls. (The most important feature is a faucet projecting from the wall, which dispenses hot and cold ideas on demand.)

Do you play any musical instruments?
Specifically, an old Selmer MKVI tenor sax and a three-year-old Yamaha Custom Z tenor, purchased as a backup horn.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Pick something other than magazine cartooning, at least until its future is determined. Animation might be a good way to go from the standpoint of getting a paycheck.

Who is your favorite artist?
There are too many of them to name. I can't really mention one without including them all. My preferences are pretty much all New Yorker cartoonists, past and present, living and dead, men and women.

Thanks again Mick!

Stephanie Piro, creator of the single panel comic, Fair Game and Saturday's Chick on the strip Six Chix, will be next.

Cartonist Survey #63

Cartoonist and illustrator Paul Gilligan lives in Toronto, Ontario. He is the creator of the very successful comic strip, Pooch Café. He read super-hero comics, Bloom County and Mad magazine while growing up, which strongly influenced Paul to study illustration and animation at Sheridan College and also comedy writing at the Film Institute in Ottawa. He worked as a florist, gas station attendant and night watchman before landing a job at a large advertising agency. Next he became an on-staff illustrator at the Ottawa Citizen newspaper and won a National Newspaper Award for design in 1990. Paul has done work in editorial cartooning, animation, advertising, comic books and storyboarding. His list of clients includes publications such as TIME, Wall Street Journal, Disney Magazine and Entertainment Weekly and corporations including NFL Properties, Labatt’s Brewery and Visa. His comic strip Pooch Café was first syndicated by Copley’s and then in 2001 it was picked up by Universal Press Syndicate. Pooch Café now appears in about 275 newspapers worldwide and a movie by Sony Animation is in the works. Go to Paul’s website and then go to his Pooch Café blog.

What is your favorite pen to use?
A brand new Faber-Castell brush pen. They’re only perfect for about one panel then begin the slide into “background filler pen”.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Mech. Ani. Cal.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
On the computer, but my hands are still involved.

What type of paper do you use?
2 ply, nothing spesh.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Cars. Horses. Vince from “Sham-Wow” pissed me off. I’m pretty sick of drawing the dogs standing at the bar, too.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I pace while I’m writing, so when I’ve got an idea I reward myself with sitting down at the table.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I bought a Marvel 3-pack when I was a kid. In it was a Thor and a Hulk. They launched my love of superheroes and became my favorites for many years. The one in the middle was some filler character called “3D Man”, who was a tad less impactful.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Currently, I’d say Tom the Dancing Bug. Growing up, same as usual, nobody needs the big 3 or 4 spelled out one more time.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
I loved this book called “The Little Captain”. I loved it so much I didn’t want it to be over, so as I got closer to the end I read smaller and smaller amounts of it. I never finished it. I have no clue what happened to the book. I tried to find a copy of it a few years ago but it’s out of print.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
1 year animation, 3 years illustration, all at Sheridan in Toronto.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Total blessing; don’t know how people lived without it. And I mean that sincerely, I know it sounds sarcastic when you answer a question like that with genuine enthusiasm via this method, but I mean it.

Did either of your parents draw?
Dad painted, and drew some. And he made these great soapstone sculptures a few times. Mom did a needlepoint owl once.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Parents, for sure. I told them I didn’t have to get good grades because I wanted to go to art college, and they accepted that. That was totally cool of them.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Nope. Sketch, admire, trashcan.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
I dunno. Guess it depends if you’re drawing a carburetor or painting “the ethos of creation”.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I guess if anything, I’ll keep graphic novels I respect for further readings.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Don’t let negative feedback knock you back. Use it to galvanize yourself into drawing more, becoming better. Always remember the reason you started drawing was that it was fun, and keep it that way.

Thank you very much Paul!

Up next is New Yorker cartoonist, Mick Stevens.

Cartoonist Survey #62

Cartoonist, writer, radio personality and voice actor, P.S. Mueller has been drawing and selling cartoons since 1969. His cartoons have appeared in dozens of publications including The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, The Chicago Reader, Barron's and Field and Stream. His cartoons have been collected in such books as, Cats and Dogs/Dogs and Cats and Your Belief System Is Shot: Cartoons and Stuff. His work is also included in both of the New Yorker’s Rejections Collection books. For years he has been a regular columnist for Rosebud magazine which is a literary journal. Pete is a former radio announcer and since 1999 he has co-written and is the voice of fictional newsreader Doyle Redland, for the Onion Radio News. You can listen to some of the broadcasts of the Onion Radio News, which is syndicated to over 90 radio stations, here. Aside from his news anchor gig at the Onion, he narrated the audio version of two of their books, Our Dumb Century and Finest News Reporting. Make sure you check out his website.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Rapidograph or PhotoShop/Wacom.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Nope.

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

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
I did use Dr. Martin's watercolors.

What type of paper do you use?
Borden & Riley Paris Bleedproof.

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?
Dick Blick.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Self-mutilation.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Yes. Mainly instrumental, electronic/avant garde, jazz, etc.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Mad.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Big George.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
Tom Corbett Space Cadet. Long Lost.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
None.

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

Did either of your parents draw?
Dad produced great napkin caricatures.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Bob Roth and Bob McCamant at the Chicago Reader.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
No.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Never taught.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Obsession.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Rocks.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Koko the Clown.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Tailor to the midgets.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Plain flat desk.

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?
Stay away from print. It's a dying source of income for cartoonists.

Who is your favorite artist?
Living: Sam Gross.
Dead: Saul Steinberg.

Thank you very much for your answers Pete!

Toronto, Canada's illustrator and cartoonist, Paul Gilligan will be next in the Cartoonist Survey series.

Cartoonist Survey #61

Graphic designer, artist and cartoonist Terri Libenson has been drawing ever since she was a little kid, growing up in Pennsylvania. While getting here degree at Washington University in St. Louis, MO she studied art history and illustration. Starting in 1993 she worked as a writer and illustrator for American Greetings after college and created a humorous line of greeting cards called “Skitch.” The “Skitch” line of cards was so successful that Terri had a seven year run with it. In 2000 she had her first child and her first strip, “Got A Life,” was syndicated by King Features.

When she had her second child in 2002 she stopped producing “Got A Life” to stay home and take care of her children. She used this time to also come up with new ideas for another strip. In 2006 she started her very successful strip, “The Pajama Diaries,” who’s main character is Jill Kaplan an artist and wife raising her two kids at home. “The Pajama Diaries” is syndicated by King Features and appears in hundreds of newspapers across the country. Terri, now living in Cleveland, OH, still works part-time as a writer for American Greetings, while producing her strip and taking care of her family. You can see more about Terri, with examples of her work on her website.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I like Microns, all sizes.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I use a mechanical pencil. I have a billion broken-off pencil tips littering my desk, but I still can’t do without one.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
Computer: PhotoShop.

What type of paper do you use?
I use “Plate/Smooth” Bristol (14” x 17”).

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I can’t stand drawing backgrounds, but I do it anyway. I love drawing people, though -- women in particular.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I drive to a local art supply store. LOVE the place!

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Stumbling groggily into the office in my jammies and spilling droplets of coffee and cereal on my laptop keyboard. It’s quite a routine (And irritates my techie husband).

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I don’t. I either listen to the TV in the background or to NPR.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I loved reading comics. “Peanuts” was my all-time favorite.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
I love so many now, I couldn’t pick one. My favs growing up were “Peanuts” and “Bloom County.”

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
My “Dr. Seuss” anthology (my kids have it now). And a great children’s biography about Paul Klee. I also liked my parents’ old World Book encyclopedias. I was a weird kid.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
Yes, lots. I grew up taking private art lessons from a wonderful local artist, Sue Hand. I also have a BFA in illustration and a minor in art history from Washington U in St. Louis. I also took summer art programs at different colleges while in high school. In other words, I was the quintessential art freak.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both. It can be a great tool as well as a great distraction.

Did either of your parents draw?
My father had wonderful graphic design skills (although he was in a different profession) and my mother studied painting. Both were appreciators of all the arts.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My husband helps me with so many aspects of the strip and is my emotional rock. So I think he wins. But the rest of my family (immediate and extended) has always believed in me.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
No. I tend to write down my thoughts as opposed to illustrating them. Go figure.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I did once for a few months (cartooning). But I prefer the hands-on solitary experience of drawing. I love being an “art docent” at my kids’ school, though. I go into the classroom and teach the kids about specific artists and styles. That’s the extent of my teaching abilities.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
To me, it’s about both…but you certainly can’t go far unless you have the drive.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I have a huge collection of my own original comic strips!
Actually, I’m not a collector by nature, but I noticed my bookshelf of graphic novels is growing by the hour.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Jessica Rabbit. No, just kidding. Probably just an animated version of my regular alter-ego character, Jill. There’d be no one closer.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
My first instinct would be to say, “I have no idea!” But then I realize, hey – I also write. So yes, I’d write.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
I draw on a light box set up on my kitchen table. There’s a plethora of tracing paper, roughed-out strips, Microns, mechanical pencils, rulers and crumbs. Lots of crumbs.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I played violin for 8 years growing up. I gave it up for art. I probably couldn’t read a musical note now.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Just make sure you thoroughly enjoy it. A little cliché but so true. Also, try to keep up those skills.

Who is your favorite artist?
I don’t have an actual favorite (too many to count), but I was heavily influenced by a few in the past. On the fine arts side: Klee, Chagall, and many of the pop artists. On the cartooning side: Charles Schulz, Berke Breathed and Lynda Barry.

Thank you very much Terri.

Cartoonist and writer P.S. Mueller is up next.

Cartoonist Survey #60

Cartoonist and illustrator, Steve McGarry hails from Manchester, England and now lives in California. He started freelancing full-time as a cartoonist in 1971, with his first published work appearing in a British comic book for girls entitled ROMEO. In the early 80's Steve's career as a cartoonist took off as he made his national newspaper debut in the Daily Star. Starting in the 80's and continuing throughout the years he has been creating packages for the Wold Cup and European Championships soccer series. These packages contain wall-sized posters with brackets for the tourney, profiles of legendary players and retrospectives of the previous years.

When he moved his family to California in 1989 he started producing work for the UK's biggest soccer magazine, SHOOT! 1989 also saw the beginning of his 13-year run with THE SUN, writing and drawing his Badlands comic strip, which was a spoof on the Wild West genre. Pop Culture, Kid City and Biographic are other features that Steve has had success with. His cartoons and strips have been syndicated worldwide by both United Media and United Press.

Steve was the President of the National Cartoonist Society for two terms, 2001-2003 and 2003-2005. He has been nominated six times for National Cartoonist Society Illustration awards and, and received the National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Illustration Award in 2002 which is the same year he was named Illustrator of the Year (Stanley Award) by the Australian Cartoonists' Association. The apple didn't fall too far from the tree because Steve's twin sons, Joe and Luke, are quite talented themselves. They are the youngest recipients of the Silver T-Square Award (presented to persons who have demonstrated outstanding dedication or service to the Society or profession) from the National Cartoonist Society and they form the indie music duo Pop Noir. Make sure you visit Steve's website and see more of his wonderful illustrations.

What is your favorite pen to use?
For the last year or so, I've switched to creating everything on a Wacom Cintiq. Prior to that, I used Rapidographs and Microns to produce my photo realistic stipple illustrations ((as well as dip pens and brushes for hair, garments) and the cartoons were created using Rotring artpens (usually B or BB nibs), and dip pens. For simple cartoon illustrations, I usually went with a Sharpie.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I'm a mechanical man.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
As I say, everything is now done on a Cintiq. I create the art in a program called Sketchbook Pro – switching to Manga Studio EX4 for hair – then color everything in PhotoShop.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
I used to favor dyes and inks on CS2 illustration board. British newspapers began running daily strips in full color in the early 1990s but in those dial-up days, they were unable to take the files electronically. So, for a couple of years, I used to hand color photocopies of the art using Pantone markers and ship them by courier. By the mid-1990s, I was doing all my coloring in PhotoShop.

What type of paper do you use?
For the realistic stuff, I used to use CS10 illustration board for b&w and CS2 hard pressed illustration board for color. Letraset made a great illustration paper for years, and when that line was discontinued I switched to Borden & Riley #234 Bleedproof Paris paper. For cartoons, I always used Strathmore smooth finish bristol board.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Bicycles!

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
When I lived in England, my hometown of Manchester had a great art supply store, and I was frequently in London, so always used to call in at a big art store in Covent Garden. Here in Southern California, there are two really good specialty art stores within a 10-mile radius of my house. I have bought illustration boards via the Internet from time to time.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Cups of tea. Endless cups of tea.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Frequently ... or the TV is on and tuned to either Fox Soccer Channel or MSNBC.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I used to read all the DC and Marvel titles and Mad magazine growing up, as well as all the British weeklies, from The Beano and Dandy, to The Hotspur, The Victor and The Eagle.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
When I moved to the States and became a member of the NCS, I was struck by how revered Charles Schulz was by practically all of my peers. They'd all grown up on a daily diet of Peanuts! In the UK, we have national newspapers, so unless your family subscribed to the Daily Mail, you rarely saw Snoopy and the gang. My family were Daily Mirror readers, so as a kid my favorites were Andy Capp, The Perishers and Garth. In later years, I enjoyed a UK strip called Beau Peep in The Daily Star. I admired Waterson and Larson ... and I adore Segar's Popeye stuff. I also love the Asterix the Gaul books.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
Being a British kid, I always loved The Eagle annuals and the Rupert the Bear books. Ronald Searle's St.Trinians stuff was a big favorite.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
No. I was going to go to art school but landed a summer job in a studio, so that was it.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
The Internet has revolutionized my business. When I first moved to the US, I used to send my strips back to my UK clients by courier. My Fed Ex bills were horrendous. When I started creating digital color, I had to ship SyQuest disks to London, or to publishers in New York. Every four years, I create a big set of features on the Soccer World Cup and these are syndicated worldwide. We used to have to mail prints to every continent. These days, I create something and within seconds it’s delivered to every corner of the globe.

Did either of your parents draw?
My mum doodled.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My wife, Debs.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
No.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Not really. I've given lots of talks to schools - that's always fun.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
For cartooning, the writing is just as important as the art ... probably even more so. And who is to say who can and can't cartoon? Rudimentary art is no impediment in cartooning. The key is not whether or not someone can "draw" ... it's whether they can produce cartoon art to a professional standard on a regular basis. In illustration, the onus is obviously on the talent and ability. But you can't succeed in any walk of life without drive, ambition and passion.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Not really.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
The older I get, the more Homer Simpson and I have in common, unfortunately.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Not got a clue!

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Cluttered.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Guitar, piano. I was in bands for years. My twin sons, Joe and Luke, have an indie rock band called Pop Noir - www.popnoir.org - that has enjoyed a little bit of success. I've managed the band up to this point (although at some point soon I'll be looking to step back) but I do enjoy seeing them evolve as musicians. They are also very talented illustrators and designers in their own right. They are the youngest-ever recipients of Silver T-Squares from the NCS. Their art website is: www.fantasticheatbrothers.com.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Whatever you want to do in life be prepared to really put the work in to pursue your goals.

Who is your favorite artist?
Frank Bellamy. Followed by E.C. Segar, Albert Udurzo, Ronald Searle and W. Heath Robinson.

Thanks again Steve!

Terri Libenson, creator of King Features syndicated strip Pajama Diaries, provides answers for the next Cartoonist Survey.

Cartoonist Survey #59

Mack White is a comic book artist and writer who lives in Austin, Texas. In the late 1980's he began creating and self-publishing comics. This lead to his first professionally published story which appeared in Rip Off Comix in 1990. During the 90's he continued to contribute comics to such publications as the comics anthology Buzz, Heavy Metal, Boing Boing and the Austin Chronicle. Mack has also had many books published including, The Mutant Book of the Dead, Villa of the Mysteries, The Last Renegade and Raw Deal. He has done illustrations for everything from magazine covers to board games with his artwork being featured in art shows across the country. Aside from this world-renowned interview with David Wasting Paper, Mack has also been interviewed by Rolling Stone and the Comics Journal. Be sure and checkout his website.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Micropen drafting pens, Faber Castell brush pens.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Standard no. 2 pencil.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
Computer these days, but years ago I colored by hand (acrylic animation paints on back of film positives).

What type of paper do you use?
Strathmore Bristol for final artwork. Canson tracing paper for preliminary work.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I don't think there's anything in particular I hate to draw. Some things are more challenging, but the challenge is what keeps it interesting.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I go to a local art store.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I work out, meditate, and pray first thing in the morning before I do anything.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I listen to all kinds of music while drawing: every genre of rock, jazz, country, classical, from all parts of the globe. Sometimes, though, music is too distracting and silence is better.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I read a huge amount of comics as a kid and had a bunch of favorites: Al Capp, John Severin, Curt Swan, and Steve Ditko. Later as a teenager, I became a big underground fan: Crumb, Williams, Spain, Shelton, Moscoso, Wilson. Their work kept me interested in comics; otherwise, I probably wouldn't have continued to follow the medium to any significant degree.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Little Nemo in Slumberland.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and yes, I still have the same old battered copy. In the summer of 1961 I read that book so many times I memorized entire chapters.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I started drawing when I was three, watching my mother draw. I became obsessive about it from an early age, always drawing, creating my own cartoon characters and comics. My parents and teachers thought I was a prodigy. In '61 (the same wonderful summer I read Tom Sawyer) my parents enrolled me in an art class. Portraits, figure drawings, still life, landscapes-I did all that, but after that summer, I didn't take any more art classes.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Like everything in life, a bit of both. But the blessing is greater, I think. With the Internet, there's much more opportunity for artists and writers to get exposure, feedback, and so forth.

Did either of your parents draw?
My mother drew for a period of time in the 1950s and was good. She didn't keep it up, but later became a professional portrait photographer. My father didn't draw, but he was a journalist, therefore wrote a lot. So, apparently, I got the writing gene from him, and the drawing gene from my mother. Her father, incidentally, was an aspiring cartoonist. He never pursued it as a career though, because his old rancher father (my great-grandfather) discouraged him, said it wasn't man's work. So, he went into ranching and farming, but continued to cartoon on the side. Sometimes, he would even do chalk talks for the school kids. Finally, in his late 30s, he enrolled in an art school in Fort Worth, but died of cancer before he could attend. I never knew him, but of course feel a strong kinship.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My parents and my wife.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
In the 70s and 80s, I kept sketchbooks. But later it evolved into scrapbooks: sketches, doodles on Post-Its and napkins, mixed in with story ideas, poems, dreams, collages of newspaper and magazine clippings, interesting pieces of paper I find, brochures, religious tracts, stickers, stuff I print off the Internet, and on and on. The scrapbooks are many things, a pastime, a creative tool, and a focal point for meditation and connecting with alternate realities. I've tried keeping separate sketchbooks (for art) and journals (for writing) and scrapbooks (for clippings, collages etc.), but eventually they all evolve into scrapbooks.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
About a year ago, I was invited to give a talk at a Sequential Art class at St. Edwards University in Austin. This was not teaching, exactly, but mostly question-and-answers. I enjoyed it and would like to do that sort of thing again some time.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
To me, they're the same thing.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Mostly I collect books. I have a large comics collection-still have all the old Silver Age DC and Marvel comics I bought as a kid, undergrounds I bought in the 60s and 70s, a complete run of National Lampoon, Heavy Metal, and much, much more up to the present. However, comics aren't the biggest part of my library. Mostly I collect all types of fiction and non-fiction, with certain areas of special collecting interest such as: ancient history, metaphysics, Texana and Old West history, the JFK assassination, and various writers, Mark Twain, Melville, Hemingway, Philip K. Dick, Beat Generation, and more.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Popeye, only I'd smoke the spinach.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I write as well as draw, so if I ever stopped drawing, I'd continue writing, or vice versa. But, if I stopped doing both, I'd do more talk radio. PsiOp Radio, the weekly show I host with SMiles Lewis on the American Freedom Network, gives me a break from the drawing board once a week and is a lot of fun. It's a creative outlet as well. I've played some of my audio dramatizations of dreams on the program.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Studio is a bright room with books and artwork with desk, computer table, file and supply cabinets, and drawing board in front of a large north window filled with Texas sky.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I played trumpet years ago.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Persistence is the key: keep doing your art every day, keep improving, and keep showing your work every place you can.

Who is your favorite artist?
Cartoonists: Winsor McCay, Moebius, Crumb, Robert Williams.

Thanks again Mack.

Former President of the National Cartoonist Society, Steve McGarry is up next.