P.S. Mueller - 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.