George Coghill - Cartoonist Survey #94

George Coghill is a cartoonist and illustrator who lives in Kent, Ohio. He graduated from Kent State with a degree in Fine Arts. Like a lot of cartoonist he was raised on a steady diet of MAD magazine. He blames his obsession with drawing, illustrating and cartooning on Mort Drucker, Don Martin and Jack Davis. Other artists who have had a big influence on his work are Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Bob “B.K.” Taylor (Odd Rods stickers and artwork). George still loves to draw monsters, robots and hot girls just like he did as a little kid. One of his specialties is cartoon logo and mascot design. In the over ten years that he has been working professionally, he has created artwork for concert posters, magazines, tattoos, t-shirt designs and much more. He loves sharing the knowledge he has gained while working as a cartoon illustrator. His blog is chocked full of product reviews, software tips and cartooning/illustration techniques. Check out George's website here and his very informative blog here. You can see a nice Adobe Illustrator tutorial that George created here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I primarily ink & color my art in Adobe Illustrator, so no actual "pen".

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I always sketch in pencil and then scan it in to PhotoShop to refine the sketch using all the tools I have in PhotoShop CS4. I draw with a lead holder (clutch pencil) with nice fat 5.6 mm leads.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
On a Mac, usually in Adobe Illustrator as vector art.

What type of paper do you use?
I sketch on plain old laser printer paper, since I just scan it into PhotoShop anyways.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I'm not a big fan of crowds & group scenes. Not really a fan of them in real life either!

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Both, but I do most of all my shopping online, especially if I know exactly what I want to buy.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Not really. Usually procrastinate!

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I listen to music at times. Sometimes I catch myself working in silence for hours; I tend to zone out on the artwork. I listen to all sorts of music, usually I have my iTunes on shuffle.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I wasn't much of a comics kid, I was way more into MAD Magazine.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
I always liked The Far Side.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
"The Haunted Spy" was a book I recall that I was always fascinated by when I was very young. I do not own a copy and it seems to be difficult to come by.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, and started out in graphic design & illustration before I switched to fine art. I really don't think the college I went to had the right program for what I wanted to do. As far as the art I create today (including the graphics software skills), I am all self-taught.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
A blessing. For sure.

Did either of your parents draw?
It seems my Dad doodled a bit, but neither one would consider "artists" at all.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Family & friends. No one person in general. If I had to pick just one, it would be myself.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
I do, but I haven't been using it lately as much as I should!

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I haven't formally taught, but it's something I am interested in. I do occasional video screencasts of the digital drawing & vectoring process, and always am open to answer a questions anyone has.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Passion by far. Passion will eventually generate the talent if you stick with it and practice enough.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Not really a "collector". No.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Although not an animated character, I think the Statler & Waldorf characters from the Muppet Show would be me. A little of both!

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I would not want to work :)

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Messy. Cluttered. It's also my computer desk. I have a portable drawing board that I use to sketch on, usually at the desk or on the couch watching a movie. Did I mention messy?

Do you play any musical instruments?
I play guitar, and can barely play the drums.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Draw, draw, draw, draw, draw. And get some business books or take business classes (if you want to work for yourself or freelance). Get a website up. Learn how Google works. Learn PhotoShop & Illustrator. And draw!

Who is your favorite artist?
Hard to pick one, but if I had to it would be Robert Williams.

Thanks a lot George.

Up next are answers from Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist, Ann Telnaes.

Jonathan Lemon - Cartoonist Survey #93

Jonathan Lemon is an artist, cartoonist, stand up comedian and musician. He was born in England and received a degree in Visual and Performing Arts from the University of Brighton. In the 80’s he designed music posters, CD covers and cartoons for music publications. During this time he also was a member of several bands including, The Chrysanthemums, a cult psychedelic art pop band. Jonathan moved to San Francisco in 1992 and did some work creating characters for software. After getting married, he and his wife lived in Cuba and Central America for a spell where he did illustration work for clients such as the Honduran Tourism Institute and the United Nations. From 1997 to 2002 he drew the comic strip Bigshot for Film/Tape World magazine. Jonathan’s political cartoons have appeared in The Boston Globe, Guardian (UK), San Francisco Examiner newspapers and magazines. His latest comic strip, Rabbits Against Magic is about two mutant rabbits, Weenus and Eightball and their strange world. He still loves performing and recording music. His current band is Monkey Versus Robot which plays instrumental surf music. Be sure to check out his main website here. Go here to learn more about Rabbits Against Magic and read the Magic Against Rabbit’s blog here.

Check out his very detailed “How to Draw a Comic Strip” tutorial on the Rabbits Against Magic website here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
It took me forty years to discover there are no magical tools that would transform me into a professional cartoonist. However, to answer the question, I use white sable bushes (sizes 00 and 0) and also when I don't feel like reloading I switch to a customized Kuretake Sumi brush pen with a Lamy Cartridge Converter filled with Pelikan ink. I trim the end off it with an Xacto knife since all those Japanese brush pens traditionally taper to one hair, which I find particularly inconvenient. I also use Copic Multiliner SPs and Micron Pigmas but they have a frustratingly short lifespan and a Faber-Castell PITT artist pen for sketching. For lettering I use a Rotring Art Pen with a B nib.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I have a Faber Castell DS05 mechanical pencil which I've had since the 1970s. The little metal sleeve at the end retracts as the lead wears down so you don't have to keep thumb pumping. It's a wonderful invention that I've never seen used since. I like a 2B lead.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
For the strip I color in PhotoShop with a Wacom Graphire II tablet. I'm still on CS2.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Pelikan watercolors (although I hate all the stretching and prep work you have to do beforehand) and/or Turner design gouache.

What type of paper do you use?
Strathmore Bristol 300 or 400 series vellum finish. I've just switched to a brand that’s made by wind power.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Everyone expects hand-made holiday and birthday cards from me. I hate doing those. Also when I was doing a lot of political cartoons there were some politicians and celebrities that were really hard to capture. Nancy Pelosi is one that springs to mind.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Flax in San Francisco. I support my local independent art store.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Since I usually go to the public library to work, I process the strips I'm gonna be drawing in my head on the way there (either walking or on my bicycle). Then I lock myself in one of the study/isolation rooms they have. No computer. No phone. Very effective.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I need silence while I'm plotting and lettering but once I start inking the iPod comes out, usually WFMU, Ubu Web, scratchy old 78s, vintage world music, mambo, crime jazz, surf intro, old-timey novelty stuff, pretty much anything in mono. I also listen to a lot of great Podcasts, especially Tall Tale Radio, Comics Coast to Coast, Radio Lab and This American Life.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I grew up in England where, like most Brits I read a lot of the kiddie fodder like Beano, Dandy, Sparky, Knockout, Wham, Whizzer and Chips. Leo Baxendale who drew strips for a lot of those comics is well worth checking out. I also obsessively read Tin Tin and Asterix. The only superhero comic I was even remotely interested in was Jack Cole's Plastic Man. Mostly I read Mad paperbacks. I didn't really understand them at age six but I just loved the art. The same with Peanuts. Later on there was Life in Hell, Love and Rockets, Eightball, Hate, and the Acme Novelty Library.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Krazy Kat by a long long way. I've read every single Sunday strip at least once and most of the dailies. George Herriman is a cartooning genius. I would have to add Bill Watterson, Walt Kelly and Charles Schulz to that list, as well as Basil Wolverton and Milt Gross. Current favorites include Underworld by Kaz, Laugh-Out-Loud Cats by Adam Koford, Macanudo by an Argentinian cartoonist called Liniers, Troubletown by Lloyd Dangle and Slowpoke by Jen Sorensen.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
I was enchanted by the Moomin books of the Finnish writer Tove Jansson. She really encapsulated the sense of desperate isolation I felt and related to as a kid (cue violins). Drawn & Quarterly are currently releasing collections of a comic strip of the same name that she drew which are amazing. I still have the books along with a fine collection of Dr. Seuss.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I have a lofty sounding degree in Visual and Performing Arts from the University of Brighton, England. It taught me never to take art seriously and to despise the gallery system.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Computers can definitely be blamed for a lot of lazy cartooning habits, myself included and I worry that some of the traditional skills will die out to the detriment of art and creativity in general. However, the Internet itself is such a great reference library and communication tool it's hard to imagine life without it.

Did either of your parents draw?
My dad was a decent old school gag cartoonist and a pretty good caricaturist. He later did lots of pen and ink stuff and for a while he made a meager living doing watercolors of old pubs in and around the London area.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
John Glynn and David Stanford (@ Universal/Uclick) along with the very understanding and patient spousal unit.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Absolutely. I get through about one a month. And by "keep" I mean I never throw them away. I have several boxes of spent sketchbooks using up valuable real estate in our basement.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
When I lived in Central America I did quite a few cartooning classes in Spanish for kids and found the experience very rewarding. I like to think that some of those kids will go on to become subversive political cartoonist who will bring down brutal dictatorships.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
I'm not sure you can have talent without passion but you can have passion without talent.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Just like the Addams Family, our house is a museum. However, being able to find pretty much anything via the Internet has taken all the fun out of collecting for me. I used to be one of those obsessive collectors, delighting in finding the under-priced gem after hours of hunting the dusty thrift store shelves. Nowadays we just accumulate. Luckily I'm too cheap to ever be a serious collector. I've practically wallpapered our house with vintage humor and cartoon books.

I have a lot of mid-century maps (the tourist ones with illustrations),tons of old movies in various formats and a lot of Tiki /Day of the Dead crap. Thankfully a lot of my gatherer instincts these days are satisfied by digital media (scans, music, movies, photographs) which are much easier to store. I just found out about a bunch of collector types who spend an unhealthy amount of time tracking down really old bottles of (presumably unopened) liquor in order to make vintage cocktails as they would have been served back in the day. Part of me is fascinated by that until reality kicks in and I realize how misguided we can be as a race.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
The town wolf in the Tex Avery cartoons.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Artistically right. Politically left.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I would like to have been one of those Edwardian naturalists who went on expeditions down the Amazon collecting and categorizing bugs and pinning them into elaborate ebony cases.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Usually it's the San Francisco public library, so lots of books and homeless people. My basement studio is a veritable cocoon of ephemera, figurines, CDs and Polynesian kitsch.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I'm ashamed to say I was a professional (in the sense that I was financially reimbursed, not necessarily very good) musician in the eighties in a rather dubious synthesizer band and later as a musical cabaret/stand up act. I had more hair than talent. These days I play the diatonic accordion and the ukulele.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Marry into wealth.

Who is your favorite artist?
It's a toss up between Jan Svankmajer and Aki Kaurismaki. Say what you want about communism but it produces great art.

Thank you Jonathan.

Up next is cartoonist and illustrator George Coghill.

Carlos Castellanos - Cartoonist Survey #92

Carlos Castellanos has been working as an illustrator and cartoonist for over 20 years. He loved drawing as a little kid and has fond memories of his dad drawing cartoons for him. He started freelancing in 1981 while still in school. As an illustrator he has produced work for numerous clients including, the Florida Marlins, KFC, Men’s Fitness magazine, Domino’s Pizza, Time Warner and Consumer Reports. Carlos is also the co-creator of the nationally syndicated newspaper comic strip Baldo. Launched in April of 2000, Baldo features Latino characters and themes. It was created by Carlos and his friend Hector Cantu and is syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate in over 200 newspapers. In addition to the strip Carlos still does illustration work for book publishers, magazines, corporate clients and ad agencies. He lives in Florida with his wife, three boys and their doggy, Jet. Stop by his website and then visit the Baldo Comics blog.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I like using a brush. Winsor Newton series 7 sable brush.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I mostly sketch directly on the computer using a Wacom Intuos 3 tablet. When I do sketch on paper, any pencil or ballpoint pen will do, I kinda use what ever I have available, standard or mechanical.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
I do most my coloring on the computer in PhotoShop.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Bicycles. I hate drawing bicycles. Did I mention I hate drawing bicycles?

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Websites and physically going to the store. I love walking around the art store. Now if they would only include an art supply isle at Home Depot, I could kill two birds with one stone.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Get a signed contract and a deposit.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Yes. I listen to just about everything, except country. Other than that I listen to it all at one point or another, classical, jazz, hip-hop, Latin, you name it.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I read Mad magazine, a lot of Marvel comics in the mid 70’s. Some favorite titles include Thor, The Hulk, Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Conan the Barbarian. My absolute favorite one though was the B/W issues of ‘The Savage Sword of Conan’ drawn by John Buscema and inked by Alfredo Alcala, Those were amazing! I never really read comic strips until Bloom County came along.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Bloom County followed only by Calvin and Hobbes.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
‘The Five Chinese Brothers’. Yes I do.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I received about 8 months of art training from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Blessing for sure!!

Did either of your parents draw?
My dad used to draw cartoons for me. But he didn’t do for a living or anything like that.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
I’ve been very lucky in that everyone around me has always been very supportive of my art, with the exception of my third period math teacher in high school.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes, and still do. It’s one of the most emotionally rewarding art activities I do. I wish I had the time to do it on more a consistent basis. Besides it gets me out of my studio. I hate having to sit for so many hours. I like being more active.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Passion for sure.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I collect my kids old discarded toys and put them in my office. Also books, I love books.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Spider-Man.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I would work in the fitness industry, have my own gym, be a personal trainer, and run a mixed martial arts school.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Cluttered. Surrounded by Post-it notes, Two white boards hanging on the walls with tons of notes and ideas to take action on. Shelves full of art and marketing books. Toys and trinkets on shelves and a few posters on the wall of Sponge Bob, Fairly Odd Parents and Spider-Man.

Do you play any musical instruments?
No. But I always wanted to be able to play the guitar. Just don’t have the patients to learn. I want to be able to play like Santana, right away, without the learning curve.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Practice, practice, practice. Figure out what’s important to you. Write down the things you’re passionate about. The things you want most to accomplish. Envision your career the way you dream of it 3, 5, 10 years out, what does it look like? What kind of lifestyle do you WANT to have? How much money do you want to earn? What kind of people do you want to work with? What kind of work do you want to produce? What kind of problems do you want to help people solve? Then deliberately put the things you need into place to achieve your goals. Take massive action on everything that needs to happen, from market selection, style and reasons for doing what you do.

The more clear you are on WHAT you do, WHY you do it and WHO you do it for, the more success you are likely to experience.

Who is your favorite artist?
I don’t really have a favorite. I like different artists for different reasons.

Thank you Carlos!

Cartoonist, artist and musician Jonathan Lemon shares his answers next.

Eddie Pittman - Cartoonist Survey #91

Eddie Pittman is an animator, character designer, illustrator and cartoonist who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Georgia State University in 1989 and worked for a while doing caricatures, sometimes working with Tom Richmond (Cartoonist Survey #89). In 1997 he started working in the animation department at Walt Disney Feature Animation in Florida where he was involved in many films including Mulan, Tarzan, Fantasia 2000, The Emperor’s New Groove and Lilo & Stitch. Eddie enjoys sharing his knowledge so he spent time teaching at the Ringling School of Design and running his own very popular drawing classes for animators in Central Florida. He also directed the very first animated full-dome movie created for planetarium dome theaters, “Legends of the Night Sky”. He now lives in Orlando with his wife and daughter, providing a variety of services including storyboard and illustration work. Recently he launched his online graphic novel, Red’s Planet. The story is about a young girl who ran away from her foster home, gets abducted by aliens and is left on a deserted planet where she encounters some diverse characters. Learn more about Eddie here at his website and catch up on Red's Planet, here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
The only time I use a pen these days is when I sketch with a fountain pen. I use a Delta fountain pen that a student of mine brought to me from a trip to Italy and I fill it with Parker's Mocha ink — which is unfortunately discontinued and I am quickly running out of. It makes a wonderful brown line with subtle thicks and thins.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I do draw in Col-erase pencils for my rough character designs —Blue, violet, Orange, or whatever feels right at the time—then tie the drawing down in wooden HB graphite pencil. For print work I used Col-erase Light Blue.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
These days I tend to use PhotoShop for all my coloring. It's faster and more forgiving.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
When I color by hand I prefer Prang semi-moist Watercolors. The cheap ones.

What type of paper do you use?
I sketch on regular copier bond and my comics are on Strathmore series 400 Bristol.

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

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Our biggest art store here in Orlando just closed so I usually by online (the prices are better) but occasionally make the trek to a local store when in desperation.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Make coffee.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I occasionally listen to movie scores but most of the time it's am radio and podcasts.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I loved comics as a kid! Neal Adam's Batman and John Romita's Spider-Man were my favorites!

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
My favorite comic strip of all time is Walt Kelly's Pogo.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
There was this great Wizard of Oz book that I had, but I don't remember the illustrator's name.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I took a few drawing classes while I was attending Georgia State University many years ago. It was a strange art department with a heavy leaning towards abstract art and the head of the art department was rumored to be allergic to paint. There were only two instructors, Alan Loel and Ralph Gilbert, who I actually learned anything from. Both were amazing draftsmen and inspired me to draw from life.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both. It's a blessing because I spend countless hours researching my projects and being inspired by other artists; it's a curse It's a blessing because I spend countless hours researching my projects and being inspired by other artists.

Did either of your parents draw?
My father is an artist though his primary skills were as a photographer. I was always inspired by his drawings as a child.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
I have always been blessed to be surrounded by people who support my art. Currently by biggest support comes from my wife Beth and daughter, Ginny.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes I do. I don't sketch nearly as much as I would like, but I have found recently that my sketchbook is a great place to work out visual problems I face in my work.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I have taught both cartooning and life drawing in a local community art center and at the college level. I taught a very fun figure drawing class for artists interested in careers in animation in the late nineties and many of my students landed a job at Disney Animation (I'm very proud). I have also taught for The Academy of Art University's online course and the Ringling School of Art and Design. It isn't that I enjoy teaching as much as I am passionate about learning and love to share what I have discovered with anyone who will listen.

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

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I can't afford to collect anything. Plus I've moved so many times in my life and I hate lugging all my stuff around.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Probably Grumpy, though I'd rather be Baloo or Popeye!

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Write or teach. Though writing isn't always easy for me, I enjoy the process of telling stories. I also have a passion for teaching (or maybe it's just hearing myself talk).

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

Do you play any musical instruments?
I used to play guitar, but I sold them to pay my gas bill twenty-five years ago.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Draw everyday and seek out the best artists as your inspiration. Set your goals high or, to paraphrase Robert Browning, let your reach exceed your grasp.

Who is your favorite artist?
Today it's Walt Kelly. Ask me again tomorrow.

Thanks again for answering Eddie!

Illustrator and co-creator of the strip Baldo, Carlos Castellanos is up next.

Rick Stromoski - Cartoonist Survey #90

Self-taught cartoonist and illustrator, Rick Stromoski, was born in 1958. He grew up in a family of 12 kids, giving him plenty of fodder for his career as a cartoonist. His humorous illustrations have appeared in national magazines, children's and humor books, licensed products, newspapers, network television and national advertising campaigns. His work for greeting card companies such as Paper Moon, Recycled Paper Greetings and Renaissance Greetings, won him four Louie Awards for outstanding greeting card design and the Reuben division award for best greeting cards twice. He also won another Reuben division award in 1999, this time for Gag Cartoons. Rick has been a board member of the National Cartoonist Society since 1997 and in 2005 he was elected as their president. He worked on the comic strip Mullets with Steve McGarry (Cartoonist Survey #60) for a while and then in 2000 he debuted his comic strip Soup To Nutz. Syndicated by United Features Syndicate, Soup To Nutz is still going strong. In addition to being an award-winning cartoonist he is also an award-winning winemaker. Rick lives in Connecticut with his wife, daughter and various pets. Check out Rick's website here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
The Bic-Pastis limited edition.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
A 2B Staedtler.

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

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Watercolor, Dr Martin Dyes, Prismacolor markers, Derwent color pencils, gouache.

What type of paper do you use?
3ply Strathmore cold press.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Cars, crowds, crowds in cars, monkeys and penguins in cars.

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 independent art store.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I sing the Canadian National Anthem or Alfie depending on my mood.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I listen to podcasts...usually science-oriented stuff...or This American Life on NPR.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I liked Little Annie Fanny the best.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
My favorite comic strip was Smokey Stover...I'm convinced Holman was on acid when he drew that strip.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
The 500 hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Ted Geisal. I still have a copy of it.

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

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both. A blessing for the porn but a curse for the cartoonist chat sites.

Did either of your parents draw?
No.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My wife. My Mom a close second.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Several...they're mostly note books...gag ideas.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes and yes.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Talent...you can have all the passion in the world but if you suck, you can suck passionately.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Stork Club memorabilia, wooden boxes, cast iron doorstops, original comic art, and dust.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Wimpy...I like hamburgers.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Depends on what I'm doing with my hand.

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

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
9x12 cell.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I play a mean spoons.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Animation...that’s where all the money is going.

Who is your favorite artist?
Stan Laurel...nobody funnier before or since.

Thanks again Rick.

Up next is cartoonist, animator and creator of Red's Planet, Eddie Pittman.

Tom Richmond - Cartoonist Survey #89

Illustrator, cartoonist and caricaturist extraordinaire, Tom Richmond was born in 1966. He graduated from The College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1989. While at college he worked a summer job drawing caricatures at Six Flags. He was soon married and he moved to Atlanta with his wife for a little while. In Atlanta he managed a caricature operation for Fasen Arts at Six Flags, soon opening his own caricature concession in downtown Atlanta. At the same time he was drawing comic books for NOW comics and Marvel comics. Tom moved to Minnesota with his wife and their baby daughter and in 1991 he opened another caricature concession, this time at Valleyfair theme park. He also expanded his freelance business, by doing work for cd-rom games, publishers, magazines and advertising clients. While working towards his goal of drawing for MAD magazine he did some work for Cracked, the Minnesota Twins and National Geographics for Kids. In 2000 Tom started working for MAD and he has been ever since. His movie and TV parodies appear in just about every issue. He is a member of the National Caricaturist Network and the National Cartoonist Society, winning awards from both organizations including three NCS divisional Reuben Awards for “Advertising Illustration”. He has opened many more caricature concessions including one here at Six Flags, New England. He presently lives in Minnesota with his wife and children working out of a studio in his home. Tom runs the wonderful MAD blog where he shares his knowledge through tutorials, weekly sketches and his Sunday Mailbag feature. Do yourself a favor and be sure to visit his website and his blog. Oh yeah, he’s a bodybuilder too, so don’t give him any lip.

What is your favorite pen to use?
If you mean what do I ink with, then that would be the Gillott 303 pen nib, the Hunt 102 crow quill and a #2 sable brush. If you mean to write out checks that would be the Uniball Vision Micro (black ink).

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Yes, I usually do rough sketches with a Mirado Black Warrior 2 HB pencil (that's the old fashioned kind with the rubber eraser on the end and needs a pencil sharpener), and for final pencil work I use a clutch-type lead holder with a 2mm lead, usually with an H or HB Staedtler Mars graphite.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
Almost all on the computer these days... PhotoShop.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
On the rare occasions I do traditional color I use either watercolors for line and color work or acrylics for more painted stuff.

What type of paper do you use?
For sketching and roughs, I use a 67# Vellum bristol. For final work a Strathmore 500 or 400 series bristol with a kid finish.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I don't hate drawing anything but I get annoyed drawing a lot of things. I was annoyed at drawing bicycles today, because I just had to draw a bunch of them and they are a pain to draw. Tomorrow I will be annoyed with drawing something else. (Editor's note: The sample picture above is what Tom is referring to when talking about drawing bicycles.)

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Sadly all the close local art stores closed up around my hometown, and the closest ones are a fair drive away. Usually I order my supplies from a local art supply warehouse over the phone or I will drive all the way there if I am in a pinch... I try to support local art supply sellers.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I used to bang my head against the foundation wall in my basement for good luck, but my doctor made me stop that. Now I just put on clean underwear.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I listen to music when I am doing the conceptual work on a given job (sketching, layout, drawing, etc) and it's usually classic rock like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin or similar. When I'm inking and coloring I listen to audiobooks.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
As a young kid Batman was always my favorite, and Captain marvel. Later it was Star Wars.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
My favorite was Bloom County back in it's heyday... today I'd have to say Pearls Before Swine.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
My favorite book was and still is The Lord of the Rings, and I have a copy of it now but not the same as I had then... I wore it out reading it.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I went to what was then the School of Associated Arts in St. Paul, MN (now the College of Visual Arts) where I learned nothing about cartooning except that all the teachers at the school thought cartooning was what artists with no talent tried to do when they failed as real artists.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
It's a curse in that it is destroying the traditional model of publishing and has the industry in a turmoil, but it's a blessing in that it will eventually define the next evolution of publishing and will be the vehicle through which artists and writers share their work and (hopefully) also make a living.

Did either of your parents draw?
My parents were excellent at drawing baths, cards and occasionally flies if they hadn't draw baths in some time. They could not draw with a pen and paper to save their lives.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My wife, The Lovely Anna. She is both my most honest critic and my most supportive fan.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes but I seldom get to draw in it. I do at least a sketch a week, but that is nothing.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I've been teaching young artists how to draw live caricatures for over 20 years via my theme park caricature operations. It can be frustrating but when you work with someone who is genuinely enthusiastic and really puts for effort it is always gratifying to see them grow.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Passion, because talent is nothing if it's not challenged or paired with the desire to excel. I know many artists with lesser talent than some who are far more successful as artists because they have passion and with it perseverance.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I used to collect head injuries until I stopped that pre-drawing ritual I mentioned before. Today I collect old Batman toys and generally cool stuff.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Stephen Pastis.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I'd be a bartender. I make a mean chocolate martini.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
A room in my basement, full of every imaginable distraction on earth... and a drawing table.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I can play a few songs on the guitar, but not well.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Be happy with your skill level today, but don't be happy if you have the same skill level tomorrow. Never stop working to improve and aim high in your work.

Who is your favorite artist?
ONE FAVORITE?!? If I was forced to choose one I'd have to say Mortjackwally Druckerdaviswood.

Thank you very much Tom, especially for all the information you post on your blog.

Former president of the National Cartoonist Society and creator of the strip Soup to Nutz, Rick Stromoski is next.

Eric Reaves - Cartoonist Survey #88

Eric Reaves is a cartoonist and freelance artist with over 20 years of experience. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion College) in 1988 with a degree in Art Education. He has worked as a print shop paste-up boy, a high school art teacher and as the creative director for Signal Artwear. For the past 16 years he has been the “ghost” cartoonist (Eric does the actual drawings and Jim Davis gives them his approval) for Garfield. Garfield is still the most widely syndicated comic strip in history, appearing in over 2,500 newspapers worldwide. His other cartooning duties have included drawing editorial cartoons for the Chronicle-Tribune, which earned him the 2007 Hoosier State Press Association's - “Editorial Cartoonist of the Year” and drawing the late Bud Blake's strip, Tiger. Eric also enjoys doing watercolor paintings and wildlife and charcoal portraits. He takes pleasure in sharing his knowledge with students at his alma mater and at a local Community School for the Arts. He is a member of the National Cartoonist Society and the American Association of Editorial Cartoonist. In his free time he loves to go fly fishing. He has drawn many fly fishing illustrations and cartoons, which grace the pages of the recently published book, "The New Scientific Angling – Trout and Ultraviolet Vision". Eric lives in Indiana with his wife and their 5 children. Stop by his website and see many more examples of his artwork.

Update...I received an email today (3/4/2010) from Eric and he let me know that he has also been drawing the Monday through Saturday strips of Hi and Lois since December of last year. Talk about keeping busy!

What is your favorite pen to use?
Rapidograph- size 3 and 4, for lettering only.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Sanford Col-Erase- Blue 20044, then put on a clean line with a regular, yellow #2 pencil.

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

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Still love to use Prismacolor markers on occasion.

What type of paper do you use?
Strathmore Bristol 500/ 3 ply.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Garfield's feet.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Indianapolis store, but from their catalog.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Coffee usually helps.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Sometimes yes, Jazz, Classic Rock, Blues, Soul, R&B. Sometimes silence.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Yes, Sgt. Rock.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Peanuts as a boy. Now, Hi & Lois.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
Andrew Loomis, How to Draw. Yes, I have the copy that was my dad's when he was young.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
Marion College, Major in Art Ed. Minor in Art History.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Blessing. Google Image is the greatest picture reference of all time.

Did either of your parents draw?
Father, was/is very talented. Actually interviewed with Walt Disney before moving back to Indiana after completing Air Force in California in 50's.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Several schoolteachers, parents, wife.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Sketchbook(s) yes, several.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes, it is a pleasure.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Talent, but passion is an awfully close second.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Peanuts figures, Original comic strips and art.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Snoopy.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Left hand, right brain.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Live in a van down by the river.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Creatively messy. There are lots of stacks of stuff. I know where everything is when I need it, as long as no one moves one of my stacks.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Would love to, but no.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Draw, draw, draw. I think Sergio told me best, "Do you draw everyday?" "Yes," was my answer. To which he replied, "Then you need to draw more."

Who is your favorite artist?
Rod Crossman, Frank Frazetta, Dave Stevens, Andrew Wyeth, Bud Blake.

Thank you Eric!

Three time National Cartoonist Society's "Advertising Illustration" award winner, Tom Richmond, provides his answers next.

Mark Kennedy - Cartoonist Survey #87

Mark Kennedy has been an animator and storyboard artist for close to 20 years. His work in the Animation Department at Disney includes, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Treasure Planet, Home on the Range, Chicken Little and Bolt. In addition to animating and storyboarding Mark was a writer on Chicken Little, Home on the Range, Tarzan and Hercules. He is also a voice actor, lending his voice to the character Hollywood Runt, in the film Chicken Little. Mark is presently working on Disney’s 50th animated movie, Tangled, which is loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale Rapunzel. He runs one of the best blogs out there on drawing, storyboarding and animation, called Temple of the Seven Golden Camels. Mark’s site has it all as you can tell from his description; “An online repository for everything I know about storyboarding, film making, drawing and animation but mostly storyboarding, also, curses lifted, relics appraised and fishing licenses sold Tuesdays 10-2.” He started his blog back in March of 2006 and he continues to add to this wonderful resource. With over 600 followers you can tell that The Temple of Seven Golden Camels is a goldmine. I recommend starting from the earliest posts and working your way forward. You will be amazed at how much you learn. Visit Mark’s blog here and then immediately bookmark it.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Disposable Expresso extra fine point pens.

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

What type of paper do you use?
Disney story pads and Disney 16 field animation paper.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I don't really hate to draw anything but I don't really like drawing cars or motorcycles.

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

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
No.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
None.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Carl Bark's Donald Duck/Uncle Scrooge, Tintin by Herge.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin and Hobbes.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
Richard Scarry's Tinker and Tanker, I still own it.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
3 years at California Institute of the Arts in the Character Animation School.

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

Did either of your parents draw?
No.

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

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I have taught it (at CalArts) and I didn't like it.

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

Do you collect anything and if so what?
No.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Donald Duck.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

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

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Two large desks pushed together, so I have enough room to draw on paper and also I have room for my laptop, Cintiq tablet, Wacom tablet, and all my model sheets, pens, etc.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I used to play trumpet.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Study real life and get as much of your life's experiences into your work as you can.

Who is your favorite artist?
Quentin Blake.

Thank you Mark, for answering and for providing all of the information that you do on your blog.

Eric Reaves, cartoonist, illustrator, fine artist and fly fisherman is next.

Frank Page - Cartoonist Survey #86

Frank Page, creator of the comic strip Bob the Squirrel, is an illustrator and cartoonist living in New York. His “real” job is as a graphic designer and an editorial cartoonist for the Rome Daily Sentinel. The inspiration for Bob the Squirrel was an actual squirrel that was performing acrobatics on a power line outside his window. Frank’s strip records the life of Bob, a squirrel and Frank, an introverted human cartoonist. Bob represents Frank’s inner voice and he has no trouble saying what Frank wants to say, but wouldn’t. Other recurring characters are Frank’s dog, Lucy, his girlfriend Lezley, her daughter Lauren and Lezley’s dog and two cats. Many of the events in the strip are taken from real life, with no punches pulled. In August of last year Frank released his first full length graphic novel titled "Better Man". Go here to learn more about Bob the Squirrel and then check out Frank’s art blog here. You can get your very own Bob the Squirrel t-shirt here. Bob the Squirrel is syndicated through GoComics.com.

What is your favorite pen to use?
My latest love affair is with Pilot precise V5 RT retractable pens...I have a whole drawer full of them.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I draw in pencil first... non-photo blue pencils.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
All my coloring is done in PhotoShop.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Gouache with colored pencil does something for me.

What type of paper do you use?
Bristol 300 series, vellum surface.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
There’s nothing I hate to draw...although there are some things I need practice with.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I usually place three or four big orders with Dick Blick, although someone (hint, hint) just turned me on to JetPens.com.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I have to have a diet soda by my sides at all times. If a pen is in one hand, that Coke Zero needs to be in the other.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I actually like to listen to history channel documentaries while I draw...weird, huh?

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I read everything--- mostly Superman. Then I discovered Calvin and Hobbes... I think that might be almost everyone's story.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin and Hobbes...may be boring, but you can't beat a classic.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
Superfudge by Judy Blume. Unfortunately I no longer have a copy.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I have a BFA in illustration from Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY. Currently, I’m in my final semester of Master's degree work at the Vermont College of Fine Art. I will graduate in August 2010.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Blessing. I essentially owe 80% of my career to it.

Did either of your parents draw?
Nope. I’m the purple sheep of the family, but my mom is an amazing cook.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Everyone was/is supportive. I think it has something to do with my ability to keep delivering the laughs.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
I have at least three going at one time. I prefer Moleskine sketch and notebooks....absolutely love the feel of the paper.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes, I would love to teach more. Hence my master's degree work.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Passion is much more important. Discipline; if you don't have that you're not going to go too far.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Not really. I don't have the patience to collect.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Pepe Le Pew. I like his confidence.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
If I weren't an artist, I think I’d be a comedian or a musician (longshot).
In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
I can do that in two words...creative chaos.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I play guitar and sing a little. I just purchased a baritone ukulele that I long to master.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Learn how to draw.

Who is your favorite artist?
Robert Crumb. You can't beat that man's line.


Thanks again Frank.

Up next is Mark Kennedy, Disney storyboard artist and keeper of the very informative blog, Temple of the Seven Golden Camels.