Clay Jones - Cartoonist Survey #111

Editorial Cartoonist Clay Jones was born in Fort Hood, Texas. He attended Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss. He started doing freelance work at the newspaper, the Panolian, in Batesville Mississippi, and he soon he became their editorial cartoonist. Clay stayed in Mississippi for seven years, working at the Panolian, The Daily Leader in Brookhaven and freelancing nationwide. He won multiple first place awards for Best Editorial Cartoon in the Mississippi Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest. In 1997 he moved to Hawaii where he worked at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. A year later he moved to Fredericksburg, VA to work for the Free Lance-Star, where he still works today. His editorial cartoons are distributed by Creators Syndicate and have been seen on CNN and in numerous publications including, The Washington Post, The Chicago Sun-Times, The New York Times, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, Time and Newsweek magazine. A collection of his cartoons was published in 1997 titled, “Knee-Deep In Mississippi.” Clay’s cartoons are also regularly included in Pelican Publishing’s “Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year” book series. Clay presently lives in Fredericksburg where he plays guitar for the band Corporate T-Shirt. Follow his daily ‘Toon Talk’ feature here at the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Micron Pigmas, Bic ball point and Sharpies.

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

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

What type of paper do you use?
4-ply bristol board.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Anything mechanical and buildings.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
My newspaper orders everything. The paper comes straight to me, pens, white out, glue sticks I raid from a supply closet.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Procrastinate. Surf the web for news. Gossip at the coffee machine.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Yes and it's rock, alternative, punk, loud, etc.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Mad Magazine was the closest I got to comics.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Snoopy was my first, then Garfield then I graduated up to Bloom County.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
'To Kill A Mockingbird' and I still have a copy.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
Some art classes but they didn't teach me anything.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
It's a blessing that curses me with surveys.

Did either of your parents draw?
Not that I know of.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My 9th grade art teacher who felt I was best left alone. Everyone else told me to stop.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes and it's empty.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I tried. You can't teach cartooning but I had fun trying.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Passion. Drawing is probably the least important skill.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Guitars.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Bugs Bunny because I'm a stinker.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

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

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Messy and cluttered and sometimes the ceiling is leaky. There's a huge stain in the ceiling that looks like Kenny from South Park.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Guitar.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Remain determined and know your market.

Who is your favorite artist?
Sergio Aragones.


Thanks again Clay.

Next time at David Wasting Paper are answers from California cartoonist Scott Metzger.