A Very Sad Day for the World of Cartooning!

It’s with a very heavy heart that I share with you that my friend Bill White passed away this past Saturday. Bill was one of the funniest, most talented individuals I knew!

Bill studied animation at The Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art under former Disney animator Milt Neil. As a penciler, inker and writer he contributed artwork and stories to many comic book publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Archie Comics, Walt Disney Publishing and Harvey Famous Entertainment. The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Donald Duck, Roger Rabbit, Casper and Richie Rich are just a handful of characters he illustrated.

In addition to illustrating other people’s characters, Bill had a comic book that featured his own characters, Kaptain Keen and Kompany. Having a six issue run Kaptain Keen and Kompany was optioned for a television show in 1986. In the animation field, Bill worked for Spumco ('Ren & Stimpy'), DIC Productions ('Inspector Gadget') and Walt Disney Feature Animation.

Bill was also an exceptional caricature artist and was a guest lecturer at all of the cartooning classes I took over the years. More than any of the above, Bill was one of the funniest, nicest, giving people I knew. He shared his love of all things cartooning with me, including recommending books and introducing me to some of the legends in the field such as Ernie Colon. He was also the very first cartoonist to participate in my Cartoonist Surveys.

Words can’t express how much Bill influenced me and what a giant hole his loss has left. I’m really going to miss “geeking out” with Bill about some cool new action figure or Star Wars toy.

Please keep Bill’s wife Sharon (a.k.a. PW…Perfect Wife) and his entire family in your thoughts and prayers as they struggle with their loss. May their memories of Billy’s love and laughter bring them comfort and smiles in the years to come.

Here are a couple of Bill’s originals that he drew for his blog and gave to me…they will be treasured even more now.

Even though he said he didn't, I still say he used me as a model for the Batman!

Ernie Colon - Cartoonist Survey #252

Legendary comic artist Ernesto "Ernie" Colón was born in Puerto Rico in July of 1931. During his long career, starting back in the Sliver Age of the late 1960’s, he has worked on children’s, superhero, horror and nonfiction comics. He’s worked for almost every major and minor comic publisher including, Harvey, Marvel, DC, Gold Key, Broadway Comics, Star Comics and Eclipse.  Ernie got his start in the comics field as a letterer at Harvey Comics. Soon he began drawing Harvey’s best known characters such as Casper the Friendly Ghost and Richie Rich. While at Harvey he met Sid Jacobson who would become his editor, lifelong friend and creative collaborator. Unfortunately Harvey never gave its many talented artists and writers credit for their work, so the almost 15,000 pages that Ernie drew went unsigned. He left Harvey after 25 years before they closed in the early 80’s.

During the mid 1960’s and through the 1970’s, his artwork regularly appeared in Warren Publishing’s black-and-white horror-comics magazines Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella. Some of my favorites from these classic monster comic magazines that Ernie drew include; “To Save Face”, “Beyond Nefera's Tomb” and “Escape into Chaos” for Eerie; “The Mind of the Monster” and “Strange Expedition” for Creepy and “Room Full of Changes” and “The Survivor” for Vampirella.

From 1982 to 1985 Ernie was an editor for DC Comics where he penciled the historical fantasy Arak, Son of Thunder (which was written by Roy Thomas) and Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld. He worked on Marvel titles as well, including Red Sonja, Damage Control, Doom 2099 and the Bullwinkle and Rocky series for Marvel's children's imprint Star Comics. He also wrote, drew, lettered and colored 1988’s science-fiction graphic novel Ax for Marvel. In the early 1990’s, he returned to Harvey along with his friend Sid Jacobson and worked on such projects as Monster in My Pocket and Ultraman.

Recently, Ernie has been working with Sid on non-fiction work. The team produced the graphic interpretation of the 9/11 Commission’s 2005 report, “The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation” and a couple of years later they created “After 9/11: America's War on Terror.” The pair also worked together on three biographies, “Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography”, “Che: A Graphic Biography” and “Vlad the Impaler.”

Just a couple of weeks ago Ernie’s book “Inner Sanctum” was released through NBM Publishing. Returning to the mystery and horror radio shows of the 1940’s, this book re-creates four of the shows stories, The Horla, Death of a Doll, The Undead and Alive in the Grave. His next project with NBM, which is still in the fact-checking phase, will be “3/5ths of a Man”, the historical account of slavery in America. Ernie has recently started blogging for NBM, which you can read here.

What is your favorite pen to use?

Ballpoint. Bic is best.

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

Mech pencil, light lines. But mostly I sketch on the comp, then all the rest as well.

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

All on the comp. Afraid I don't have time for hand coloring.

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

Prisma pencils and acrylics.

What type of paper do you use?

Whatever's in the closet

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?

Buildings, steps definitely.

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

Local stationery--they have more than enough Bics in stock.

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

Turn on TCM. If a really lousy movie is on, I'm grateful so I can get to work without distraction.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?

Brazilian jazz, then a motley array of decades. Rarely classical--makes me think.

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

Yes. Captain Marvel was great--sense of humor--lost when the brains at DC acquired him and turned him into another snarling brute.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?

Noel Sickles' and Milton Caniff's Terry and the Pirates.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?

Too many. Permanent resident at the library--they still threaten to charge me rent.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?

None. Self-taught--if you don't count all the art books I bought and occasionally stole.

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

Me and Google are very close. Almost all my reference is from Goog. E-mails I write and receive by the hundreds--something I never did with U.S. mail. It's only a curse when one becomes a victim.

Did either of your parents draw?

No.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?

My mom and Step-dad.

Do you keep a sketchbook?

I tried--many times. I only succeed in filling a few pages, then putting them up with all the other mainly empty ones.

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

No, and I wouldn't. I have given talks at schools, but they were to encourage kids.

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

If by passion you mean obsession--it can get you far--else how to explain the plethora of mediocrity.

Do you collect anything and if so what?

At times, ceramic pigs, little owls. But well-meaners started gifting me awful examples--some of them expensive--which was never my measure of worth, Lovely sculpting, by some anonymous artisan somewhere in the world and turned into a cheap souvenir was more my interest.

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

Is Bugs taken?

Are you a righty or lefty?

Righty. Left hand is useless.

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

Lordy--what wouldn't I do?

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.

TV on the left, comp with a drawing board in front. Couch in back, littler box in bathroom for our devil's spawn, Phoebe.

Do you play any musical instruments?

The ukulele once. I got too good at it and quit.

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

None--too many variables.

Who is your favorite artist?

Too many. But I see you interviewed Roz Chast. Would it be possible to forward a message to her? Just tell her I believe in polygamy.

As you can tell, Mr. Colon is quite the busy guy; and because of that I want to give him a heartfelt thank you for taking the time to participate.

I also want to thank my buddy Bill White (Cartoonist Survey #1) who was nice enough to contact Ernie and ask him if he would be interested in answering the Cartoonist Survey.

Zebra SARASA SE Pen Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Zebra SARASA SE pens is...

...comment #3, Bill White. Congratulations Bill.

The result was picked using Random.org.

Thanks again to Laurie and Lauren at Zebra Pen Corporation for sending out the pens.

Jorge Pacheco - Cartoonist Survey #223

Born in May of 1964, cartoonist, comic book artist, and illustrator Jorge Pacheco has been drawing since the age of 2. He is a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Arts and has been drawing professionally for 25 years. He has worked on some of the most famous characters including Space Ghost, Bullwinkle, Underdog, Johnny Quest, Garfield, Scooby Doo, The Flintstones, Power Puff Girls and Bugs Bunny. His client list contains many of the leading cartoon and comic book publishing companies such as Dark Horse, DC, Hanna Barbera, Cracked magazine, Archie, Warner Brothers and Harvey Entertainment where he worked with my friend Bill White (Cartoonist Survey #1). Jorge has also illustrated many children’s books and was the artist for the syndicated comic strip, CEO DAD. He lives in La Mesa, CA with his wife Sabine and their son J.J. See more of Jorge’s work over at his Pachecotoons website.

What is your favorite pen to use?

I don't use a pen as much as a brush. I use a Winsor Newton series 7 #2. I do use Micron pens for straight lines and some detail work.

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

Standard Staedtler Mars HB.

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

Both. Watercolor, acrylics, dyes, colored pencils, gouache, and whatever is handy. But probably 80% by computer.

What type of paper do you use?

Strathmore Bristol smooth 11x17.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?

No such thing, but I used to hate drawing cars, but now I'd love to do an illustration a la "Big Daddy Roth."

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

Dick Blick's Art Supply Store, both on-line and physically at the store in San Diego.

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

Yes, I try to entertain my 3 1/2 year old son, so I can find a few minutes to get work done. I'm a work-from-home daddy. I work crazy hours: early, late, weekends.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?

I listen to lots of talk radio, but I also listen "New Wave 80's rock" REM, The Smiths are my two favorites, but I enjoy all music, except RAP :(

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

YES! Quick story on how I got into it: My step-father owned a liquor/convenience store and he brought home damaged comics and magazines. The first comic I read was Jack Kirby's Fin-Fang-Foom comic with Steve Ditko and a Superman comic by Curt Swan also Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella. My favorite was Richard Corben. He's still doing incredible work.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?

That's a hard one. So many genres. I love Prince Valiant by Hal Foster, just beautiful work. Krazy Kat, but modern day, of course, Peanuts. I think Charles Schulz was the greatest cartoonist ever. Jack Kirby for comics.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?

Unfortunately, I lost over 3,000 comics in the fire of 2003 in San Diego, but yes, the Jack Kirby Fin-Fang-Foom. Now when I have a few extra $$$s, I buy graphic novels or collections of my past favorites.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?

The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphics

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

BLESSING!!! Most of my work I receive is through the Internet. I just did a handful of illustrations for a guy in Singapore, a children's book for a client on the Bahamas, and book illustrations for someone in Australia.

Did either of your parents draw?

YES! My father was Professor of Art at Purdue University before he passed away. I never really knew him, but it's funny that I became an artist. My mother was an Art Minor in college.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?

Definitely my wife Sabine!! She not only has always been there for me through financial struggles, but she also encourages me to continue my dream of being an artist, and, of course, she has always been my biggest fan. :)

Do you keep a sketchbook?

I've never been a real "sketcher", but I wish I would find time to sketch.

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

Yes. At UCLA - I taught a basic cartooning class and also a couple elementary school classes/kids 6-10 years old, and I really enjoyed it!

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

Passion without a doubt. It can be such a tough road that without the passion I could have never kept it going, but needless to say there has to be talent mixed in.

Do you collect anything and if so what?

I still buy comics/graphic novels when I'm not buying diapers. :)

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

Popeye, but maybe a little Speed Racer also. (Even though I neve speed but I do eat spinach)

Are you a righty or lefty?

Righty

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

Professional Tennis player.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.

We currently live in a small cottage in La Mesa - unfortunately, I have to spread out a bit - my light/drawing table is in the bedroom and my computer/work station/wacom tablet are in the living room. Hoping to "upgrade" soon and have my own studio again.

Do you play any musical instruments?

Wish I did, especially guitar.

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

Never give up!

Who is your favorite artist?

Very tough question: Here is a brief list: Jack Kirby, Chris Bachalo, Hal Foster, Richard Corben, John Romita JR., Charles Schulz, John Buscema, Milton Caniff, Alex Toth, Jaime Hernandez, Jordi Bernet, John Byrne, Thomas Yeates, but there are so many more, but if I have to name one, it would be Vincet Van Gogh, go figure!

Thanks again for your time Jorge!

Ed Smith - Cartoonist Survey #162

Cartoonist Ed Smith, "The Caricature Guy", got his start drawing caricatures in Boston's Faneuil Hall while attending the Massachusetts College of Art in the late eighties. He worked for awhile traveling with other artists doing caricaturing gigs at colleges and universities across the country. He then spent several years slinging ink for the famous Building #19 circular. (Other Cartoonist Survey participants who have worked for Building #19 include, Bill White, Cartoonist Survey #1 and Mat Brown, Cartoonist Survey #2.)

Ed now has his own successful caricaturing business, The Caricature Guy. He is also the Vice President of Creative & Marketing Communication for the golf outlet website, 3balls.com. You can see some of the cartoons he has created for 3balls.com here. Check out Ed’s, The Caricature Guy website and if you live in the South Shore area of Massachusetts, click here to book The Caricature Guy for your next event.

What is your favorite pen to use?
The digital pen attached (albeit relationally) to my Wacom tablet.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
When drawing caricatures I dive right in with ink. Digitally I adjust the opacity of the layer to replicate a pencil sketch.

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

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Chartpak ad markers.

What type of paper do you use?
Bristol vellum, or a crisp Photoshop layer.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Sports utensils (because I'm ignorant of how they look).

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Local Art Warehouse-type store.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Doing caricature gigs, I always show up first.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I listen to a lot of NPR, old time church sermons and unusual folk music.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Comic books: X-Men, The Tick, Comic Strips: Calvin and Hobbes

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
The Far Side

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
I loved the entire scratch and sniff genre. No point in keeping 'em because eventually they just smell like paper.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
No, I attended Mass College of Art.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
A Blessing (that will probably prove to be a curse come the apocalypse ).

Did either of your parents draw?
No.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
The salesman from the "Draw Tippy the turtle" correspondence art school.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
I do, but I keep it in a drawer with the best intentions of starting to use it again one of these days.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes, I loved it.

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

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I have a quite extensive collection of disparate items with seemingly no connection to one another.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
I always wanted to be the leader of the scrubbing bubbles gang. Those guys always resonated with me for some reason.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
As little as possible.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
My studio space is a room in my 19th century New England farm house. Wide plank floors and a working fireplace create a nice mood. I have a simple old wooden table with cups full of pens, a bottle of Pelikan ink (which I never use because my laptop and Apple cinema display put them out of view.)

Do you play any musical instruments?
I play guitar and sing.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Keep on keepin' on.

Who is your favorite artist?
Norman Rockwell. (seriously)

Thanks again Ed.

Illustrator Jim Keefe will be next.

Bill White - Cartoonist Survey #1

I sent out the following questions to some cartoonist that I know and also to some that I don't know. The first one to respond was Bill White so he gets the honor of being posted first. Be sure to check out Bill's site at; http://bwhitecartoons.blogspot.com/ and say hello. Now without further ado here are the questions with Bill's answers.


What is your favorite pen to use?
My favorite pen is the Flair Papermate pen. It doesn't have archival ink, though, so I like to use Microns. The .05 and .08, to be exact.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Except when doing caricatures "live", ALWAYS pencil first. I like the TOMBO™ 2B. At Building #19, I used the Col-Erase blue pencil. That worked well, too.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
By hand, but I must use to learn Photoshop, as that is becoming the industry standard.

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

What type of paper do you use?
The BEST you can get! Strathmore 3-ply is the preferred choice. For quick stuff, index card stock is good.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Any two wheeled vehicle. Bikes, motorcycles and the like.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Once I find something I like, I can order online, but I like to get the "feel" of something before I buy it.

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

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
No. See the comment Disney Great Milt Kahl said in Richard William's "Animator's Survival Kit". I couldn't agree more!

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Of course! The Harvey comics were my favorites, especially when drawn by Warren Kremer (my hero!) and Ernie Colon. I also loved Bark's Ducks, and all the Archie comics. I also loved all the Marvel and DC superheroes. You know what? There wasn't a comic book I didn't like.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Lil' Abner. Best. Strip. Ever. No discussion.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
The Cat in the Hat. I have a new copy.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I went to the Kubert School, but it didn't feel very "formal".

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
It's a curse in that it can suck up more of your time than TV, but a blessing in terms of all the information you can access that as a kid I would have killed for.

Did either of your parents draw?
My Dad was a wanna-be cartoonist. He was really good too! He spent a lot of time drawing with me as a kid. I wish I still had some of those drawings...

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Everyone in my life has always been really supportive of my cartooning. The only ones that weren't were some of my high school art teachers. "You are so talented, why do you waste your time drawing cartoons/", was a typical comment. One I'm sure a LOT of cartoonists have heard.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
No. I should. I draw all the time, but on loose sheets of copy paper. When enough pile up, I chuck 'em.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes I have, and I love doing it. You really do learn a lot explaining what you do to others.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
There is no such thing as talent, as Mat Brown has said. You draw well because you have the passion to do it a lot, and by doing it a lot, you get better.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Toys! Action figures to be exact. Doctor Who figures are my current obsession, but I have plenty of vintage Star Wars and superhero toys decorating my shelves.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
I would like to be Bugs Bunny, but I'm afraid I'm Daffy Duck.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty. Interestingly, I have noticed that there are a lot of talented artists that are leftys. Must be some right brain/left brain thing.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Something that made me a lot more money than being a freelance cartoonist does!

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Right now, it is in a state of transition, as I fight for space with other members of my family. Ideally, it is a bunch of different desks, all set up for different stages of the drawing process. The work area is also very, very messy.

Do you play any musical instruments?
No. I love to sing, though.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
As Kyle Baker said, if you want to do it, do it. Don't worry about a back-up plan. Pursue your passion!

Who is your favorite artist?
Warren Kremer


Thanks a lot Bill and check in tomorrow to see the answers from Building #19's own Mat Brown!

If you are a cartoonist or draw and you want to be included in this survey just send me an email( dmp1234@yahoo.com )and I will send you the secret form for you to fill out.