Anne Gibbons - Cartoonist Survey #255

Anne Gibbons is an award-winning cartoonist, illustrator and designer who is based in New York. After earning a B.A. in Sociology and a Masters in Physical Education, she spent a few years teaching Phys. Ed. She soon realized that teaching was not for her and decided to pursue a career in art. Anne began taking continuing education courses through the Art Students League, the School of Visual Arts and Parsons, where she studied under legendary cartoonist, Mort Gerberg.

Now close to 30 years later, her cartoons, illustrations and designs have appeared on just about everything including: greeting cards, newspapers, magazines, books, websites, t-shirts and more. Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Reader’s Digest, Ladies Home Journal and Redbook are just a few of the magazines that have printed her cartoons. She is a prolific creator of greeting cards and has left her mark on the greeting card industry. Recycled Paper Greetings, Marcel Schurman, Marion Heath and Pictura have all used her work. Admired by those in the cartooning community, Anne was honored by the National Cartoonists Society’s Division Award for Greeting Card category in 2000.

Anne’s humorous illustrations have also been used by many major corporations such as Lifetime Television, IBM, MasterCard, F. Schumacher and many others. Many of her cartoons have been reprinted in books, including “Crème de la Femme”, “This Could Be The Start of Something Stupid”, “When Cats Talk Back”, “Woman’s Glib: A Collection of Woman’s Humor” to name a few. As if all this weren’t enough, she has also been the Thursday cartoonist for the 'Six Chix' cartoons since 2007.

Anne lives in New York City with her husband, Ivan Braun, who is also a very creative individual. Be sure to go to Anne’s website to see more of her work, and you can learn more about the Six Chix strips here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I love Globe Bowl Pointed mapping pens but now I "ink" on a Cintiq tablet.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I use a 4-H pencil so I can erase easily.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
I color on the computer, using Photoshop for "Six Chix" cartoons and Illustrator for greeting cards.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
I used to use gouache, watercolors and watercolor dyes.

What type of paper do you use?
I do pencil sketches on Bienfang Graphics 360 100% rag paper and then scan in to "ink" on a Cintiq.

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?
I shop at local art supply stores in person, never big chains and never, so far, via websites.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I try to meditate before writing and/or drawing but don't always get myself to do that.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I listen to Internet/radio programs about hair raising issues we don't hear about on mainstream media, programs about holistic health and old time radio shows.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I loved reading comics as kid and I remember enjoying "Bringing Up Father" and "Miss Peach” a lot.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
I guess I'd say "Tintin" but I love many comic strips for different reasons, no one true favorite.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
I didn't really have one.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I didn't go to art school formally. I have taken continuing education classes in drawing, cartooning and illustration at Parsons School of Design, the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League.

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

Did either of your parents draw?
My father used to draw cartoon characters like Dick Tracy and Joe Palooka for fun.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My husband, Ivan and a very good friend named Karen.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes, always.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I taught a cartooning class to children ages 7 through 12. Didn't enjoy it enough (and didn't earn enough) to do it again.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Talent and passion are important, but having something unique to express and being disciplined about doing your best work are equally important, to my mind.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I don't collect anything. I'm always trying to get rid of things.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
I am drawing a complete blank here.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Something in holistic health.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
I have a drawing board on a big wooden desk against one wall. Against the opposite wall is a table with iMAC and my Cintiq tablet on it. I swivel back and forth between them.

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?
Find your own unique style and voice.

Who is your favorite artist?
Matisse.

Thanks again Anne!

Be sure to read the answers to the Cartoonist Survey from these other Six Chix cartoonists.

Rina Piccolo (Cartoonist Survey #54)

Stephanie Piro (Cartoonist Survey #65)

Benita Epstein (Cartoonist Survey #66)

Benita Epstein - 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.

Stephanie Piro - 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.