Ray Alma - Cartoonist Survey #124

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Freelance cartoonist and illustrator Ray Alma was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1965. While growing up in Queens he drew cartoons and caricatures using his mom’s MAD magazines as models. Like a lot of boys growing up in the 60’s he also loved to draw astronauts. After getting the results back from taking one of those career aptitude tests in high school he knew he was destined to be a cartoonist. He enrolled at the School of Visual Arts and was taught by such legends as Harvey Kurtzman, Joe Orlando, Sam Viviano and Will Eisner. Before even graduating from SVA with his BFA, he created work that was published in Field and Stream and Golf Illustrated. Ray went on to become a contributing artist for MAD and was lucky enough to work with one of his idols, Mort Drucker. In addition to MAD magazine he has also provided work for Walt Disney Co., the Village Voice, DC Comics, Guitar World, America Online and many others. He enjoys teaching cartooning in the New York area and dedicates his time to The Ink Well Foundation, a non-profit organization that was formed by a group of cartoonist and animators who visit children in hospitals in and around New York City. Ray is a member the National Cartoonist Society and has been nominated for this year’s NCS Magazine Feature/Magazine Illustration Award along with Tom Richmond (Cartoonist Survey #89) and Anton Edmin (upcoming Cartoonist Survey #128). He lives in Queens with his wife, pets and his giant collection of GI Joes. Swing by his website and spend some time looking around.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I use a Hunt #22 dip pen with Sepia colored FW ink. For sketching I sometimes like to use various size Micron pens.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a Mechanical one?
Yes, I'll always do a pencil sketch before doing a final illustration. I like standard pencils (HB-2B) because I can hold the pencil on it's side between my thumb and forefinger a get a looser, flowing sketch, trying to use my whole arm to move the pencil.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
These days I do both, switching back and forth depending on how much time I have and what's involved.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
I use watercolor paints out of a tube over my Sepia inked line work.

What type of paper do you use?
Over the last couple of years I've switched from vellum bristol paper to 140lb. Cold press watercolor paper. It handles the pen and ink great and you can see the texture of the paper when you use the watercolors on it.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Background stuff, mechanical things. Buildings, cars, etc.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I used to work in the main store of Jerry's Artarama here in Queens, NY. Sometimes I feel like I learned more working there and being to experiment with art supplies than I learned in my 4 years at the School of Visual Arts. I love to go into an art store and check out the materials by hand. High end watercolor brushes need to be closely examined in order to pick out the best ones.

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

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
When I initially start a piece, and have to work out the concept/composition, etc, I need silence to concentrate. After that, when I'm inking and rendering in color, I listen to music. All kinds are good. My iPod has large eclectic mix that varies from classical to hip-hop.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I devoured Marvel comics growing up in the '70s. Loved 'em. Captain America, Hulk, Fantastic Four, and the Avengers were some of my favorites.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin and Hobbes in it's day. These days I like Zits, Non-sequitor and Dilbert.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
'Where the Wild Things Are' and a dinosaur pop up book. Yes, I still have them.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I have a BFA from the School of Visual Arts where I majored in Cartooning.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
A little of both. It makes finding reference a breeze.

Did either of your parents draw?
No. No one in my family really drew at all. I'm an enigma. :) But my brother is a good technical draftsman and I have a first cousin that is a really good artist as well. He also works in the animation industry.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
I've had some great teachers through my career that have encouraged me: my high school art teacher - Lenny Antinori, and two of my teachers at SVA - Joe Orlando and Sam Viviano.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes. A 4x6 spiral bound book that fits perfectly in my jacket pocket or the thigh pocket on cargo pants. I keep a Micron pen and mech. pencil tucked in the spiral ring of the sketchbook.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yes and yes it's been a rewarding experience.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
You need talent to make it as an illustrator or comic book artist, but sometimes cartooning (Gag cartooning and Comic Strips) will allow for a not-so-good draftsman to get by if he's really funny.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Toys/action figures. I grew up with the 12", fuzzy headed, Kung Fu grip G.I.Joe and loved it so much that I've gone crazy collecting them and other action figures as an adult. I have over 300 1/6 scale G.I.Joe and G.I.Joe type figures in my art studio. Some of them talk by pulling a string - and it turns out some of the pull string figures can be set off by a build up of static electricity. Try working all alone at 3 AM to finish a job and suddenly hear "Take the jeep and get some ammo fast!"

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
I'd want to be Brock Samson but probably I'm more like the Monarch. :(

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty - but I developed tendinitis in my right elbow (from spending years drawing while holding the pencil incorrectly). So to take some of the work load off my right hand, I started using my computer mouse with my left hand and now I can't go back.

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

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Messy - covered in cat hair (and a cat).

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?
Be able to take criticism. Sometimes you will suck.

Who is your favorite artist?
The question reminds me of a scene from "The Right Stuff" when they ask Dennis Quad "Who's the best pilot you ever saw?" and he has too many to choose from so he just says: "You're looking at 'em" ;)

Thanks again for your time Ray.

National Cartoonist Society’s “Cartoonist of the Year” nominee, Richard Thompson is up next!

Terry LaBan - Cartoonist Survey #123

Cartoonist Terry LaBan grew up in Michigan. He started his career in 1986, freelancing political cartoons for the Ann Arbor News. His alternative comix series, Unsupervised Existence, published by Fantagraphics Books in 1989, was loosely based on his own life at the time and was nominated for a Harvey Award for Best New Artist and Best New Series. The series was collected in two paperbacks, ‘Love's Not a Three-Dollar Fare’ and ‘International Bob’. His next comix series Cud came out in 1992 and ran for 8 issues. Terry moved over to Dark Horse in 1995 for his third series, Cud Comics, about Eno and Plum, a "slacker" couple living in the city. Cud Comics also ran for eight issues, until 1998. In 2001 King Features Syndicate syndicated his daily comic strip, Edge City which is co-written by his wife Patty LaBan. Edge City is about a about modern Jewish-American family that lives in the far reaches of suburbia and is trying to balance relationships and tradition with their dual careers, long commutes and shuttling of kids to and fro. A collection of Edge City comics was published in March of 2007. His humorous illustrations, comics and cartoons have appeared in a wide range of magazines and anthologies over the years, including Mad Magazine, Blab, Details and Nickelodeon magazine. Terry has also been staff illustrator and political cartoonist for the progressive political magazine In These Times since 1990 and continues to work as a freelance illustrator and a writer for various comic book companies. A member of the National Cartoonists Society, he lives in Philadelphia with his wife and children. Check out Terry's website here and follow the Edge City comic strip here.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Generally, I use a Windsor Newton Series 7 red sable brush, #2.

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

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

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
When I color, it's with a combo of watercolor, ink and gouache.

What type of paper do you use?
Strathmore 2-ply smooth bristol.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Cars, store interiors.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
All of them--I'm lucky to live near a decent art supply store, but they don't always have what I need.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I kill a chicken.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Yes--obscure psychedelia, 1966-76.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Archie, Harvey comics, Mad Magazine.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
When I was a kid, Peanuts. As a young adult, Bloom County.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
The World Book Encyclopedia, circa 1972. I still have it.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I have a BFA from the University of Michigan School of Art and Design.

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

Did either of your parents draw?
My dad always told me he drew when he was a kid, but I never saw him do it myself.

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

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I have taught a tiny bit, but the experience was mixed.

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

Do you collect anything and if so what?
"Collecting" may be too strong a word. But I have proclivities for old music, lanterns, old radios, garden art, concert posters and oriental carpets.

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

Are you a righty or lefty?
Physically, I'm a lefty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Something I could actually earn a decent living at.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
I work in the finished attic of my house. It's pretty nice.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Nope.

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

Who is your favorite artist?
God.

Thanks again Terry.

Next time on David Wasting Paper is cartoonist and illustrator Ray Alma.

Polyp - Cartoonist Survey #122

UK cartoonist, political activist and campaigner Polyp is based in Manchester, England. He has been drawing his political cartoons since the 1980's when he was drawing for the Leeds Student Newspaper. He got his first big break in the 1990's from the New Internationalist magazine and since then has drawn for numerous publications and organizations including, The Big Issue, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Ethical Consumer Magazine, Christian Aid, War on Want, Friends of the Earth, Liberty and People and Planet. In 2002 a collection of some of his best cartoons from his 'Big Bad World' cartoon columns featured in the New Internationalist magazine was published. His second book, the graphic novel 'SPEECHLESS: World History Without Words', was released last October. You can read about how it came to be written and published here on the book's official website.

Polyp is actively involved in a campaign to ensure that Manchester creates a monument to the Peterloo Massacre. The Peterloo Massacre took place in Manchester, England on August 16, 1819 when cavalry charged into a crowd of 60,000 to 80,000 citizens who were at a meeting to demand the reform of parliamentary representation. The cavalry ended up killing 15 and injured up to 700. In addition to his cartooning, Polyp also designs and builds props and costumes. Over the years he has built, "20ft junk-o-saurs, caricature face masks, hamburger daleks, exhibition stands, mutant radioactive lobsters, 8ft tall articulated grim reaper puppets, spoof consumer products, crowds of huge staring eyeballs, and a giant all dancing all singing condom." You can learn much more about Polyp here at his website.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Mechanical. Convenient and more ecological, in the long run, I think.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
I used to do everything by hand until I discovered digital manipulation. I still produce some stuff in a painted style, which I enjoy, but for regular strips I like the clean modern look to mechanical colours.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Transparent inks, colour pencils, crayon, biro sometimes for a nice soft outline. But using a pen tablet feels very much like drawing by hand.

What type of paper do you use?
Scrap! I'm currently working through a huge pile of blank letterheaded paper left by the previous tenants of the studio. When it runs out I'll buy some more posh recycled stuff.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Cars, which is ironic, since so much of my work is about climate change etc! Horses drive me crazy as well, and I had to draw quite a few for the early part of SPEECHLESS. I think the ones I drew look like crap. I adore drawing fractal based things, though. Blissful.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
A local shop, but to be honest, I hardly ever get through much material given my style, so it's only a few times a year.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
Yeah. Staying in bed and avoiding it till the last minute.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Anything that takes my fancy, but not stuff with lyrics while writing dialogue or scripts.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I was a sci fi geek... Frank Bellamy's 'Thunderbird' strips totally hooked me with their economical beauty and dynamism...

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
I really admired BC and The Wizard of Id when younger, but was gutted to find out Johnny Hart became an evangelical (Or was it born again? Whatever... It's all fairy tale bullshit) christian. With a lower c. Nowadays... hmmm... other political cartoonists, I guess! I'm not a huge fan of the genre for it's own sake... the fact that I'm struggling to think of a particular favourite name probably answers the question. Maybe Bill Watterson stands out?

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?The name 'Polyp' emerged from a Victorian 'family airloom' book called 'The Sea and it's Wonders'. I've still got it. Other than that, not really. My tastes have changed so much I didn't really hang on to anything. I've bought a few comics dating from my childhood for nostalgia.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
Just at school till about 17 or whatever age it was I left. Can't say I really tried very hard, though... as a result, I found once my career got going I needed to do a hell of a lot of practice at drawing people to try and bring myself up to scratch.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
An absolute blessing! The ability to type in obscure visual reference inquiries is superb... how could anyone feel 'cursed' by having a vast library the size of a small coffee table on the desk in front of them?! Plus I love the freedom it gives you to send material digitally, then alter it and resend, without having to worry about the postal service etc etc...

Did either of your parents draw?
Nope. My Mum created fantastic clothes, and my Dad was an engineer who wrote poetry.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Well, my parents for not trying to push me into a career like so many do, and then without a doubt New Internationalist magazine, who have got the political balls to publish the blunt, angry messages I put out. I owe them my career.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Not regularly... but during the creation of SPEECHLESS I had a clipboard style one with me 24/7... it became huge as I added pages, though it was predominantly filled with written notes.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
Yeah... it was OK, but didn't really grip me. If anything, though, it did make me focus on what I should be doing to improve my work!

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?If you can express yourself through very 'unskilled' basic drawings, then great! I sometimes work with a project called World Comics India, who encourage people who aren't artists living in rural areas of the developing (well, 'deliberately impoverished', I call it) world to express themselves through cheaply produced mini comics, which is just fantastic, I think.
Do you collect anything and if so what?
I like buying small publisher comics from round the world, when I get the chance. There's lots of 'found art' junk in my flat.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Maybe 'the Brain' from 'Pinky and the Brain'... always trying to manipulate the whole planet... in a good way, natch... but to be honest, coz I've never wanted kids, I sometimes think of my characters, particularly the SPEECHLESS ones as my babies, if that's near enough.

Are you a righty or lefty?
A righty for drawing, and an amby for some stuff we don't need to mention here...

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Anything that spread the ideas I want to spread, but cartooning seems to be the best way, for me, to get people to listen.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Environmental and social justice Bill Hicks style rants.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I play a mean droning 'dum-chinga-chinga-chinga-AUUUGH! chord change!-dum chinga-dum-chinga' guitar.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Well... you're gonna have to be hugely determined, there are just so many people who want to do this for a living... and you'll have to deal with a LOT of rejection... and risk finding out that Peter Shaffer's Salieri character from Amadeus is your patron saint... "I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint. Mediocrities everywhere... I absolve you. I absolve you all." Oh my... how that quote still stings me! More optimistically, someone once said to me 'talent will out' which really helped. Maybe 'JUST KEEP DRAWING!!' is the best advice?

Who is your favorite artist?
I really like the impressionists, if you mean that 'formal' definition of the word.

Thanks again Polyp.

Cartoonist and illustrator Terry Laban's answers to the Cartoonist Survey are next.

Tony Piro - Cartoonist Survey #121

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Astrophysicist and cartoonist Tony Piro was born in San Jose, CA. In 2006 he received his PhD in physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He started publishing his webcomic Calamities of Nature online in 2007. It consists of five funny animal characters, Aaron, Alp, Ferdinand, Harold and Raymond, who Tony has been working on since he was 10 years old. Tony covers everything in Calamities of Nature including social commentary, religion and science. Since 2007 Calamities of Nature has been viewed by well over a million people. It is updated Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In his “spare time” Tony is a fellow in the astronomy department at the University of California, Berkeley where he does research and teaches. He lives in the Bay area with his wife and two beautiful children. Visit Calamities of Nature here and spend some time going through the archives. There are also some tutorials on his site that are well worth reading; “Making Money from Ads on Your Website”, “Coloring Comics Quickly” and a “Print on Demand Service Review”. Don’t forget to stop by Tony’s Spiffy Studios store where you can get books, prints and t-shirts.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I use a variety of tools for inking. I start with a Winsor Newton Series 7 brush. I use a crow quill for cross-hatching. Then I do the panel borders and lettering with a Copic Multiliner.

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

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

What type of paper do you use?
I use smooth bristol board.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I hate it when I give myself a scene with way too many characters in a single panel.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I buy most of my supplied from Dick Blick Art Materials, usually at a local store.

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

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
When writing, lettering, and penciling I like it quiet so I can concentrate. When inking and coloring I often listen to podcasts on topics of comics, art, or science.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Cerebus and Dave Sim were hugely influential for me.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Bloom County.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
When I was really little I loved the picture book "The Monster at the End of This Book." Soon after my daughter was born, I bought her a copy so I can share it with her as well.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I flunked my high school AP art test and have never taken an art class since.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Totally a blessing. If it wasn't for the Internet, there's no way I would be doing this. Comic strips are a unique art form in that they easily allow a singular vision expressed by one artist to reach a large number of people. The only thing holding this back was the multitude of gatekeepers (editors, distributors, syndicates, etc.) who would meddle with singular vision. With the Internet, this can now truly be realized.

Did either of your parents draw?
Nope.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
My wife Helen. A lot of the time I feel like she believes in me more than I believe in myself.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes, but it often is filled more with scripts than actual sketches.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
No, but that sounds like a fun idea. I would really love delving into the aspects of cartooning that make it such a unique art form.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
If I take myself as an example, definitely passion.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
My art is still just a hobby for me. For my day job I do research in theoretical astrophysics.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
My drawing area is the family kitchen table. I don't recommend this if you value your neck and back.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I used to play a lot of guitar, but then I started doing comics. Something had to give...

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Draw every day. Drawing an hour each day is way better for your abilities than trying to cram all the drawing in a few times a month. If you want to do comic strips, draw and write as many gags as you can. You have hundreds of bad comic strips in you, and the only way to get better is if you get them all out.

Who is your favorite artist?
I don't know if I have an absolute favorite. One artist that really stands out to me is Mark Rothko. He's the only artist for whom the expression breath-taking is literally accurate. I think he's somewhat underrated because his work does not translate well to reproduction. But if you've ever had a chance to see his work in person, it's an amazing, emotional experience.

Thank you Tony!

UK cartoonist, political activist and campaigner Polyp shares his answers next.

Sherm Cohen - Cartoonist Survey #120

Photo credit goes to Jessica Gao.

Click picture for giant size.

Storyboard artist, writer and cartoonist Sherm Cohen was born in January of 1965. As a teenager he worked as a cartoonist for his local newspaper and from 1983 to 1985 he studied at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. He got his start in the world of animation working as a character layout artist for Nickelodeon’s Ren and Stimpy Show. After Ren and Stimpy, Sherm worked as a storyboard artist and director for the show Hey Arnold. In 1998 he was invited to be part of the original SpongeBob SquarePants crew by the creator of the show Steve Hillenburg. He worked as a storyboard artist and director for the shows first season and then served as the Storyboard Supervisor for the next three seasons. Sherm was also a character designer and lead storyboard artist for 2004’s The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. After the fourth season of SpongeBob SquarePants he left Nickelodeon to write and illustrate his first book, Walter Foster Publications’, "Cartooning: Designing Characters". During this time he began teaching classes in storyboarding at the Entertainment Art Academy in Pasadena, CA. A lot of the material from his classes was turned into an instructional DVD on how to storyboard called, "Storyboard Elements." This DVD course has been used to teach storyboarding worldwide, including The School of Visual Arts in NYC. Sherm then spent two seasons writing and drawing boards for Cartoon Networks’ My Gym Partner’s a Monkey before moving on to work for Disney Studios, drawing storyboards and writing for the TV series Phineas and Ferb. After the first season of Phineas and Ferb he was back working for Nickelodeon as a storyboard artist for the first season of "The Mighty B! In 2008, Sherm returned to Disney to write and be a storyboard artist for the second season Phineas and Ferb. Sherm is currently working as Director and Storyboard Supervisor for Kick Buttowski for Disney TV Animation. He runs a great blog called CartoonSnap that is filled with informative posts and lessons. Be sure to add it to your favorites immediately. I also highly recommend checking out some of his tutorials on YouTube.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I love using the black Faber Castell PITT artist with the brush tip. I inked my entire book on character design with that one trusty brush pen!

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I draw everything first in pencil on a regular sheet of multi-use copy paper. I prefer using standard wood Tombo pencils -- usually a 3B. After I've drawn it with pencil, I always scan the drawings and resize and move them around in PhotoShop.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
I do all my coloring in the computer. For flat colors I use PhotoShop, but for my painted artwork I use ArtRage Studio -- which is the greatest and simplest painting software known to man.

What type of paper do you use?
Generally, I used the cheapest multi-use printer paper that I could find...you know -- the stuff you get at Staples for a few bucks. Before I used the computer, I was drawing and inking on rough surfaced Bristol board, 14 x 17 with an image area of 10 x 15.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Crowds, kids riding bicycles, and cats. For some reason, the cats I draw never look like cats.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Aside from the paper that I buy at Staples, I get all of my art supply shopping online from DickBlick.com. Once, I ordered some G-Pen tips from Wet Paint but I gotta tell you: DickBlick.com is awesome.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
My favorite ritual before starting to draw is to procrastinate (I'm doing it right now). Even though I've been doing this for over 20 years, it's always hard for me to start working on a new job. Favorite methods of procrastination include cleaning, looking for references on the Internet, and watching just one more episode of The First 48.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Although I used to listen to music all the time, I found in the last few years that I just need to concentrate more. Sometimes I will leave a talk radio talk show on in the background, but other times I find that I have worked for hours in total silence.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I read tons of comics as a kid, and I probably read more now than I ever have. When I was in grade school, I used to be able to go down to the local 7-11 and browse through all the great comics of the spin racks. I also used to be able to find lots of really old comics at a local used bookstore. This was in the early 70s... but by the mid-70s the collectors mentality had taken over, and my carefree days of finding Silver age comics for pennies on the dollar were gone. As a kid, I was only into superhero comics. Gradually I started reading more humor comics, and by the time I went to the Kubert school in the early 80s, I was reading all kinds of genres -- especially independent comics like Love and Rockets, American Splendor and Peter Bagge's Neat Stuff. I was also introduced to classic comic strips like Krazy Kat and Terry and the Pirates.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
My favorite current comic strip is Cul-De-Sac by Richard Thompson. My favorite comic strip in history is Wash Tubbs and Capt.Easy by Roy Crane. Runners-up include Krazy Kat by George Herriman, Popeye EC Segar and Dick Tracy by Chester Gould.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
My favorite book as a child was The Peanuts Treasury. I no longer have a copy of that book, but I have so many collections of the Peanuts reprints that I'm sure I have all of those strips many times over.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I spent two years at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. The Kubert School is a totally hard-core cartooning boot camp, and that experience basically laid the groundwork for all of my future in cartooning.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
The Internet is the greatest invention in the history of mankind. I'm constantly looking on the Internet for reference, and even use YouTube for any kind of reference where I need to see how things are actually moving. I've also been able to connect socially with dozens of like-minded cartoonists through my blog, Facebook and Twitter. There's no question that I waste an enormous amount of time browsing the Internet, but overall I honestly don't know how I ever lived without it.

Did either of your parents draw?
My mother drew a little bit, dabbled with oil painting, and she was really big into needlepoint. She definitely had an artistic side to her, but she only expressed it in short bursts. My mom and dad were extremely helpful and encouraging in my pursuit of a career in cartooning.
Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Like I mentioned in the point above, my mom was the most supportive of my cartooning in my early life. In my 20s, while I was working in bookstores to make a living, I had a lot of good friends and coworkers who were very supportive of what I was doing -- very enthusiastic fans as it were. By far my biggest supporter now is my wife -- she's not only very encouraging and a great sounding board for ideas, but she also takes care of so many things in our life so that I can concentrate on my cartooning.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
The sketchbook I keep is pretty unconventional; basically, I mostly draw on Post-it notes and multipurpose printer paper, as well as just about any scrap of paper that's lying around. I usually save all the good ones and paste them into a three ring binder. I don't like drawing in a bound sketchbook... I freeze up, knowing that whatever I draw is permanently bound into a book. I much prefer just doodling on whatever paper is available.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I taught a couple of storyboarding classes a few years ago. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to solidify my thoughts on a number of drawing topics. Also really loved the interaction I had with the more enthusiastic students. It was pretty draining though, so I have not been in a big hurry to do live teaching again. I have focused my teaching lately into a series of tutorial videos, which you can see on my blog and on YouTube. I also wrote an instructional book on cartooning and character design, called 'Cartooning: Character Design' published by Walter Foster.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Well, talent without application or perseverance won't get you very far. Passion is essential, because you need that fire to keep you going. Learning to draw is a lifelong process, and I'm not just blowing smoke when I say that I constantly feel like I'm a beginner and I will always in the process of learning.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I used to be a completely out-of-control collector of books -- particularly cartooning, art and photography books. Eventually, I had so many books in so many boxes that I could no longer find the books that I needed. So I sold off most of my collection and I have never regretted it. That's another nice thing about the Internet -- if there's something I want to read or some painting or photograph, look at, I could find it right away for free. I've also been using the public library quite a bit for the last five years. The library interface on the Internet makes it very easy to search for and find just about any book I need. I still collect a few things like vintage "how to draw" books, and also books by and about my favorite cartoonists.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Oh, I'm definitely Patrick.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
The thought is so horrible I can't even comprehend it. Probably a bookstore manager or a teacher of some sort.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
In my office/studio, I have two different desks one across from the other. The first is a drawing table with an animation disc and light box on top. This is where I do all of my drawings by hand. Between the two desks is a scanner, which is how I get all of my hand-drawn drawings into my computer. The second desk is my computer desk. I have two computers side by side. The computer on the left is a PC running Windows 7 -- this is the computer I use for all of my general computing, surfing the Internet, and editing video. The computer on the right is a Mac G5 with a Cintiq tablet, dedicated solely to artwork. This is where I do all of my digital inking in painting. That was more than two sentences, wasn't it?

Do you play any musical instruments?
I've dabbled around with a bass guitar and the ukulele, but I finally made the decision that I don't have enough brainpower to devote myself to both music and art. I have sadly come to terms with the realization that I will never be a rock star.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Aside from the usual advice to draw all the time, I would encourage anyone who's serious about making a living in art (or more specifically, cartooning) to find a way to get their work in print as soon as possible, and as frequently as possible. The cost of self-publishing comics these days is low enough for just about anyone to afford. You don't need a big distributor like Diamond to get your comics into comic shops... you just have to go through the work of visiting those shops, talking to the owners, building a relationship, and getting your work out there. My first comics were self-published, and I hustled them all over the place -- including renting a table at the San Diego comic con. It was because of those comics and because of being at that convention that I got my first opportunity to be a storyboard artist. You gotta get your work OUT THERE where it can be seen by people that will help further your career.

Who is your favorite artist?
If I had to pick one, it would be Roy Crane. Runners-up include Harvey Kurtzman, George Herriman, Dan Gordon, The Beatles and Neil Young.


Thanks for taking the time to share your answers Sherm and also for the wealth of information you provide on your blog.

Up next is Tony Piro, cartoonist for the webcomic Calamities of Nature.

What Was Your Favorite Book As A Child And Do You Still Own A Copy Of It? - Cartoonist Survey Answers Compiled

Here are the compiled answers to the question, What Was Your Favorite Book As A Child And Do You Still Own A Copy Of It?

The results are based on the answers provided by the first 100 cartoonists/artists.

What Was Your Favorite Book As A Child?

Can't remember - 7
Alice in Wonderland - 5
Don't have one - 5
Many - 5
Green Eggs and Ham - 3
Cartoon Cavalcade by Thomas Craven - 2
Doctor Seuss - 2
Not sure of title - 2
Peanuts Treasury - 2
The Lord of the Rings - 2
The Oz books - 2
Where the Wild Things Are - 2
Wind in the Willows - 2

The following answers were given by one person each.

1984
Babar
Beatrix Potter
Brendon Chase
Cat in the Hat
Charles Addams compilation
Charlotte's Web
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Der Struwwelpeter
Didn't answer
Go Dog Go
Great Fighter pilots of WWII
Harriet the Spy
Harry the Dirty Dog
How Much is a Million
How to Draw by Andrew Loomis
Illustrated Treasury of Children's Literature
Lassie Come Home
Let's Play Train
Little Golden Books
Make a World by Ed Emberley
Moomin
Nancy Drew Mysteries
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Pagoo
Prince Ombra
Psychology of Sex
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Sinbad and Me
Sox on Fox
Superfudge
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Art of Star Wars
The Black Stallion
The Bobbsey Twins
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Eagle Annual
The Eagle of the Ninth
The Five Chinese Brothers
The Handy Book for Boys
The Haunted Spy
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Little Captain
The Little Engine that Could
The Nutshell Library
The Poky Little Puppy
The Secret Garden
The Secret of the Unicorn
The Silver Robin
The Thing in Dolores' Piano
The Whingdingdilly
The World Book Encyclopedias
Thelwell's horse and pony books
Tinker Tanker by Richard Scary
Tom Corbett Space Cadet
Tom Swift and his Trip to Mars
Wifey
Winnie the Pooh

Do You Still Own A Copy Of It?

Yes - -54
No - 20
Didn't say - 14
N/A - 12

Lectrr - Cartoonist Survey #119

Lectrr is a Belgian cartoonist and standup comedian who was born in Rumbeke and now lives in Gent. In the late 90’s he made his debut on the Internet as one of the first Flemish cartoonists with a daily strip. Soon he was appearing in Flemish and Dutch comic magazines such as, Myx and Zone 5300. During this time he also drew for magazines such as Computer Magazine, Reuters (UK), Maxim, and Menzo. In 2001 his weekly cartoon series ‘Hara Kiwi’ debuted and since that time has been translated into Dutch, English, Turkish, German, French and Hungarian. ‘Hara Kiwi has been published by numerous European magazines and has been collected in five compilation books. Lectrr also has the gag strip 'Lars' that runs daily in the Dutch newspaper 'AD' (Algemeen Dagblad), and the Belgian newspapers 'Gazet van Antwerpen' and 'Het Belang van Limburg'. In February of 2009 ‘Lars’ was collected in the book 'Lars Attacks!'. In addition to ‘Hara Kiwi’ and ‘Lars’ Lectrr also runs a cartoon series called ‘The Dork Side' which is a Star Wars/Star Trek/Scifi/Fantasy/LOTR/Matrix-related spoof. As if all that wasn’t enough, he also designs t-shirts for his own t-shirt line, and in 2006 he designed t-shirts and baby clothes for Greenpeace. Stop by Lecttr’s website and say hello.

What is your favorite pen to use?
I use a very old-fashioned Chinese ink pen. You know, the cheap ones. With real Chinese ink. Makes me feel like a craftsman, which I'm obviously not.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Everything is drawn meticulously in pencil. I mostly use non-repro blue pencils, but since these are becoming hard to get (especially in Europe, where I live) I've been switching to normal hard pencils.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
PhotoShop, of course. Using a Wacom Cintiq tablet, that way it still feels as if I'm doing it by hand. I tried footpainting a cartoon once but that didn't work out.

What type of paper do you use?
Good question, I don't know! I buy batches of paper all over the place, I've been looking for some kind of paper I feel comfortable with. Unlike many of my colleagues, I don't like Schoellershammer. Right now I use 200g/m2 inkjet paper by a Dutch brand named "mondi". It's not cheap, but I've bought about twelve boxes of them because I like the paper so much. I like heavy paper.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Bicycles, horses and (the terror!) horses on a bike.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
On Fridays I try to work outdoors. Bars, museums or anywhere else in town. Observing people, drawing them as they pass by. There's a chain art store in town named 'Schleiper'. They carry all the goods I need, except for the paper I mentioned before.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I always think out my jokes before I start to draw. Like many great minds before me (Voltaire, for example), I do the thinking while laying down in bed. Yes: my bed is my office. I used to work in the bathtub as well but I nearly got electrocuted when my Macbook fell into the water once so I quit doing that.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
Not while drawing, but I love to listen to some music when I'm doing the colouring. Without it, colouring is a dull thing to do. I like all kinds of music, really, ranging from classical music ("Nocturne in C-sharp Minor" by Chopin!), electronic music (Bloody Beetroots! Trentemöller! Royksöpp!) or even breakcore (Venetian Snares!), it all depends on my mood, I guess. I never liked German Schlager music though. Too alternative for me.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I grew up on comics, really. Belgium is a really comic-minded country (remember: Tintin was created here), so I've always been surrounded by great comics. As a kid I loved Tintin, Asterix, or the Smurfs (also Belgian). The Smurfs are great.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Bone by Jeff Smith.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
'Le Petit Prince' by St Exupery. I still own several copies.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I received a Masters Degree in Graphic Design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) in Ghent, Belgium. Sounds cool huh?

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
I made my first moves as a cartoonist on the net, so I believe it's a curse ;-)
No, I think it's a blessing: as a cartoonist you can reach people beyond your imagination.

Did either of your parents draw?
I remember my dad drew a cowboy once, but that's about it.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Loads of them. I always lose them as well, so my sketchbooks are swarming across town all the time.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
When I started out as a cartoonist I taught some kids in a workshop. They weren't really interested that much, so I never went back for the second half of the workshop. If you even run into a cartoonist that can only do half of a cartoon, that's one that got his education from me.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
In cartoons it's the joke that matters. I've seen some very talented artists create the lousiest jokes ever, and some guy creating the ugliest but also funniest cartoon I ever read.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Books are a huge inspiration, so the entire house is filled to the rim with books. Every time I leave the house, new books come back home with me. Every time I don't leave the house, new books come to my doorstep (Amazon rocks!). I love books, they are like people (yet less smelly).

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Mr. Incredible. Ask any woman who's met me.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Right handed. I do some stuff with my left hand but I'm not gonna tell you what it is.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I'm considering to switch careers, I've always wanted to be a Ninja. I'm pretty sure I'd be a very good one.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Two words: disaster area.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Nope but it doesn't prevent me from doing it anyway.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
You can buy my drawing board for a fair price. As a ninja I won't be needing it much anyway.

Who is your favorite artist?
Jeff Smith.

Thanks a lot Lectrr!

Storyboard artist and character designer Sherm Cohen is up next.

Kevin Spear - Cartoonist Survey #118

Kevin Spear is an illustrator, cartoonist and designer. His cartoons have been published since 1986, and he has been designing books since 1991. He spent 9 years working for a publishing company as an illustrator and book designer. While there he worked on Alpha Publishing’s “The Complete Idiot's Guide" series. In 1998 he created his own company Speartoons Inc. which provides illustration and design for the print publishing industry including digital, humorous illustrations for children's and religious publishers. Since 2002 he has worked for Warner Press as a graphic designer and illustrator, mainly for children's products. At Warner he creates coloring and activity books as well as children's picture books, teaching resource books and church supplies. Kevin wrote and illustrated the book, "What's a Bathtub Doing in My Church?" which was released in 2006. You can see more of Kevin’s work at his website.

What is your favorite pen to use?
For sketching, I like Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine. For my finished artwork, it's the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
I use whatever pencil is in front of me. It can be a #2 Ticonderoga or some cheap mechanical pencil. Lately, I've liked using a clutch pencil/lead holder. It holds 2mm pencil leads. It's like a mechanical pencil but used in drafting. I also like the Ebony brand pencils.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
I draw the finished art and color all on my computer. Adobe Illustrator is my tool of choice, though I also use PhotoShop.

If you do your coloring by hand, what do you use?
Water soluble Prismacolor pencils.

What type of paper do you use?
I use whatever is at hand. Sometimes, it's bond paper. Other times, I'll sketch a rough on 3" x 5" index cards. I like the cards because I can glue them in my sketchbook and keep them organized.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
I'm not big on detailed backgrounds. I like to focus on people. And what is it with bicycles? They seem fine until you draw a person on them!

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
I miss having a local art supply store. I usually buy from the local Hobby Lobby or Michael's chain stores.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
I like to read the newspaper, listen to the news or check out a news web site. I get more out of the human interest or weird news stories.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
I like to play Russian roulette with slacker.com or aolradio.com. I lean towards adult alternative like U2 and REM. If I'm sentimental, it's the Beatles.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
I loved racing to get the newspaper before my dad. "Peanuts" were my favorite. When I was in junior high, "Garfield" debuted. Jim Davis inspired me since he was a fellow Hoosier.

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Ooh! That's like choosing your favorite son. Ever since I worked in a corporate environment, "Dilbert" has made me laugh. He finds the absurdity in office life.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
The book that sparked my imagination was "Andrew Henry's Meadow," by Doris Burn. I can still see that bright green cover. I wonder what ever happened to it?

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
I took fine art classes as a teen. I graduated from Anderson University with a bachelor's degree in graphic design.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
It's simply a tool. What we choose to do with it makes it a blessing or a curse. I have gotten many jobs through the Internet. I have also wasted a lot of time on the web. It can be such a great resource. How else could someone from South Africa or Indonesia write and tell me they liked my cartoons?

Did either of your parents draw?
My mom loved to doodle. She has taken up painting since my sister has become a painter and art teacher.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
It's a toss-up between my mom and my wife. I met my wife when we were both taking graphic design classes at the university. She's the best critic and encourager all rolled into one. I've found you need both.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
I have a bookcase full of them in my garage. They go back from my college days. It's a blast to pull one out and see early ideas and drawings I first made of my children. I go through about ten sketchbooks a year.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I've been a guest teacher for public school art classes. I love to teach now. The first experience was a nightmare. I was just out of school and had no idea I was supposed to control the classroom. The inmates ran the asylum. Now I know how to keep the interest of a class and keep them focused.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Passion is far more important. Talent is the fuel, but passion is the fire. Passion will keep you going when times are tough and you're discouraged. It also keeps you going when you are on your thirtieth illustration for a picture book.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
I love books. I collect picture books, comic books, and pretty much any nonfiction book I take a fancy to.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Some days, I'm Sponge Bob, some days I'm Squidward.

Are you a righty or lefty?
I'm a lefty unless I'm using scissors or a mouse.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
I'd be a teacher. I get a charge from the energy of kids.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
It's a small swirl of objects surrounded by an iMac. The desk is rather tidy, but the mess is on my Mac's hard drive.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I played the clarinet in high school. That must be why I sometimes find myself being uncomfortably like Squidward.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Work hard at it like you would any career you would want to succeed in.

Who is your favorite artist?

Another hard question. If it's a picture book artist, I'd choose Mo Willems. He is a great cartoonist and his picture books are hilarious. Even kids in rural Indiana know you shouldn't let pigeons drive the bus thanks to him.

Thank you very much Kevin.

Next time on David Wasting Paper is Belgian cartoonist, Lectrr.

Bill LaRocque - Cartoonist Survey #117

Nationally published cartoonist and caricaturist, Bill LaRocque grew up here in my home state of Massachusetts. He drew editorial and gag cartoons for his school and college newspapers and magazines. Bill began his career as a system programmer for the US Air Force where his drawings appeared in the base newspaper. He ended up spending 40 years as an IT Director and management consultant in Washington, DC while also freelancing as a cartoonist for association and research publications. His editorial cartoons and caricatures were featured in Washington Post's Weekly Edition and AOL's Digital City feature; Washingtoons. Through the years Bill has done caricatures and illustrations for many corporations including, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Academy of Sciences, Pricewaterhouse, Macy’s, Deliotte Touche and General Dynamics. He has taught cartoon art at Anne Arundel Community College, an art academy, a private school and an adult education program. Retired now and living in Asheville, NC, Bill still does caricature parties and he also teaches a cartoon art course at UNCA. He is a member of the National Cartoonists Society and the National Caricaturists Network. Stop by Bill's website and follow his online journal, 'Just Kidding'.

What is your favorite pen to use?
These days, a Wacom stylus. Before, a Micron 03.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Digital, I sketch on a different layer. Before, a mechanical.

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

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

What type of paper do you use?
Bristol 2-ply.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Nothing.

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

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?
Yes, classical and jazz.

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

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Pogo.

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
No.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
Yes, Museum School, Boston, MA.

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
It is the present and future, period.

Did either of your parents draw?
Yes.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Me and partner.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Sketchbook/Journal, yes for 30+ years.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
I still do and love 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?
Krazy Kat.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Right-handed.

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

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
These days, large screens and printer/scanners.

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?
Draw every day.

Who is your favorite artist?
Thomas Cole.

Thank you Bill.

Answers from designer, illustrator and cartoonist, Kevin Spear are next.