Chewing Pencils

NAME: Violette Clark
AGE: 53
LOCATION: Surrey, B.C., Canada
SITE URL: www.violette.ca

How long have you been drawing cartoons?

I’ve been creating cartoons since I was a child however when I was in my early 20’s I began to create political cartoons and gag cartoons and submit them to local newspapers.

What made you start to think more seriously about making some money out of it?

I wasn’t very good at anything else……nothing else gave me the juice that cartooning did.

Have you done any formal training? If so, what and where?

No I don’t have any formal training apart from taking a few art classes in College when I was taking psychology and sociology.

Where was your first cartoon published?

Wow….that’s going back a very long way. I think my first cartoons were published in brochures for non-profit associations. I did so many so can’t remember which one. I suppose the first REAL important place was the Edmonton Journal Newspaper and then the Now Newspapers in B.C.

What materials do you use to create your work?

Today I use a mechanical pencil to sketch out my work and then I use Sakura Micron pens to ink them in. I use simple cardstock (which you use for your printer) to draw on.

What hardware and software do you use?

I use photoshop to color in some of my cartoons. I also use a PC (one day I’ll get a Mac).

From where so you draw your inspiration?

I get inspiration everywhere….listening in on conversations – get snippets here and there. Nature is a big source of inspiration – I go walking and things pop into my head or I see a squirrel and want to draw it in a funny situation, or a truck passes by with the sign “two small men with big hearts” moving company and instantly I see a cartoon. You only have to open your eyes and open yourself to your subconscious mind. I think that ‘s why going for walks is such a great thing. Also I enjoy looking at other artist’s work. This inspires me and spurs me to create my own interpretation of things. A quotation can inspire a piece of art or cartoon. A failed relationship, depression, ecstasy…..these feelings seem to find their way into cartoons and they’re therapeutic too!

What are some of the resources you’ve found most helpful?

Well I have a ton of art and cartooning books that go back 30 years or so! I’ve found them a great source of help. The Artist’s Market Handbook has come in handy too. Something I find immensely helpful is google. I can google anything for example I google “cartoonist’s market” and bring up a ton of sites. When I began cartooning 30 years or more this incredible tool didn’t exist! It’s the best!

What is the best piece of advice you have EVER been given? The worst?

Best advice was to draw draw draw! Worst advice I guess was to give up art and just get married.

Take us through the process you use to create one of your drawings:

Well I get the idea and then I begin to sketch in whatever is handy – it could be the back of a Chinese food placemat or a paper tablecloth at a restaurant. Usually I’m home and I grab a sketchbook or a note pad and draw my idea RIGHT AWAY before I lose it! I’m actually creating a little book right now that I call the Idea Factory so I can capture those elusive gems of ideas! Then I transfer the sketch freehand to a piece of cardstock with pencil and ink it in. Once in a while I use a light box – but rarely. Then I either scan it and colorize it in Photoshop or I use water colors (twinkling H2O’s) or watercolor pencil crayons to color it in.

How long does it generally take to create one piece?

It usually takes me about 1 or two hours depending on how elaborate they are…..some take less time

What do you find the hardest to draw?

I’m not great at drawing animals and machinery.

What do your friends and family think of you being a cartoonist?

Some friends are happy for me and some think I should get a real job. My family – my Mom wants me to paint seascapes and landscapes – you know – the stuff that sells? My creative kids are pleased that I’m doing what gives me juice, in fact they help me – my son created my website and my daughter did some of the graphic design work.

What do you think is the best part about being a cartoonist?

The best part about being a cartoonist is having the ability to convey what’s in my head onto paper, it’s also about making people laugh or inspiring folks (sorry, I can never pick just one!). I love to be able to illustrate my own writing or crafts. Oh here is another best part – the commute, which is only 30 seconds……and I can stay in my jammies and work! YAY!

What has been the standout post on Chewing Pencils for you? Why?

Well I just discovered it the other day and I love it. I think the posts on marketing one’s work are very helpful and sometimes the mention of other cartoonists and their process and life are great. Chewing Pencils Top Ten list is awesome. I think it’s good to keep things in perspective like number 11 states. When I had kids in my 20’s I created art with them around ALL THE TIME in fact they often sat and drew with me or created crafts with me. They were my number one priority. Today my daughter who is 31 is the Art Director of a company she co-owns as well as a graphic designer and my son who is 29 is an Indie computer game creator (his own company). They ended up being creative and I believe a large part of it was because they were surrounded by art materials and lived in a very creative environment.

Anything else you’d like to say….

I guess I’d like to say that it’s a great idea to mentor kids in art. I mentor a 10 year old girl. Her self-esteem has risen not to mention her artistic ability. We get into the most amazing conversations while cartooning and art making. Creating cartoons is a wonderful way of expressing yourself, making a statement and putting your energy out there for all the world to see. It’s a wonderful medium which has been a saving grace for me.

Thanks so much for letting me share my passion with you!