Chewing Pencils

NAME:MJ
AGE:44
LOCATION:Troy, Missouri
SITE URL: http://fantasticgraphics.googlepages.com/home

How long have you been drawing cartoons?

Since 1979, 29 years now. But who’s counting? Time really flies when you’re having fun.

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

When I was approached by an editor that wanted to publish some of my work.

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

No, I’m self taught. By the end of my High School years though every class on my schedule was an art class. During lunch I ended up going to all the lunch groups. As soon as this was discovered by the powers that be I was informed I couldn’t do that so I graduated early and set off into the world.

Where was your first cartoon published?

It was in a publication that ran in Missouri that has now ceased publication, The Paper Chase which ran the first FIDDLESTIX cartoon 1988. The original toons were all B/W in a one-shot format. This is where I got the name of my studio. So I use that as a tribute to that time. Paper Chase Studios.

What materials do you use to create your work?

Now there’s a long list. So I’ll break it down. I’ll use any basic materials as well as professional supplies.
Pencils: Berol 3B, General’s No. 497 5B, General’s No. 555 Layout, General’s 2H, and HB. I also use Bic mechanical pencils
Pens: Nothing fancy, Pilot V5 Precise, Pentel Micro, Bic Tuxedo Black.
Paper: Strathmore 9×12, and 14×17 300 smooth Bristol Board. I also just started using Canson 9×12 150 smooth. I’ll also use regular acid free 8.5×11 for some of my editorial cartoons.
Erasers: Factis OV12
Along with all the other basic supplies such as rulers, protractors, etc.

What hardware and software do you use?

I currently use a majority of HP products all the way down to the flatbed scanners. Software I use is Illustrator, Photoshop, I usually always revert back to using ArcSoft hardware though.

From where so you draw your inspiration?

Daily life is usually where I’ll draw my ideas from. I enjoy drawing and seeing people laugh at the characters I’ll create. My inspiration to continually draw comes from my friends over at The Panel Mammals.

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

The best resources are found from other creators, especially those that have been doing this for a lengthy period of time. I’ve also found decent methods from a few fresh start-up individual cartoonists.

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

The best advice I was ever given was to continually practice, practice, practice. The worst, believe it or not was from an editor that continually tried to change my artistic style and views. I learned later in life that they were just trying to be helpful. The best advice I’ll pass along to your readers. Practice, practice, practice, and listen to an editor you have submitted something to. These two things will greatly enhance your chances of getting material published.

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

I’ll archive ideas throughout the day on a laptop. Then later in the evening I’ll settle behind the drawing board to begin my process. First I’ll sketch out my ideas, and characters on a pre-made layout template depending on the cartoon I’m drawing. I currently have four different layouts one for each strip or one-shot. After sketching the main characters into the panel or panels, I then go back and add any shading into these characters. Then I’ll move onto backgrounds, and foregrounds. When I get the panels finished with all the main portions done, I’ll scan the cartoon to convert over to a digital process. I’ll usually finish any details that are needed on the sketch digitally first, then colorize each panel. After all this is done I’ll add any text digitally, which includes word balloons. When the cartoon is finished I upload it to my syndicate for distribution. That is a basic rundown on the process here at PC Studios for creating a cartoon.

How long does it generally take to create one piece?

I try to work in a time frame of four hours per each strip or one-shot. Sometimes it may take up to six hours though which really leaves me pushing the other strips or one-shots at times. This usually isn’t a problem as the strips are finished well in advance of publication dates. But if it is an editorial cartoon, this will cut into the weekly output of material that my editors expect on a regular basis.

What do you find the hardest to draw?

Usually it is getting a caricature of an individual to look correct so that it is an easily recognizable likeness. I also have problems with trees.

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

They never really comment on it, except if the process is eating into the time that should be spent with family or personal time.

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

Meeting the fans at conventions or signings who enjoy reading your creations daily. I also get a kick out of the hate mail, or in person rantings of general dislike for my views that is generated by the editorial one-shots.

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

I really enjoyed tip no.11 for aspiring cartoonists. This really made me stand back and look at what I was doing. Keeping me on my toes about not letting the cartoons consume my life. This was beginning to happen until I found that tip which made me look to streamline my tooning process to allow time for personal daily life.

Anything else you’d like to say….

Thanks for having me as a featured artist right here on Chewing Pencils. Thanks to all the various editors I have worked with. Thanks to my syndicate Newsblaze in Folsom, California (Alan you’re the Man). Thanks to The National Free Press where I’m a staff editorial cartoonist (Trevor I appreciate you running The Bad Apples strip). Thanks also to Newropeans Magazine for giving me exposure across the great pond. Thanks to Mr. Nick Anderson (The Houston Chronicle’s editorial cartoonist), and Mr. Gary Varvel (The Indianapolis Star’s editorial cartoonist) for exposure to their readers. All the guys at The Panel Mammals (Some of the best cartoonist friends I have). A HUGE THANKS to all the fans that support, and read The Bad Apples, Bushwhacked, FIDDLESTIX, and IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE. You fine folks are the best, Toon In and Toon On, See you in the funnies.