To mark my 20th year of being a cartoonist in Mississippi, I thought I’d dig out 20 tales from the past two decades. Some are funny. Some are serious. All tell the story of how I came to fall in love with this sometimes frustrating but always fascinating state we live in.
Here are 20 questions I get frequently asked:
1. Do you worry about coming up with an idea?
Do you worry about brushing your teeth? I know I will come up with an idea. It may take a while. It may not be the best I’ve ever done. But I will come up with something. I did on 9/11. I did during Katrina. Mississippi gives me lots of ideas.
2. Where do you get your ideas?
I have a crack staff of writers who work in the State Capitol. Seriously, I am a veracious reader and try to make two and two equal five. My cartoon idea is usually laying at the end of the driveway on the front page. I just have to find it.
3. What’s your favorite cartoon?
That’s like asking which is my favorite child. But I do particularly like the eagle head after 9/11 and Bert Case and Kirk Fordice.
4. Who is your favorite politician to draw?
I liked Fordice, Frank Melton, Ronnie Musgrove, Haley Barbour and now Phil Bryant. I particularly like drawing people who complain about it. If you complain, I make the caricature worse.
5. Does hate mail and comments bother you?
Nah. I dish it out. I had better be able to take it.
6. How long does it take to draw a cartoon?
Depends on the artwork. Less time now that it used to — because I have less time to draw them. But I am a fast drawer (as you can probably tell by looking at my work.)
7. What’s your favorite town in Mississippi?
I have several. The only town left I want to go to is Hurley. That’s my wife’s maiden name.
8. Why did you move to Mississippi from San Diego?
San Diego is paradise for weather. Mississippi is paradise for an editorial cartoonist.
9. What do you draw with?
Micro pens and calligraphy pens on Bristol Board. I do some stuff digitally and do color everything digitally.
10. Who is your favorite Mississippi sports team?
I’m Switzerland. My normal operation is to pull for all Mississippi teams (I like happy neighbors). If a Mississippi team is playing Tennessee, I pull for Tennessee (they gave me money in the form of a scholarship). During the Egg Bowl, I pull for the underdog (who usually wins).
11. How long will you continue to draw cartoons?
As long as I am able.
12. Who is your favorite cartoonist?
Charlie Daniel (Knoxville News Sentinel). He and his wife Patsy are dear friends, mentors and like second parents. I love Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes. I liked Far Side. I consumed Mad Magazine. I have several cartoonist friends who I really admire personally and professionally.
13. What do you enjoy doing most? Cartoons, radio, TV, speaking, writing….
They are all different. Speaking is fun because you get a reaction with you show your work. I’m probably a better speaker than anything else I do.
14. Why are you still here?
To disappoint people who don’t like me. And because I’ve chosen to be here.
15. Are your kids artistic?
Not that I know of. But all three are wickedly creative, musical and talented. It’s not about me. I want them to soar with their own gifts.
16. What’s your favorite thing about Mississippi?
The people. Followed closely by the food.
17. What’s your least favorite thing?
The summer heat and humidity.
18. Do you accept ideas?
No. Ninety percent of a cartoon is the idea. I don’t even like looking at other’s cartoons (in fear that the idea will seep into my head.) And besides, if I am going to get yelled at, I’d prefer it be my idea.
19. What would you do if you could be anything other than a cartoonist?
I’m already a half-dozen other things. But if I could do math, I’d be a meteorologist.
20. What’s the best job you ever had?
I love this job. But I’d honestly have to say being a high school janitor. I learned how badly I really wanted to be a cartoonist back then.