On Dec. 17, 1996, my first cartoon ran in The Clarion-Ledger. I remember seeing the paper box outside of my apartment complex and feeling deep pride. That was my paper’s paper box. Over the next fourteen years, I was named a two-time Pulitzer Finalist, was syndicated to over 400 papers and even named one of the top 100 employees in Gannett. I traveled to every corner of the state and spoke to tens of thousands of people. I felt pride and passion every day I sat down at my drawing board. I seldom missed having a cartoon in the paper, even when I was on vacation. I didn’t even miss one when I had cancer surgery. I think I called in sick once in 14 years. It was all about pride and passion.
I still feel that pride and the passion. I just get to spread it to different things now. Anything you see with my signature on it will reflect it. It may be a cartoon in The Clarion-Ledger. It may be an appearance on the radio. It may be a speech you hear me give. It may be a blog you read here on marshallramsey.com. An illustration for a client. Or a painting. Without that pride and passion, I’m nothing. It’s what drives me. It’s what helps me conquer mountains. It’s the fire in my belly that gets me out of bed at 4:45 every morning and propels my talent forward.
I hope you enjoy what comes from it half as much as I do bringing it to you.