Category — Artist of the Month

Bloghorn cartoon on second childhood and cars © Noel Ford

Bloghorn quizzes our artist of the month for April, Noel Ford.

Which other cartoonists’ work do you admire?

How long have you got? Okay, although it’s not in my nature to have “heroes”, cartoonists or otherwise, I do greatly admire the drawing and humour of many cartoonists, alive, dead and in-between. No names, no pack-drill (Whatever that means) – eclectic is my middle name!

Do you have any tips for wannabe cartoonists?

I started out purely as a gag cartoonist and developed from there. I soon discovered that if you have the necessary cartoon drawing skills and can consistently come up with good ideas, then you have about ten per cent of what is required to succeed. A vital ten per cent, of course, but that’s all. The other ninety per cent comprises, determination, a very thick skin, the ability to accept rejection and use it to spur you on (see “determination”) and a shed-load of good luck. The best advice I can give anyone with aspirations to succeed as a cartoonist is to be reliable. Never miss a deadline.

Bloghorn cartoon on female clergy and the stained glass ceiling © Noel Ford

Bloghorn asked Noel Ford, this month’s featured artist how he became a cartoonist:

I didn’t have much choice. Brainwashed by having Film Fun and Radio Fun read to me from the age of two, bombarded with my Uncle’s and Auntie’s huge backlog of Beanos and Dandys, I drew my first cartoon around the age of five (Child to mother, “Why are bananas nice?” Mother to child, “Because you like them.”) Okay, okay, I was only five, remember.

Later, during my (very) short flirtation with art college, my determination to cartoon was galvanized by my tutor who ordered me to stop drawing cartoons because, “You can’t possibly earn a living doing that.” At the time my thoughts immediately turned to the brilliant fine-artist I passed every day on the way to the college, drawing masterpieces in chalk on the pavement for pennies.

Despite diversions which led me to playing lead guitar in several sixties bands, the cartooning instinct prevailed and finally, around 1971, I accepted my fate and set about cartooning in determined fashion. I have been doing it (and earning a living, please note, Mr Fields!) ever since.

Bloghorn cartoon about death by dehydration

Bloghorn Artist of the Month for April is Noel Ford.

Noel was regular contributor to Punch magazine for almost 20 years and is a former editorial cartoonist for the Daily Star. Currently, he is editorial cartoonist for half a dozen national UK publications and he also produces work for calendars, greeting card and book illustration (including the Grumpy Old Men series of books). He has won a number of national and International awards including The United Nations (Cartoonists Against Drug Abuse), The Australian Cartoonists’ Association (The Lindsays Cartoon Awards) and the National Canine Defense League – in association with Bonio dog biscuits (for Dog Cartoonist of the Year ) Yes, really – Ed.

Noel told Bloghorn how he creates his cartoons:

The first tools-of-my-trade were the traditional ink line and wash media, colours being added with inks and, later, using Edding and Pantone markers. Around 1997, I discovered digital media and soon all my work was being created directly on-screen using a digitising tablet and stylus. The very first digital cartoon in Punch, a full page colour cartoon, was mine (though they may not have realised because I printed it out and sent it in as hard copy).

My current set-up is A4 oversize Wacom Intuos 3 tablet, Dual-core G5 Mac, dual displays (20” for menus and 23” for drawing) and Corel Painter software.

Bloghorn cartoon - The First of the Mohicans © The Surreal McCoy

The Bloghorn’s PCO Artist of the Month, The Surreal McCoy, passes on tips for wannabe cartoonists:

Never take rejection to heart- somebody, somewhere will love your work. You’ll just have to find them. And practise, practise and continue to practise drawing. Your style will eventually reveal itself. Then practise some more. I fully intend to take my own advice one of these days.

As for the future of cartooning in the digital age, it’s so bright, you gotta wear shades. See you there!

Our thanks to Surreal, Bloghorn will have a new Cartoonist of the Month next Friday. In the meantime, scroll through our archives using the link at the top right of this page.

Bloghorn cartoon © The Surreal McCoy on authors and their dogs

Bloghorn asked the PCO Artist of the Month, The Surreal McCoy, how do you make your cartoons?

A bit of ink on paper, followed by a spot of colour from Photoshop using a digital tablet and usually accompanied by plenty of procrastination. (To paraphrase John Lennon, cartoons happen when you are busy making other plans/cups of tea.)

Which other cartoonist’s work do you admire?

An awful lot of Americans- Ben Katchor, Roz Chast, Edward Gorey, Dan Piraro, B. Kliban, Hilary Price. In fact any cartoon with a sense of the absurd or surreal.

Bloghorn cartoon © The Surreal McCoy

The PCO Artist of the Month for March is The Surreal McCoy.

Bloghorn asked Surreal the usual searching question: What made you become a cartoonist?

As there’s no history of madness in the family I can only assume it must have been drunken musicians laughing at my incoherent doodling on the tour bus. Since then its been a gradual but dignified slide down to where I am now.

Actually cartooning was the last thing I expected to be doing, having had no formal art training, but I must say it is rather a lot of fun.

There will be more from Surreal next Friday, or, you can check through our Artist of the Month archives in the column on the right hand side of the page.

Cartoon published at Bloghorn © The Surreal McCoy

Bloghorn’s Artist of the Month for March is The Surreal McCoy, whose cartoons have appeared in The Independent, The London Evening Standard, The London Jewish News, The Fortean Times and The Oldie magazines among others.

The Surreal McCoy also held the post of Cartoonist-In-Residence on Sandi Toksvig’s daily show for LBC radio, drawing live on air and publishing a daily cartoon on the show’s website.

Surreal has also provided cartoons and illustrations for Sandi’s latest book, Girls Are Best, which is published by Random House. McCoy publishes daily cartoons and also makes book illustrations and animation.

Bloghorn for the best British cartoonists © Neil Dishington

Bloghorn finished our interview with Artist of the Month, Neil Dishington ‘Dish’, by asking about his thoughts on the future of making jokes in drawing.

I hope there is one. I used to advise the kids I taught to ‘go for it’ otherwise you will regret not giving it a go. I still meet up with some of them, they are in their 40s: Designers and Illustrators etc. It is a joy to see how successful they are…. they took that advice (one of the rare perks of teaching).

And what of the future in the digital age?

Of course there is one, but I do find a lot of enhanced stuff in films rather bland and predictable, effects for effects sake. I even thought the latest Wallace and Gromit rather ordinary… oh dear that will annoy some people.

Humour, like sex,is a very personal experience and you just need funny bones…

Bloghorn will be unveiling a new Artist of the Month for March next Friday.

Bloghorn asked February’s Artist of the Month, Neil Dishington which other cartoon work had helped to inspire him:

I was influenced by David McKee and Mike Williams…his recent exhibition at the Cartoon Museum (and the Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival) was a real gem. Larry (the late Terence Parkes) of course and a few artists for the New Yorker. Sam Gross is a particular favourite.

I also believe my work has been much influenced by films…especially the early Woody Allen films and the Marx Bros. I just love the one-liners.

PCO Artist of the Month, Neil Dishington - “Dish” – explains to Bloghorn how he creates his loose graphic style:

As with most of my generation I used a dip pen to start with, but could never find the right nib or a free-flowing ink. Thank goodness for fibre tip pens which I use now plus really white paper. I also discovered Ecoline inks, they are brilliant, lovely vibrant colours and when overlayed create wonderful effects… see my , or, Mike Williams work for evidence. I do use Photoshop sometimes, drawing the image and flooding colour, but I still feel a novice with it. I try.