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Contact the Artist
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Robert Lovely |
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 Q. When did you first start drawing cartoons?
A. I was trained in classical drawing, Leonardo and Michelangelo-type stuff. And talk about obscure college degrees, I got a master's in drawing, specializing in pen-and-ink techniques...try selling that one to your parents! To let my imagination wander, I started doing a funny drawing every day. Then I posted each day's drawing on the Web.
Q. Which cartoonists influenced you the most?
A. My favorite cartoonists are the old guys — Thomas Nast, Toulouse-Lautrec, Daumier, Bruegel and Goya. As a little kid, I tried (dismally) to draw Garfield and Snoopy.
Q. How did you get your professional start?
A. I had been making my living as a "serious" artist for quite a while, selling drawings and paintings. Still, I really looked forward to doing each day's cartoon. The ones on the Web got a great response, and my friends laughed, so I sent them off to the syndicates. Eventually, United Features called.
Q. How would you describe your style?
A. That's a hard one. I love the look of old drawings and prints. I'd love to see really great drawing back in the newspaper (admittedly, I still find drawing from my imagination much harder than drawing from models).
Q. Where do you get your ideas?
A. Strangely enough, looking at other comics or watching funny movies doesn't help. It is better to let my curiosity run wild, researching things on the Internet or watching documentaries.
Q.Do you create on a daily basis? Do you prefer to work in the morning or at night?
A. Yes, I work almost every day. I paint from the model for four hours in the morning, and draw "Days of Thunder" at night. And, most important, I always keep a pen and paper in my back pocket...you never know when a good idea will float by.
Q. What materials do you use to draw your comics? Do you use a computer?
A. I begin on Strathmore 500 smooth-finish paper. With a soft pencil I try to nail down the drawing with the very first lines—sketchy, scribbly lines don't seem to help much. I ink with either a felt tip or steel pen. Big black areas get filled in with a brush. Sometimes, after I scan the drawing, I do small touch-ups in Photoshop — but it's best to get everything right before you scan.
Q. Do you have any suggestions on how to become a professional cartoonist?
A. Another hard one. Become fascinated with the world and the people around you. Draw at least one cartoon every day. They will be horrible at first, but you can keep getting better all your life. That's true success — not whether or not you become a "professional." |
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