- Galway Cartoon Festival Interview: Osama Hajjaj
This month Galway Cartoon Festival talks to cartoonist Osama Hajjaj.
Name: Osama Eid Hajjaj
Where are you from? From Amman the capital of Jordan.
When did you become interested in drawing cartoons? Since I was 20 years old. My father was the one who encouraged me to enter this field because of the nature of his work at this time as a news translator. I was unemployed at this time but I was full of talent for drawing. The drawing was just as a hobby for me in this time. Then I got into the newspaper where my father works, not as a cartoonist, but as an expressive graphic artist, especially for newspaper topics with very low salary, so From here I started my way to be a cartoonist.
Who are your big influences? There’s many… not just one… Since I was young I loved comic books & tv cartoons program my big influences in this time like Stan Lee & Frank Miller, and in cartoon art like… Hajo de Reijger & Angel Boligan.
Where were you first published? My first published cartoon was in the same newspaper that my father works for, and the first newspaper I worked for as a cartoonist. It was an indescribable feeling I remember having when I saw my first cartoon published on paper. I bought 5 newspapers at that time in 1993 ☺
What’s your favourite cartoon (single panel or strip)? Mmmm .. I love them both, But most likely single cartoon
What materials do you use? In the past I was using paper and ink colors, pencil, free hand drawing. More fun, but more difficult and needs time… but now with technology I use ipad pro
And drawing programs so I am now digital artist.
On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is the thing you hang wet clothes on and 10 is the thing Gandalf rode in on, how are you at drawing horses? Hahahah… nice question… 7/10
Did you scribble in the margins of your books in school? Oooh this is a big story on my life ، I’ve always scribble on my school books. It made me a lot of trouble and rebukes with my teacher, but that period or habit for me was like learning to draw and this is one of the sacrifices that affected my studies in this time. My friends liked my drawings and called me an artist. I miss those books that have so many sketches ☹
And keep updated: every time the cartoon artist needs to read and follow news and events and be educated. This time is easier on their way than in the past because you don’t need a newspaper or magazine to be a cartoonist. The future is now the social media, make your page and go.
Where can we find you online? Online you can find my work by google search or my page on facebook: osamahajjaj cartoons
And instagram: osamahajjaj
Twitter: @osamacartoons
Cartoonmovement.com
Cagle.com
Royatv.comIt’s that time of year again where the Galway Cartoon Festival must rattle our fundraising can to ensure this year’s Cartoon Festival happens! We are a completely voluntary organisation that seeks to promote the art of the cartoon each year through exhibitions, talks and workshops. It is the public that gets us over the line each year and this year is no different! So if you’ve ever laughed at a Larson or cracked up at a Keyes please consider getting the card out!
Click here to make a small donation to keep the Galway Cartoon Festival going in 2021.
- Galway Cartoon Festival Interview: Kathryn Lamb
This month Galway Cartoon Festival talks to cartoonist Kathryn Lamb
Name: Kathryn Lamb
Where are you from? I was born in Bahrain (my father was a Middle East expert in the Foreign Office), and I grew up in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. My father is Welsh, from Swansea.
When did you become interested in drawing cartoons? I remember drawing in chalk on the pavement (back in home leave in England) when I was about six, getting in trouble, and having to wash it off.
Who are your big influences? I copied characters from the Peanuts strip by Charles Schultz. I adored Ronald Searle’s drawings. Also Arthur Rackham’s illustrations and those by Tove Jansson in the Moomintroll books.
Where were you first published? I I drew cartoons for the Cherwell newspaper while reading English at Oxford, and had my first cartoon published in Private Eye in May 1979.
What’s your favourite cartoon (single panel or strip)? I love Ronald Searle’s series of ‘Revolting Cats’ drawings – the one that stood out for me was captioned ‘Particularly Revolting Cat Startled by a Gesture of Affection’.
What materials do you use? I use Staedtler fine liners, an A5 pad (although currently using the lovely book of paper from the Galway Cartoon Festival!), and occasionally a set of unremarkable colouring pencils. I work on my lap, which is not recommended for posture, but fitted in well with family life (single parent of six children – now grown up).
On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is the thing you hang wet clothes on and 10 is the thing Gandalf rode in on, how are you at drawing horses? I’d give myself a strong 4 (one point for each leg).
Did you scribble in the margins of your books in school? Not just in the margins but all over the books. And on one unforgettable occasion, all over the walls of the male teachers’ cloakroom. I left the school shortly after this.
Do you have any advice for aspiring cartoonists? Don’t give up!
Where can we find you online? My work can be viewed online at the Chris Beetles Gallery.
- Galway Cartoon Festival Interview: Martyn Turner
This month Galway Cartoon Festival talks to cartoonist Martyn Turner
Name: Martyn TurnerWhere are you from? Born in Essex. Family cockney for generations except an outlier great grandfather who was an Irish traveller called Johnny Cash (I’m not making it up).
When did you become interested in drawing cartoons? when i was knee high to a grasshopper.
Who are your big influences? Trog, Emmwood, Ronald Searle.
Click image for source Where were you first published? Primary school I wrote edited and illustrated a magazine. Ditto secondary school. Ditto university. Ditto post graduation.
What’s your favourite cartoon (single panel or strip)? Aongus Collins’ cartoon of Dick Spring at the “Lost’ desk: ”Excuse me, have you seen the run of myself?” I think it should be permanently stuck on every wall in the Dáil.
What materials do you use? Pentel fude brush pens, Bristol board, carpenters pencils and Clip Studio Paint on the computer for colouring.
On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is the thing you hang wet clothes on and 10 is the thing Gandalf rode in on, how are you at drawing horses? 2 and a half.
Did you scribble in the margins of your books in school? Yes and on everyone else’s too…
Click image for source Do you have any advice for aspiring cartoonists? Don’t let the buggers wear you down.
Where can we find you online? Irish times opinion pages and twitter @turnercartoons
[You can see archived interviews here. We hope to host a monthly interview with cartoonists around the world, both established and up-and-coming. If you’d like to feature please get in touch.]
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The Galway Cartoon Festival is 4 this year. Despite the pandemic we are still planning to host a physical exhibition.
Our ability to fund-raise has been severely curtailed.If you’ve ever enjoyed an editorial cartoon please bung us a fiver.
https://fundit.ie/project/galway-cartoon-festival-2020More details of our fundraiser can be found at the link above and we have a tiered reward system! PLEASE HELP US MAKE 2020 HAPPEN!
- Galway Cartoon Festival Interview: Rob Stears
This month Galway Cartoon Festival talks to Irish cartoonist Rob Stears.
Name: I’m Rob Stears.
Where are you from? I’m from Dublin.
When did you become interested in drawing cartoons? I’ve always drawn and wanted to draw cartoons. As a kid I was always drawing cartoon characters and cartoon versions of animals. Looking back it’s probably because drawing animals realistically was harder. Later on I do remember pausing a vhs tape of the Simpsons to draw the characters.
Who are your big influences? Growing up I was influenced by tv animation. I had been watching things like Spider-man and Xmen long before I ever picked up a comic. Now I love the work of comic book artists, though that probably doesn’t reflect in most of what I do 🙂
Webcomics artist I like right now are @Twisteddoodles and @MrLovenstein and @nellucnhoj are very funny.
I usually try to go for a joke first and work images around it.
Where were you first published? My work has appeared in some online and print publications and I’ve illustrated books for other authors but my first book Which I wrote and illustrated was published In 2017 with Hachette Ireland.
What’s your favourite cartoon (single panel or strip)? My favourite cartoon? That’s so hard. I’m following a bunch of artists online and I’m constantly seeing new stuff. Some that genuinely make me laugh out loud. I think my wife is getting tired of me saying “look at this” while holding my phone in front of her face while we’re watching tv.
What materials do you use? I used to use pencil and markers but I’m mainly using an iPad Pro with the Clip Studio app.
On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is the thing you hang wet clothes on and 10 is the thing Gandalf rode in on, how are you at drawing horses? Can I draw a horse on a scale of 1-10? Ummm maybe a 6?
Did you scribble in the margins of your books in school? I always drew in my schoolbooks which meant my younger sister was handed down some very messy books.
Do you have any advice for aspiring cartoonists? My advice for aspiring cartoonists? Using reference photos isn’t cheating, it’s observing. Start early, I treated it as a hobby for far too long. Never undervalue you’re work or work for free. If they want to have your work it’s worth something
(with the exception of charities because it’s nice to be nice)Where can we find you online? You can find me at www.robstears.ie, Instagram and Twitter @RobStears
[You can see archived interviews here. We hope to host a monthly interview with cartoonists around the world, both established and up-and-coming. If you’d like to feature please get in touch.]
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The Galway Cartoon Festival is 4 this year. Despite the pandemic we are still planning to host a physical exhibition.
Our ability to fund-raise has been severely curtailed.If you’ve ever enjoyed an editorial cartoon please bung us a fiver.
https://fundit.ie/project/galway-cartoon-festival-2020More details of our fundraiser can be found at the link above and we have a tiered reward system! PLEASE HELP US MAKE 2020 HAPPEN!
- Galway Cartoon Festival Interview: Chelsea Saunders
This month Galway Cartoon Festival talks to the excellent Chelsea Saunders of The Nib.
Name: Chelsea Saunders
Where are you from? Westchester County, New York.
When did you become interested in drawing cartoons? Ever since I was two years old, I loved drawing. Shows like Spongebob Squarepants and the Powerpuff Girls sparked my desire to draw cartoon characters, but it wasn’t until I graduated college that I started making comics. I remember the summer of 2018, there was a lot of news regarding white people calling the cops on Black folks for no reason (i.e. “BBQ Becky” calling the cops because a Black family was grilling in a park). I made my first political cartoon in response to that, and it got picked up by The Nib. I’ve been hooked on making political comics since.
Who are your big influences? I get really inspired by artists like Matt Bors, Ronald Wimberly, Richie Pope, Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher, and Ralph Bakshi.Where were you first published? The Nib published my first piece “Lowlights for Children” on their website. I pretty much owe my illustration career to team Nib; they’re the best.
What’s your favourite cartoon (single panel or strip)? Ironically, I haven’t read that many comics (as a kid or an adult), so I can’t pick a favorite! I’m trying to read more comics this year!What materials do you use? I use Photoshop and a Wacom tablet almost exclusively. I miss drawing on paper sometimes, but there’s no undo button.
On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is the thing you hang wet clothes on and 10 is the thing Gandalf rode in on, how are you at drawing horses? If I had a reference, it’d be a solid 7. Without reference, probably a 3. Those back-bending legs get me everytime. And wait… didn’t Gandalf ride an eagle to Mordor?Did you scribble in the margins of your books in school? Oh yeah, for sure! I often tried to draw presidential portraits that were in my textbook.
Do you have any advice for aspiring cartoonists? In general, it’s important to have a body of work to show. Work begets work, and freelance offers will come in after you land your first gig. When it comes to political art specifically, don’t be afraid to speak your mind. People appreciate when you reveal societal hypocrisy, even if you’re harsh about it. It’s important —now more than ever— to call out the people in power who are failing us. Make your voice heard, and your message clear!Where can we find you online? My Instagram handle is chelsea_saunders. And my Twitter handle is che_saund. I really wished they matched, but alas, poor foresight.
[You can see archived interviews here. We hope to host a monthly interview with cartoonists around the world, both established and up-and-coming. If you’d like to feature please get in touch.]
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The Galway Cartoon Festival is 4 this year. Despite the pandemic we are still planning to host a physical exhibition.
Our ability to fund-raise has been severely curtailed.If you’ve ever enjoyed an editorial cartoon please bung us a fiver.
https://fundit.ie/project/galway-cartoon-festival-2020More details of our fundraiser can be found at the link above and we have a tiered reward system! PLEASE HELP US MAKE 2020 HAPPEN!
- Galway Cartoon Festival Interview: Ciaraíoch
Introducing an occasional interview by the Galway Cartoon Festival with cartoonists from around the world. This month is The Kingdom’s own Ciaraíoch.
Name: Ciaraíoch for doodling.
Where are you from? – D’Kingdom of Kerry.
When did you become interested in drawing cartoons? – I’m not sure if it was the start of it, but the biggest thing that drove my initial interest in it was definitely Don Conroy on The Den, so I guess when I was around five or six.
Who are your big influences? – Style-wise, I’ve always loved and tried to learn from the work of Martin Brown and Chris Riddell, and more recently people like Rob Guillory and Sydney Padua. Content-wise, it’s been more influenced by things I’ve learned from activists and various writers, particularly on issues like feminism and social issues in Ireland.
Where were you first published? – The UCC Express, back in 2011 or 2012-ish.
What’s your favourite cartoon (single panel or strip)? – At the moment, Oglaf has top spot for art and humour.
What materials do you use? – Paper, pencil for the initial sketch, and then ink (black pens and usually Copic markers.)
On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is the thing you hang wet clothes on and 10 is the thing Gandalf rode in on, how are you at drawing horses? – I’m a panto-horse in terms of horse-realism ability.
Did you scribble in the margins of your books in school? – Margins and everywhere in between.
Do you have any advice for aspiring cartoonists? – Draw whatever you enjoy doing, whether it’s issues you care about personally or things you yourself find funny. Don’t pander and don’t worry too much about “drawing skills” – the idea is the most important thing, anything goes, and any style goes, there are no rules.
Where can we find you online? @Ciaraioch on Twitter and Instagram.
[You can see archived interviews here. We hope to host a monthly interview with cartoonists around the world, both established and up-and-coming. If you’d like to feature please get in touch.]
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The Galway Cartoon Festival is 4 this year. Despite the pandemic we are still planning to host a physical exhibition.
Our ability to fund-raise has been severely curtailed.If you’ve ever enjoyed an editorial cartoon please bung us a fiver.
https://fundit.ie/project/galway-cartoon-festival-2020More details of our fundraiser can be found at the link above and we have a tiered reward system! PLEASE HELP US MAKE 2020 HAPPEN!
