7 Questions With Cartoonist Jerry King

This month we’re talking to Jerry King, an award-winning cartoonist who contributes laughs via his monthly cartoon in the Toastmaster. His client list spans a variety of platforms, and includes Disney, The Wall Street Journal, American Greetings, and dozens of newspapers, as well as children’s books, websites, greeting cards, and calendars, just to name a few.

The National Cartoonists Society awarded him the Gag Cartoon Award in 2001. A U.S. Army veteran, he was recognized as the number two cartoonist in the world by the U.S. Army; additionally, he was named the top college editorial cartoonist in the country when he was a student. He has won many awards for his editorial cartooning.

How did you get started as a cartoonist?

School bored me, so I drew to keep myself entertained.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Being creative. Crafting a cartoon idea then bringing it to life with the drawing. In most cases, the caption comes before the illustration.

Where do you do most of your drawing?

I work at my office at home, and also by my pool, which I consider my second office.

How do you create your drawings?

I freehand them, then scan them to color, fix, and attach the caption.

Do you have a ritual for tapping into your creativity?

I pick a topic then obsess over it.

Who are some of your favorite cartoonists/illustrators?

My favorites are the classic The New Yorker cartoonists, like Robert Weber, Charles Saxon, and James Stevenson.

What do you enjoy about illustrating for the Toastmaster?

I have spoken in front of people many times, so I can relate to what speakers go through.

---

Share this article