What were you
reading the first time you realized you wanted to be a cartoonist?
Probably
Peanuts, though my parents claim I told them in fourth grade that I wanted to
be Garry Trudeau. But I’m not sure why I would have been reading Doonesbury in
fourth grade, and I’m not sure if that even pans out chronologically. So
Peanuts was probably my first true cartoon love.
Other than
your own, what is your favorite monster to draw?
Hmm. I really
like just making up monsters the most.
But I have been known to draw Godzilla from time to time. Not well, though. Usually sort of goofy, cartoony
versions of him.
How did your
comic strip work like Big Top inform your work on Monster on the Hill?
I think doing
the strip really helped me learn how to tell a story succinctly… how to get
some humor in there without getting too wordy or long-winded. It definitely
helped me know how to hit deadlines, as well. Doing a daily strip and having daily deadlines has taught me
how to get the work done and not overwork it to death.
What formal
art training do you have?
I received a
Bachelor of Fine Arts from DePauw University, and then studied illustration for
three years at Ringling School of Art and Design for a few years. I did a lot
of figurative drawing and painting at both schools, and I think that really
helped me improve.
How have you
been involved in the Austin comic scene so far?
I go meet up
with a couple of comic creator’s groups from time to time. I met a lot of
artists through showing my fine art at the Wally Workman Gallery for years.
Aside from that, I’m embarrassed to admit what a hermit I become when working
on a project.
How does it
feel to have become the headliner for Top Shelf’s Kids’ Club FCBD and gotten
great reviews from Jeff Smith and Neil Gaiman?
It feels
really surreal! I’m a huge, huge fan of both of those guys and of everything
Top Shelf does. So those were three things I could have never imagined. When I
saw the blurbs from Smith and Gaiman, I definitely felt like I was having an
out-of-body experience.
What are you looking forward to at Staple?
Mostly, I just love the chance to get out of my
studio and meet people for a couple of days. It’s like a mini-vacation!
http://www.robharrell.com/
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/rob-harrel
https://twitter.com/HarrellRob
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