Cartoonist Jim Hunt - An Interview
By Steve Gillman
Jim Hunt says that although he went to the Massachusetts College
of Art in Boston, he learned to draw cartoons years before that,
on his notebooks in the classroom. He had his first cartoon published
in 1989, and from there build a career of cartooning for clients
such as FOX Sports, MAD Magazine, Hershey's, HBO, Eastman Kodak
and NASCAR. I asked him about the nature of the work, and what
motivated him to get into this field.
How did you get started as a cartoonist,
and when did you first know that you wanted to do this?
After I graduated college I was a bartender and liked to draw
on the cocktail napkins for customers. At one point my boss said
to me, "you should be a cartoonist, because you certainly
don't pour enough drinks!"
How long was it after you graduated
from the Massachusetts College of Art before you were making
a living from your art?
I wasn't a full-time professional until 1989... So five years
after college.
Do you know cartoonists who have
managed to succeed without the college degree?
Not personally no. But I'm sure there are plenty. In fact,
my degree is in Art Education, not illustration.
Do you make more money from cartoons
or from designing logos, and what other kinds of work do you
do?
I work in a variety of areas including, cartoon maps, children's
books, editorial cartoons, t-shirt designs. Anything where a
cartoon is called for.
I understand that you are pretty
disciplined when it comes to your art; that you get up early
and get to work every day even though you work at home much of
the time. How important do you think that routine and discipline
is to your success?
Very.
After doing this for many years
now, do you still enjoy the work most of the time?
I love my job. Each day is different from the next. The variety
of projects and clients makes it fun.
What advice can you offer to those
who would like to become a cartoonist or otherwise use their
artistic abilities to make a living?
How well you draw is important. How well you market your work
is equally as important. And being "professional" isn't
just a title. It's how you carry yourself. Doing the job right.
Being easy to work with etc. That's what clients are looking
for.
You can see samples of Jim's work at his website:
http://www.jimhuntillustration.com
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