What kind of art do you like to see? If you’re an artist, what do you like to do and who were some of your key influences?And don’t limit yourself to just visual artists. Could be actors, comedians, musicians. Here are a few of mine:

• Popeye the Sailor Man created by Elzie Crisler Segar
• Fat Freddy and the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers created by Gilbert Shelton. I read this stuff as a 12 year old budding cartoonist. My Dad started me off with Fat Freddy’s Cat. Hilarious!
• Bernie Wrightson- They don’t call him Master of the Macabre for nothing. Lots of ink. Great style.
• Mike Ploog-Everytime I look at one of his backgrounds I get lost for hours.
• Philip Guston- Creator of large stubbly, lima-bean heads with one big eye. My professors in college kept asking me if I know Guston’s work. I didn’t- never saw the stuff, and once I did, I stopped painting.
• George Herriman- I was in my 20’s when I saw my first Krazy cartoon. I was hooked! I still have absolutely no idea what the heck is going on (besides Krazy getting hit with the brick), but the way time and space is warped to great effect (backgrounds morph and change from panel to panel) and the fluidity of Herriman’s line… there’s nothing better.
• Martin Scorcese– Want to learn about timing, pacing and how to set up a panel? You’re in the right place.
• 60’s Brit Rock- God knows, I love The Beatles.
• The Velvet Underground– Growing up in the 70’s, my Dad had “Loaded” and #3 on constant rotation.

That’s about it for now.

-Drew