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Childhood Hopes and Dreams:
As a child I always wanted to be a cartoonist, I got my first cartoon printed in Pickering’s Cartoons by Australian Kids at age 8. It didn’t really have a gag, only figured that out later. I always kind of hoped I’d be abducted by aliens and live a Starwars/Doctor Who kind of lifestyle.
Educational History / Achievements
In year 12 I did a Fine Arts Course at the then named Yarra Valley Anglican School. I won the Best Art Student and an Award for English. I then studied Sculpture (part time) at RMIT, also working in Printmaking and Painting and contributing full page comics to Catalyst, the student newspaper. Over the years I’ve attended several cartooning workshops and classes, both teachers reckoned I should be doing it professionally, which was encouraging.
Professional Experience / History
I had my first paid cartoon gig in a magazine at age 17, a cartoon about a bad musician for short lived music magazine "The Bride". A few years later,after leaving school, I was illustrating educational material for Challenge and Explore and various other educational publications and books. I then worked for Fairfax local newspapers, at the Dandenong Journal, both as a cartoonist and graphic designer, from 1995-1996
.After that I worked as an in-betweener in an animation studio, working on Lil’ Elvis and the Truckstoppers, and freelanced as a storyboard artist for advertising agencies. After that I worked as a writer/animator, animating my own computer based work (both 2D and 3D) for ABC Television’s Recovery program(1998-2000), later Backberner, the Arts Show and Fly TV.
Eventually I settled down and decided I wanted to be a cartoonist for print, and started drawing gag cartoons for the Melbourne Observer, since 2004. This kind of thing eventually developed on it’s own accord into the editorial/topical cartoons I mainly do today.
Current Professional Engagements and/or Directions
I currently freelance as a print cartoonist, doing gag and Editorial work for a variety of publications. I was published once in The Age, and currently work for The Melbourne Observer, The Epoch Times, Heavy Duty, Wild, AEU News (and the odd other union magazine), Bicycling Australia, The Australian Rationalist and occasionally appear on the New Matilda website.
I also work as a Caricature Artist for corporate events and parties. I still do a little animation, both hand drawn and CGI, mainly for exhibition with the Fresh Media Group, and I'm a painter and printmaking, for shows and galleries.
Future Aspirations
I would like to get my work into a larger newspaper, or even a website, hopefully amusing girls I haven’t met yet. So I keep plugging away and my work develops though practice. I would like to be the best cartoonist I can be, and continue amusing myself. Once that stops I think I’d be well on the wrong track.
I think that the future of cartooning may be blurring between animation and cartooning, as the trend away from print media continues to it’s logical conclusion. Unless of course I am totally wrong and we return to cave painting. (A scary but not impossible future scenario - Editor ;-)
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An Interview with Matt Bissett-Johnson
How many years have you spent perfecting your art?
(and/or do you think you've perfected it yet?)
I’m pretty sure my drawing style is a continuation of the type of drawing I did as a kid, I never stopped drawing, even during Maths. So technically about 32 years. As for the gag writing for magazines, I’ve really focused on that the last 5 years or so. I’ve always written gags, only now I’m quicker. In recent times working as a caricature Artist has really honed my skills. I’m still learning things, I don’t think you ever stop.
How do you see the significance of the artist in today's world?
I think a good cartoon hardens your ability to think inappropriately. There’s no way to prove this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if cartoonists were partly responsible for the downfall of the Howard Government.
Also laughing does wonders for the sanity of the general public (apart form laughing insanely maybe).
What made you decide to turn your art into a profession?
I always wanted to do it professionally, it’s one of the few things I feel I’m actually competent at. I’m no sportsman and can barely drive (especially reverse parking). That and a powerful dislike of telemarketing.
In what ways have you found becoming an established artist to be a challenge?
The hardest thing was getting into print in a regular way with a cartoon gag or commentary. I’ve sent off thousands of applications over the years. I always felt I had it in me to do it, but remaining dedicated despite any initial knockbacks wasn’t always easy.
When I was a bit younger I thought you could just walk in somewhere without really proving beforehand you could do the job. I had some good breaks though and was able to practice my skills through applications I hadn’t previously thought of, such as working in an animation studio or storyboarding.
Is there any advice you would offer to aspiring cartoon and caricature artists?
Don’t give up too easily, draw a lot, some sort of art training is a really good idea. Have fun with the medium. If you’re at University, get involved with the student newspaper. Try and be as imaginative as possible. Amuse your friends. Google.
How significant do you feel it is to have "a good education" when aspiring to be a professional artist?
I think a good education is probably really important, whether it’s in your art, generally, or some other field, it helps inform your work. Education should make your work more sophisticated than when before you did it. The writing is half of it and what you think about something makes your work what it is and distinctively yours. Keeping an inquisitive mind is a good idea and watch the news.
Are there any personal traits or abilities that you feel help you in creating your art?
A sick mind, a funny way of holding my pen and an enthusiasm for my PC.
How do you get most of your work?
I’ve found I’ve got most of my print work by approaching likely candidates myself, although I’ve answered newspaper advertisements, had a lot of word of mouth referrals and odd things through somebody’s cousin. With the caricature work I’ve had some success with agents.
If you had the opportunity to start over, would you do anything differently?
I think I would have tried harder when I was younger to get into a newspaper with topical work. I used to be too easily discouraged. I don’t regret the animation though.
In what ways do you think the "Digital Age" has made life easier and/or harder for artists?
I think the digital age is the best thing ever. I can work from home, I email everything. In terms of communication, it’s a godsend, and just finding reference pictures is great. It’s fantastic for reproduction of your stuff and quicker to color or shade something. I know professional artists who don’t even use paper, and you would never know. The turn-around for a cartoon is hugely reduced, you don’t have to wait around posting stuff or photographing it and your cartoon comes out in time to be still relevant.
Do you think that artists are all essentially "crazy"? (... and why or why not?)
I can’t really speak for myself, at least nobody’s told me (often anyway), but most other cartoonists I’ve met seem pretty sane. I suspect musicians are much crazier, you don’t hear of cartoonists throwing a TV through the window of their hotel room. Unless nobody’s told me and I’m missing out on all the really great parties.
What things in life matter most to you?
I feel pretty strongly about the Environment and the general injustice in the world. On a much smaller scale, I’m a keen home recording fanatic, I play the electric guitar and the harmonica and do a lot of sequenced music. I’m pretty keen on music in general, also like watching movies. I’ve next to no interest in Reality TV, apart from Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares. I read a lot.
Do you think the world "as we know it" will survive into the future, and why or why not?
The world has always changed, and I doubt it’ll stop now. To tell the truth, there’s a lot to be concerned about, but I’m sure there’ll be positive things too.
Where would you like to be ... in say, five or ten years from now?
I’d like some sort of Australian space mission to name an alien lifeform after somebody I know.
Do you have a parting message for readers?
Don’t leave vinyl records on the backseat of your car.
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