We wondered what would happen if we commissioned a famous artist to draw a cartoon for us under the guise that we would only pay him 20 dollars for his time. The idea came to me one day as I read the comics page in the Des Moines Register and wondered about these artists and what they got paid for each strip they created. Personally I can't draw, but if I could, I would relish the lifestyle that comes along with such a job. (Eh, who wouldn't?)
I've often said that writing is a hobby as long as I choose what I write about. If somebody asks me to do a story for them, or about them or their business, then it becomes work. I can only assume the sentiment is shared by cartoonists. With that in mind, I sent Pat Moriarity 20 bucks.
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| For twenty bucks, we were actually expecting a lot less than this. (Click to enlarge) |
This issue's Twenty Dollar Cartoon was drawn by former Des Moines resident Pat Moriarity who currently makes his home in Washington State. Pat has enjoyed a career that took him through the punk rock alleys of Minneapolis where he spent time working for Twin/Tone records doing things like paste up, poster design and cartoons for acts like Curtiss A, The Replacements, Mekons, Magnolias, Fat Tuesday, Swingin' Teens and Soul Asylum and later on through to Seattle where he became an art director for Fantagraphics, and later for The Comics Journal. In 1996 Rolling Stone Magazine named him the year's "Hot Cartoonist." Moriarity's work has appeared in National Geographic Kids, Estrus Records, Columbia Records, Chrysler Magazine, Sasquatch Books, Washington Law & Politics, and THE BEST OF LCD: The Art and Writing of WFMU.
Moriarity also created three minutes of animation in the award winning 2006 documentary Derailroaded, that was featured on Robert Redford’s Sundance Channel. In 2008 Moriarity became the winner of the coveted Golden Toonie, making him “cartoonist of the year” for the organization known as Cartoonists Northwest. In 2010, Fifteen of his posters were featured on the set of Showtime’s TV show Weeds, in a scene taking place in Seattle. He currently contributes to Mineshaft Magazine, Puck!, Artist Acid Test, Typhon and Suspect Device. As an adjunct faculty member, Pat Moriarity occasionally teaches character design, storyboarding and comics at the Art Institute of Seattle.
In other words, he's a bad-ass. And he's set the bar high for the next Twenty Dollar Cartoon.
N/p: Rudy and the Mindmelts: "Surreal Nightmare"
Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me. - Charlie Brown
What is Rhinorrhea? It is the medical term for snot.
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