Prospect’s cartoonist of the month is Glen Le Lievre.
First, give me your autobiography in 100 words or so Born. Fiddled about a bit. Died trying to find another ninety-five words.
Can you tell us how you got the inspiration for your cartoon in Prospect this month? Restaurant lobster tanks are the death row of the sea. They’re the cautionary tale parent lobsters use to terrify their teenage offspring about what could happen if they don’t straighten up, fly right and stop hanging out with that gang of no-account crabs.
I know it’s a terrible question to ask a creative person, but where do you get your ideas? From terrible questions.
How do you work – alone, hunched over a drawing board? On computer? Nine to five? Alone, hunched over a nine or a five iron.
How do you cope with the rejections that accompany cartooning? What rejections?
Do you ever laugh at your own cartoons? I pay people to come in and laugh at them for me. What other cartoonists have influenced you, or do you most admire? HM Bateman, Ron Cobb, Jack Ziegler, Chaz Addams, George Booth, Gahan Wilson, Sam Gross, Hap Kliban.
Out of all the cartoons you’ve ever drawn, do you have a favourite?
What cartoon do you wish you had drawn?
Have you ever regretted having a cartoon published? Any complaints?
They should’ve run it larger.
Are there any topics which you don’t think are appropriate for cartoons, or is anything fair game? Everything is fair game.
How has the profession changed since you started? The gradual phasing out of cartoonist red-light districts.
What would you change about the profession if you could? Bringing back the cartoonist red-light districts.
Do you think the internet has been good or bad for cartoonists? You can buy my New Yorker cartoons at http://cartoonbank.com And check out my website at http://glenlelievre.net. Alternatively, you can fly to Australia, drive to my house, stand on my front lawn and watch me hold drawings up to the living room window.
What advice would you give a cartoonist starting out today? I think it was Sparky Schulz who said: “Do a thousand cartoons then throw ’em out.” You haven’t a clue what you’re doing until you’ve done it a thousand times.
If you weren’t a cartoonist, what would you be doing? Scraping melted cheese off used pizza boxes.
The main occupational hazards in journalism are alcoholism and RSI. What are the risks for cartoonists? Journalists. They’re all alcoholics and have shaky hands.
What do people tend to say when you tell them you’re a cartoonist? They ask me if I know any journalists.
What do cartoonists talk about when they meet up? Quantum physics.
What’s the best thing about being a cartoonist? Other cartoonists.
