Richard Haigler - Birmingham
I have been interested in cartoons and cartooning ever since I can remember. I grew up watching Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry on television. This gave me a lifelong appreciation for Golden Age animation.
When I got a little older, I discovered Peanuts. From then on, my life's ambition was to have a daily comic strip just like my hero, Charles M. Schulz.
I have been drawing my own strip off and on for 24 years, since I was 12. Needless to say, some of the earliest stuff really sucks! But I improved gradually and learned the art of good lettering and comic timing.
My current strip is called Marty's Life and focuses on a character that has the physical disability of Cerebral Palsy, which I also have.
I walk with a walking cane or walker, as does Marty, the main character.
Other characters include Marty's friend Matthew, and his dog Muffin.
I mainly use my own life and observations as a jumping off point for the strip, and all of the characters have some of my personality in them.
I have had some cartoons published. They have been in the Kaleidoscope (UAB newspaper) and one issue of the Birmingham Museum of Art
newsletter. So far, I still don't have a steady paying job as a cartoonist, but hopefully that will change!
Oh, I also wrote a children's book titled The Worry Wart, which I am currently trying to get published.
email Richard: rhaig32[at]yahoo.com