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Contact the Artist
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Daniel Shelton |
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 Q. When did you first start drawing cartoons?
A. My parents have drawings that I did of them when I was two, and they both have big noses and big feet, so I guess those were my first cartoons.
Q. Who were the cartoonists who most influenced you?
A. Most of my early influences were from European artists like Franquin, Gotlib, Morris and of course Herge, whose work I greatly admire. From the U.S. when I was younger I remember drawing everything a la Don Martin for a couple of years. As I got older and more interested in drawing a daily comic strip, I loved Jeff MacNelly's artwork, Berkeley Breathed's humour and Lynn Johnston's threads and story-lines.
Q. How did you get your professional start?
A. I first started getting paid for my work in my teens. I approached local businesses, doing illustrations for posters and brochures, all the while publishing comics in different magazines. The pay was terrible, but I didn't care. Today, thankfully, I care.
Q. How would you describe your style?
A. Definitely not off the wall, based on reality and daily occurrences but with a twist of silliness and irony. Gentle at times, but not sappy. Sometimes there's a message, but most often than not it's simply about relating stories and situations readers can identify with and creating a place where people want to come back every day for a quick visit.
Q. Where do you get your story ideas?
A. I wish I could say divine inspiration, but most of my ideas come from observing the people around me, especially my family, and most of all poking fun at myself. Pacing, sweating, scribbling, erasing, pulling, scratching and of course deadlines also come into play.
Q. How did you come up with your characters?
A. The characters were inspired for the most part by my own parents who, although they look nothing like their cartoon counterparts, are both retired with plenty of grandchildren to look after. My dad does, however, own an impressive collection of plaid shirts.
Q. Which are your favorite characters in your strip and why?
A. That's a tough question. I'd say it depends on the story-line and what each character brings to that story-line. In other words, it changes all the time. The challenge is to make each of them unique and well defined enough for the audience to identify with immediately. Best of all, you want people to say, "Oh, I wish I knew these people, I wish I could be friends with them."
Q. Do you create on a daily basis? Do you prefer to work in the morning or at night?
A. I have been working on the comic strip for almost six years and have yet to establish a routine. Actually, I kind of like it that way as it might otherwise become boring. Sometimes ideas do come in bursts, other times it's like pulling teeth. The artwork is always the easiest part for me. I work from home and with three kids always coming in and out of my studio, I work morning, afternoon and night.
Q. What materials do you use to draw your comics? Do you use a computer?
A. I still sketch with pencil and paper, ink with a brush on Bristol board and leave the computer for coloring only. I'm still hoping for a machine that will read my thoughts and transfer those onto board in full color, but that could be years.
Q. Do you have any suggestions on how to become a professional cartoonist?
A. My advice for someone who is aspiring to do this professionally is to get your work published any way you can to reach an audience and get feedback and experience that way. If you can do it when you're young, unattached with no responsibilities, then that is a lot better. Life has a way of catching up with you if you're busy handling a job, mortgage, kids and weekend projects. You may just leave your dreams behind.
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