Just like always, Bored Panda reached out to John King, an artist renowned for his whimsical fruit characters and humorous takes on everyday life.
First off the artist revealed that the secret to his creativity is observing life's little quirks, allowing him to transform ordinary situations into something extraordinary. King elaborated, "Ah, the secret ingredient is simply observing life's little quirks! You see, a banana might slip on a peel, but have you ever wondered what a banana would do on a skateboard? It's about flipping the ordinary into something extraordinary. I often find myself chuckling at the thought of fruits doing human-like activities. It's like they're silently waiting to be part of our world in their own funny way."
When asked about his favorite fruit to draw, John likened choosing a favorite fruit character to a parent choosing a favorite child. However, he expressed a particular fondness for apples due to their versatility and expressiveness, saying, "That's like asking a parent to choose a favorite child! Each fruit brings its own flavor to the canvas. But if I had to choose, I'd say the humble apple. It's so versatile and expressive, and there are so many varieties to play with – from the rosy red to the green granny smith. Each apple character ends up being as unique as the fruit itself!"
King also discussed the potential of his comics to explore more serious themes through the whimsical lens of his fruit characters. He believes that fruits, with their simple charm, can be powerful messengers for deeper subjects, offering a balance between light-hearted humor and thoughtful commentary on societal issues. King stated, "Indeed, while my comics are a gateway to laughter, they can also be a subtle lens to view deeper subjects. Fruits, with their simple charm, can be powerful messengers. Imagine an orange trying to fit in with apples, symbolizing the search for identity, or a group of fruits coming together, representing unity in diversity. There's a delicate balance, but I believe even serious messages can be delivered with a gentle, humorous touch."
The artist touched upon the challenges of creating comics, emphasizing the difficulty of crafting stories that are short yet impactful. His approach to overcoming this challenge involves keeping the narrative simple and allowing the characters to drive the story, ensuring that each comic resonates with readers on a meaningful level. King explained, "Every artist faces their own set of challenges, and for me, it's ensuring that each comic resonates. The challenge is in crafting a story that's short yet impactful, funny yet meaningful. My trick is to keep it simple and let the characters speak for themselves. If I find myself laughing or pondering over a sketch, I know I'm on the right track."
Towards the end, when asked, King imagined what his fruit characters would do if they could step out of the comic world for a day. He envisioned them as curious explorers of the human world, experiencing the joys and challenges of our reality before returning to their comic realm with new stories to tell. The artist mused, "Oh, they'd have a field day! I can picture the strawberries hitting the fashion stores, the grapes visiting vineyards, and the watermelon trying out at a swimming competition. They'd be curious explorers, discovering the joys and bittersweet moments of our world, only to return to their comic realm with new stories to tell. It would be a day of delightful chaos and laughter!"
