Most of Liza’s comics come from observational humor since her two ferrets provide lots of funny moments throughout the day. “They inspired me to make the very first comic ('What makes a ferret?') and they continue to inspire daily stories,” she told us.
But when Liza started making comics, she couldn’t find any about ferrets. “Which was strange, because they are the 3rd most popular pet in the US after cats and dogs. So I feel that my comics have built a community of ferret and pet lovers who wanted something a little different.” Liza believes that a lot of ferret owners can relate to her comics and recognize a similar dynamic in their own homes.
The Siberian illustrator who is currently living in London told us that she usually starts the process of drawing from the punchline and then works backwards to create a comic script. “I find that it is a lot easier to structure a comic if I already know what I want the joke to be.”
Even if not all scripts make it to the final image, Liza likes to have a list of ideas ready to go “so you never run out when you sit down to draw.” After Liza is done with sketching, she usually shows it to her husband. “He has happily taken on the role of quality control.” Only after the initial piece passes the quality control check, the illustrator inks, colors, and shades the picture.
Liza fell in love with ferrets after seeing the film “Along Came Polly.” The main character had a pet ferret called Rodolpho who lived in a pile of dirty laundry. “I was so fascinated by this strange creature, and the way it moved, that I decidedly wanted one as a pet after that.”
Since Liza’s husband is very allergic to cats, the couple decided to get ferrets instead and they have loved them ever since. But the artist warns that these cute animals tend to sleep a whopping 18-20 hours per day, so if you’re thinking of getting one, take it into account.
