To learn more about Liza Donnelly’s creative journey, inspirations, and the ideas behind her cartoons, Bored Panda reached out to the artist and asked her about her career, creative process, and the role humor plays in her work.
When discussing how cartooning became such an important part of her life, Liza shared that her connection with drawing started when she was very young. “I started cartooning at age 7 to make my mother laugh, and when she did, I was hooked. I sold my first cartoon to The New Yorker right after college. My other interest was becoming a political cartoonist, and I've drawn some for The New Yorker over the years. I love to make people smile, and sometimes I like to make them think.”
We also asked Liza how she decides which moments, ideas, or observations are worth turning into cartoons. She explained that inspiration often comes from simply watching the world around her and paying attention to everyday experiences. “It's hard to say! I just pay attention to the world around me and get inspiration from people and the things they do – whether it's cooking, dancing, relationships, or children's problems and joys. I just use my instinct and focus on what I find interesting or funny.”
Speaking about her recognizable drawing style and the simplicity behind her work, Liza explained that minimalism has always been a natural part of how she creates. “Thank you! Yes, it's what I love. I've always had a simple style. I think simple line work can speak volumes; a drawn line is a communication with the viewer, human to human. It can connect people in emotion, or feeling.”
When we asked about how she balances humor with deeper messages, especially in cartoons that touch on political or cultural topics, Liza said that this combination is one of the strengths of the medium. “Yes, absolutely. Everyone loves cartoons, they are immediately drawn to a cartoon to see what it says – so you have their attention! And in cartoons that are political or reflective of cultural issues, you can say deep things very simply and sometimes the message gets across in a way words can't.”
Finally, we wanted to know what continues to inspire Liza after so many years of creating cartoons. She shared that people and everyday life remain her biggest sources of inspiration. “I love people, and love drawing people as they go about life. Our common humanity is in what we do every day, I look for the things we share. And ones that are absurd, funny or poignant.”
Beyond her published cartoons, the artist also described how she continues to capture everyday moments while traveling and observing people around her. “Aside from my cartoons, I love to draw when I travel around, either on the subway in NYC, at an airport or in another country. I depict people as I see them – in simple lines, not caricatures, but impressions. I like to shine a light on people.”
