This time around, Bored Panda reached out to Chuck with some new questions. First, we wanted to know if perhaps the artist was working on some new series or perhaps something similar.
"Right now I’m putting much of my focus on writing and drawing funny greeting cards for a major card publisher. Meanwhile, I continue to post cartoons and comics on Instagram every day, and I’m updating my personal website — captainscratchy.com — most days of the week. I hope to add some nice surprises and extras to captainscratchy.com in the near future. Beyond that, I’m thinking of working on a new book (my first one is still selling on Amazon). Oh … and I’m also regularly adding products (shirts, mugs, posters, stickers, magnets, cards, and more) to my online store."
We also wanted to know if the artist had a comic he was proud of, and we thought it was only fair if he'd share his thoughts with us!
"It’s so hard to pick one comic or cartoon as my favorite, but I do have a soft spot for one that shows a bunch of bears lurking outside of a tent, with a voice coming from inside the tent saying, “You’ve got to stop thinking that every sound you hear is a bear.” I like that one for a number of reasons. It was one of the very first bear cartoons I drew (and since then I’ve drawn a bunch). Second, it became a big-selling card for Hallmark’s Shoebox Cards and was chosen for a Hallmark wall calendar. Third, it’s one of my wife’s favorite cartoons, and that reason alone makes it really special."
Artists go through a few art phases trying to find the art style they could call their own, and the same goes for Chuck too.
"I’d like to master some simple line drawings. I really admire artists who can really get an idea across with a minimalist but still interesting style. I’ve always struggled with that, because I tend to overdraw everything! I also want to do more animation work. I’ve done some simple animation work in the past, but I’d like to go further, but it’s awfully time-consuming.
Starting out with comics (or art in general) isn't easy, so we asked the artist if he had any tips to share.
"Don’t try to please the masses. Do work that you enjoy doing and that you find interesting. Try to develop your own voice and style. Originality goes a long way in this age when it seems like everybody is creating art of one kind or another."
When it comes to people having opinions on his comics, here's what Chuck hopes to achieve with his work, "I simply want to add a fun moment to someone’s day. If my work inspires a smile or a laugh (or even a groan), I’ve succeeded. Sometimes I aim for a 'message' cartoon or comic, but generally, I’m just going for a laugh. Having said that, if people like something I’ve done and share it with others, that’s really gratifying."
For some people, art is not only a hobby, but something way more, and the artist certainly has his own goals he wants to accomplish when it comes to his comics.
"I would hope my work brings a little joy to a world that needs all it can get. Simple as that. I love to laugh, and I love to make others laugh too."
Artists receive countless comments about their work pretty much every day, but sometimes some of them stand out more so than the others.
"I love it when I get a comment along the lines of 'This comic made my day!' Can’t get much better than that. But I appreciate everyone who takes the time to comment on my work. There’s so much content out there, I take it as a great compliment when someone makes the effort to comment or engage in some way on a cartoon or comic of mine."
Lastly, we were curious to find out whether this whole art journey Chuck went through has helped him with something in life, and here's what he shared with us.
"Making art can help lift me out of some darker moments. The process of creating something out of nothing and knowing it will be appreciated by some people is a genuine mood-lifter. I create new art every day, not because I have to but because I want to. And that’s a gift."
