Guy Gilchrist is appearing at Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia and spoke with us about what to expect and his experiences in the past. Gilchrist was hand-selected to create Jim Henson’s Muppets Comic Strip that was printed worldwide in 660-plus newspapers daily from 1981 to 1986.
Throughout the years, he has set his hand to such notable cartoons as The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry, Tiny Toons, Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock,The Pink Panther, Minnie Mouse, and was instrumental in the creation of The Muppet Babies!
Guy’s iconic Muppets artwork was enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. as symbolic of a National Treasure in 1984 after he was Guest of Honor at the White House
Gilchrist has been recognized and honored internationally for his creativity and authorship. He was awarded the National Cartoonist Society’s highly coveted Reuben Award in 1997 and again in 1998 for Best Magazine and Book Illustrator, for Night Lights and Pillow Fights – Book One and Book Two.
On what fans should expect
“We have a wonderful new project that I’ll just be discussing briefly at Wizard World regarding some television and film projects happening throughout the Middle East headquartered in Dubai. As someone whose projects have taken me around the world for most of my career, it’s always a joy when we can bring cultures together through cartooning, animation and comics.”
On his favorite memories
“I have so many memories from Wizard World cons! So many very touching ones. For instance, out in the Midwest there was once a little boy who had never spoken until he was at my booth! He saw Tom and Jerry who were his favorite characters… Remember, they do not speak either, and he said cat and mouse to his mother and she started crying.
My characters have touched so many peoples lives. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to appear at these comic conventions and be blessed with them sharing their stories with me. Although I am not a nostalgia kind of a guy really, probably because I do a daily comic strip [Nancy] every single day for the paper and always have to be in the present, but I am happy to be the nostalgia for several generations. I am very very blessed. I never take it for granted.”
On any tips for fans to become artists/writers in the industry
“Regarding ways to get into the business or get started… Of course it pays to draw really really well. There is a tendency with some people to draw a mediocre art and then put it into Photoshop and various other computer programs and try to pass it off. I try to spend a lot of time with the up-and-coming artists at my booth and in our panels encouraging them to draw as much as possible. And not just cartoons! But draw from real life.
Then, it’s promote promote promote! I never ever quit. If you’re really really good and you promote yourself and market yourself people will discover you and you will get work. Just don’t ever quit! Remember, even those who love you and are close to you, they may discourage you sometimes because they don’t want to see you get hurt. No one except for yourself knows the fire and desire that you have inside of you. Keep on going and someday they will all say, ‘I always knew you had it in you!"”
Are you excited for Wizard World Comic Con? Let us know in the comments section.
Source: B2C
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