Cartoonists labor to make reader's job easy

As cartoonist for The Advertiser, the two most frequent questions I'm asked are: Where do I get my ideas, and is this all I do?

Since I'm a member of the editorial board, I'm obliged to participate in the daily meetings where the editorial writers gather to discuss the news of the day, form an opinion and divvy up the topics you'll find in the next morning's paper next to my cartoon.

And since I'm involved in these discussions, I have a pretty good idea of how we stand on these topics. While no one tells me what to draw, I will more than likely pick the most newsy subject of the day, which many times turns out to be our lead editorial, especially if it's a local story.

Consequently, many readers think my job is easy. Just read the editorial and illustrate it! The fact is, I usually finish my cartoon long before the editorial is written. So maybe I make the editorial writer's job easy, since all he has to do is describe my cartoon. Ha!

So where do I get my ideas?

I read the paper, I watch the news, listen to public radio during early-morning walks and then listen for cues from our board meetings. Once I decide on a topic, my next thought is "The Message."

To deliver that message, think of me as the driver of a truck with four wheels, labeled "A" for art, "J" for journalism, "H" for humor and "C" for caricature.

Art is basic and essential, but great art seldom delivers a lousy idea or message. Journalism means I must make certain the reader is informed on the subject, sometimes using gimmicks such as newspaper headlines and labeling. While humor helps, it isn't always essential. That's especially if I'm commenting on a disaster or displaying grief. And caricature is the most fun if you are to recognize the person I'm skewering.

All this should take no more than seven seconds to get across. My cartoon may not change your mind so much as affirm your opinion — or you may completely disagree and get so mad at my outrageous message that it spoils your breakfast.

In which case, instead of calling me up and chewing me out, write a letter to the editor.

Dick Adair is The Advertiser's editorial cartoonist.