With the release of The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition books, we are delighted to be joined by the author, illustrator, playwright, painter, and creator of the comic strip Mutts, Patrick McDonnell.
Hi Patrick, it’s so wonderful to have you here with us.
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, I’m Patrick McDonnell, cartoonist of the comic strip MUTTS and author/illustrator of many children’s books, including Me…Jane, a Caldecott Honor picture book about a young Jane Goodall. Over the years I’ve also collaborated with Marvel Comics, Eckhart Tolle, and even the Dalai Lama. I’ve co-written two plays for the Kennedy Center and have shown my fine art paintings in galleries. (See some of the artworks at PatrickMcDonnellArt.com). I live in New Jersey with my wife, our rescue dog, and a formerly feral cat.
How would you describe MUTTS?
MUTTS is about my love of the comic strip as an art form, and my love for animals. At its core, MUTTS is about the bond we share with our pets and about giving a voice to the voiceless. It’s the story of the unique friendship between Earl, a dog, and Mooch, a cat.
Can you tell us about the origin of MUTTS?
I grew up in an artistic family and, from the time I could hold a pencil, I wanted to be a cartoonist. Early on, Charles Schulz’s Peanuts was my biggest influence, and later George Herriman’s Krazy Kat. After art school at SVA in New York, I worked as a magazine illustrator. Then I adopted Earl, my Jack Russell Terrier, whose joy for life inspired me to try creating a strip about him. King Features Syndicate took a chance on me, and here we are. MUTTS is still running 31 years later.
How do you feel you have grown as an artist?
In doing a daily strip for that long a time, you and your work just naturally change. The stories and characters keep evolving. Not too long ago, I challenged myself to create a seven-week-long storyline about saving the chained Guard Dog and was really proud of how it came together. I waited many years to tell that story and finally felt I was ready. That story became a graphic novel, Breaking the Chain:The Guard Dog Story.
What can you tell us about Earl and Mooch?
Although different in many ways, Earl and Mooch are the closest of friends. I think they’re somewhat perplexed but fascinated by their differences. Earl is very dog-like: friendly, loyal and trustworthy. And like most cats, Mooch is a bit unpredictable; he’s curious and dances to his own beat. Together they make for a classic comedy team.
What can you tell us about The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition?
My first children’s picture book,The Gift of Nothing, starred Earl and Mooch.It playfully reminds us of the true meaning of the holidays and gift giving. It became a New York Times bestseller and has become a bit of a holiday classic. This year Little, Brown is releasing a larger 20th-anniversary edition with a new cover.
The Gift of Everything came about when my niece jokingly suggested the title. The idea stayed with me and the story came together in a flash (and in rhyme). I worked in color pencil which is new for MUTTS and I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s a fun,heartfelt story about friendship, abundance and gratitude. I feel it’s a message that is much needed today.
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?
Like you, I appreciate and am grateful for all the joy and comfort comic art has provided me for so many years. I’ll close by saying support the arts and, if you can, adopt or foster a new best friend.
We would like to say a big thank you to Patrick for chatting with us and wish him the best of luck for the release of The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition.
