Interviewing cartoonists for a job can be an exciting but challenging process. As artists, cartoonists think differently than traditional employees. You need to ask the right questions to understand their skills, creative vision, and ability to meet deadlines and work within constraints.
I interviewed several professional cartoonists to get their insights on the interview process. Here are the top questions to ask when interviewing cartoonists:
1. How would you describe your drawing style and artistic influences?
This open-ended question allows cartoonists to talk about what makes their work unique. Listen for them to discuss specific influences like comic strips, anime, graphic novels, and individual artists who inspire them. Their response will reveal the look and feel they bring to their cartoons.
Alabaster Pizzo named anthropomorphic art and ligne claire style as influences Adam Buttrick cited young self-published artists and old manga Margot Ferrick looks to poetry and film. Understanding an applicant’s style helps determine if they are a good match for the job.
2. Walk me through your typical process for creating a cartoon, from concept to completion.
There are many valid ways to create cartoons. Some cartoonists start with thumbnails and rough sketches, others meticulously pencil each panel before inking. Some use digital tools for coloring and editing, others work completely by hand.
When asking this question, listen for the applicant’s workflow and tools. There are no right or wrong answers, but you want to understand their process to assess if they work in a method compatible with the job requirements.
3. How do you come up with ideas or stories for your cartoons?
The best cartoonists have creative minds that can generate entertaining concepts, funny punchlines, and compelling narratives This question reveals if an applicant actively nurtures their creativity through practices like brainstorming, free-writing, reading, and observing the world around them.
August Lipp shared “I’ll draw ahead of where I am with single images to find scenes I want to reach.” Inés Estrada makes thumbnails to figure out timing and compositions. Creative rituals like these produce inventive results.
4. What do you do if you feel creatively blocked?
Even the best cartoonists experience creative block at times. Their response will show coping strategies they use to get unstuck, like taking a break, trying a new medium, seeking an outside perspective, or persevering through. Coping skills are essential for artistic careers.
5. How do you handle revisions or editorial feedback on your cartoons?
Cartoonists may work with editors, publishers, or clients who request changes. Asking this shows how open they are to modifying their work per stakeholder needs versus clinging to their original vision. Flexibility and collaboration skills are key for most cartooning jobs.
Alabaster Pizzo stated she doesn’t do a lot of editing once her story is scripted. August Lipp revises by cutting, gluing, and re-drawing patches. Feedback handling varies. Gauge if the applicant’s process fits the project.
6. What do you do to meet deadlines when creating cartoons?
Cartoonists often work within tight deadlines for newspapers, magazines, or publishers. Their response will prove if they have discipline to complete work efficiently without sacrificing quality.
Ask follow-ups about their typical workload capacity. Can they create multiple cartoons per week or month? Have they ever missed a deadline? There are sometimes valid reasons for delays, but patterns of blown deadlines are red flags.
7. How do you prioritize your time when working on multiple cartooning projects?
Many cartoonists juggle recurring strips along with stand-alone illustrations or longer graphic stories. Question their time management skills. Are they organized with calendars, content calendars, or schedules? Do they use project management tools? What systems do they have for prioritizing when overloaded?
Adam Buttrick manages multiple projects by starting with a central sequence and building outward. August Lipp stays focused by asking “What am I working on?” Time management abilities predict work ethic and reliability.
8. Tell me about your experience collaborating with writers, editors, or other artists.
Many cartooning jobs require collaboration. Some cartoonists pair with writers who script stories for them to draw. Ask about their teamwork experiences and preferences. Do they prefer tight creative direction or loose guidelines? Are they comfortable working under someone else’s vision? Can they compromise when giving and receiving feedback?
9. How do you set and meet goals for yourself as a cartoonist?
Strong cartoonists are self-motivated to set ongoing professional goals. Answers will reveal if the applicant applies goal-setting frameworks like SMART goals. Do they plan growth in skills, productivity, portfolio diversity, or business metrics?
Follow up by asking for examples of recent goals they set and achieved. Goals show proactivity and objective measures of success.
10. What do you do to continue growing and improving as a cartoonist?
Top cartoonists continuously hone their skills and knowledge. Inquires about their learning habits – reading comics, taking classes, attending conferences, experimenting with new methods and tools. Passion for lifelong learning is a predictor of continued success.
Inés Estrada stays inspired by watching movies and observing reality. Adam Buttrick broadens his perspective by working in a library. August Lipp pushes himself by trying new rules and restrictions on each project. Ongoing learning is key.
11. Why are you interested in this cartoonist position?
This open-ended “why” question reveals motivations and alignment with the job. Listen for enthusiasm about the role and how they will uniquely contribute. Beware of applicants who seem desperate or respond generically. Make sure to also ask why they are leaving or have left other cartooning jobs.
12. What do you think will be the most challenging aspect of this cartooning position?
How an applicant assesses forthcoming challenges shows maturity and self-awareness. Common struggles include meeting deadlines, creative constraints, stakeholder demands, technical skills, subject matter, or volume of work. Ideal hires showcase wisdom to foresee obstacles realistically.
Of course, assure them you will provide training and support. This thoughtful question builds trust and partnership during the interview.
13. What work examples or samples best showcase your skills and experience as a cartoonist?
Always request a portfolio showing mastery of diverse cartooning formats like comic strips, panels, editorial illustrations, storyboards, or graphic narratives. Look for consistent quality, skill growth over time, and range of subject matter and styles.
Ask applicants to walk you through their best pieces, explaining their creative choices, tools, and process. Dig deeper by asking about weaker areas of their book – those will highlight skills they are still developing.
14. Why should we hire you as our cartoonist over other applicants?
This closing question invites them to pitch themselves and summarize their qualifications. It is a chance to highlight skills that specifically match the role. They may mention unique art styles, relevant experiences, technical abilities, problem-solving strengths, or productivity.
Inés Estrada and Adam Buttrick emphasized connecting with the work itself as a motivating factor. Hiring managers get a final picture of fit through their responses.
15. Do you have any questions for me about the role or our company?
Always give interviewees a chance to ask their own questions. Savvy applicants will inquire about company culture, values, training, career paths, or creative leadership. Their questions provide a window into their priorities and engagement.
Using these creative interview questions allows you to assess cartoonists beyond basic skills like drawing ability. Look for applicants who have honed their craft but stay humble and hungry to constantly improve. Seek out work ethic, accountability, and adaptability by probing their thought processes and artistic rituals.
With an insightful interview approach, you will hire cartoonists ready to meet your creative needs and collaborate seamlessly on impactful visual stories and humor. You will find artists with their own distinct style who can work successfully within the required constraints. Asking the right questions leads to a dream cartoonist perfectly fitted to bring your vision to life.
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Interviewing as a ArtistNavigating the art world’s professional landscape requires more than just creative talent; it’s about articulating your vision and demonstrating your adaptability within the industry. For Artists, interviews are a pivotal stage, offering a canvas to showcase not only their portfolio but also their conceptual thinking and personal brand. In this guide, we’ll delve into the spectrum of questions Artists may encounter, from technical inquiries about their medium and technique to probing discussions on their inspirations and career aspirations. We’ll provide insights into crafting responses that resonate with your artistic identity, preparing you to engage in meaningful dialogue about your work. By understanding what defines a ‘good’ Artist in the eyes of potential employers, you’ll be equipped to present yourself as a compelling candidate, ready to make your mark in the art world.
- Do your homework on the gallery, organization, or project you’re interviewing for. Learn as much as you can about it. Learn about their history, the kinds of artists they work with or represent, and their goal. For example, you could talk about things that are interesting to them. This will show that you are a good fit.
- Put together your portfolio: choose pieces that are relevant to the job and show off your range as an artist. Prepare to talk about the ideas, methods, and materials that went into making each piece. Whether it’s in a binder or on your computer, make sure your portfolio is well-organized and looks good.
- Explain Your Creative Vision: Be ready to talk about your influences, themes, and how your work has changed over time. Write a short, clear artist statement that describes your unique point of view and way of making art.
- Get ready for common and behavioral questions. You might be asked about your creative process, past projects, and how you deal with criticism or blocks in your creativity. Think about your past to give thoughtful answers that show how well you can solve problems and adapt to new situations.
- Talking About Your Work: Practice telling someone who might not know your medium or style about your work what it’s about. This will help you talk to a wider range of interviewers, including those who aren’t artists, more clearly.
- Make a List of Questions: Think about what you want to know about the role, what is expected of you, and how the organization helps artists. This shows that you are genuinely interested and want to get to know them better.
- Mock Interviews: Practice with a friend, mentor, or fellow artist. You should ask for feedback on more than just what you say. You should also ask about your body language and how you present. This will help you feel more at ease and sure of yourself during the interview.
By following these steps, youll be able to enter your artist interview with confidence, ready to present your work and your ideas in the best light. Remember, the goal is to create a meaningful dialogue about your art and how it aligns with the opportunity at hand.
Sketch Cartoonist interview questions
FAQ
How do you conduct an interview with an artist?
