The Interview: Art of the Draw

Gold Standard Cartooning Earned Handelsman High Honors

If you happened to run into Walt Handelsman, you would most likely mistake him for just another nice, easy-going kinda guy. Until he picks up a pencil.

Over the course a 30-something-year career — which has included a road trip from New Orleans’ The Times-Picayune (1989-2001) to Long Island’s Newsday (2001-2013), only to make a U-turn back to The New Orleans Advocate — Handelsman has snagged every major journalism award for cartooning, and then some.

Newly-crowned ‘Cartoonist of the Year 2017’ by Editor & Publisher? Booyah!

First person to win a Pulitzer Prize for animation? Dat’s a fact.

Walt HandelsmanOne of the most reprinted cartoonists in the country? You know it!

When Handelsman keynotes the Fair Media Council luncheon at “The News Conference: Real & Powerful" at the Garden City Hotel on Dec. 5, he’ll take you inside his craft with a multimedia presentation that includes the whole shebang: some of his most notable cartoons from the Trump era — and maybe a toon or two about Long Island — voice impressions and sounds. Expect to have some fun and lots of laughs at an event that’s bringing out the best in national and local news — many of whom will be there to pay homage to Handelsman.

Until then, we offer you an exclusive opportunity to get to know the man and legendary cartoonist a bit better.

Fair Media Council: What is your greatest accomplishment?
WH: Professionally, I would have to say winning two Pulitzer Prizes.

What mistake did you make that turned out to be your best learning experience?

I was an awful student in high school and that taught me to work really hard as an adult and to always try to be as prepared as possible for work each day.

When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up, and why?
I probably wanted to be a doctor like my dad. He was a top surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital and I greatly admired him.

BEST ADVICE? BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

Why do you do what you do?
I have always loved art. In college, I became passionate about politics. Editorial cartooning is the perfect mix of the two.

What advice do you have for budding editorial cartoonists?
Read all the news you can. Form opinions. Try to come up with creative ideas every day. I also impress upon students these days to try animation.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
My wife and I are HUGE New Orleans Saints’ fans. We have season tickets and go crazy with our fellow Who Dats in the Superdome every home game!

What gives you hope for the future?
Our two sons. They bring a fresh perspective to everything.

What’s your idea of happiness?
Coming up with a cartoon idea the second I sit down at my drawing table. It never happens that way but it sure would make me happy.

Coke or Pepsi?
Coke Zero.

What’s a typical workday like for you?
I spend several hours reading and watching the news. I put together a short list of the hottest topics in the news. I then stare at a blank piece of drawing paper until — hopefully — some ideas come to me. I then do three or four rough sketches and show them to my editor. We agree on which one would be best for the next day’s paper then I spend the next several hours drawing and coloring the cartoon. I electronically place it in the paper’s computer system, send it to my syndicate and do it all over again the next day.

Who’s the most influential person in your life?
Besides my parents, I would have to say my high school art teacher. Although I was struggling academically, he convinced me that I had artistic talent and pushed me in that direction. The success I achieved there spread to my other work and was tremendously important to me.

Favorite restaurant?
Well, I live in New Orleans, so that list would be too long. That said, I do miss Long Island diners for quick, inexpensive food and those black and white cookies!

Last book read?
I read so much news every day that I honestly don’t give myself the chance to read too many books these days. When I have the time I love Hemingway.

What effect has Trump had on your profession?
I have been a cartoonist for over 30 years and have never seen anything remotely close to this. The biggest effect he has had on me as a cartoonist is the sheer pace and volume of news generated from this White House. At times it’s hard to keep up.

Where do you get your news?
Everywhere. The New Orleans Advocate newspaper as well as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and a million other websites. It’s a constant flow. The first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do before closing my eyes at night is check the news.

What was the most controversial toon you’ve done?
In the early 1990s, when I worked for The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, I drew a series of cartoons about David Duke. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1990 and the Governor’s mansion in 1991 and I really unleashed on him. He got hundreds of thousands of votes and many of his followers really despised me. I got many threatening phone calls and letters. I also magically ended up with dozens of nails in my car tires one day. We could never prove they were from a Duke supporter but always suspected it.

What five people, living or dead, would you want to have dinner with?

Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Nast, The Beatles, Jack Nicholas and my sister and brother who both died at a young age.

Favorite drink?
Well… since you already asked about Coke or Pepsi I assume you’re talking about an adult beverage. I’ll go with a chilled Grey Goose straight up with olives.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?
That cartooning comes easy to me. Cartoonists are routinely asked, “Once your cartoon is done, what do you do with the rest of your day?”

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?
Teaching myself how to do animation. That was a tremendous challenge. Creating them still is.

How do you know when you’ve crossed the line from satire and gone too far?
You can kind of feel it in your gut when you have an idea that you absolutely love but know it’s probably not going to fly.

What’s your choice of superhero superpowers?
Flying… How cool would it be to be able to fly anywhere? Image no more driving on the LIE… or the Belt Parkway!

What’s your idea of success?
Being happy with yourself. Feeling pride. Being known as a kind and reliable father, husband and friend. Everything else is extra.

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Believe in yourself — that’s from my art teacher.

If you weren’t you, who would you want to be?
My Dad. He was a wonderful human being. Tremendously respected. He saved peoples lives and was beloved by his family and friends.

What’s your current state of mind?
Happy, busy, content.

What is your most treasured possession?
My family is not a possession but I treasure them over everything.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Hit a golf ball 300 yards. Put backspin on my approach shots. Always break 80.

What quality do you most like in a person?
Honesty, kindness, loyalty and a good sense of humor.

Who’s your favorite editorial cartoonist?
I grew up reading Tom Flannery in The Baltimore Sun and Herblock in The Washington Post. I am a big fan of my pal Mike Luckovich’s work. I also admire Matt Davies as well as Jimmy Margolies, Ed Hall and Clay Bennett. They make it look so easy. I wonder what they do with the rest of their day!

To find out more about the Dec. 5 event, click here. Tickets are on sale now, and everyone is invited to attend.