About Doug

The Guy With the Sticky Notes

Self portrait

When I was a kid, I wanted more than anything to be a cartoonist. My favourite TV show was Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, a cartoon about a boy whose drawings came to life. I read the local library’s entire collection of Peanuts cartoons, and every other comic strip I could get my hands on. I started drawing my own comics in the squares of old out-of-date calendars. I loved drawing and I loved making up jokes.

Like a lot of people do, I lost track of that childhood dream somewhere along the way, and I found myself working in an office instead, doing decidedly uncreative things. Under the glaring fluorescents, my penmanship deteriorated and I forgot how to draw. A few more years passed, and I started getting migraines.

The chickens come to life

Lucky for me, creativity is a bit like a stubborn weed that won’t die: the roots run deep enough that it will keep growing back under the right conditions. One day, when I was sick of working overtime and I’d had one migraine too many, I drew two chickens on a sticky note.  Quickly I learned how important it is to have a creative outlet in life. I haven’t had a migraine since 2006 (knock wood) and I’ve got the best work-life balance I’ve ever had. And hey, look at that. It turns out I’m a cartoonist, after all.

I love drawing Savage Chickens. Besides the cartoons, I’m exploring all kinds of other creative things, like animation, sculpting, and painting. I’m trying new things all the time and loving every minute of it. So I guess my motto is, start now, you never know where it will lead.

For More Info

Check out these links

• View my Flickr pictures, including pictures of cartoons in progress
• Follow me on Twitter to see what I’m up to right now
• Follow me on Google+
• Visit my Stumbleupon page to see websites I like
• See what I’m reading on Goodreads
• Here’s what I’m listening to on CBC Radio 3

Interviews I’ve Done

Talking about the Cartoons

• inkOUTBREAK- November 2011
• aqnb – May 2011
• CBC Radio 3 – Lanarama – March 2011
• FMyLife – March 2011
• FMyLife – September 2010
• Tweeterview with Agent X – November 2009
• Sequential Tart – February 2008
• MaryAnn Johanson – December 2005

I’m happy to do more interviews, time allowing – give me a shout and we’ll sort something out.

Appearances

Where to Meet Doug

I’ve been making more public appearances lately. For information, see my Events posts. If you’d like me to appear at your event, contact me.