Interview with Webcomic artist Cat Kane
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An interview with Rajiv Jain, Cinematographer
An interview with journalist Karlos Zurutuza on Baloch Crisis
Interview with British Baloch Graed Leader, Mehran Baloch
Cat Kane, the woman behind 'Drugs in the Water' previously published in Canterbury University Student magazine 'Canta' is now taking her comic strip online. I spoke to to Cat about webcomics, manga, and short order cooks.
Tell us about your comic?
It started out as some doodles when I was 17, the characters were based on some avatars I made online for fun and they’ve evolved a lot ever since. Slowly little details have been creeping in until there’s almost a storyline but not quite? I’ll get onto that as soon as I can figure out a graceful way to introduce it.
How did you get started drawing?
I’ve always enjoyed drawing since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I would draw and paint and sometimes draw silly comics with my brother (one entitled Fatman, a parody of Batman). I got better and enjoyed it more and more until high school art when my art teacher told me off for not showing my working in a project. Whatever man! It’s not MATHS is it? I dropped out of his class and didn’t draw much for a long time.
Who influences you?
Loads of webcomic artists who I’ve linked on my site, Bryan O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim), various Manga influences such as Fruits Basket, The Wallflower, xxxHOLiC… lots of anime as well.
Where do you get the ideas for jokes?
Mostly from conversations with friends. Some of them exaggerated and expanded, others exactly as the conversation went. I have some weird friends. Sometimes the ideas are just from random thoughts I have or from suggestions from my brother. He is also a bit strange. Seems I attract a lot of nutters.
Where do you see your comic in the future?
I have no idea. I’d like to romanticise the idea of being successful and being able to pursue it full time, selling t-shirts etc but I’d be getting ahead of myself. The Webcomic artists I so worship have spent a lot of time and effort getting to where they are so I can hardly expect to get to that level straight away. At the very least it will be a hobby to stroke my ego.
Do you think webcomics are becoming a bigger part of the popular culture?
Hells yes. The more eccentric types are getting out and noticed and people are eating it up! Newspapers won’t publish anything unless it’s very mainstream and dull but the internet will let you post anything. You don’t even have to draw like Marvel, hell some of my favourite comics (xkcd, Cyanide and Happiness, Pictures for Sad Children) use stick figures and they’re great! It’s all about content, and embracing a huge array of styles.
What’s been the best thing about being a webcomic artist?
I hesitate to call myself a webcomic artist yet… It’s like calling a short-order cook a chef. The best part so far has been emailing my favourite artists and almost ALL of them replied with COMMENTS AND TIPS! I giggled for so long, I’ve been such a fangirl.
But when I feel I can call myself a webcomic artist, the best thing will be all the poon.
