Today we’d like to introduce you to Lar deSouza.
Lar, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I began my post secondary lift pursuing a degree in Chemistry and wound up getting one in Illustration instead. I spent so much time sketching my university roommate actually charted my time and presented his findings to me (he was much smarter than I was). I was drawing literally 50% of my waking hours. Switching directions just seemed obvious at that point. I went from illustration to computer graphics. This was 1987-88 so pre Photoshop, Windows, nearly everything. I worked for a few years in a design boutique designing interfaces then became a stay at home dad when the kids came along. Since my girls are on the autistic spectrum, I stayed at being a dad while they were in school and slowly returned to freelancing. Primarily I was a caricaturist for live events but I never stopped keeping up with technology. In 2002 I met my writing partner, Ryan Sohmer, and we began creating online comic strips. They grew and continue to grow and we are now a company, Blind Ferret Entertainment, with diversified business interests and I still get to draw comics daily. In addition, I freelance for different clients and individuals as opportunity and time allows, and draw a lot of just random cartoons as my way of processing the world, which I share on social media.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Like many artists, I want to do it all but primarily I’m a cartoonist and a caricaturist. I love faces and walk through a world of eye candy. I’m also a child of the television, growing up in the late 60s -70s I’ve never lost my love for animation. Media bounces around my head and connects in weird ways. I find the easiest way to clear my brain is to draw these silly ideas and share them. It’s also my way to process the world. During the current turbulent US administration, I have drawn Donald far more than I ever cared to. However, I came to do the realization long ago that the world needs artists to play, even at the most difficult moments. I can’t make a grand change to the world like curing cancer but I can generate ripples of happiness to help people cope. A momentary smile of relief for someone’s day, a nostalgic mashup that brings back a happy memory. I strive to improve my art and hopefully, by sharing it help someone’s day be a little better.
I also use my art to fundraise for the MS Society of Canada. For the past seven years, my wife and I raise money for the annual Walk for a Cure. I draw cartoon avatars in different cartoon styles in return for direct donations to the society. To date, we’ve raised nearly $100k for MS research.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Depression lies. Imposter syndrome lies. Learn to appreciate what your strengths are, artistically. Just because something appears to come easy to you doesn’t mean it has less value than those skills you may have struggled to master. Never stop striving. Take joy in the success of others. PLAY. Make time to draw just for yourself. Not everything you create needs to have a purpose. Not everything you create needs to have a price tag. Not everything you create needs to be shared. Not everything you create needs to be finished!!! Experiment with your art. Have fun at failing. Be messy, be wild then laugh and learn from it, even if the learning is just that you need more practice, or it’s not your thing or you just needed that downtime to be a kid with fingerpaints and mud puddles again!
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The comic strips are published online and print editions are available in the online shops (links are on the websites).
Least I Could Do is a PG17 slice of life centereing around Rayne Summers, a somewhat oversexed man-child and his friends and co workers. It’s published daily at LICD..com. The Sunday comics are a throwback to Rayne as a little boy and are family friendly (think Dennis the Menace or Calvin and Hobbes).
Looking for Group is a fantasy/comedy adventure. A full comic page is published Monday and Thursdays at LFG.co.
My own random work can be found sprinkled through my social media and an occasionally updated Pinterest gallery. https://www.pinterest.ca/lardesouza/cartoons-by-lar-desouza/.
Prints of most anything I draw can be ordered via lartist.myshopify.com. I am always happy to add art to my Redbubble store if you prefer your art on a shirt/mug etc.
I’m most active on Twitter @lartist
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lartist.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @uncalar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lartist
- Twitter: @lartist
- Other: https://www.redbubble.com/people/uncalar
Image Credit:
Images are my own. No outside credits required.
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