Interview with Wayne Carter
Cartoonist, Teacher, & DJ ☆
Cartoonist, Teacher, & DJ ☆
What are some of your favorite pieces of media, and how do you think they make themselves inspiringly present in your work?
I’ve always been a big fan of cartoons and anime growing up. I was especially inspired by Looney Tunes and One Piece by Eiichiro Oda, and more recently in college, by the work of Hirohiko Araki. His character designs, bold line work, and ability to constantly raise the stakes felt incredibly electrifying to me. I try to incorporate aspects of these influences into my work while still giving myself the space to create art in a way that feels natural to me.
Your artwork has a very vibrant and dreamy feel to it! What's your process when it comes to choosing your color palettes?
It's really chaotic! My approach to color is pretty much random and experimental. I usually start with an eye-catching color and then tweak and mix different palettes as I go until it feels right. I’m trying to trust my eye more with each illustration. When I get stuck, I’ll pull colors from something random like a Pokémon, a landscape, or a movie screenshot to get myself moving again.
How did you come to create your character, Ben, and will we ever see him again in all his antics?
I was sitting in class one day and drew a guy who was absolutely awful. He had a bat with nails in it and was clearly about to wreck a snowman for no reason. I drew a few more versions of him, and then felt something I hadn’t felt while drawing before. It felt like I could make a million comics about this one character, and for the first time, the art was really taking the lead.
I asked my professor what I should do because I didn’t know how to turn it into a full comic. She told me to spend the week making as many as I could. I came back the next week with about fifty comics to edit.
Right now, I'm working on a larger story incorporating him as the antagonist for a young girl named Pamela, who is struggling to adjust to the change he has brought to her daily life with her friends.
As an alumnus and now Cartoon Club co-teacher, how has attending and working at The Center of Cartoon Studies shaped your professional career and sense of community with the arts scene, both in Vermont and further?
Without the Center for Cartoon Studies, I honestly don’t think I would’ve grown as much as I have as a cartoonist. The professors, my fellow students, and the visiting artists I met there all shaped the way I think about and approach my work, and I’m really grateful for that. Moving to White River Junction also changed how I think about the community. The people here genuinely look out for each other, and now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
How would you compare teaching comic creation to youth through the Cartoon Club to older students at a high school level?
I’ve noticed that across age groups, kids usually finish prompts or assignments much faster than teens and adults. As people get older, insecurity tends to creep in, and more time gets spent trying to make something perfect. I think the best work adults make happens when they approach art as play the way kids do. When I tell myself it’s just for fun and that the best outcome is that it ends up on the fridge or a wall of someone I love, I do my best work.
It seems like you've recently gotten into DJing! Is this a new hobby, or has this been a constant interest for you? How did you get into it?
This is a new hobby! It started this past summer. My fiancé is a DJ, and I wanted to cover one of her gigs, which is how I started learning. I found it lights up a part of my brain that art does too. Now I’m on a mission to throw as many dance parties as I can. Dancing with people who just want to have a good time can feel incredibly healing.
How would you compare the process of creating comics to creating DJ sets?
I think with DJing, I’m more free and more forgiving with myself. Most of the time, when a set is over, people only remember the highlights, whether that’s their favorite song, a crazy transition, or the last track. Creating comics can feel much more permanent, so I have to remind myself not to overanalyze every line. My mentor, Robyn Smith, always told me the most important thing in comics is just getting it done. In DJing, the priority is making sure everyone is having fun. At some point, you have to play a set or release a piece of work as best you can do in the time you have. If it’s good, great. If it’s not, try to make the next one better. There’s no point in sitting on something forever.
What are some comics and/or music that you've loved recently and recommend to our readers?
Comics-wise, I’d recommend The Edge of Autumn by Mili St. John, The Walking Dead: Clementine series by Tillie Walden, and Everything is Fine by Mike Birchall. All of these lean into horror while still exploring emotion, love, and great dialogue. Music-wise, I want to highlight some artists who deserve more of the spotlight. Cain Culto, Thot Squad, and NLE Choppa have all been constants in my recent playlists. I also highly recommend the 36 Questions musical if anyone enjoys musicals and hasn't heard it yet!
Wayne Carter is a cartoonist, teacher, and DJ living in White River Junction, Vermont. He spends his day making comics, preparing lessons to grow the forces of cartoonists in this world, and organizing the community events. You can find him on Instagram @Pinkclownpress!
