U.S. cartoonist and illustrator for The New Yorker, Harry Bliss, about work, children and humor.

BlogFonk: Who is Harry Bliss?
Bliss: I'm a cartoonist and cover artist for The New Yorker magazine. In addition, I've illustrated six books for children. I was born into a family of working artists, all nuts. I live in northern Vermont with my wife, Kelly, and my son, Alexander.

BlogFonk: Do you love your work? Why?
Bliss: Yes, I love my work. It is very important for me to make people laugh. It's rewarding on many levels. I'm one of those people who needs a great deal of attention, I always have. I suppose this is where making people laugh comes in handy. Plus, I get to work at home in my pajamas.

BlogFonk: What is your latest book 'Diary of a Worm' all about?
Bliss: It's about being small and living in a big world. This is a viewpoint children identify with. It is essentially a diary from the perspective of a worm. 'Dairy of a Worm' has been a very popular book with children and teachers because of its humor and its earth-friendly message. It was written by my friend and Caldecott Medal winner, Doreen Cronin.

BlogFonk: Is there difference in mentality of creatives in the countries you've worked?
Bliss: The short answer is no. I lived and worked in the United States my entire life. Books of mine that have been published in other countries have been well received, the art and humor seems to be universal.

BlogFonk: What are the latest important developments you've noticed in your branch as a cartoonist and illustrator?
Bliss: Well, technology has made my job much easier. I no longer have to run to get film developed or head to the local library to get reference. I simply walk over to my computer and access anything I want. I work in a vacuum and don't have a great deal of contact with other artists.

I don't really know too much about important 'developments' in my field. I see a lot of mediocre work out there, especially in children's books, and I do my best to raise the bar.
As far as cartoons go there aren't too many outlets for cartoonists in the United States. Just a few magazines like the New Yorker and Playboy, which publish my work regularly. Fifty years ago this wasn't the case. Back then there were at least 15 different magazines publishing cartoons on a regular basis.

One could easily make a living as a cartoonist fifty years ago. Those days are gone and it's much more difficult today. I try to branch out and do different things when I have a chance. The Converse ads I did are a good example of me doing this.

BlogFonk: Yes, in the latest Converse gallery website, your film was for a long time watched the most. What is it all about?
Bliss: It's about 3 things: youth, creativity and sport. The idea behind this commercial titled 'Hold the phone', came from watching my son draw. I thought, what if he was drawing a baseball game in action. I free associated for a while thinking maybe at the end a huge alien monster would pop out of the stands and reach for the baseball, but then I thought that may be too contrived or expected. I figured a huge baby would be funnier, less contrived. Besides, babies are funny as hell. It is ironic that this ad is the most successful film on the website because people don't generally associate Converse sneakers with the sport of baseball. I'm thrilled this commercial has been well received. I'm very proud of it.

BlogFonk: Which project/work are you most proud of?
Bliss: To be honest, I'm proud of all the work I've done. If I had to pick, I'd say my latest book for children 'Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth'. It's a book about a first grader who is misinformed that her teacher is a 300 year old alien who is after her first loose tooth. Obviously, the little heroine is misinformed by a second grader and suffers great anxiety because of this misinformation. The book is laced with all sorts of humor. I try to hide dozen of sight gags in all my books and this one has so many. I was at a wedding last night and a little girl told me how much she enjoyed those sight gags. Anytime a child tells me how much they've enjoyed the humor in my books it makes me very proud.

BlogFonk: If you'd be given the chance to do something over again, what would it be?
Bliss: I'd love to be a musician. Piano or classical guitar.

BlogFonk: Finally, what is your motto, your 'Fonk for Thoughts' (inspiration to be creative)?
Bliss: The world I inhabit is my inspiration. Honestly, just walking out the front door of my house everyday inspires me in one way or another. This inspiration could come in the form of a child I pass on the street, a cloud formation in the sky, or George W. Bush making an ass out of himself on television, anywhere, really. I try to look for humor in most things because if I didn't, the reality of everyday existence would be too much for me. I guess my motto is laughter.