Debra McNaught
Born and raised in Vancouver, an east side resident for much of my life, Ive been living in the DTES for the last couple of years. Although I have several artistic interests across a number of media, at the moment I seem to be primarily a cartoonist. Ive contributed to the Carnegie Newsletter,The Volcano, and have accepted commissions from a couple of different political organizations. My work is not very subtle, and it reflects much of the never-ending social injustices being perpetrated on the people and community of the DTES.
What inspires me? Living here. Im active politically and get a lot of my ideas because of that involvement, and I try my best to expose the willful deceit and relentless poor-bashing practised shamelessly by all three levels of government.My cartoons are heavy on the sarcasm. Irony is also a useful tool, and while my drawings are relatively simple, the text is a large part of the message. I took a FINA elective my last semester of university (I earned my degree as a mature <cough> student), thinking it would be a no-brainer but it taught me to see detail with better eyes. I also learned that the process of creating art is much like the process of writing: that first spark of inspiration, the hasty notes on the fly (Paper! I need paper!), going 3 and sometimes 4 drafts until I nail it. Its the exact same painful process with cartooning.
What am I doing with my Small Arts Grant? I am working on a blog and just like fashion it will never be finished. I want to use it to make my work available gratis for any non-profit or charity that can use it. Most of the organizations in line with the politics dont have much in the way of disposable cash so if my art can help get their message across then they can take what they need.
Some political cartoonists have been prosecuted and even murdered for saying drawing what needed to be drawn; I may not be so incendiary (yet?) but the pencil is still mightier than the sword. Who knows what lofty government strategies await evisceration? My mouth is watering.
