Mark Evanier reports on the passing of cartoonist Roger Armstrong, a very prolific cartoonist whose work was doubtless known to anyone who read kids comics from the 40s on. He worked on numerous Dell/Western/Gold Key titles, before moving on to Hanna-Barbera strips, then Bugs Bunny and Little Lulu in the 70s. He also drew the daily Ella Cinders. It was his teaching that he will really be remembered for, Evanier recalls.
Roger Armstrong, a giant in the world of cartooning and a teacher to countless art students, passed away in his sleep on Thursday at the age of 89.
This is a very difficult obit to write because Roger did so much and meant so much to so many people. I want to underscore, so it doesn’t get lost in the career details, that while he had an amazing life as a cartoonist, he had an equally important — perhaps more important — life as an art teacher and watercolor artist. His landscapes were exhibited in every major gallery in Southern California and hundreds of accomplished artists cite him as a great tutor and source of inspiration. He encouraged so many to paint and draw, and led by example.
Mike Lynch has a bit more. You can see Armstrong’s later watercolors at his website.
©2007 Roger Arnstrong
I read a lot of Gold Key comics when I was younger, and he probably drew one of the best humor stories I’ve read. Andy Panda has i mouse problem. His friend builds a better mousetrap. And, wouldn’t you know, the MICE beat a path to his doorstep!
And while I remember, Thank You to all of the professionals who take a few moments to answer my questions, and to those who have actually corrected my mistakes. I hope someday I can follow their example.
I read a lot of Gold Key comics when I was younger, and he probably drew one of the best humor stories I’ve read. Andy Panda has a mouse problem. His friend builds a better mousetrap. And, wouldn’t you know, the MICE beat a path to his doorstep!
And while I remember, Thank You to all of the professionals who take a few moments to answer my questions, and to those who have actually corrected my mistakes. I hope someday I can follow their example.
I owe a LOT of what I know about cartooning to Roger! He taught cartooning at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA during the 1980’s.
Two silly things that always stick in my mind while drawing cartoons:
1. Those sweat marks that cartoon characters display while under stress?…Roger told our class that those little droplets are called, “SPRITZ”!
2. He told us at the beginning of class to make sure we purchased a KA-NEEDED eraser? We looked at him puzzled. He said, “You know, those soft stretchy erasers!” Apparently, each semester, there was always a kid who looked at the supply list and asked, “Sir, what is a KA-NEEDED eraser?”
To this day I draw SPRITZ with a smile and use my KA-NEEDED eraser with a grin!
Dave James