For our re-boot of The Cartoonist’s Cartoonists, I was excited that Ann Telnaes agreed to provide us a list of her 10 cartoonists who influenced or inspired her work and career. Ann is the award winning political cartoonist for The Washington Post. She has won every major prize in editorial cartooning including The National Headliner Award (1997), The Pulitizer Prize (2001), The National Press Foundation’s Berryman Award (2006), The National Cartoonist Society’s Rueben Award (2016), the EWK Award (2001) and The Herblock Prize (2023). Her line art might be simple but she packs a heavy punch. Before we see her list of cartoonists, here’s a sample of Ann’s cartoons over the years.
Ann’s 10 Cartoonists who have inspired or influenced her work
In alphabetical order:
Mary Blair
“Mary’s conceptual paintings looked so spontaneous, so honest, and her color sense was—and still is—unmatched.”
Alexander Calder
“Alexander Calder for his wire sculptures and mobiles. The Calder room at the National Gallery of Art is my favorite museum space in DC.” Note Ann’s cartoon below based on Calder’s famous mobile.
Disney & Warner Bros artists
“When I studied character character animation at CalArts my inspirations were various Disney & Warner Bros conceptual artists. Marc Davis designed Cruella De Vil, my favorite animated character. Walt Peregoy created the wonderful style of 101 Dalmatians, Ward Kimball & Tom Oreb for “Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom”. Maurice Noble and his incredible layouts and backgrounds for the Warner Bros cartoons in the 1950s.”
Pat Oliphant
“Pat Oliphant for his incredible draftsmanship.”
Robert Osborn
“When I started to create visual commentary, Osborn’s simple but powerful drawings were a big inspiration for me.”
Alice & Marvin Provensen
“My books of Ronald Searle and Alice & Martin Provensen were referenced frequently.”
Gerald Scarfe
“Gerald Scarfe for his wonderfully wicked drawings.”
Ronald Searle
“My books of Ronald Searle and Alice & Martin Provensen were referenced frequently.”
Sempe
“I also love Sempe, a master storyteller.”
Thelwell
“My earliest inspiration was Thelwell because as a young girl I was so crazy about horses. His depictions of fearless little girl riders in constant battle with their stubborn ponies were spot on (and since I didn’t have a horse, I could live vicariously by leafing through his books).”
Thank you, Ann for sharing with us your list of influential and admired cartoonists.
To keep up with her work, follower Ann on Substack, Twitter, Instagram and of course The Washington Post.
What a terrific, thoughtful list of influences! Mary Blair! Sempe! Fantastic.
I look forward to many more of these features. Thanks!
Love Cartoonist’s Cartoonists, and love Ann Telnaes – so this is a win-win!
Love this!
Ann Telnaes is a great artist and person. I met her in D.C. in 2002 and, a few years later, in Sioux Falls, S.D.
She’s a phenomenal artist with a great taste in influencers.