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Cartoonist directs passion into religious books
(by Sue Reid - April 02, 2009)
Cartoonist directs passion into religious books
By SUE REID
Cartoonist Ron Hill, a resident of Solon, said it was in 2000 when a publisher contacted him with a "weird idea." The timing was perfect, he said, in that his career seems to recreate itself every 10 years.
"I was ready for another change," said Mr. Hill, a teacher at Alliance High School and in his 10th year as editorial cartoonist for the Times. "It seems like every 10 years I do something new."
That new opportunity arose, he said, when Westminster John Knox Press, a longtime Presbyterian publisher, saw some of Mr. Hill's cartoons on the Internet and presented him with a "strange" project, he said. The concept at the time was sort of like an "idiot's guide to theology," he explained.
"They described the series as a 'theology for dummies'" style, Mr. Hill said, and wanted a few small cartoon illustrations. "The books are designed for what they call the 'theologically curious' and are marketed for general readers and beginning or introductory seminary classes. Many of the books have discussion guides created for them and get used as group studies," he said.
What started out as a plan for just two books led to 10 and then to 11, said Mr. Hill, who has become illustrator for the series.
"I don't know how far it will go," he said. "It's been almost nine years since we've started. They keep adding to the series, and it's interesting to see which direction it will go."
Mr. Hill, who has illustrated numerous political figures, both locally and nationally, drew such theologians and historic figures as Jonathan Edwards, "the Heretics," John Wesley and Karl Barth as part of his latest creations for the series.
A "real challenge" as of late, he said, was the book on Martin Luther King Jr., for which he was given the charge of illustrating "the most revered man to many African-Americans in this country." Mr. Hill said he was contacted by the author of "Martin Luther King Jr. for Armchair Theologians," Rufus Burrow Jr., who not only is a theologian and professor of Christian studies, but is an authority on the Rev. King.
"Before signing on to do the book, he expressed his concerns," Mr. Hill said of the author. Specifically, "historically, white artists who are cartoonists have tended to represent African-Americans in caricature. I would not want this to happen regarding King," Mr. Burrows wrote to him.
Mr. Hill said he thought to himself at the time, "This is never going to work." Despite the challenge, he said, he did not want to give up on the series. He realized that he needed to be "extra careful not to offend or appear overly glib or condescending," he said. While some people use the word caricature in a derogatory sense, he noted, he sees it as nothing more than an "exaggerated likeness."
Mr. Hill said he caricaturizes the individual, not the race.
"I was nervous about this book when I saw the first manuscript, and the first chapter is titled, "Our Racist History,'" he said.
"How do I draw cartoons about that?" he said. "I approached it from an editorial standpoint. I decided early on we could use a lot of symbolism."
Working on the book coincided with a historic time in American presidential politics, Mr. Hill said, with the election of our country's first African-American president, Barack Obama. "Race was always a concern and is now more than ever," he said.
What resulted was Mr. Burrows' ringing endorsement of the drawings, citing Mr. Hill's "deep sensitivity and awareness."
On the cover, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sits alongside Jesus, Ghandi and Rosa Parks on a bus, which is "kind of a metaphor for the journey we're all on as far as our faith journey," Mr. Hill said, as well as the journey or march the civil rights people were on.
Mr. Hill said he draws all the theologians sitting to tie into the "armchair theme."
Mr. Hill is now working on his 11th book and has contracts for two more after that. An upcoming one is on Sigmund Freud.
"This has been an interesting project," he said.
Mr. Hill, a graduate of Solon High School and the Pittsburgh Art Institute, worked until 1993 as an art director at local studios and agencies doing graphic design before going out on his own and doing caricatures and cartoons on a free-lance basis. In 2002, he applied for the job at Alliance High School, where he teaches interactive media and commercial art.
A career in cartooning and humorous illustration presents something new and different all the time, Mr. Hill said as to its appeal.
"When I was freelancing, every commission had a different feel to it," he said. "With cartooning, I like that you bring a little bit of humor, as well as some sort of message, whether it's an advertising message or political opinion."
Mr. Hill said he considers himself more of a political person as of late. "You grow up under the influence of your parents," which for him was conservative Republican ideas, he said. "Lately, the artist in me has gone more to the left."
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