Raymond Curtis Billingsley[1](born July 25, 1957) is anAfrican Americancartoonist, best known for creating thecomic stripCurtis.It is distributed byKing Features Syndicateand printed in more than 250 newspapers nationwide.
| Ray Billingsley | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 25, 1957 Wake Forest, North Carolina,United States |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist |
Notable works | Curtiscomic strip (1988-present) |
| Awards | Reuben Awardfor Cartoonist of the Year (2020) Inkpot Award(2014) |
Early life
editBillingsley was born inWake Forest, North Carolina,and raised there in his earliest years. Later, his family moved toHarlem,inNew York City.[2]
He creditssibling rivalrywith sparking his initial fascination withcartooning.As a young boy, he learned to draw in order to emulate his older brother, who studiedfine arts.[3]
Career
editBillingsley contributed early cartoons toKids,a magazine "by kids for kids" published inCambridge, Massachusettsand then inNew York City,from 1970 to 1975 under the co-editorship ofJenette Kahn(later president and editor-in-chief ofMAD MagazineandDC Comics).
After graduating from theHigh School of Music and Artin Manhattan, he attended theSchool of Visual Artson a four-year scholarship. After graduating in 1979,[4]he began an internship atWalt Disney Studios.[5]
Billingsley drew a nationally syndicated strip calledLookin' Finefrom 1979 to 1982.[3]The strip featured an all Black cast in their 20s, but Billingsley didn't have much creative freedom with the strip and left after two years.[2]By 1988, he was freelancing in advertising and public relations; doing television commercials, posters and animation; and working for magazines such asEbony.In October of that year, King Features Syndicate introducedCurtis.[5]
Billingsley credits African American cartoonistMorrie Turner,creator ofWee Pals— the first American syndicated strip with an integrated cast of characters[6]— with opening the door forCurtisand other strips. He also creditsWill Eisner,creator ofThe Spirit,for encouraging Billingsley to stretch out artistically. "He always told me to reach out and do more than I thought I could. I continually draw strength when I relive his teachings," said Billingsley.[5]
Awards
editBillingsley has received several awards, including the President's Award in 2000, during a conference between theAmerican Lung Associationand theCanadian Lung AssociationinToronto,Canada.In addition, Billingsley received the Humanitarian Award from the American Lung Association of Southeast Florida in 1999.[5]He was awarded theInkpot Awardin 2014.[7]Billingsley's most prestigious recognition came when he was awarded the 2020 Reuben Award by theNational Cartoonists Society,[8]placing him in the company of great cartoonists such as Charles Schulz, Garry Trudeau, Jerry Scott, and Roz Chast. He is the first Black creator to receive the peer-voted award.[9]
References
edit- ^"RAY BILLINGSLEY HAND SIGNED+FILLED OUT 20 QUESTIONS+COA CURTIS CARTOONIST".eBay.Retrieved2022-12-25.
- ^abPointer, Ashley (27 February 2022)."For decades, cartoonist Ray Billingsley has depicted Black family life in 'Curtis'".NPR.Retrieved29 October2022.
- ^abTobin, Suzanne (2001-05-18)."Comics: Meet the Artist".The Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon 2001-09-19.Retrieved2009-01-15.
- ^Tisserand, Michael. "Q&A Ray Billingsley,"Visual Arts Journal(Fall/Winter 2020), pp.60-65.
- ^abcd"Ray Billingsley".King Features. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-06-29.Retrieved2009-01-15.
- ^Cavna, Michael (January 31, 2014)."RIP, Morrie Turner: Cartoonists say farewell to a friend, a hero, a 'Wee Pals' pioneer".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2017.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^"Inkpot Award".Comic-Con International: San Diego.2012-12-06.Retrieved2022-10-29.
- ^"Ray Billingsley Wins 2020 NCS Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year".National Cartoonists Society(Press release). October 16, 2021.RetrievedNovember 21,2021.
- ^Cavna, Michael (November 20, 2021)."Cartoonist Ray Billingsley has been portraying Black family life for decades — and now he's getting his due".The Washington Post.RetrievedNovember 21,2021.
External links
edit
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