How does a cartoonist develop a character, assign it dialog that conveys a point or tells a story? It is a well-known process for Mark Parisi, cartoon artist and creator of a new juvenile book series titled “Marty Pants.” Parisi is also known for his single-frame comic panels titled “Off The Mark” that he has been producing for 30 years.
Parisi spent time at the Mattapoisett Public Library on February 21, sharing with local children of all ages – that is real kids and grown-up kids alike – his gift of simple line drawings that bring characters to life.
In the “Marty Pants” books, there is a sister, a Mom and Dad, a lady from the school office, a neighbor, and a cat to name a few. The cat, by the way, is not just any cat, but a creative spin on a not-very-friendly family pet that Parisi recalls from his youth. In the semi-graphic novels, Jerome, the real cat’s real name, is depicted with ears looking very much like devil horns, teeth a la vampire, and a furious ability to shed copious amounts of cat hair wherever it goes.
As the children followed along, Parisi gave them step-by-step instructions on how to draw Marty. In so doing so, he demonstrated how a few rather simple lines can create an image that is recognizable. He also shared with the attentive onlookers that most of what he creates comes from his everyday life. Parisi said that while visiting a local café he will doodle and draw in his sketchbook, oftentimes hitting on a theme, storyline or character.
A Massachusetts native from the North Shore and a graduate of Salem State University, Parisi began drawing at a very early age. He found a drawing contest in the pages of a local newspaper and submitted a drawing. In the contest, children were asked to create a cartoon from a random shape. At the ripe old age of 11, Parisi had achieved success – his submission was selected and published. Following on the heels of that success, he tried a second time and won again. But a third effort failed. “I never tried again,” he said with a rueful grin. Still, something had been ignited in his imagination.
Parisi told the children, “I never wanted to write a book – too many words… I never wanted to draw a graphic novel either – too many pictures.” But, after the publication of the “Wimpy Kid” series by Jeff Kinney, a hybrid of the two genres, Parisi realized he could write a little and draw a little and bring Marty Pants to life for thousands of young readers, “…the storytelling alternates between text and art,” he explained.
“David Linker, a children’s book editor at Harper Collins, a fan of ‘Off The Mark’, contacted me, asking if I ever thought of writing a middle-grade book,” Parisi remembered. That was back in 2015-16. After sending a few chapters to the publisher, “Marty Pants” was born.
As is the lot of an artist, the private life informs with public works. The same is true for Parisi. When asked if the people, pets, and places in his private life were fair game for his creations, he responded, “For sure, at least as a seed for a character.”
And all of this Parisi shared with the youngsters who quietly beavered away, drawing their own versions of Parisi’s characters or images from their own imagination. When asked what he would tell aspiring young artists he responded, “Do it because you love it… don’t worry about the money… even if it doesn’t come, you’ll be doing what you love.”
To learn more about Parisi and his “Off The Mark” world, visit www.offthemark.com or www.MartyPants.com.
Mattapoisett Public Library
By Marilou Newell