From local paper to Mad Magazine

DRYDEN -- Garfield, Peanuts, Pogo - cartoon strips often conjure up nostalgia. When bad news is splashed on the front page, one could count on the Sunday cartoon section to get a laugh. Dryden resident, Dan McConnell, is a celebrated artist who continues to create lighthearted work for both local and national publications. His byline has been featured in household name publications such as MAD magazine and Reader's Digest.

With no television growing up, McConnell didn’t flicker through channels, but rather channeled his energy into art. His illustrations started at about age four with him rolling out butcher paper and drawing cowboys and Indians. Tomahawks, spears, arrows and gunshots flying across the page was the initial ignition of the creativity that led him to his career path.

“I was just a kid doing drawings at about four or five and I just kept doing it,” said McConnell. He eventually moved to Cashmere and purchased a pear orchard. "I needed to do something with my art work so I came down to John Ricman, publisher of the Cashmere Valley Record at the time.”

His career eventually evolved into pitching the idea of a political cartoon to the CVR, but Ricman suggested a more locally centered idea - the fruit industry. In 1980, McConnell produced Apple Andy, a comical staple that lasted in the publication for 20 years.

“I just like making lines on paper,” said McConnell. “It’s really tactical. I like working on paper, doing watercolors, anything doing traditional mediums.”

McConnell's sense of humor is reflected in his work and he manages to translate personality in his cartoons with just ink and creativity. His work has a satirical demeanor and a lighthearted disposition unlike some snarky and cynical political cartoons that have become the rage.

“The process of being an artist is you draw as much as you can,” said McConnell.

His cartoon range varies from fun political jests, humorous cartoons and caricutures to fine art like oil paintings and watercolors. In 2004, McConnell became a certified scientific illustrator to add to his impressive portfolio, but he has a soft spot for cartooning.

“I do cartooning every day, so that must be my favorite,” said McConnell. “I like to draw faces so caricatures are pretty strong too.”

McConnell is no starving artist despite having an eager appetite for creating illustration work. His work has been featured on a variety of platforms over the timeline of his career and he's only gaining more momentum with his lighthearted cartoons. Last January, his work was featured in MAD Magazine’s online edition and in June, his work will be in the print edition as well. He noted this is one of the biggest highlights of his career.

“I was flying on cloud nine, it was great. It was a little bit unexpected,” said McConnell.