WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsEditorial cartoonist hopes to evoke emotion

Editorial cartoonist hopes to evoke emotion

MADISON (WKOW)-- It may not be the reason why you read the paper-- but they certainly catch your eye as you flip through.

Editorial cartoons take current events and bring them to life.

Diana Henry introduces us to a man who takes a complex news story and turns it into a piece of art.

Phil Hands is "Someone You Should Know."

Phil enjoys drawing with his little guy, 5 month old Owen.

But he's not drawing Tigger or Pooh.

He draws sometimes very serious topics--with a twist.

Phil is an editorial cartoonist for the Wisconsin State Journal.

"I got a bachelors degree in polysci and art, so I guess you could say I was prepared for both sides of the editorial cartooning gig," said Phil.

During our visit, Phil was working on a cartoon depicting the recent news of a state supreme court case.

"I decided at one point I wanted to use art to convey my ideas," said Phil. "That makes people laugh of think or sometimes be disgusted with the way things are going."

Just this month, Phil was one of 50 cartoonists up for the Fischetti Award, considered to be the "oscar" of editorial cartooning.

While he didn't win--he certainly has incredible talent and passion for his art.

"It's not just sitting around drawing silly pictures all day, that's the fun part but you know for every hour I get to spend drawing, I spend 3 or 4 hours pouring over documents and news stories trying to figure out what I'm going to say for the day," said Phil.

I'd be remiss if I didn't ask who his favorite character is to draw.

"I like to draw Governor Doyle," Phil said and then laughs. "He's every cartoonists dream, he's very funny looking, he's got a big bald head, he's got a long face and looks like he always has a 5 o'clock shadow. He's just amazing to draw and I hope he keeps getting re-elected."

If you are traveling, you will also see phil's work in a Florida newspaper-- he does a lot of work for the Tampa Tribune as well as the Wisconsin State Journal.