Interview with Farley Katz

Farley Katz is from Texas originally but has been living in NYC since 2007. His cartoons appear in The New Yorker magazine. He also writes and draws the web cartoon Kids Are Dumb
This is his submission to PenTales Love and Heartbreak.

PenTales: What are the ingredients of a good illustration?

Farley: Heart (and ink).

PenTales: In one sentence, what do you hope people take away from the picture you submitted to Love and Heartbreak.

Farley: Love and sex isn’t just for kids—adults can have it too.

PenTales: Tell us about a favorite character in a story, and why you relate to this character..

Farley: I most relate to the vampire from “Dracula.”

PenTales: Tell us a 100-word story about yourself to help us get to know you better.

Farley: Once when I was a kid, I needed to get across town to buy something. First, I cracked open the yellow pages, thumbed through that bad boy and found the number for the store. Then, I called the guy up and got the address and cross street. That’s about the time I unfolded this thing called a “map.” Two hours later and I got to the place and bought the thing. Nowadays, I’d just use the tiny magic phone in my pocket to do all that stuff. Can you believe that shit!? Technology.

PenTales: Continue this story (five sentences or less): “He heard the protest outside and knew…”

Farley: they were coming for him. He stepped away from the window, unsheathed his smart phone and made the call. With time to spare he also downloaded all his favorite music, bought tickets to a nearby movie, beat the pig king on Angry Birds, and then tweeted about it. Seriously how did people use to survive before these things?

PenTales: Give us one word on “love” and one word on “heartbreak”.

Farley: “happy” and “herpes”

PenTales: What question should we ask the next person we interview?

Farley: Why didn’t you go to law or medical school? It is a much more lucrative career choice and people would have respected me for it. I mean “you.” Whatever.