Pulitzer Prize Winner Steve Breen Visits the Dove Library

As it began to rain on Sunday afternoon, many fans of political cartoonist Steve Breen gathered to enjoy an Author Talk at the Carlsbad Dove Library. In addition to winning two Pulitzer Prizes, Breen has also written several children’s books and humor books. He currently works at The San Diego Union-Tribune as their political cartoonist.

The audience, filled with dedicated fans who gave up watching that afternoon’s Chargers game, seemed to share an interest in football with Breen. He immediately engaged and interacted with the audience by talking about football. His interest in the sport came from his wife and sons, whom he spoke about quite frequently throughout the talk. Furthermore, he requested that the audience inform him whenever the Chargers score.

Then, he briefly introduced himself, Breen spoke about his career and how he goes about his job on a daily basis. He explained that the heart of his work lies in ideas, not necessarily artistic ability. Breen also mentioned that the key to a political cartoon is originality.

This election season, he said, has created an overload of ideas, especially as his favorite cartoons to draw are of presidents and political figures. However, Breen also said that he gathers many of his ideas from fragments of random conversions, as well as from extensive reading and research.

Once Breen has a series of ideas for the next edition of the paper, he makes a quick sketch for each and gives them to his editor. He explained that out of a set, there is usually one to run. After a cartoon is selected, Breen goes home and traces the sketch onto nicer paper, adds detail, and colors it in. He then scans and sends it.

After talking about his career and what it entails, Breen shared many of his works with the audience. His conservative political views became evident. He admitted that he disliked Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, but he never stated that he supports Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. However, he said that Trump is “tailor-made for editorial cartoons” and that he always needs “someone to pick on.”

Breen then shared some of his books with the audience and elaborated on his children’s book, “Unicorn Executions and Other Crazy Stuff my Kids Make me Draw.”

Breen also showed the audience his adult coloring book called “Afterlives of the Rich and Famous,” which illustrates dead celebrities and what they could be doing now. One cartoon depicted David Bowie on Mars, while another showed Eleanor Roosevelt pointing towards an engraving in support of Clinton.

To conclude the event, Breen did some live drawings while answering questions from the audience. He drew many key political figures such as President Barack Obama, and Presidential Candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Overall, the event provided the appreciative audience with a unique insight to the world of political cartooning.