MRR Comics & Art Issue Artist Q&A with Tara Bursey
This month’s MRR magazine is the Comics & Art Issue! Throughout March we are highlighting some of the participating artists right here on MRR.com. Today we hear from Tara Bursey from Ontario, Canada.
What are the main things you’ve published, including comics, record covers, band shirts, anthologies, etc.?
I did the art for all the School Jerks’ records. I’ve also done record art for Absolut and a handful of other Toronto punk bands over the last decade. I also make zines, but spend most of my time making pretentious contemporary art and curating art shows.
Who are some of your influences as far as art and comics?
I don’t even know anymore—it’s been a long time since I’ve thought about it, especially when it comes to comics and drawing. Once upon a time, I would have said Pheobe Gloeckner, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, R. Crumb, EC Comics and, predictably, Raymond Pettibon.
Music influences?
Punk, psych, ’70s hard rock, X, the Kinks, Neil Young, the Poppy Family, oldies radio.
How would you describe your style of drawings?
Masochistically detailed. A combination of angry and sad in terms of tone/subject matter.
What other punk projects are you involved with (bands, venues, record labels, etc.)?
None! School Jerks recently laid me off.
What’s in the future for you as a cartoonist/artist?
Poverty.
Check out more from Tara at tara-bursey.tumblr.com and tarabursey.blogspot.com.
For links and more info about this artist and all of the artists in our Comics & Art Issue, check out the artist bios page.
