Today, Gary is a national award-winning, syndicated cartoonist for Creators Syndicate, along with being a speaker and filmmaker. But Gary’s journey has not been easy. He is a college dropout and persevered through 16 years of rejection before becoming an editorial cartoonist, a title few artists can claim. Through his faith and grit, he was not only able to be an editorial cartoonist but he was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2015. His story is one of tenacity and faith that I know will inspire you.
Episode 7
From 16 Years of Rejection to the Hall of Fame
With Guest Gary Varvel
, Editorial Cartoonist
Creators Syndicate
Today's Guest
Gary Varvel
Gary Varvel is a Christian, conservative national award-winning, syndicated cartoonist for Creators Syndicate. He is also a speaker and filmmaker. As the former editorial cartoonist for The Indianapolis Star, he was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2015.
During his 40-year career, Varvel won numerous awards including the National Headliners Award, Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award, the Grambs Aronson Award and the Advancing American Democracy Award.
Varvel's work is nationally syndicated in over 125 newspapers through Creators Syndicate. His cartoons have appeared on CNN, FoxNews and in Newsweek, Time, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Post, Newsday, USA Today, Washington Times, National Review, and Sports Illustrated. His cartoons have also been reprinted in many college and high school textbooks.
Along with his cartooning career, Varvel also taught high school art part-time at Bethesda Christian Schools for 14 years. He also taught an adult Sunday School class for 23 years and served on the Missions Board and Deacon Board.
Varvel is also a Board Member of House of Grace Films and Co-writer, actor and Producer of the films: The Board (2009) and The War Within (2014) which won 7 film festival awards.
What We Talked About
How Gary got his start with drawing through being inspired by MAD Magazine and winning a cartoon contest his freshman year of high school. The phone call that changed his life. The challenge of pursuing a career in a very scarce field of editorial cartoonists. Why he decided to drop out of college and how he learned the art and skill of drawing cartoons. How he has learned to deal with criticism. Where he gets his inspiration and ideas. How his journey started with $5/week for 1 cartoon. How having a mentor was crucial for his development in editorial cartooning. How he faced rejection for 16 years until his dream of becoming an editorial cartoonist finally came to be. Dealing with the daily pressures of deadlines. His advice to his 20 year-old self and it will likely surprise you.About the Show
Listen to conversations with leaders and entrepreneurs who have built organizations making a positive impact on the world so you can discover how to expand your impact.
Are you trying to make a difference in this world? On the show, Amanda and guests reveal the path from purpose to impact and all the risks, bumps, and bruises that came along the way so you can be ahead of the curve with your purpose-driven business or organization.
Amanda is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, Partner at Evergreen Results and a founding member of the Built for Impact podcast team. She enjoys spending time with her family, serving others, horseback riding, and spending time in the mountains.