Gerry Rasmussen- Canadian Cartoonist (Betty)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Gerry Rasmussen

Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Canadian cartoonist Gerry Rasmussen. In this episode, we chat about how Gerry got into drawing, and how he started making money with his artistic skills while still in elementary school by selling on the spot drawings of ‘Denis the Menace’ to fellow school kids. Next, we get into how he met his co-creator, Gary Delainey at art school. Together, they produce a daily comic strip called ‘Betty’. They have been making this comic strip for nearly 50 years, and due to its runs in The Edmonton Journal, and other publications; it is one of the most recognized comics in Canada! Being featured on GoComics.com and syndicated by King Features doesn’t hurt either! ‘Betty’ has been popularized throughout modern popular culture for several decades; even a fun tie-in with The Edmonton Oilers hockey organization. We also touch on some of the children’s books Gerry has illustrated, such as ‘Sniffy the Beagle’ with author Rita Eagle; and the sports books: ‘Crazy About Hockey’, ‘Crazy About Soccer’, & ‘Crazy About Basketball’ by author Loris Lesynski. Finally, we discuss his passion for teaching art to kids and adults. In partnership with a couple of universities in and around Edmonton, Gerry teaches, draws, and motivates the next generation of art enthusiasts. If you happen to see him at Red Deer Polytechnic (formerly Red Deer College), or The Pygmalion School of Art, tell him you heard him on Fascination Street Podcast!

Special thanks to Gerry’s son Nils Rasmussen (Uncle Outrage) for turning me onto his spectacular father!