About Lonnie Millsap
Biography
Cartoonist Lonnie Millsap was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Like most artists he began drawing early in life. One of his earliest artistic memories was getting into trouble at the age of four for drawing a life sized crayon Batman on his refrigerator and grey living room carpet. Initially, he didn’t get into trouble for the carpet Batman because of the way he strategically contorted his body over it. (His parents bought a new carpet a week later). While growing up Millsap drew cartoons in the borders of every paper he ever touched. His earliest artistic influences were Charles Schulz (Peanuts), Sergio Aragones (Mad Magazine) and Johnny Hart (Wizard of Id). As Millsap matured he was influenced by the likes of Gary Panter (Jimbo), Matt Groening (Simpsons, Life in Hell), Charlie Callahan and Gahan Wilson.
Self Portrait
Lonnie Millsap studied for one summer at Otis Art Institute immediately after high school and graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Fine Arts. He promptly used his expertise to park cars for many years. He moved to Atlanta in the mid-90’s where he worked in non-artistic, mid-level management positions for the next 14 years. Millsap still continued to draw cartoons and periodically created graphics and logos as a freelance artist. He eventually improved enough to be commissioned to create logos for companies like National Concessions Management and Trans-Air Concessions at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport. He also created graphics for groups as diverse as The Atlanta Area Riders motorcycle club, Atlanta rapper A-One, and SmarteCarte, Incorporated.
Lonnie Millsap’s love has always been to draw cartoons that could make people laugh. In 2009 decided to follow his dream and founded Rollyhead Publishing. He released his first book of single panel cartoons titled ‘My Washcloth Stinks!’(2010), which was promptly ordered by Barnes & Noble. Millsap’s cartoons were later included in the ‘What Makes Us Smile?’ exhibition at Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum, which was curated by Matt Groening (Simpsons creator), Gary Panter (Emmy winning Pee Wee’s Playhouse set designer), and Rebecca Hoffberger (Museum Founder). Millsap quickly followed up by beginning to exhibit at San Diego Comic-Con and Alternative Press Expo in 2011. In 2012 he released his second book titled, ‘I Hate My Job!’. He followed up with a new book every year since, starting with ‘I Stepped On A Duck!’(2013), ‘My Pickle Tastes Funny!’(2014), ‘I Asked For A Fork!’(2015), ‘Next Time I’ll Drive!(2016), ‘They Taste Like Bacon!’(2017), and ‘My Mother Was Human!’(2018). All of his books have been endorsed by noteworthy cartoonists like Sergio Aragones, Scott Shaw, Keith Knight and Gary Panter.
Lonnie’s convention schedule has increased over the years and he has appeared at a diverse cross section of conventions including: SDCC, Wondercon, Small Press Expo(SPX), Alternative Press Expo and the Black Comix Art Festival. As his status as a cartoonist grew, Lonnie was offered the opportunity to draw a comic called bacon for gocomics.com through Andrews McMeel Publishing. Lonnie has also contributed to the final issue of Playboy Magazine, and he is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker magazine. He was also a special guest at San Diego Comic-Con in 2018.
His latest collection of cartoons, released in June 2019, is titled, ‘My Nib is Cold!’ It contains more of the same silliness that peppered his first eight books. It has been endorsed by Yehudi Mercado(‘Fun, Fun, Fun World’), Lars Kenseth(The New Yorker Magazine, Mad Magazine), and my mother.
While Lonnie Millsap still calls his books “the self-proclaimed funniest cartoon books in cartoon book history” he still toils daily in middle management and draws cartoons in the borders of his paperwork on a daily basis. Millsap’s next book, delayed because of closures due to coronavirus, is tentatively titled, ‘My Donkey Is Taller!’. It is expected to be released in late 2020, or mid-2021.
From ‘My Donkey Is Taller!’
Great work. I really enjoyed looking at your cartoons and reading your history around cartooning. I will email you soon. Keep up the funny cartoons they made me laugh
Cheers ian
Thank you!
I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time! Thank you for the laughs at Comic con (SVCC), at home, and in my office. I left a book on the break table at work and laughter now fills the halls! I can’t wait for the next book.
Teresa, it was a pleasure to meet you. I’m glad you liked the books!! Thank you so much.