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I’ve always loved the book by Hand of the Cause, William Sears, called “God Loves Laughter“. Something about the statement has just always seemed so right to me. So, I was delighted to stumble on the work of two talented American Baha’is working together at the Baha’i National Center in the US. Dave Rouleau and Aaron Kreader are – respectively – the creator and artist behind a long-running comic strip called Off-Center.
I caught up with Dave and Aaron to learn a bit more about the comic strip, their inspiration and what advice they have for other aspiring Baha’i artists. And for those of you (like me) who aren’t in the US and don’t receive The American Baha’i magazine, we’ve got a few editions of Off-Center to view embedded here in the post.
Baha’i Blog: Where does the name Off-Center come from and how did the comic strip get started?
(Aaron) One day Dave asked me to draw some Bahai comic strip ideas he had. We both work at the Bahai National Center in the United States.
(Dave) The name Off-Center actually has two origins. One of them is the obvious fact that the behaviors portrayed in the cartoons are somewhat askew or off-center. The other is a little inside nod to the fact that both Aaron and I work at the United States Bahá’í National Center. I had always wanted to do a cartoon related to the Faith and had a number of ideas. But I can’t even draw a decent circle. I’d been looking for 20 years for a cartoonist that could translate what I see in my head onto paper. Aaron was already an established, award-winning illustrator, and when I mentioned to him the possibility of doing a cartoon together, he said that he would need to have some ideas. So in a sense you could say that he got peanut butter in my chocolate and I got chocolate in his peanut butter. And “Viola!” Off-Center was the result.
Baha’i Blog: How many Off-Center comic strips have you created so far? Where can readers keep up with the strips?
(Dave) Right now, Off-Center is only being carried by The American Bahá’í, and now, Baha’i Blog. We are currently in the process of putting a book collection together of the cartoons we have done.
(Aaron) We have created 60 or so.
Baha’i Blog: Wow! That’s a lot of comics. How do you come up with your ideas for new comic strips and how does the process of putting one together work?
(Dave) I’ve always had a somewhat off-beat sense of humor. I love the cartoons of Gary Larson, Jerry Van Amerongen and Dan Piraro. There’s no set way in which the ideas come to me. You just have to be open to the creative process when it strikes. When I get a number of concepts together—say 10 to 12—I call up Aaron. We have lunch together and go over them, doing some tweaking as needed. Aaron’s talent then takes over, and what comes out is magic.
(Aaron) Dave comes up with ideas, I look them over and see which ones make me giggle. I draw those.
Baha’i Blog: What advice do you have for other Baha’i artists interested in putting their talents to use for the Faith?
(Dave) Aaron can answer this better than I can, because he is the real artist here. I’ll only add that we hope that Off-Center shows that humor does not have to be crass or demeaning to be funny. There is a sense of humor in the Bahá’í Faith and our goal is to get the friends laughing. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá referred to laughter as a “spiritual relaxation.”
(Aaron) Find others who want to work with you. Collaborate. Know your strengths and your weaknesses. Personally I think the future of the arts is the ability of people to work together, rather than trying to be everything. Musicians, comedians, actors, dancers, writers, illustrators, painters etc, who find the ability to bring what they do best to a group project will be the hallmark of art in an age where unity is the key ingredient to progress. The more collaboration the better, and ironically, the more challenging—but is anything rewarding easy?
Baha’i Blog: Thanks so much for your time gentleman!
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Fantastic! Had wanted to find more of their work, and now a book! YES!
Neysan (May 5, 2011 at 9:14 PM)
My favorite is the one of all the people snoring as Edith comes to realize her Feast readings were… too… long…
Reminds me of my childhood trying so hard to be patient as people prayed and prayed and prayed…
Baha’is sure can pray for ever when you are a kid.
Tracy (June 6, 2011 at 9:41 PM)
I’ve known Dave for a long time. Too long some might say.
I’m not surprised Dave started doing something like this.
Plus, I’ve always hoped Bill Sears was right about that loving laughter thing.
I’d have to say my favorite cartoon is the one where an Alien
shows up at the house where the Assembly is meting and
one of the Baha’is greet the Alien at the door and says
“Well, there goes the agenda!”
Keep up the good work guys !
Marv
Marv Peck (December 12, 2011 at 2:43 PM)
Hello,
Can you give me the web site for Bahai cartoons? I can have a look.
Thanks
Robert
Robert Nikjoo (June 6, 2012 at 10:01 AM)
Good Off-Center: An Interview with Aaron Kreader and Dave Rouleau – Baha’i Blog
I was very pleased to discover this site.
I need to to thank you for your time just for this wonderful read!!
I definitely loved every part of it and I have you saved as a favorite to look at new things
on your blog.
blogspot.com (February 2, 2014 at 7:25 PM)