A selection of cartoons by Jack Rhynsburger has been made into a book.
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
JACK Rhynsburger has brought a childhood passion back to life.
The Millgrove resident spent many years drawing cartoons as a child but said he lost interest when his teachers pointed out that cartooning wasn’t “career-worthy” in the 1970s.
“Then adolescence kicked in and I thought anyone could draw so I dropped it,” he said.
Mr Rhynsburger said he spent a lot of time at the Yarra Junction Men’s Shed this year getting involved with the woodworking program, when he decided to make an easel.
“I made about 20 or 30 boxes at the shed, and then I made a solid drawing board,” he said.
Overnight he decided to take out his old set of Derwent pencils and began drawing. He’s been unable to stop since.
“It all came back to me after 36 years. I read the paper and look at a story – something pops out and bang, there it is,” he said.
“When it was warmer I was staying up till 3 or 4am doing it. I like to get into a subject and tackle it and get out.”
Mr Rhynsburger said his cartoons are about everyday events and news stories, from comparing Christine Nixon to ex-American President Richard Nixon, to the rescue of stranded American teen sailor Abby Sunderland.
He said he had seen his cartoons evolve and improve over the past few months and enjoyed making “other people laugh at my corner of the world”.
He has been booked to exhibit some of his cartoons at the Upper Yarra Arts Centre next year.
