Nishith "Nish" Pandya - An Artomatic Interview

by Mike Rhode


Nishith "Nish" Pandya's illustration style, as on display at Artomatic, is somewhat cartoony, but his use of the web-handle "cartoonish" led us to decide to reach out to him. (all images from his websites, as my photos from Artomatic did not come out well).

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

Lately, my drawing style has been combining my characters and my love for nature and hiking.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I mainly work in pencil, charcoal, or pen-n-ink. I think these mediums tend to enhance the mood I try to create in the drawings.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born in 1970 in Baroda, India.


Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I moved up to DC for a software job and I have been living in Capitol Hill.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

Aside from watching cartoons on tv...none.


Who are your influences?

I think Bugs Bunny did this to me! I would religiously watch Loony Toons on Saturday mornings.

But somewhat-recent animation programs that I love include Invader Zim and Ed, Edd, and Eddy.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

My day job is software and sometimes I wish I had focused more on my art.

What work are you best-known for?

Lately, I think I am known for my nature-inspired drawings.

What work are you most proud of?

I have few personal favorites. One of them is on display at Artomatic. It's an illustration of a girl reading a book by a tree.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I am currently learning oil painting. I have tons of sketches that I would like paint...and finally work with color.

In addition, I keep saying I would like to write and illustrate a children's book.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I get drawing blocks and many times I'll go on nature walks to get ideas and inspiration.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Awesome Con, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

I have not attended any cons. I think I need to attend some!

What's your favorite thing about DC?

I think DC is a great walkable city and I definitely do a lot of walking.

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to? 

Neither a monument nor a museum, but I like to take visitors to Great Falls if they have never seen it before.

Which side?

I like both sides.

I prefer the hiking on the MD side for myself.

But if my parents come visit me, I ll take them to the VA side since its easier for them to walk around.

Least favorite?

Easy answer...the summers. it gets too hot here.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

It's a chain but I like Matchbox.

Do you have a website or blog?

I am on Instagram. My username is cartoonish2.

I also have a few drawings on www.coroflot.com/cartoonish

Warner Bros.' Sylvester in the Naval History and Heritage Command

This is probably in storage down in the Navy Yard. Sylvester was into body piercings earlier than most Americans apparently.

Accession, 2010-96-1
Plaque, Ship, USS Alameda County, AVB-1
24" Diameter x 0.5 "H.
Wood, Paint.

Plaque, Ship, USS Alameda County.
The USS Alameda County was redesignated an Advance Aviation Base Ship in 1957. Prior to that the Alameda was originally designated a Tank Landing Ship LST-32. The Alameda was decommissioned in 1962.

Collection of Curator Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command.

Aug 6-7: Bugs Bunny At The Symphony at Wolftrap

Friday, August 6 and Saturday, August 7 at 8:30 pm at the Filene Center
Ticket Price: $20 - $52
Bugs Bunny At The Symphony
Created and conducted by George Daugherty

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony website

That "Wascally Wabbit" returns for two fabulous nights of film and music! The NSO provides live accompaniment as everyone’s favorite bunny brings new cartoons and music to life on large screens in-house and on the lawn.

Warner Bros.’ Bugs Bunny On Broadway reinvented a new genre of symphony concerts with its premiere in 1990 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary with this newly created concert sequel.

Among the timeless cartoons shown are “The Rabbit of Seville” (1950) and “What’s Opera, Doc?” (1957), as well as cartoons set to the overtures to William Tell and Die Fledermaus.

A number of new cartoons from the Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes vaults will be added, including the debut of Tweety Bird and Sylvester into the concert with “Tweety's Circus,” the misguided romantic musings of Pepe Le Pew in “A Scent of The Matterhorn,” and the concert debut of special guest artists Tom and Jerry in one of their most celebrated face-offs, "Tom and Jerry In The Hollywood Bowl."

Post recommends uncensored Looney Tunes collection

See "Bugs Bunny Takes a Bow," By JEN CHANEY, washingtonpost.com Staff Writer, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 which was published as Warner Bros. Says, 'That's All, Folks!', Washington Post October 24 2008. This is the 6th and last collection apparently. At some point, I'd like to pick these up but I don't know when I'd ever find the time to watch them.

Poet Laureate on Looney Tunes in the Wall Street Journal

For some reason, the Washington Times' Culture page keeps going back to quoting bits of a Wall Street Journal (of all places) article by the former Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, on his interest in Warner Bros' Looney Tunes cartoons. They've done it at least twice on July 9th and 14th. A quick look at the Journal's website revealed the original - "Inspired by a Bunny Wabbit: The freedom in cartoons to transcend the laws of basic physics, to hop around in time and space, and to skip from one dimension to another has long been a crucial aspect of imaginative poetry," By BILLY COLLINS, Wall Street Journal June 28, 2008; Page W1.