Larry Miller III
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Larry Miller III (born October 20, 1955) in Peoria, Illinois began cartooning in the mid 1960s while still in grammar school and further developed his talents working as an illustrator and cartoonist for his high school newspaper (Spalding Institute's "Madison Street Journal"). Influenced by such diverse talents as Charles Shultz, Johnny Hart, Will Eisner, Neal Adams and Pat Oliphant, Larry continued to develop his own style of work, drawn towards colleagues with similar talents and tried over many years to produce short run comic books, without much success.
Larry's career as a freelance cartoonist took off with the publication of his first cartoon in August of 1974 in "Model Railroader Magazine" and he continued selling cartoons and illustrations to similar publications "Railroad Model Craftsman" and "Mainline Modeler Magazine" throughout the mid 1980s. He volunteered as cartoonist, illustrator and editor of "The Current Lines", the quarterly newsletter for the Illinois Terminal Railroad Historical Society from 1978 through 1986.
Larry peaked during his college years as the cartoonist “Mr. N” of the "Harbinger" (the Student Newspaper for Illinois Central Junior College) where he attended part-time from 1975 through 1980. Such cartoon panels as “Captain Boredom”, “Barlap 4” and “Reasons Why Students Commit Suicide” were regular features, along with half-page panels and editorial cartoons. He designed Banners for issue headers and produced full-page cartoons for special issues.
Full-time employment during that time was as a duplicator press operator for Caterpillar Tractor Company. During operation of his machine, he found time to create Safety Poster cartoon illustrations, United Way Fund Drive posters, cartoons and illustrations for the company newsletters ("The Folks" and "Tracktype") as well as cartoons for personal enjoyment – “Sad Sam”, “1001 of the Worst Shop Accidents” and “101 Things NOT to Say to a Striker”
After marriage in 1984, he dropped out of cartooning entirely and helped raise three children. As his children entered High School he returned to cartooning and illustrating in 1997.
Most of Larry's early works were created in the pen and ink format with marker and watercolor added after inking. Since 1997 his work has gone on to computer scans of original ink renderings with color and shading added on computer. His combined use of photographic images as backgrounds with his distinctive characters give a modern flair to his renderings.
