Writing and drawing are "obsessions," said cartoonist Rina Piccolo, whose strip "Tina's Groove" was recently added to the Deseret Morning News' comics pages.
During a telephone interview from her new home in New York, the quirky and witty Piccolo described Tina as "a single, attractive thirty-something woman" (hmm, sort of like Rina), who is a waitress (something Rina is not) at Pepper's Restaurant.
"Tina is a working girl who has a lot of self-respect," Piccolo said. "She is not driven to get a certain high-paying job in the fashion industry or something. She is proud of being a waitress. Out of all the characters in the strip, she is the sanest. She is surrounded by friends and family, and they are all crazy in one respect or another."
Whatever the problems of those around her, Tina "meets life head-on," said Piccolo. "She's open to new challenges and does not see herself as a victim or a loser. She's also the girl next door that everybody loves.
The strip is not contrived. and I'm not always playing to the joke — but I do like to amuse people."
During her childhood, Piccolo remembers herself almost always carrying a pen and paper. She enjoyed creative writing and wrote many short stories, "so the marriage of pictures and words came naturally."
"I think it's the ultimate form of expression," Piccolo said. "But I didn't know anyone could make a living doing cartoons until I was in my early twenties. Growing up in Toronto, I did illustrations for a movie-theater company. Then I got my first cartoon published in Toronto's alternative weekly magazine. I did a comic guest spot — and I was published six weeks in a row. I couldn't believe it. It gave me the confidence to do more."
It still took about 13 years for Piccolo to get her first big crack at syndication. In 2000, Piccolo and five other female cartoonists joined forces for "Six Chix," a single panel cartoon drawn by a different cartoonist each day. (Piccolo's day is Wednesday).
In 2002, Piccolo started doing "Tina's Groove," which has been picked up by 110 newspapers across the country, equal to the number of papers that carry "Six Chix." ("Six Chix" had a spot in the Deseret Morning News' lineup, but it was dropped after it scored low on a reader survey.)
Because she works in a vacuum, Piccolo is happy to get e-mail feedback from friends. "It brightens my day so much. I think, 'Like wow! That's amazing!' " Piccolo said she is happy staying in the background while Tina is the star. Although she is quick with the quip, she is uncomfortable speaking in a group.
"I do my writing first, and then I have to draw it. I divide the week — writing three days and cartooning two days. Some of the strips write themselves, but at other times, it's like pulling teeth. I keep thinking I have to get faster. Then I do 'Six Chix' over the weekend."
Piccolo says many of her family members tease her about not really working. Cartooning to them seems like fun and games, but most people who learn what she does are impressed. "To some people being syndicated is a big deal. But they don't always understand that I'm exactly where I want to be. I hate it when people think I'm trying to get a movie deal or something. The newspaper is the place! Newspapers are where the gig is!"
Here's a look at the characters in "Tina's Groove," by Rina Piccolo:
Tina: A single, thirtysomething waitress at Pepper's. Tina "isn't waiting for her life to begin, she's living it."
Suzanne: Tina's best friend and fellow waitress. She likes to keep her social calendar — and Tina's — full.
Monica: A hostess at Pepper's. She's always wishing she were somewhere else — and many think she is already on another planet.
Chef Carlos: This "man's man" can be hard to take because he has "the ego of six men."
Jake: Bartender at Pepper's. He's quiet, reserved and prefers to listen from behind the bar.
Claud: A patron at Pepper's. He's "outlandish and full of strange stories."
Rob: General manager at Pepper's. He's a control freak who constantly carries a clipboard.
The Complainer: This patron does just that — complains.
E-mail: dennis@desnews.com