Jason Chatfield | |
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Signature of cartoonist Chatfield
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Born | 1984 Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
Pen name | Chatfield |
Occupation | Cartoonist, Illustrator, Gag cartoonist, Stand-up comedian, Improv comedian, Producer |
Nationality | Australian |
Website | |
www |
Jason Chatfield (born Perth, 1984-) is an Australian cartoonist and stand-up comedian, based in New York City. At 23 he became Australia's most widely-syndicated cartoonist, appearing daily in over 120 newspapers in 34 countries. His art spans the disciplines of comic strip,gag cartoon, editorial cartoon, book illustration, caricature and commercial art. At 26 he was elected President of the Australian Cartoonists' Association, making him the youngest person to hold the position since the organization began in 1924. He currently serves as Vice President of the National Cartoonists Society.
Chatfield took over writing and drawing the iconic internationally syndicated comic strip Ginger Meggs in 2007, becoming the strip's fifth artist, succeeding James Kemsley. Kemsley wrote to the Bancks family to secure approval for Chatfield to succeed him. Ginger Meggs is currently syndicated by Andrews McMeel Universal to 34 countries. Chatfield is the youngest cartoonist to take on the iconic comic strip in its 96-year history.
On 1 July 2011, The Perth Mint released a commemorative 1oz Silver Australian $1 coin to celebrate the 90th anniversary year of Ginger Meggs. The coin features an homage to Bancks’ 1945 Sunbeams Annual (Series 22) cover, which featured Ginger Meggs on the back of a kangaroo with his dog, Mike and his pet monkey, Tony. The obverse portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2011 year-date and is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965. There were 3000 coins produced in total. The coin was designed by Chatfield with the assistance of fellow Australian artist Peter Broelman. Stock at the mint sold out within an hour of the coin being announced.
Swiss company Redheads matches also released a limited edition of redheads matchboxes featuring five custom Ginger Meggs designs, produced by Chatfield.