Josie Rodriguez, and Max and Otis

Click HERE to enlarge cartoon.

by Josie Rodriguez

I was born. That was cool. Then I was given a box of crayons shortly after, and that was even cooler.

Around the time that everyone else left their box of crayons to grow up, I was still propped up on my elbows, sprawled on the floor in front of a drawing pad, gripping my box of crayons pretty tight.

In fourth grade, I must have looked pretty funny because I was asked to join a clown troupe at school. I learned how to unicycle and clown for events.

I began writing poetry around the age of thirteen and fell in love with that too. In high school I had some great teachers who encouraged me to continue writing, entering contests etc.

My art teacher didn’t think too much of me but I didn’t quit, and after high school I landed an art apprenticeship in Chicago. I got to stand behind the artists who caricatured and watch them, thus began my passion of cartooning. After a while I got hired on drawing caricatures and portraits.

I told myself I want to do this on my own, freelance in five years. Its been about five years now and I have started clowning and drawing caricatures for events, fairs and people, under the name Artrageous Memories.

I began hanging around the good people of Kenosha and got invited to display some of my work at the Pollard Gallery, and share some of my poetry at the Kenosha’s Writers group.

I am currently developing a comic strip called, “Max and Otis.” It’s about two snails. Keep an eye out for them, I’ll keep you posted.

Josie Rodriguez is the newest collaborator to ExposeKenosha, you can contact her at josie7grossie@yahoo.com