Up for auction "Curtis" Ray Billingsley Hand Drawing 8X10 on Cardstock.

ES-8877

Ray Billingsley (born July 25, 1957) is an American

cartoonist, the creator of the comic strip

Curtis, which is distributed by King Features Syndicate and printed in

more than 250 newspapers nationwide. Billingsley contributed early cartoons to Kids, a magazine "by kids for

kids" published in Cambridge, Massachusetts and then in New York City,

from 1970 to 1975 under the co-editorship of Jenette Kahn

(later president and editor-in-chief of MAD Magazine

and DC Comics).

After graduating from the High School of Music and Art

in Manhattan, he attended the School of Visual Arts on a four-year

scholarship. After graduating, he began an internship at Walt Disney Studios in 1979.Billingsley

drew a nationally syndicated strip called Lookin' Fine

from 1979 to 1982.By 1988, he was freelancing in

advertising and public relations; doing television commercials, posters and

animation; and working for magazines such as Ebony.

In October of that year, King Features Syndicate introduced Curtis.Billingsley credits Wee Pals

creator Morrie Turner, the first black cartoonist in

national syndication, with opening the door for Curtis and other strips.

He also credits Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit,

for encouraging Billingsley to stretch out artistically. "He always told

me to reach out and do more than I thought I could. I continually draw strength

when I relive his teachings," said Billingsley. Billingsley has received

several awards, including the President's Award in 2000, during a conference

between the American Lung Association and the Canadian Lung Association in Toronto,

Canada.

In addition, Billingsley received the Humanitarian Award from the American Lung

Association of Southeast Florida in 1999.