Research Day - Charles Erkman

A not so distant cousin was discovered . . . 

State Magazine Spotlights Richwood Artist, from the State Education "State Ed."

Caricaturist 'Treats' Staff in Nicholas

Publications of the Nicholas County Newsline, the lively newsletter for the county school system, has become a widely-anticipated event among local educators curious about who will be the latest to get the Charles Erkman "treatment."

For a number of issues now, Newsline editor JoAnn Gainer has been selecting caricatures by Erkman for publication.  Bold in both style and wit, Erkman, who teaches commercial art at the Nicholas County Vo-Tech Center, has had a little fun with Nicholas educators at all levels, in and out of the classroom.  



Erkman's first caricature carried by the Newsline pictured county Superintendent of Schools B.L. Poole, an enthusiastic fisherman, leaning back in his chair, feet on his desk, dreaming about landing a big one.

"We thought we'd start at the top," Gainer said, "and kind of put everybody at ease. Charles Erkman is an exceptional artist, and his work adds real sparkle to the Newsline.  His caricatures are well received, and the subject are now asking for the original artwork."

Gainer added that she also calls on Erkman regularly for line art to help brighten up the school system publication. "I never have to use clip art with an artist of his caliber in the school system."

Erkman said he has been drawing caricatures since he was in college in Illinois.  He also is a political cartoonist whose work has appeared in the Alton (Illinois) Telegraph and the Charleston (West Virginia) Daily Mail.

During a break from classes recently, Erkman expressed gratification at the response his colleagues are giving his Newsline caricatures.  "What I'm doing really is a form of socially accepted aggression, and it's grand to see how well all the subjects react to my work."

During a brief conversation, Erkman confessed to be being an admirer of Jeff McNelly, the award-winning political cartoonist of the Chicago Tribune.  The Nicholas artist was quick to exclude himself, however, from among the fans of Gary Trudeau, producer of the syndicated comic strip, Doonesbury.  The strip, Erkman said, is so political it should run on the editorial rather than the comic page.

Erkman has been teaching commercial art in Nicholas the past eight years.  Prior to that he taught art at Richwood High School and in the elementary grades.

One of his best-known caricatures, reproduced prominently on this page, shows Nicholas County Assistant Superintendent Wilbert Mick, hastily-packed bag and briefcase in hand, dashing off to Charleston for another state-level meeting.  For hundreds of his colleagues throughout the state who know Mick as the quintessential county liaison person, the art hits the mark.

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