He loves to define himself as an artist, he also publishes his cartoons on Instagram followed by over 118 thousand followers, a cartoonist by passion and profession despite a degree in geology. He is Leo Ortolani, born in 1967, famous for the ‘Rat-Man’ comic series which has been running since the 90s. These days it is possible to meet him among the Floracult stands in Rome, invited and “special correspondent”. Ortolani, who wanders through the colorful world of flowers at the exhibition-market, organized by Ilaria Venturini Fendi in her farm in the Veio Park (running until Sunday 28 April) transmits his “impressions of this event” on his Instagram profile and on that of Floracult, through a character who is none other than a caricature of himself. “Here I’m making cartoons accompanied by gags, I’ll do a dozen of them until Sunday and I’ll post them on Instagram” he reveals in an interview with Adnkronos, looking for new ideas between nature and culture.
However, Ortolani does not abandon paper because “what characterizes a designer is the sign that comes out of the pencil or brush” confirming the fact that he does not use digital tools. “I don’t use the tablet because the sign tends to be more uniform” he adds. However, he also publishes on the web “because it’s a great way to get visibility”.
“My character Rat-Man has been going on for twenty years with series of comic stories but I have been drawing comics since I was 4 years old, I have always had this passion and I have never stopped – he states smiling – even if I am a full-fledged geologist, having taken the state exam…however I followed the advice of my mother who was a painter and she recommended that I have a plan B since artists usually don’t do well with their art. Luckily for me , succeeds but many cartoonists also do other things: for example there are those who teach”.
As for the difficulties of the profession of cartoonist in Italy, Ortolani tends to dispel clichés. “In Italy it is easier than, for example, in America where the world of comics is managed by large companies like Marvel, DC Comics, etc. There they ask you for certain things and therefore, if you see it as a job you have already failed… I managed to impose my stories with humor, however, basically you do it because you have to like it.”
“With social networks like Instagram you can publish immediately and maybe if you have something to say it may be fine for you but – claims the Pisan cartoonist – it can be a double-edged sword because the publishing houses see how many follow you and maybe you have few followers it doesn’t mean that you can’t handle a publication. In Italy there are beautiful comics that few people read… at the moment I have 118 thousand, that’s a lot, then I publish with Feltrinelli and Panini Comics”. time but the artist attends many events in the sector, starting with Lucca Comics and Games which he considers to be “my home” and where he will present his works. The next event he will participate in will be “Best movies comics and games” in Milan. 8 and 9 June for which he also signed the poster.