Welcome to my website! Here you will find a selection of my cartoons, comic strips, illustrations, paintings, and in general, far too much stuff.
I was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. and I have been drawing, painting, and cartooning as long as I can remember. A child of the 60’s, I grew up in the “silver age” of cartoons, comics, and comic strips, a glorious time when comic books were suspected of corrupting young minds. This was also an era where many magazines featured single-panel “gag” cartoons, which I loved, and I learned the craft by reading all the cartoons and comic strips I could find, and then creating my my own.
Drawing and humour helped me survive elementary school. My notebooks contained more drawings of Snoopy and Batman than actual notes. I was not athletic or cool in any way, but I was funny, which I discovered was an excellent survival skill against bullies and teachers (who were sometimes the same person). Off-the-cuff humour was also a way to attract the attention of girls who wouldn’t normally give you the time of day.
Once I reached high school, it was the era of underground comics, and I discovered you could gain at least a semblance of coolness by drawing subversive cartoons on the blackboard while the teacher was out of the room. I also became a master forger, trading favours for late slips with teacher’s signatures. Fortunately, I stopped short of forging bad cheques.
I went on to have a full and rich career as a musician and composer, but I also studied art at Langara College and the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. While I am still active in the world of music, I am also getting back to the drawing board - literally!
A big thank you to all my drawing, painting, and comics instructors: Julian Lawrence, Rebecca Donald, Judith Atkinson, Scott Plear, Alastair Ross (High School), and Miss Mould (Elementary school).
I hope you like my stuff!
PS: I’ve had some good press lately!
Here’s an article about me in the Times-Colonist:
https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/pandemic-pivot-for-some-covid-19-triggers-positive-life-changes-1.24357300
And a TV spot on CHEK-TV:
https://www.cheknews.ca/chek-upside-choir-composer-turns-cartoonist-in-pandemic-pivot-885964/
Testimonials
“Brian Tate's cartoons are brilliant - saves me having to buy a subscription to the New Yorker!”
“Funny, whimsical, thought-provoking, and culturally inclusive, Brian somehow manages to incorporate all these elements into his visually fun and wisely observational cartoons.”
“I love Brian’s cartoons! Very funny, on topic, with a sharp wit, and sometimes moving. They always leave me wanting more.”
“Fantastic moments of levity!”
“Brian masters the “laughter through tears” genre of cartooning. We chuckle while ruefully recognizing ourselves and our situations in his wonderful images and commentary!”
“Thank you for the sublime hilarity!”
“Brian Tate's wittiness not only provides comical relief during difficult times, but also provides invaluable insight in that we are all connected.”
“His work is not only humorous and entertaining, but often cerebral - gets you thinking!”
“Delightful and profound, bursting with creative talent!”
“Brian has an uncanny knack of hitting the mark on so many cultural topics, including his own upbringing. Sometimes funny, sometimes shocking, and always spot on!”
“Insightful, funny and always delightful. I will be first in line to buy the Collected Works.”
“Bloody brilliant!”
“Once again, you've knocked it out of the park.”