Larry Pickering
Encyclopedia
Larry Pickering is an Australian political cartoonist, caricaturist and illustrator of books and calendars.
He started his cartooning career at The Canberra Times
newspaper in the late 1960s, originally working as a proof reader. During this time he decided to become the capital city newspaper's first editorial cartoonist, practising his craft at home each night for a year, until he felt confident the cartoons were good enough to be seen publicly. At this point he knew the editor would need to see the cartoons in order for them to published. Always a lateral thinker, Pickering posted the cartoons in the men's room urinal each day where he knew he would have the editor's undivided attention for at least a minute or two a day. The cartoons became quite a phenomenon in the office, where staff, including women, regularly visited the men's room to be entertained, humoured or outraged.
Blessed with an assortment of colourful Australian political characters—John Gorton
, Billy McMahon
, Gough Whitlam
, Bob Hawke
, Jim Cairns
and Rex Connor
—Pickering was in the right place at the right time in the nation's political heartland. Pickering's cartoons became a "must read" in the nation's capital. His work also appeared weekly in the National Times.
Due to his large following he was invited by the Liberal Party of Australia
to stand as its Federal election candidate for the seat of Fraser
in the 1974 federal election
. He narrowly lost, but discovered a nasty world of political dirty tricks, with the brake lines cut on his car, he was spat at, and kicked on the streets.
In 1975 he left Canberra for Sydney
and The Sydney Morning Herald
, in time for the downfall of the Gough Whitlam
Labor
government, which he beautifully portrayed in his Outhouse series.
In 1976 he was made an offer by Australian newspaper owner Rupert Murdoch
to join The Australian
. During this period, Pickering drew his hugely popular Jungle Series and found his entrepreneurial wings, publishing a number of books and his notorious and popular calendars of Australian politicians and celebrities nude, with their genitals depicting the subjects' personality or character.
He retired at the height of his fame in late 1980 to grow tomatoes and later to train race horses, one of his life-long passions.
He also owned a publishing group, including a racing magazine, which he later sold to Kerry Packer
. However, his disillusionment with the racing game and his non-conformist approach with the racing establishment saw him wind down his involvement in the industry and move to Gold Coast, Queensland
. He is semi-retired, playing golf, and occasionally flying helicopters.
Occasionally dabbling in art and cartoons on a rare whim, in June 2008 a limited edition collection of wine was launched featuring Pickering's caricatures on the labels. The cases of 6 bottles were limited to a production of just 150, each numbered. The wine was launched by the speaker of the Queensland Parliament in Brisbane in the Lucinda Bar. The caricatures and the originals, donated by Pickering, are on display in the bar.
On 28 August 2011, The Sydney Sun Herald announced, 'Things must be absurd: Pickering's back', with an article reporting Pickering had started cartooning again, inspired by 'the lunacy of Australian poltics'. "I've got itchy fingers," he said. "I thought nothing could be more absurd than Canberra in the '70s, then I wake up and here it is. It's such fertile material, it's hard to stay away from it."
Pickering is credited with breaking the mould for a generation of modern cartoonists with his influence seen in varying degrees in the approaches of most major Australian cartoonists who followed him, including Geoff Pryor
(who followed Pickering at the Canberra Times), Bill Mitchell
(replaced Pickering at The Australian newspaper), Bill Leak
(currently cartoonist at The Australian), Alan Moir
, Mark Knight
, Paul Zanetti
, Peter Nicholson, Sean Leahy
, among others.
He started his cartooning career at The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by Arthur Shakespeare.It was the second paper to be printed in the city, the first being The Federal Capital Pioneer. The paper was sold to the Fairfax group in the 1960s by Arthur Shakespeare on the condition that it continue...
newspaper in the late 1960s, originally working as a proof reader. During this time he decided to become the capital city newspaper's first editorial cartoonist, practising his craft at home each night for a year, until he felt confident the cartoons were good enough to be seen publicly. At this point he knew the editor would need to see the cartoons in order for them to published. Always a lateral thinker, Pickering posted the cartoons in the men's room urinal each day where he knew he would have the editor's undivided attention for at least a minute or two a day. The cartoons became quite a phenomenon in the office, where staff, including women, regularly visited the men's room to be entertained, humoured or outraged.
Blessed with an assortment of colourful Australian political characters—John Gorton
John Gorton
Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH , Australian politician, was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia.-Early life:...
, Billy McMahon
William McMahon
Sir William "Billy" McMahon, GCMG, CH , was an Australian Liberal politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Australia...
, Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
, Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
, Jim Cairns
Jim Cairns
James Ford "J. F." Cairns , Australian politician, was prominent in the Labor movement through the 1960s and 1970s, and was briefly Deputy Prime Minister in the Whitlam government...
and Rex Connor
Rex Connor
Reginald Francis Xavier "Rex" Connor , Australian politician, was a minister in the Whitlam government and promoted government investment to support national development...
—Pickering was in the right place at the right time in the nation's political heartland. Pickering's cartoons became a "must read" in the nation's capital. His work also appeared weekly in the National Times.
Due to his large following he was invited by the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
to stand as its Federal election candidate for the seat of Fraser
Division of Fraser
The Division of Fraser is an Australian Electoral Division in the Australian Capital Territory. It also covers the Jervis Bay Territory.The division was created in 1974 and is named for James Fraser, who was member for Australian Capital Territory 1951-70...
in the 1974 federal election
Australian federal election, 1974
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution...
. He narrowly lost, but discovered a nasty world of political dirty tricks, with the brake lines cut on his car, he was spat at, and kicked on the streets.
In 1975 he left Canberra for Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
, in time for the downfall of the Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government, which he beautifully portrayed in his Outhouse series.
In 1976 he was made an offer by Australian newspaper owner Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
to join The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
. During this period, Pickering drew his hugely popular Jungle Series and found his entrepreneurial wings, publishing a number of books and his notorious and popular calendars of Australian politicians and celebrities nude, with their genitals depicting the subjects' personality or character.
He retired at the height of his fame in late 1980 to grow tomatoes and later to train race horses, one of his life-long passions.
He also owned a publishing group, including a racing magazine, which he later sold to Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
. However, his disillusionment with the racing game and his non-conformist approach with the racing establishment saw him wind down his involvement in the industry and move to Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
. He is semi-retired, playing golf, and occasionally flying helicopters.
Occasionally dabbling in art and cartoons on a rare whim, in June 2008 a limited edition collection of wine was launched featuring Pickering's caricatures on the labels. The cases of 6 bottles were limited to a production of just 150, each numbered. The wine was launched by the speaker of the Queensland Parliament in Brisbane in the Lucinda Bar. The caricatures and the originals, donated by Pickering, are on display in the bar.
On 28 August 2011, The Sydney Sun Herald announced, 'Things must be absurd: Pickering's back', with an article reporting Pickering had started cartooning again, inspired by 'the lunacy of Australian poltics'. "I've got itchy fingers," he said. "I thought nothing could be more absurd than Canberra in the '70s, then I wake up and here it is. It's such fertile material, it's hard to stay away from it."
Pickering is credited with breaking the mould for a generation of modern cartoonists with his influence seen in varying degrees in the approaches of most major Australian cartoonists who followed him, including Geoff Pryor
Geoff Pryor
Geoffrey Pryor is an Australian political cartoonist who has spent many years in Canberra. Said to have been influenced by fellow cartoonist Larry Pickering, Pryor currently appears most days in The Canberra Times...
(who followed Pickering at the Canberra Times), Bill Mitchell
Bill Mitchell
William L. "Bill" Mitchell was an American automobile designer. Mitchell worked briefly as an advertising illustrator and as the official illustrator of the Automobile Racing Club of America before being recruited by Harley Earl to join the Art and Colour Section of General Motors in 1935...
(replaced Pickering at The Australian newspaper), Bill Leak
Bill Leak
Bill Leak is a cartoonist and painter, primarily of portraits. He is the daily editorial cartoonist on The Australian newspaper. He has won the Walkley Awards nine times....
(currently cartoonist at The Australian), Alan Moir
Alan Moir
Alan Moir is an Australian caricaturist and cartoonist who was born in New Zealand. He has been the Editorial Cartoonist for the Sydney Morning Herald since 1984, and previously The Bulletin and Brisbane's Courier-Mail...
, Mark Knight
Mark Knight
Mark Knight, also known as madfiddler, "TDK" is a well-known Amiga demoscene musician, video game composer/sound designer and electric violinist....
, Paul Zanetti
Paul Zanetti
Paul Zanetti is a political cartoonist based in Australia.He was the youngest paid political cartoonist on a major metropolitan newspaper in Australia...
, Peter Nicholson, Sean Leahy
Sean Leahy
Sean Leahy is an Australian cartoonist working for the Courier Mail in Brisbane, Australia. He draws political cartoons for the paper, and also his own comic strip, Beyond the Black Stump, which is distributed in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.-Background:In 1974, Sean Leahy...
, among others.
Reference sources
- Pickering website
- The best of Pickering: a collection of some of the best cartoons of Larry Pickering, Australia's most popular and successful political cartoonist / Larry Pickering (1973, ISBN 0-9598675-0-3)
- Cartoons published in the Canberra Times 1971-1973 / Pickering
- Collection of photographic prints of cartoons by Larry Pickering, published in the Canberra Times 1971-1973 / Pickering
- A decade of Pickering (1980, ISBN 0-949878-00-6, ISBN 0-949878-01-4 (leatherbound deluxe edition) and ISBN 0-9596618-9-1 (deluxe edition))
- It's Pickering's best (1976, ISBN 0-9596618-0-8)
External links
- Engaging insight into the nation's past: Pickering and Pryor / Old Parliament House