MAD Magazine visits La Salle

By Lucian Tucker
Collegian Editor
October 11, 2006

Do you like drawings and caroons and always dreamed of working for a magazine at the same time? La Salle was able to get a hold of someone who had that same dream and succeeded.

Sam Viviano, the art director of the satirical Mad magazine, visited La Salle and lectured in the Dan Rodden Theater. He also spoke to two digital arts classes. In one class, Professor Camomile’s freshmen digital art class, he discussed the history of MAD and how he came to be the art director.

In Camomile’s class, he walked around the room commenting on every student’s work before he drew a live caricature using a Wacom tablet while explaining some of his sketch techniques.

“I got my first tablet around 1992,” Viviano said. “Trying to draw with a mouse is like trying to draw with a bar of soap. There’s no real control of it, no finesse.”

Viviano admitted he had no lesson plan, but he appeared to be very comfortable as he made his way around the classroom. Perhaps that is because he is used to a school setting. He taught caricature drawing at the School of Visual Arts in New York several years ago.

Teaching at the School of Visual Arts “fell into his lap.” Viviano was invited by a friend of his to visit a class or two and give illustration demonstrations.

Shortly after, one of the teachers at the school had to drop out, and the students suggested that Viviano fill the vacant spot.

La Salle’s Brother Gabriel Fagan, an English professor, once taught Viviano. It was Fagan who was given the honor of introducing Viviano at the Dan Rodden Theater where Viviano, with the help of a PowerPoint slide, gave an amusing lecture full of interesting tidbits about both MAD and himself.

His talk included how MAD came to be, the history behind the goofy character that is featured on every cover and his rise from freelance illustrator to art director.

During his speech, when he was explaining what he does at MAD, he showed a photo of himself appearing extremely unburdened in a rather chaotic room,leaning back in his chair sleeping.

“I like to tell people I nap a lot,” he said. “But, that’s not exactly true. My basic job is to make sure that the magazine gets out to the printer on time, and looking good.”

Essentially, he is responsible for “everything that has to do with the magazine once the editors hammer down the final written form of an article.”

“I do very little actual drawing,” he said.

He does sometimes however, do rough sketches for artist to refer to.

When he does do an illustration, Viviano reads the article the illustration will accompany, views where his illustration will be placed and researches if he is doing a caricature.

This he does before drawing thumbnail sketches that later become rough sketches, which will be sent for approval before he starts to do final designs.

Viviano didn’t leave, though, without giving advice for digital art majors. Viviano urges students to take risks since students will have less opportunity for it as time goes on.

“Take advantage of the fact that you have the freedom and the luxury to explore your own capabilities, both technical and aesthetic,” he said.

He closed with words of wisdom for all students.

“The worst thing you can do is not to fail. The worst thing you can do is to fail to try,” he said.

tuckerl1@lasalle.edu