Cartoonist Continues Eight-Decade Career

By WRILEY NELSON
ROME

Iron String Press readers may have noticed cartoons from a local artist in recent issues. Bernie Hurlbut, 93, is a lifelong illustrator and cartoonist from Rome. “Bernie’s People,” his single-panel comic featuring bold linework and sardonic observations of everyday life, has appeared in many regional publications.

Hurlbut started drawing at age 6 and was quickly noticed by an art teacher, who encouraged him. At 10, he painted a World War II memorial mural.

“You could tell what I cared about in high school,” he recalled. “I never really got into sports. I’d sit around in study hall, when I was supposed to be doing schoolwork, and draw little ‘tattoos’ on people’s arms with a ballpoint pen for them. That made me pretty popular.”

“I did one-panel cartoons then, too, for the school paper,” he continued.

After attending Albright Art School in Buffalo, Hurlbut spent two years in the Army as a sign painter and graphic artist. In 1957, he founded Rome Sign Company. His signs, billboards, and placards became iconic pieces of the Rome landscape, and many are preserved at the Rome Historical Society. He has illustrated six of his own books, and even did the lettering on NASCAR champion Richie Evans’ car.

Hurlbut carries a drawing pad with him at all times and often hands out sketches to children and passersby. He draws from life and can turn out a caricature in just a few minutes. He has maintained an impressive output and said he has a backlog of more than 1,100 cartoons in his home.

“I just keep my eyes open and try to listen,” he said. “I get ideas just from overhearing people and daily life all the time. I’ll do a quick pencil sketch on the spot and work it up in Sharpie pen when I get home.”

Hurlbut credits his longevity in part to his continuing passion and says that getting his work before the public is an important part of his disciplined lifestyle.

“My eyesight’s not as good as it once was, but I can still do this,” he said.

Hurlbut was inducted into the Rome Arts Hall of Fame in 2019. A dedicated member of the community, he has served the Lions Club, the Optimist Club and the Rome Historical Society. He was also a member of barbershop quartet groups for over 40 years.

As part of his continuing dedication to the craft, Hurlbut draws at charity events and teaches seminars around Central New York. He often draws animals and cartoons for the Rome Humane Society’s Christmas adoption events. He hosts drawing seminars at libraries and has expressed interest in holding one of his events in Otsego County.

“My events are mostly for children, but a lot of adults enjoy them, too,” he said. “I put up a list of animals, and the kids pick one for me to draw. I can get it done in a couple minutes. Then we all draw together, and it’s really incredible what some of these young children can do. The talent is just immense. I keep a lot of their work. The events tend to go pretty long because I don’t leave until everyone is happy.”