Syosset Library site to see work by children’s illustrator
Richard Torrey is the author/illustrator of fifteen books and the illustrator of dozens more. For the better part of two decades, he has also been the creator of a top-selling line of greeting cards for Recycled Paper Greetings.
Torrey began doodling as soon as he could hold a crayon. In third grade, he showed a picture of a horse he had drawn to the legendary comic strip creator, Charles Schulz. Schulz drew Snoopy on the back of the picture, inspiring the aspiring cartoonist to follow a similar career path.
After graduating from Allegheny College, Torrey created the first of two successful syndicated comic strips; Hartland (King Features), followed with a sports strip, PETE and CLETE (Creators Syndicate), both of which appeared in hundreds of newspapers around the world.
During that time, Richard was also an editorial cartoonist for sports daily The National, as well as a regular contributor to Inside Sports Magazine, Inside Hockey, Fanzine Media (a European hockey magazine published in Sweden, Finland and Norway), Kid City Magazine (a Sesame Street publication), Highlights for Children magazine, The Hockey News and Football Digest.
Torrey also spent time working with Disney on the development of an animated children’s series for their preschool division, Playhouse Disney.
He is on the faculty of The Art League of Long Island, where for the past 27 years he has taught classes in cartooning and anime/manga. Torrey’s illustrations will be on display at the Syosset Public Library’s art gallery from Feb. 5 through Feb. 25. This exhibit is open to the public.