'Treasure the small stuff': Award-winning illustrator (63) shares final words for Aussies
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The media industry is filled with strong-willed individuals who have their way with words.
However, some of its unsung heroes are the ones that bring light-hearted joy to every flip of the newspaper page.
Today, the newspaper industry bids its goodbye to one of its prolific illustrators.
One of The Sydney Morning Herald's resident cartoonists, John Shakespeare, has passed away.
He was 63 years old and died of cancer in his home.
Shakespeare's partner, Anna-Lisa Backlund, announced the news of his passing on social media.
'Ride free sweets!' Backlund wrote.
'He passed away tonight on the couch with Lukas and I.'
Along with the announcement was a poignant tribute to the artist who has donned newspapers for almost four decades.
'Take a leaf out of his book and laugh at the hard stuff and treasure the small stuff. To honour him, go out and do your favourite thing ASAP,' Backlund concluded.
John Shakespeare's career was shaped by his numerous experiences as an individual.
Despite no formal training, Shakespeare started out doing illustrations at Brisbane's Courier Mail.
Shortly after, he moved to Fairfax's Sydney Sun to continue his work.
Upon Sydney Sun's closure, he found his home at The Sydney Morning Herald.
He spent 39 years of his career at the Herald, publishing over 20,000 illustrations for the paper.
In an interview with Queensland Law Society's newsletter, Proctor, Shakespeare explained how his art process works.
'The process of creating a funny cartoon can be quite excruciating,' he shared as a disclaimer.
'I actually don't enjoy that part. Once I have the idea, I can relax a bit and draw it, which I enjoy.'
In recognition of his talent, he received the Walkley Award in 1995, the highest award-giving body in Australian journalism.
News of John Shakespeare's passing shook the media industry, particularly the newspaper scene.
Lovingly called 'Shakes' by his colleagues, tributes for the then-artist poured in.
'Shakespeare's shy smile and boundless kindness were woven into the fabric of the newsroom, and his loss will be felt deeply by generations of staff and readers,' The Sydney Morning Herald's Jordan Baker wrote.
Herald cartoonist Cathy Wilcox also shared her stories about Shakespeare and his works.
'They're not nasty,' Wilcox said of his cartoons.
'He might ridicule them a bit, but not from a place of judgmental superiority.'
Wilcox also described Shakespeare as unfailingly 'big-hearted and generous', both in life and art.
'The most loved figure at the SMH in the 40 years I've been there,' Peter FitzSimons, whose column, The Fitz Files, was illustrated by Shakespeare for 15 years, shared.
'Lovely man. Vale, Johnny.'
James Brickwood, a staff photographer at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review, said that the late cartoonist had 'such a beautiful, kind soul'.
He was seen as a 'warm, encouraging, and modest' individual who enjoyed the sight of fast motorbikes.
'I started at the paper over 20 years ago. It was a pretty intimidating place to enter. John was one of those who made the experience less so right from the beginning,' Brickwood wrote on a social media tribute.
'Over the following 20 years, I saw it time and time again as new young faces joined the paper. He was warm and welcoming.'
'It's a small gesture, but it mattered,' he wrote.
A memorial service for John Shakespeare will be scheduled after Sunday, 6 July, as soon as his friends get back from overseas trips.
Take a look back at John Shakespeare's works on his social media page here.
Rest in peace, John Shakespeare.
Thank you for reminding us all to laugh, to be kind, and to cherish the little things in life.
However, some of its unsung heroes are the ones that bring light-hearted joy to every flip of the newspaper page.
Today, the newspaper industry bids its goodbye to one of its prolific illustrators.
One of The Sydney Morning Herald's resident cartoonists, John Shakespeare, has passed away.
He was 63 years old and died of cancer in his home.
John Shakespeare was a major contributor in The Sydney Morning Herald. Image Credit: Instagram/John Shakespeare
Shakespeare's partner, Anna-Lisa Backlund, announced the news of his passing on social media.
'Ride free sweets!' Backlund wrote.
'He passed away tonight on the couch with Lukas and I.'
Along with the announcement was a poignant tribute to the artist who has donned newspapers for almost four decades.
'Take a leaf out of his book and laugh at the hard stuff and treasure the small stuff. To honour him, go out and do your favourite thing ASAP,' Backlund concluded.
John Shakespeare's career was shaped by his numerous experiences as an individual.
Despite no formal training, Shakespeare started out doing illustrations at Brisbane's Courier Mail.
Shortly after, he moved to Fairfax's Sydney Sun to continue his work.
Upon Sydney Sun's closure, he found his home at The Sydney Morning Herald.
He spent 39 years of his career at the Herald, publishing over 20,000 illustrations for the paper.
In an interview with Queensland Law Society's newsletter, Proctor, Shakespeare explained how his art process works.
'The process of creating a funny cartoon can be quite excruciating,' he shared as a disclaimer.
'I actually don't enjoy that part. Once I have the idea, I can relax a bit and draw it, which I enjoy.'
In recognition of his talent, he received the Walkley Award in 1995, the highest award-giving body in Australian journalism.
News of John Shakespeare's passing shook the media industry, particularly the newspaper scene.
Lovingly called 'Shakes' by his colleagues, tributes for the then-artist poured in.
'Shakespeare's shy smile and boundless kindness were woven into the fabric of the newsroom, and his loss will be felt deeply by generations of staff and readers,' The Sydney Morning Herald's Jordan Baker wrote.
Anna-Lisa Backlund shared a tribute artwork for the late illustrator. Image Credit: Instagram/Anna-Lisa Backlund
Herald cartoonist Cathy Wilcox also shared her stories about Shakespeare and his works.
'They're not nasty,' Wilcox said of his cartoons.
'He might ridicule them a bit, but not from a place of judgmental superiority.'
Wilcox also described Shakespeare as unfailingly 'big-hearted and generous', both in life and art.
'The most loved figure at the SMH in the 40 years I've been there,' Peter FitzSimons, whose column, The Fitz Files, was illustrated by Shakespeare for 15 years, shared.
'Lovely man. Vale, Johnny.'
James Brickwood, a staff photographer at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review, said that the late cartoonist had 'such a beautiful, kind soul'.
He was seen as a 'warm, encouraging, and modest' individual who enjoyed the sight of fast motorbikes.
'I started at the paper over 20 years ago. It was a pretty intimidating place to enter. John was one of those who made the experience less so right from the beginning,' Brickwood wrote on a social media tribute.
'Over the following 20 years, I saw it time and time again as new young faces joined the paper. He was warm and welcoming.'
'It's a small gesture, but it mattered,' he wrote.
A memorial service for John Shakespeare will be scheduled after Sunday, 6 July, as soon as his friends get back from overseas trips.
Take a look back at John Shakespeare's works on his social media page here.
Thank you for reminding us all to laugh, to be kind, and to cherish the little things in life.
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