Artist Name: Keith Knight, Gentleman Cartoonist
Site: www.keithknightart.com  
Instagram: @iamkeithknight

Medium(s): ink and paper

What’s your most recent favorite project?
Woke–My TV show streaming on Hulu

Tell us about your involvement with Woke.
I co-created it with Marshall Todd (co-writer of the original Barbershop film). Co-wrote the pilot.  Executive produce.  In the writers room.  Did most of the art.  Helped choose costumes, music, locations..Did a little bit of everything.

Did you get to hang out with JB Smoove?
Ha!  Unfortunately, no.   He recorded from home early in the pandemic.  Hopefully I can get to meet him when we’re promoting season 2.

How has COVID affected WOKE, and work ect?
We finished season 1 by the end of February 2020,  a week and a half before everything shut down.  It was like Indiana Jones grabbing his fedora as the stone wall came down.  We have a quick mention of corona on the bus in episode 7, but we’re gonna skip forward a year with season 2.  No one wants to see a show with everyone masked and inside.

Woke cast & crew, ‘last supper’.

How long have you been doing the K Chronicles and where can people see it?
I’ve been drawing the K Chronicles in its current format for almost 28 years.  You can follow it online via www.patreon.com/keefknight.

Where’s the most creative spot in the Bay Area?
It’s been a minute since I’ve been in the Bay.  But just walking across town inspires me.  As much as San Francisco has changed, it still has that magic.

I’m a sophisticated graduate with a BFA or FUCK art school!
Ha!  As much as I respect and commend all the schools offering cartooning classes and masters programs and all, nothing beats sitting in a cafe, and drawing.  Instead of dropping $40,000 to go to art school, drop $10,000 on a year traveling/backpacking overseas.   Draw in cafes.  Take the train.  Eat good food.  Meet better people. (when the pandemic is over)

Any Bay Area artists you think are particularly outstanding right now?
I’m happy to amplify the folks who were holding it down when I was there, and are still doing amazing stuff:   Faviana Rodriguez, Squeak Carnwath, Sirron Norris, Bamuthi, Paul Madonna.

Oakland based artist Faviana Rodriguez is rad. @favianna1

Favorite illustrator/cartoonist right now?
Laura Lannes, Gabrielle Bell, my 12 year old.

How do you think the Bay Area art scene has changed over the years?
It ebbs and flows.  Folks get priced out of the City, but art finds a way.

What’s coming up for you?
The writer’s room is up-and-running for season 2 of Woke.  We hope to be shooting by June.

Photograph of Keith Knight. by Cornell Watson

You can stream the whole first season of woke on Hulu here.
Check out all of Keith’s work and cartoons here.