Gil McCue’s blue eyes flash, his expressions animate with laughter, as he talks about the cartoons he’s developed and his classic collection of rare oldies such as Felix the Cat, Betty Boop and Popeye. If one must live their trade to be a success, McCue has reached its pinnacle. Teacher, cartoonist and fine artist all boldly portray his life.

“I was always an artist, even as a kid, drawing in school,” he said, grinning proudly.

Cartooning became serious business in the early 1950s when McCue was stationed in Florida. “I was assigned to the Recreation Department. Our purpose was to entertain the ship’s personnel as war ships were being put in moth balls. I was doing cartoons for the base paper “St. John’s Inlander” and when the regular went on leave, I took over his position.”

After his military service, McCue enrolled at Long Island University. On the subway he met other professional cartoonists and soon, with them, was making the rounds of New York magazines. “Every Wednesday we’d drop in on The Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Redbook with our pen and pencil ruffs. Afterwards, all the cartoonists would have lunch and talk about their own ideas.”

McCue eventually came to Southern California and graduated from UCSD in graphic design and a proud member of the National Cartooning Society. One of his first published cartoons was a strip called “Russ Bimbo,” a spoof on Rush Limbaugh that  remains a classic caricature. As a fine artist, he’s done independent architectural art, seaside landscape and commissions.

“I got enough credits for a California teaching certificate,” said McCue, who has taught at five colleges, including his alma mater, and for various local schools kid’s enrichment programs. He’s taught cartooning as a popular summer class at MiraCosta Community College and a regular evening class. This summer, he has three sessions at the college, including one for beginners and another for more advanced students. His enthusiasm boils over when his young students create their own comic heroes, part of the summer’s curriculum, and produce imitative and adventure-filled comic books. And he receives surprises, accolades and standing ovations from students and their parents.

An annual instructor for San Diego’s ComicCon, which takes place this year on  July 23, July 24 and July 25, McCue will teach “Fundamentals of Computer Animation.” He suggests if you plan to attend, sign-up soon. The class is always full.

McCue’s highly successful book, “Cartooning the Basic Skills” is available online from www.trafford.com, Amazon books and in his classes. The book is also available with his art work at street fairs, farmers markets, on holidays and some Saturdays in San Diego’s Old Town, and other active San Diego County outdoor fair venues.

McCue is not one to slow down because of graying hair or baby-sitting grandkids. With his creative talents he plans to teach more kids classes at MiraCosta College, and continue his popular after school classes — drawing with color and cartooning, in Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos this fall. As for “Buzzy the Bee in Honey Kingdom,” he looks forward to another successful comic series.