Patrick Cheng, the creative mind behind Cat Trigger brings his sharp sense of humor and unexpected twists to every comic he creates. With a career spanning almost 20 years as an artist animator and motion designer in the tech and advertising world, Patrick has spent a great deal of his time experimenting with comics on the side. His passion for creating allows him to combine his professional expertise with a personal creative outlet.
For Patrick, each comic is a mini-project, providing an opportunity to brainstorm, write, draw, and refine. This process is something that uniquely blends both his personal and professional work. His comics are typically short concise and filled with clever humor, often culminating in surprising or absurd endings. In our latest interview with Patrick, we dive into his creative process and what makes his comics stand out. Patrick shares insights into how his background in animation and design influences his storytelling as well as the way he approaches the art of crafting short punchy comics that leave a lasting impression. Discover more about Patrick’s unique blend of humor animation and absurdity in the comics that have made Cat Trigger a must-see for fans of witty storytelling.
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When we spoke with Patrick Cheng, the artist behind the CatTrigger comics we were curious about the overarching theme or essence of his work. Patrick gave us an honest and refreshing answer: I don’t have a single theme or essence in mind. I try to avoid one. Unlike many other artists who stick to a specific topic set of characters or style Patrick uses his comics as a way to constantly experiment. His approach is a creative free-for-all, where anything can happen. The comics range all over the place he explains. From social commentary, pop culture, personal relationships, and fantasy logic there’s no limit to what I’ll explore.
This experimental mindset is what gives each comic a unique feel, which can feature talking bunnies in one strip and realistic human characters in the next. The unpredictability is part of what keeps Patrick engaged. I get bored easily, he admits. I’m afraid I’ll get tired of drawing the same characters topics or style so I switch things up to keep myself creatively stimulated. Some of Patrick’s comics dive into serious topics, such as healthcare insurance while others playfully riff on internet meme culture. It’s this blend of the serious and the silly that makes CatTrigger so dynamic and, at times, unexpectedly thought-provoking. Ultimately, Patrick’s goal is to use his comics as a springboard for artistic experimentation keeping both himself and his audience on their toes.
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Patrick Cheng, the creator of “CatTrigger” comics is no stranger to the creative process’s ups and downs. Like many artists, he’s had to let go of ideas that simply didn’t work out. When asked about scrapping ideas Patrick shared that it’s a common part of his process. Plenty of times he admits. Sometimes, it’s because of real-world events that shift the tone of a comic. He gave an example of a particular moment when a comic idea was abruptly abandoned. I had sketched out a James Bond parody where the bad guys kidnap the Queen of England. It was all set up and ready to go, but then the Queen passed away a day later. Suddenly, it didn’t feel appropriate anymore. The comic just wouldn’t have the same comedic impact with King Charles in the mix no offense to Charles but his brand was just too new at the time. This anecdote highlights how real-world events can influence the way ideas are executed in the world of comics. It also speaks to Patrick’s sensitivity to the broader context in which his work exists, always aiming to ensure that his humor stays relevant and doesn’t miss the mark.
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Patrick Cheng, the artist behind CatTrigger comics credits a variety of influences for shaping his unique art and storytelling style. When reflecting on what first inspired him he mentioned As a kid, I was a huge fan of Rodney Greenblatt an artist famous for his work on Parappa the Rapper. It wasn’t so much about the style, but more about how he interpreted things. That approach made me think differently about art and helped broaden my perspective. This influence can be seen in Patrick’s work, which is full of playful often quirky takes on various subjects from pop culture to social commentary. His ability to move between styles and topics reflects his flexible approach to creativity.
On a more personal note, Patrick also shared what makes his work especially rewarding for reader engagement. I love it when people create fan works based on the art he revealed. It happens more frequently with the video games I work on but now and then, I’ll see fanart or edits related to my comics and it melts my heart. These moments of connection with his audience remind Patrick why he creates his work not only sparks creativity in himself but inspires others to express themselves as well.
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