Ernesto Saade
Ernesto Saade is an El Salvador-born architect turned cartoonist. After years spent in the world of construction work, he left to pursue his master’s degree in illustration and comics from the Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. Now, he works at a non-governmental organization that allows him to devote 100% of his time to drawing comics.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
I developed my reading habit after finishing high school; however, even as a child, I really enjoyed reading survival stories in Reader’s Digest Selections magazines.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.”—The Shawshank Redemption
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Stephen King, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, in Different Seasons
My top three comic book authors are Bill Watterson, Paco Roca, and Frederik Peeters.Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
When I was a child, I saw a boy who, freehand, copied a drawing of a train into his notebook. I was so amazed that from that moment, I decided I had to develop that skill. However, it wasn’t this that led me to become a comic book author; it was my storytelling ability. My greatest influence was my grandfather, who told his wild stories so vividly that I always wanted to imitate him.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Recognition is not a matter of luck; it is a matter of hard work, persistence, and resilience.
