Dr. Paul Rockoff, an Easton resident and prominent oral surgeon, practiced in Fairfield County for many years. During his time as a medical student and as a surgeon, Dr. Rockoff’s love of painting and cartooning was something he always kept doing as a hobby. Now retired, he has even more time to create beautiful paintings and funny cartoons.
As a former patient of Dr Rockoff’s, I was delighted to see his cartoon series titled, “Under the Laughing Gas,” posted on the Easton 411 social media site. I decided to reach out and interview him for people to learn more about the person behind these creative and hilarious cartoons.
When did you start drawing and painting?
I actually started drawing in kindergarten like most kids do except I never stopped. It was then when it was realized that I was colorblind. Not being able to read yet, I grabbed crayons which I thought represented the colors I was looking for. I inadvertently made a blue sky purple and grass either brown or orange.
I constantly drew pictures during class when I shouldn’t have. In fourth or fifth grade I created a satirical little thing that I passed around patterned after “Mad Magazine.” I first did oil painting as a freshman at Andrew Warde High School and basically just tinkered around with it every now and then
How did you still find the time to pursue your art considering your busy profession?
I pretty much abandoned it through all my schooling and early in practice. In the nineties, my wife, Maria, who is a kindergarten teacher, wanted to take woodworking at an adult education program to make some things for school, and asked me if I was interested in taking a class. I took an oil painting class. Being colorblind, this was a challenge.Fortunately, the instructor had been a patient of mine and was understanding. Maria suggested that I do art in black and white, and I was hooked.
I hung my work in my office. One day a patient suggested I have a show and suggested a place. It was successful, and I sold several pieces. At the same time, I started cartooning without much success, but loved it. I also took an adult education cartooning course and sent my cartoons to every imaginable magazine but got nothing but rejections. I even developed a strip about doctors called “Hypocrates.” One of the syndicates that distribute cartoons to the papers liked it but claimed they didn’t have room for it at that time. I never bothered to resubmit it again.
A friend of ours worked for a publication for the Fairfield County Medical Association and did put some into a few of their journals. During Covid, I started emailing them to all my friends as many of us were quarantined. I actually went on Facebook and Instagram way before Covid to try and sell my paintings. Only lately have I been putting cartoons on those social media outlets.
What do you enjoy more, painting or drawing cartoons?
I enjoy both cartooning and painting equally.
Do you have any influences?
I was initially influenced by Norman Rockwell. I wanted to do his kind of nostalgic scenes but in black and white. Eventually, I added some splashes of color. I then became influenced by Leroy Neiman.
Do you have any art shows planned?
I participate in the Easton Arts Council shows twice a year at the library and I have sold some paintings there.
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