Richard Zunkel was born and raised in downstate Illinois. He attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and graduated with a BS degree in Machine Design Technology. During his years at Bradley he enrolled in as many art courses as the university would allow without changing his major. He continued his art studies at Wingate College, (now a university) in North Carolina, and the San Francisco Art Institute. He is a member of the Santa Clara Valley (California) Watercolor Society and exhibits his paintings at local shows and sales. He has taught watercolor painting in a workshop environment. His interest in cartooning goes back to childhood. He was an avid reader of "Mad" magazine and fan of artist Don Martin. He has always been a compulsive "doodler" but only took up drawing cartoons seriously in 2015. Richard and his wife Salinda make their home in Northern California's "Silicon Valley." They travel extensively and paint plein-air worldwide.