Born in the
Oklahoma Territory when it was not yet a state, Clark went to grammar school in
Bridgeport, Oklahoma and spent a few years in
Bentonville, Arkansas before attending high school in
Oklahoma City, followed by study at the
Chicago Art Institute. He began his professional cartoon career with work in
The Daily Oklahoman and the
Oklahoma News, moving on to the
Cleveland Press. Competing against 72 artists, he won the $500 first prize for Community Fund drive with a poster selected for use in 42 American cities. Soon he was doing animation drawings for
The Gumps and illustrating for ''
Collier's, Judge
, McCall's
and Country Gentleman''. He joined the art staff at
Newspaper Enterprise Association, where he drew human interest sketches. His
Side Glances cartoon became popular when it was syndicated by NEA Service in 1929. During its early years, NEA promoted the panel by highlighting its human interest appeal: "It has been said before of George Clark that 'he combines splendid art ability with the characteristics of a trained reporter.' It is hard to improve on that appraisal. Certainly these intimate little views of humanity he calls
Side Glances are a happy blend of keen observation and understanding and of genuine art. They have humor and pathos; often a tear lurks just behind the smile—which, after all, is the way of life." ==Awards and exhibitions==