Specifically, his art is cartooning. "I've always had an interest in it," he said. "My mother encouraged me, along with the art, to take courses in teaching. It really did allow me to earn a living and to do what I love to do."
He has two new projects coming out now. The first is "12 Step Program to Health & Nutrition: A 16-month calendar for 2010." Ferry illustrated the calendar by dietician Carol Blanchard to provide an amusing and memorable approach to weight loss.
Then there's "Loose Threads: Observations of Life From The Slow Lane," Ferry's own collection in color of observational cartoons "dedicated to the Rule Followers in this world coping with the unfair things that life throws at them, observing life from the slow lane, not the passing lane on the highway of life."
The longtime Newington resident grew up in Ridgefield, where all through grade school and high school he did humorous illustrations for school newspapers and other publications. That continued through his undergraduate years at Westminster College and while getting a master's degree in art education at Central Connecticut State University.
He first taught in Deep River for just three months before being drafted to go to Vietnam. He was fortunate, however, that he went there as an illustrator for the Air Force, producing charts, graphs and posters for presentations.
Then a two-year stint in advertising in Hartford added to his cartoonists' portfolio, before he settled into teaching. He earned a 6th Year Certificate in Communication Design from Pratt Institute.
Ferry said he tried combining teaching and professional illustration for a while, but it wasn't till he retired in 2006 that he was able to really devote himself to his passion full-time. He now creates work for publication under the trademark "Ferryland," which includes the "Loose Threads" and the weight loss calendar.
He plans to promote both publications at the New England Independent Booksellers' Association Convention in Hartford this weekend. "It's not open to the public, but it's a great opportunity to meet independent booksellers," he noted.
The artist said he doesn't have any particular identifiable characters, he develops characters that suit whatever project he's working on, and that emphasize the foibles of "The Everyman" in his own unique style.
To see samples of Ferry's portfolio, and for ordering information on his published works, visit ferryland.net.