So You Want To Be a Cartoonist?

How much would a career in professional cartooning pay?

I’ve decided that after I graduate, I’m gonna try and become a professional cartoonist, for comics and the occasional MTV 2 or Adult Swim show. How much would a career in professional cartooning pay? By the way, if you’re interested in why I chose MTV2 or Adult Swim, I mean because they can take curse words and aren’t afraid to suck it up, UNLIKE THE IDIOTS ON NICKELODEON AND THE RETARDED MONKEYS WHO RUN CARTOON NETWORK (kids Cartoon Network), OR EVEN THE BRAINWASHED DRUG ADDICTS WHO WORK DISNEY CHANNEL. And God help me, if I have to write for Toon Disney. I would kill myself if I had to. I just want a career for NON-CHILDISH cartoons. Nor completely dirty adult ones. Something like the Simpsons or Family Guy or American Dad.

First, decide if what you really want to be is a cartoonist or just an illustrator. Cartoonists write and draw their own humor. Illustrators merely draw other people’s ideas and writings. If you really want to see ,if you’ve got what it takes, try submitting single panel color cartoons (with or without captions) to Hustler magazine, or some of the greeting card companies such as Nobleworks, Inc. who use edgy or “risque” humor. You’ll make a few bucks, it will give you a lesson in how to create an idea, how to present it, how to write humor, and how to find your way around a joke.

Cartooning is not an easy business, but it can be quite profitable, if you have the right stuff and can be self-disciplined and self-motivating. Generally those who simply illustrate or draw other people’s humor don’t make as much as cartoonists who can write and draw their own humor. I’ve been at it, full time for 30 years, and don’t regret a minute of it. Cartooning, for the right person, is the best job in the world.

Other Thoughts

Cartooning is generally a solitary occupation. Whilst you may well be a very social gregarious person. And that is a good quality for a cartoonist as you will draw inspiration from many everyday things you see and do. It is a fact that you need to draw your cartoons by yourself where you are not distracted by people and the world.

It’s an old adage, but we all know the one “You can please all of the people some of the time…..” etc. and you certainly won’t please everyone with your efforts, so don’t try. Draw your cartoons to please yourself, and if you’ve got it right, you will please (read entertain) most others. You will find that you are spending a lot, if not most, of your time in your studio, work area, wherever you do your stuff. Hunched over your drawing board, working and re-working your cartoons. Probably with an editor impatiently firing deadlines at you.

So, you are in effect in self-imposed solitary confinement. In which case don’t be afraid to make your cell as comfortable as possible. It’s nice to have a window with a nice view. OK, that doesn’t work for everyone, if you are easily distracted, but then maybe you just aren’t committed enough, if your mind wanders that easily. Have a coffee machine so you don’t need to leave the room. Music works for me, and depending on my mood, or what I’m trying to work on, can help enormously. Really whatever works for you, but there’s nothing wrong with being comfortable.

As a final word, remember that cartoonists draw what they know, and if you are in tune with what’s going on around you, and take notes as you go about your day (best advice I was ever given, you have an idea write it down then, guarantee you’ll forget it otherwise before you get home) you’ll be a great cartoonist. And don’t worry if you are of, shall we say, mature years, wishing to take up this great career. It’s a fact that most well known cartoonists had a few years under their belt when they began. There’s no substitute for experience, I don’t know of many 20 year old newspaper/magazine cartoonists.

Whatever you do, practice as much as you can, and remember the words of Winston Churchill when he was asked the secret of success. He stood up, went to the podium, said “Never, never, never, never, never, never, never, give up”. And sat down. By the sway, one of my favorite authors, Carl Barks worked for Disney…

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T-Shirts As a Venue For Art Plus Robert Crumb T-Shirts

Author: Aristotle Finklestien

I’ve always liked art, not so much the Monets and Van Goghs, but the funky, weird and cartoony sort of art. It’s not surpirsing then that I am a big fan of Robert Crumb. If you don’t know who Robert Crumb is, you probably know his drawings – if you are over forty.

Robert Crumb is famous for “Keep on trucking” and the drawing that went along with that famous saying. You know, the weird little guy with the big shoe, the really big shoe, stepping in a long stride! He’s also known for the first mainstream animated x-rated movie “Fritz the Cat.”

I’m also a fan of Dali… So I think you’re starting to get the picture, art that is on the odd and quirky side, instead of landscapes and flower arrangements. So, it seems fitting that my drawings would follow what I like, weird and quirky.

For a brief couple of years I tried my hand at freelancing, which is not easy, by any stretch of the imagination. When I found out how hard it truly was, I went back to carpentry. That is until I was struck with congestive heart failure, which left me looking for an alternative means of income.

Now, with so much time on my hands, the idea of returning to the drawing board had a certain beckoning, that and the urging from friends and family to return to “humorous illustration” was enough to convince me to break out the art supplies. Which is more my laptop, than actual supplies.

I still freehand, but that’s usually only line drawings and by the time I’m done with Gimp or Illustrator, it’s barely recognizable…

I recently opened a POD (Print on demand) tee shirt shop with Cafepress. It’s a place where I can put all my art and designs and sayings on tee shirts. Yes, tee shirts.

So, does this take away from my “artist” title, The fact that I’m not in a museum or on the cover of the latest trendy magazine? Well, seeing how that was not going to happen any time soon and the fact that I get no rejection at all, except from myself, it is great! That’s right, you can be a horrible artist and still put your designs on tee shirts and trust me, I’ve seen horrible! Yet, people do it anyway.

In the same way horrible singers go on American Idol, horrible artists can reach the market place…

Don’t get me wrong, I have been published several times and even made a little money. I do mean little. It’s a very competitive market. Yup, I had two cartoons and an illustration published. I received two hundred dollars a cartoon from Bostonia Magazine and I sold them two cartoons. I also did an illustration for Midwest today, but never did get paid.

So, now my art can be seen by the millions of cool tee shirt seekers and I’m not the least bit ashamed and actually, I’m quite proud of my art. Like I said, my style is more “cartoony” than “classic rendering” so my art really does fit into the tee shirt market quite nicely.

And even though it has only paid 10 dollars, as of now, it’s the most fun and rewarding thing I’ve done in years. I get seen, I will get paid and I have total expressive freedom. I’ll also say this, I am proud of what I’ve produced so far. I’m glad to be drawing again and despite sales (I just started a month ago)…

I’m just beside myself with glee, or a more manly word, that isn’t coming to mind right now!

You can see my cool, funny, vintage and tribal tees at: Wu’s cool and funny tees

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/is-the-tee-shirt-a-respected-venue-for-art-5043441.html —- About the Author:   http://www.cafepress.com/paulferland

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