Synopses & Reviews
Your real-world guide to creating and marketing original cartoonsDo you love comics? Want to become a cartoonist? This practical, hands-on guide is packed with step-by-step instructions and plenty of tips for creating your own cartoons. From inanimate objects to animals to aliens, you can see how to breathe life into your characters and make your cartoons stand out. Plus, you discover how to
- Master the basic building blocks — set up your workspace; start creating with pencil, ink, and pens; and fix mistakes
Get the creative juices flowing — find inspiration and formulate your cartoon idea, gag, or concept, and make it work
Create your characters — from their heads to their toes, give your characters personality and presence
Assemble your comic strip — create an effective background, plan your layout, letter your cartoons, create drama, and more
Fine-tune your work — discover the tools and techniques for digitally formatting your comics
Open the book and find:
- An overview of the different cartooning genres
Drawing techniques, such as shading and crosshatching
An exploration of body, gender, species, and character types
Tips for developing a cast of characters
The lowdown on drawing editorial cartoons
How to add color to your creations
Ten steps to a finished comic strip
Hints on breaking into the business
Synopsis
A unique reference for creating and marketing original cartoons and comicsAn original American art form, comics thrill millions of people across the globe. Combining step-by-step instruction with expert tips and advice, Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies is a one-stop reference for creating and marketing original cartoons and comics. While many books tend to focus on specific characters or themes, this thorough guide focuses instead on helping aspiring artists master the basic building blocks of cartoons and comics, revealing step by step how to create everything from wisecracking bunnies to souped-up super villains. It also explores lettering and coloring, and offers expert marketing advice. The book's color insert provides guidance on how to add color to cartoon creations.
Synopsis
A unique reference for creating and marketing original cartoons and comics
An original American art form, comics thrill millions of people across the globe. Combining step-by-step instruction with expert tips and advice, Drawing Cartoons & Comics For Dummies is a one-stop reference for creating and marketing original cartoons and comics. While many books tend to focus on specific characters or themes, this thorough guide focuses instead on helping aspiring artists master the basic building blocks of cartoons and comics, revealing step by step how to create everything from wisecracking bunnies to souped-up super villains. It also explores lettering and coloring, and offers expert marketing advice. The book's color insert provides guidance on how to add color to cartoon creations.
About the Author
Brian Fairrington is a nationally syndicated cartoonist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, and Time magazine, as well as on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. Fairrington has won many awards, including the Charles M. Schulz award for college cartooning and the John Locher Memorial Award, given annually by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC).
Table of Contents
Introduction.Part I: Drawing Inspiration: Getting Started with Cartoons and Comics.
Chapter 1: The Skinny on Cartoons and Comics.
Chapter 2: Looking at the Different Cartooning Genres.
Chapter 3: Getting Your Workspace Ready to Go.
Chapter 4: Starting with the Drawing Basics.
Chapter 5: Coming Up with Ideas.
Part II: Creating Cartoon Characters.
Chapter 6: Starting from the Top.
Chapter 7: From the Neck Down.
Chapter 8: Designing Human Cartoon Characters.
Chapter 9: Giving Inanimate Objects Personality.
Chapter 10: Exploring Anthropomorphism: Creating Animals and Other Creatures That Talk.
Chapter 11: Drafting Editorial Cartoon Characters.
Part III: Cartoon Designs 101: Assembling the Parts.
Chapter 12: Putting Everything in Your Comics in Perspective.
Chapter 13: The Art of Lettering.
Chapter 14: Directing the Scene.
Part IV: Cartooning 2.0: Taking Your Cartoons to the Next Level.
Chapter 15: Cartooning in the Digital Age.
Chapter 16: Making Cartooning Your Livelihood.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 17: Ten Steps to a Finished Comic Strip.
Chapter 18: Ten Secrets to Breaking in to a Cartooning Career.
Index.