How to draw Cartoons.

[grantw]

I have just finished this course and it was great, plenty of detail and tutor support. I believe they are updating the course at the moment as it was a little dated but conversely that was what made its' study such a good grounding in traditional techniques.

Cartooning from the London Art College [distance learning]

[Simon Lake]

That looks very interesting Grant. Thanks for sharing it with us. I have a book by John Byrne I bought ages ago called: "Drawing Cartoons That Sell". (1997)
Nice that you got a bit of a background with animation. My course at The Cartoon Academy http://www.cartoonacademy.co.uk/ccontent.htm never afforded such a luxury, but then it was in the dark ages. Was that particular module of much use to you?

[grantw]

Hi Simon,
the module was interesting but I have already studied animation at Stevenson college Edinburgh to SQA Level. It was mostly about cells rather than the more prevalent digital route [the course is quite old] but had interesting information about using cells which I would like to try at some point. Some of my Animation can be seen here if your interested:

Leith Animation.

[Simon Lake]

That's epic stuff. Brilliantly choreographed with the music and stunning images. I could watch it over and over.

[Leah-Admin]

Indeed very visual

Don't suppose you saw my dancing headless chicken animation?

[grantw]

Thanks folks, the animation was built frame by frame in an image editor and run together into an avi in a neat bit of freeware " image to avi" so it took some time. Leah, I like the headless chicken! Is it an animated gif? I often scan work as well but haven't used gifs much.

[grantw]

Here is the link, really really handy...

Image to AVI

[cartunes-r-us]

great visuals, there, Grant.......totally hypnotic, striking with great colour [and pulsating music]---I worked in animation in the days of the death-throes of traditional 'cel' animation, but although I appreciated experiencing actual studio conditions, I was less than impressed by the industrialized, factory=like conditions that were forced on staff [or 'crew' as they dubbed us].

I'm happier doing my own stuff today, believe it or not: it's total control over my cartoons I desire, so comic-strips of my own creations is probably the only outlet suitable for someone with my outlook.

I did apply to get into Edinburgh art college eons ago [I've had a tour around it, it's pretty impressive]: a striking red building I remember well. I was turned down flat, but within 3 months or so, I got a job doing strips for D C THOMSON, so it was a blessing in disguise.

[Simon Lake]

I'll get me bleeding pencil then.......

[grantw]

I like doing my own stuff as well, I got into cartooning after doing Animation first [from 2006] still make stuff but creating gags is probably more profitable if and when you have a little success with submissions. The DC Thomson thing must have been great....Dundee: Jam, Jute and Journalism! I would love to pick up some work in an Art related field, I was reading that Cartooning is a growth industry! Simon, it is not that hard if you start simple [or go abstract, like me!]

[grantw]

As Paul McCartney put it, I'm thinking of linking....here are a couple of free Animation programmes if anyones interested!

Pencil.

Plastic Animation Paper.

[Simon Lake]

Nice 1, thanks. They look a bit more user friendly than Bryce or Blender. http://www.cartoonist-forum.com/more-free-stuff-f17/free-animation-and-3d-graphics-software-t87.htm