So you want to be a Cartoonist?

[Simon Lake]

First of all, you need a pencil. Oh and paper. It's the cheapest start up business for miles. But then there's pencils and there is paper. It's worth getting decent paper to finish artwork instead of that copier paper stuff. A 2 or 3B works as well.
If you can't draw then that's not a problem for now. All you need is "confidence". And reference.
Whenever I am presented with a new cartooning challenge, the first thing I do is google it. If it has already been done on http://www.cartoonstock.com/ then I won't be happy, but at least I will be wiser. You may be blessed with a photographic memory. You may not need http://images.google.co.uk/ to remind you what they look like. But in my experience, it's always good to research something fully to have that level of confidence to approach it. I recently found this as well: http://www.how-to-draw-funny-cartoons.com/index.html
The only other criteria is the will to become famous and make lots of money.

[Leah-Admin]

Very useful tips Guru Si.

I don't think you need a will be to famous though. I think enjoying what you do enough to do it for it's own sake is a good starting point.

[Simon Lake]

Ok then I'll rephrase that then. What we are looking for here is a meal ticket. First though you have to get comfortable with your working environment. Like lighting. I like to draw in the day so as to make hay while the sun shines. Daytime television is not a good idea unless England are playing South Africa in the World Cup Final. Background music can work. I have a light box and tracing paper, scanner, printer. No graphics tablet, never mind. Enough visual reference, but how about ideas?
Tip of the day: http://www.amazon.com/000-Quips-Quotes-Writers-Speakers/dp/0517427125

[Simon Lake]

I am yet to be published after many years of trying. That's why I consider myself to be a Guru, through trial and error. I'm only trying to pass on what I have learned in the long rejection process and maybe bring you all with me to my impending glory. So anyway, I should know enough about what not to do. Let's find out together what we can do? Stay tuned.
More about ideas from my previous post at: http://www.cartoonist-forum.com/how-to-write-gags-and-comic-strips-f24/how-to-find-inspiration-for-gag-cartoons-and-comic-strips-by-simon-lake-t135.htm#584

[Leah-Admin]

Hi Simon

I hope you don't mind but thought I'd add some defintions here as not all readers know what a cartoonist or pro cartoonist is.

A definition of a cartoonist

Someone who draws cartoons

A pro cartoonist

Someone who sells the cartoons that they draw

Does a pro cartoonist have to be published to be a pro cartoonist?

No

Not all cartoonists sell to sources that publish cartoons, some cartoons will be private works, corporate designs, gifts etc. Other cartoonists work as designers, ghost cartoonists or for companies whereby the images will never be published under their own name.

In summary, as with all things which carry the 'pro' prefix, it simply means you're paid to do what follows.

The secret to selling cartoons is the same secret to selling anything. You have to know:

• How to market yourself
  How to locate your target market and
  How to persuade people to buy.

If you are targetting the business market, networking is everything.

Fortunately with art, the art sells itself, so the task then is to lessen the opportunity to be beaten by the competition and thus reduce the chance of rejection. You do this buy locating the target market, becoming known to them and thus you have them come to you. You are a cartoonist, they want a cartoonist, they know you, they ask you. There is no competition as they do not know any other cartoonists and they won't search for one, when they already 'know one'.

You could summarise this by saying:

It's not what you know it's who you know.

[Simon Lake]

Nice post Leah. Elaboration to this can be seen at: http://www.cartoonist-forum.com/ask-f6/a-little-help-t74.htm

[Simon Lake]

A little light reading for the next time you are very bored or sitting on the bog with your iphone. Bookmark this page.

http://www.fabjob.com/cartoonist.html

http://www.chunkymonkey.com/funnies/beacartoonist2.htm

http://moesky.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Become-A-Cartoonist

http://www.reuben.org/howto.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210180/become.htm

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110409173941AA4RL1j

http://waysandhow.com/how-to-become-a-cartoonist

http://www.cartoonists.co.uk/becomeacartoonist/usa/gettingstartedusa.html

http://www.glasbergen.com/tag/how-to-be-a-cartoonist/

http://www.toonway.com/about/rules/

http://www.drawingcartoon.net/how-to-become-a-cartoonist-2

http://www.ehow.com/how_16301_become-cartoonist.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-become-a-cartoonist.htm

http://www.creativeartschools.com/art-schools/career/become-a-cartoonist.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_become_a_cartoonist

http://www.degreefinders.com/education-articles/careers/how-to-become-a-cartoonist.html

http://www.ask.com/answers/108082461/how-to-become-a-cartoonist

http://www.glasbergen.com/tag/how-to-be-a-successful-cartoonist/

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/6604/online_business/internet_is_my_true_agent.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_4970808_become-comic-book-artist.html

http://tomfishburne.com/2011/10/cartoonis.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Online-Jobs-Working-From-Home---Become-a-Cartoonist&id=1745075

http://www.amptoons.com/howto/materials.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_4774624_can-become-cartoonist_.html

http://www.howtodothings.com/careers/how-to-become-a-cartoonist

http://www.kidzworld.com/article/20486-becoming-a-cartoonist-or-animator

http://cartoonize.hubpages.com/hub/Become-A-Cartoon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFezd3fUzJ0

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-become-a-cartoon-illustrator.htm

http://www.toonmaker.com/learn-cartooning.shtml

http://www.mycollegesandcareers.com/career-industries/arts-design-entertainment-and-media/cartoonist/how-to-become-a-cartoonist/

http://www.43things.com/things/view/118228/become-a-cartoonist

http://superperformance.com/begin.php

http://www.fabjob.com/tocs/cartoonist-toc.pdf

http://www.ehow.com/video_4951734_become-cartoonist.html

http://degreedirectory.org/articles/What_Education_Do_I_Need_to_Become_a_Cartoonist.html

http://ask.metafilter.com/24820/How-do-you-become-a-syndicated-cartoonist

http://ezinearticles.com/?On-Becoming-A-Cartoonist&id=473300

http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/37/04704268/0470426837.pdf

http://www.ehow.com/how_4524675_become-professional-cartoonist.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_5608581_become-cartoonist.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_4993525_become-cartoonist.html

http://www.wimpykidclub.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/buddypress/bp-themes/bp-default/_inc/pdf/webchat.pdf

http://www.worsleyschool.net/students/career/cartoonist.html

http://www.chunkymonkey.com/funnies/beacartoonist3.htm

http://www.londonartcollege.co.uk/d2cartooning/D2-cartooning-course2.htm

http://education-portal.com/how_to_become_an_animator.html

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4951734_become-cartoonist.html

http://www.amazon.com/Best-books-become-animator-cartoonist/lm/1O902B9JCDJ5L

http://www.thefunnycartoon.com/cartooning-lessons/

http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/artscrafts/cartooning.shtml

http://www.how-to-draw-cartoons-online.com/