All my own shirk......

[cartunes-r-us]

hiya, folks.....I've been planning my own strip for ages now, and it's great to have total control over something......it was admittedly difficult starting off something 'brand new', but now I'm used to it, I won't go back to 'ghosting' established stuff, coz the freedom in creating your own stuff is just exhilirating.

Bad points: this is meant for daily newspaper format, and the drawings have to be tiny.......some subjects are tricky, but it's great for learning composition, etc.

The above illustration is one of a series of 'trailers' I add as signatures to another site.


About 500 finished strips exist, and I'm literally 2 hours away from finishing them.......hope to put in some examples of finished strips soon.


Good luck with the site.

[Leah-Admin]

Hi Rab

Really pleased to have you onbaord and your toon is really cool, can't wait to see those cartoon strips! 500 is a monumental amount!! Well done

Do you have a website or blog?

leah

[cartunes-r-us]

no, Leah.....I've been paranoid about people stealing my ideas......as if!

It has taken a few years to get all these drawings done, though.......I aim for 100 strips a year, [as well as working full time---mostly] so it's not as bad as it sounds.

It is a very tough market to crack however [not only that, but the companies are in the US and most still insist on .snail mail',] but there are 5 or 6 syndicates who deal in this stuff..........the odds are tough though, and that's why I've been honing this over a fairly long time.

[Leah-Admin]

Gosh, well I hope all this hard work really pays off for you

I don't blame you for not publishing to a blog in this case.

[cartunes-r-us]

I will be showing some examples on here and elsewhere, though......hopefully very soon [no harm in gauging response from punters].

In a worst-case scenario and nothing happens, at least I know I've given it a good shot......

[Leah-Admin]

I will be showing some examples on here and elsewhere, though......hopefully very soon [no harm in gauging response from punters].

In a worst-case scenario and nothing happens, at least I know I've given it a good shot......

I'm sure as you've drawn so many there are many ways you could monetize your cartoon strips if the avenue you've chosen doesn't work out. I'm sure it will though.

[cartunes-r-us]

Leah, I have learned such a lot drawing so many strips that it has been in itself worthwhile: it's also got a lot easier to write gags and ideas. I have easily another 500 ideas written down and not drawn up yet, with more added almost every day. The strips are only 4 inches high, and I used to hate drawing so small, but it definately teaches discipline which is for the best in the long run.

I tried 4 different themes for a strip idea when I started; this one,/teenage girls/ western/ cavemen-stoneage. However, it was a struggle to come up with ideas for the other three subjects, and the one theme I stuck with gives me endless scope for ideas [most days, I can come up with something, so hopefully this means it is a good strip with potential.


NOBODY ever really knows what the public wants when they first start out, though, you just have to go with your best instincts.

I will find out soon enough if I have backed a 'winner' or not.

[Leah-Admin]

Well I certainly hope so

I have a few strip ideas,

PMT mum (that would be me ) and perhaps one featuring my own children (for my own interest and theirs).

It's finding the time ..

[cartunes-r-us]

you are very prolific I think, looking through all your one-off cartoons you must have a pile of drawings as well.....and you colour them!

[cartunes-r-us]

Great effective use of colour there; it's also good how you can re-colour a piece from scratch, rather than ruining the original if it doesn't quite work the first time.......I'm afraid I'm still stuck in the dark ages regarding technique, Leah: pencil/ink/whiteout, etc.....eventually I might try out the new technology...is it easy to adapt to?

[Leah-Admin]

I'm a loather of technology too, I have never owned, used or operated an ipod for example! And never intend to.

So far this Pixia effect I figured out in matter of seconds. But I think the rest I might have to actually read and watch a few tutorials and that's the part I struggle with due to lack of patience. But I am going to try as I think for me, my market may eventually be some type of quirky cartoon caricature (when I've figured out that 'quirk') as an inexpensive gift item. I say this because pals keep asking me to do them, hence I really need to learn how to use digital software and build up a portfolio.

Meanwhile re this Pixia thing. i didn't need my wacom tablet for that I just used the mouse to click on the areas I wanted to add colour.

Process was thus:

Select the option to add colour to 'gaps'. Select colour, select the gap you want shaded and then click on the paintpot icon and voila the gap is filled with that colour.

Leah
(ps. if you visit the free stuff section of this forum there is a download for the free Pixia software).

[cartunes-r-us]

Reckon I will give it a bash sometime soon, Leah: it's a case of scanning in a black-and -white line-drawing first, I reckon.......nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say.

I must admit that the range of radiant colours offered by computer is limitless [seemingly], anf if I can get this free or even cheap.it looks like a good thing to try out......this could finally kick-start this for me, at last......

[boytrotters]

Rab, I can't wait to see your strips. I have my own strip and can attest to the fact that it takes a LOT of hard work! My hat is off to you for achieving 500 so far; I'm not up to that number myself!

Leah, love your digital art there. I was just wondering about those fuzzy grey outlines on your characters though... if you used Photoshop you'd be able to eliminate that with one easy setting. I hope you don't mind me saying so. I only do because I think changing that ONE thing will really make your art shine!

[cartunes-r-us]

as I've stated, it's taken me a long time, boytrotters! Some of the earlier ones have been re-done [though it's only about a dozen altogether] due to the fact I've learned so much since I started. I don't have to redo any at all of the new ones, as I've hopefully learned how to lay out an effective strip. [Hopefully!]


I like the look of the pig character in your avatar: is this the star of your new strip? I also look forwards to seeing your examples.

cheers. RAB.


postscript; I just checked out TROTTERSVILLE on your blog, and all I can say is: stick with this one, it has great potential [very contemporary looking as well].

[Leah-Admin]

Rab, I can't wait to see your strips. I have my own strip and can attest to the fact that it takes a LOT of hard work! My hat is off to you for achieving 500 so far; I'm not up to that number myself!

Leah, love your digital art there. I was just wondering about those fuzzy grey outlines on your characters though... if you used Photoshop you'd be able to eliminate that with one easy setting. I hope you don't mind me saying so. I only do because I think changing that ONE thing will really make your art shine!

Thanks

I need to get to grips with these editing suites. My 6yr old can do what I do with pixia!

I like hand-drawn pics but I can see the massive advantages of doing digital, so I must persevere. Bleuh .....tehcnology.