old cartoons
I was sitting at my computer, as usual, designing new cartoon products from older cartoons, and working on my shoes designs on another business, and my wife, whose desk is directly behind mine said, "Why don't you start your cartoons again?" I kind of looked at her funny, and then my glaze turned into a stare in front of me, out my window to the main Hot Springs Mountain. It was lush and green after a long cold winter. I had been designing products out of habit, and, because they sell sometimes, it never hurts to make a living. Plus my fans were asking for new cartoons. It boggled my mind that they had seen my entire inventory which is in the thousands.
old cartoons
Lee noticed that I carry paper and pen with me on our mountain nature hikes, and, if a cartoon concept enters my head, I jot it down. This had been happening a lot lately, even though I had stopped creating new cartoons in 2007 as I was full time in college with no time for much else. She said it was a shame to have so many new concepts and not do anything with them. I looked in my day planner and there were at least a hundred or more that I had written over the past few months. March 19, 2010 was the 13th anniversary of my cartoon venture. I have over 4500 original images. Nature hikes with my wife can be very merciful to writer's block.
old cartoons
My cartoon venture is a little different than the majority of cartoons one might see in the newspaper in that it is a team effort. This is more common than many think. It is estimated that 20-30% of newspaper cartoons are created by teams. Of course Disney, though animated, was always a team effort, and though he could draw, he preferred seeing his characters rendered by other artists. So do I.
old cartoons
Another obstacle was that most of my team created with me as a part time gig. Most had long gone and moved on to other full-time projects. After all it had been three years since I'd created a cartoon concept and written it. I sat with the idea another week or so and finally, without even telling my wife, I started advertising for illustrators who might audition. I knew from experience I could work with three at the most and manage them and the project effectively and comfortably. There was a time when I was writing up to a hundred concepts a day when I first started the project, and working with twelve illustrators at one time. The difference is I was only forty-four then. I am now turning fifty-six. My mind still feels twenty one and that's a good thing in the world of cartooning; especially given that the majority of very good cartoons on the market are done by talented people in their twenties and thirties. Many are retired by my age. But Generation Two has just begun and I am loving it. It is like brain calisthenics.
old cartoons
After a month of dealing with all types of talented and sometimes not-so-talented illustrators and reviewing portfolios, I found three new members. All are veterans from nearby to as far away to a small village in Germany. My manager (and senior illustrator) Rich is doing his Scouting thing in Ohio, and will start back with us in August. Rich has been with us for eleven years.
old cartoons
I have re-connected with many old friends on Facebook, Twitter, and other Internet crevices. Most of them are grandparents retiring and such. That seems so strange to Lee (and me) as we feel like our lives are just starting. We got married on June 18th, and had already been friends and in business together for a year. She started her career 30 or so years ago in technology, evolved to writer, and is now a product designer and partner in several ventures we do together. And to top it off, we go hiking together almost every day whenever we feel like it. We know most of the animals by name, and they seem to know us too (could be our overactive imaginations).
old cartoons
I am going to be completely honest here. I am well past the age that most people would think is acceptable to watch cartoons. I am a married father and have a college degree and manage a business. You would think by looking at me that my favorite television shows would be the news and professional sporting events. But boy oh boy would you be wrong. Just what is my favorite television show you might want to know...King of the Hill. I think it's awesome.
old cartoons
All of that begs the question: is there a point at which you are too old to enjoy and even love cartoons? I obviously think that the answer to that question is a resounding no. No way, no how.
old cartoons
Of course, there are different kinds of cartoons and different levels of fan enthusiasm. Do I consider myself too old to watch alot of what comes on on Saturday mornings? You bet I do. Those cartoons are mind numbing to say the very least. On the other end of the spectrum, there are cartoons like Sponge Bob that many people well past the age of 20 find hilarious that I just don't get. I fall into what I like to think of as a happy medium.
old cartoons
For a while I was a huge "The Simpsons" fan. I had nearly every episode memorized for about 10 seasons worth of shows. But, as with most animated series where the characters never age, there is only so much of a story and then things kind of fizzle out.
old cartoons
On classic show that I never seemed to get in to that alot of other adults love is Scooby Doo. I think for many people there is a powerful feeling of nostalgia watching their favorite childhood toons as an adult.
old cartoons
The level of cartoon enthusiasm can range from subtle to full blown obsession. Various examples I have seen include someone whose personal checks featured their favorite character which was subtle enough to someone with a Tweety Bird tattoo which seemed a little extreme but still well within the realm of reason to a lady who literally has a "Disney Room" that is filled with every conceivable Disney character.
old cartoons
As a child, I remember sitting in front of my television every Saturday morning with my sisters, anxiously waiting for Muppet Babies (1984-1992) to come on. Once the theme song began playing, we just knew that all was right with the world. In our world, we played with Gonzo and Miss Piggy as they soared into outer space; we rode rockets and walked on the moon alongside the characters. All the while making it home in time for Nanny to tuck them into bed, and our mom to make lunch.
old cartoons
Another cartoon I remember fondly is the The Wonderful World of David the Gnome (1988) on Nickelodeon. In this show, we followed David and his wife, Lisa, as they traveled through the forest rescuing various animals and people, all the while outwitting trolls who were nearly twenty times their sizes. Although it didn't come on Saturday mornings, my sisters and I were fans, and still know pieces of the theme song today. "Look around you, there are many things to see, that some would say, could never be...."
old cartoons
At the ripe, old, ages of 17, 20, and 21, respectively, my sisters and I still discuss the cartoons of our childhood; cartoons that we remember warmly and smile when we think about as we work on our resumes and study for exams.
cartoons to draw
At the time of deciding on the cartoons to draw when you are initially starting out you will want to be honest with yourself regarding your capabilities. There are lots of alternatives to choose from and ahead of starting you have to realize what these choices are. You can then work out from there what you are most competent of drawing and you can go from there. Picking cartoons to draw might be a fraction more difficult than you may initially imagine. If you do not select the fitting kind of cartoon for you, you may notice it additionally tricky to make any money out of them as the eminence of them will not be as high hence making them not as saleable.
cartoons to draw
Pets and even wild animals are one of the mainly preferred subjects by artists of all kinds, all over the world. When choosing to illustrate them of course they will not stay still by themselves for a long period of time therefore utilizing your mind's eye is imperative along with having a image alongside you in order to remind you of the lines, shapes and shadowing that is necessary. Imagination is necessary when making the decision that your cartoons to draw will be animals. Every living thing is diverse with their own personalities therefore you will need to portray this in your cartoon.
cartoons to draw
You might want to understand how to illustrate comics. Comics were plentiful as well as being the number one form of enjoyment back when television was not as vital as it is these days in the 21st century. Comics are a fantastic collector's item and anybody with a one of a kind sense of humor is talented enough to design cartoons to draw within a comic strip that is able to end up becoming a cartoon sequence or even a box office movie hit. Essentially a comic book is a printed out film.
cartoons to draw
Japanese animation is proving to be one of the most favored cartoons to draw in recent times. Japanese animation is also acknowledged as "Anime." They are ultimately cartoons that are centered on Japanese Manga series, or comics that were brought to existence as a result of being animated. The characters often have unruly hairstyles of other colors such as pinks and greens, the villains are often drawn in order to be more scarier and the faces of the big bosses are generally not viewed with only their limbs and mouth the focal point and they are often smoking a cigar.
cartoons to draw
Learn about the cartoons to draw if you wish to create a fantastic additional income. To generate a bit of superfluous money from drawing cartoons there are issues that you have to take into consideration. In order to be able to attain your objective you will have to adhere to some guidelines.
cartoons to draw
Taking heed of these below 5 pointers before you commence sketching can get you on the way to building that added income effectively in a small quantity of time.
cartoons to draw
Prior to deciding on the cartoons to draw that will get you on your way to earning those additional $$'s you will want to use some time re-assessing your skillsets as well as ability. You might very well not have had pencil to paper or done any drawing for quite a while and getting back to it may well turn out to be a shock. This will be significant because you may discover you need to spend time practicing to update your skills. Also, equipment and methods of delivery will most likely have improved.
cartoons to draw
Finding cartoons to draw for your new venture will require some added space. Ensure you allocate an adequate amount of space in your house whether or not it be a full room or a part of another room. You need to recognize this space as your own for your business. It will be a location where you do not get bothered and is able to be partitioned off from alternative spots. It is important that your family know this section is yours as well as when you are utilizing it you are not to be disturbed. Generate guidelines from the beginning to be fair to the complete household. They will appreciate you have the need for this place in order to be imaginative without being interrupted.
cartoons to draw
Have sufficient decent sketch pads in a few sizes as well as the right pencils with you or near by so you can do something straight away as any magnificent ideas for cartoons to draw come up. You do not require much to start out with although you will end up annoyed in the event you can't find the appropriate artists pencil or something to draw on. The motive for this is to not lose the instant.
cartoons to draw
If you happen to sketch on a flat surface, the viewpoint within your drawing can be deceiving also the features of your figures may appear distorted. The cartoons to draw that are going to assist you bring in added money will be best done on an easel or sketch board to alleviate this. When drawn flat on a table top, the head of a figure may seem larger than when the sketch is raised to a vertical angle.
cartoons to draw
Learning about the cartoons to draw that best suit your style will come easily. Your humour and drawing style will turn into your brand hence researching your marketplace is essential. It can be tricky to know where to start and there will be a few alternatives available. Do you focus on cartoon strips, animation, comic book art or perhaps newspaper comic strips? Contemplate your drawing style and who your audience will be.
cartoons to draw
You have a little free time on your hands, you are bored and you are looking for something to do. Why not try your hand at drawing? Start out with some easy cartoons to draw.
cartoons to draw
Cartoons are a good place to start drawing because they can be incredibly easy and you can draw anything you want. Just start by breaking down what you want to draw into small pieces. For example, a tree is basically a circle and a rectangle. A house can be drawn with a rectangle and triangle.
cartoons to draw
The only limit with drawing cartoons is your imagination. They can be as simple as you want or as complicated. They can be black and white or you can color them. You can make one drawing or you can make a comic strip or a comic book. You can draw seasonal cartoons.
cartoons to draw
Drawing is a very inexpensive hobby. All you need to get started is paper, a pencil, an eraser and a pencil sharpener. As your talent and enthusiasm grows, you can add to your supplies with colors, markers or even watercolors. It's all up to you!
cartoons to draw
You can draw anywhere. Draw a cartoon while you are waiting to see your doctor or waiting in an airport. You can draw while waiting for your food in a restaurant.
cartoons to draw
The best thing about drawing cartoons is that there is no right or wrong cartoon character. You can make your figure whatever you want it to be. If you draw a character or figure that you don't like, just erase it and start over!
cartoon characters
A friend and I were discussing classic cartoon characters, such as Tom and Jerry and Woody Woodpecker, around the water cooler. We discussed why many cartoons from the golden age of animation were more adult than childish. We also discussed why characters like Woody Woodpecker changed from crazy to responsible adult throughout the years. There are many reasons why the pre-World War II characters and cartoons changed over the years.
cartoon characters
Most people are aware that cartoons in the 1930s, 40s, and even 50s were more adult in nature. Characters drank, smoked, and worried about taxes. For example, I remember a Woody Woodpecker cartoon in which Buzz Buzzard was determined to sign Woody up for a life insurance policy. But, Buzz was going to make himself the beneficiary, knock Woody off and keep the insurance money. Pretty heavy stuff. Let's dive into why cartoons were more adult like in this example.
cartoon characters
First off, cartoons were more adult back in the golden age of animation because cartoons used to be shown before theatrical movies. Many of us Generation Xers and those who have come after us are used to seeing cartoons on television. (Who doesn't remember the classic Looney Tunes opening used in the 1980s in which all the famous Looney Tunes characters paraded across the stage?) But, before cartoons were on television, they were in the movie theaters. For example, Tom and Jerry cartoons were shown before MGM movies. Woody Woodpecker and friends were shown before Universal movies. Of course, Looney Tunes cartoons preceded Warner Bros. movies.
cartoon characters
Now, as for why the pre-World War II characters like Woody Woodpecker acted in insane ways is because the animators and creators were young men feeling their oats. It makes perfect sense that early Woody Woodpecker, for example, was wild and crazy. Later on, as the creators began settling down and raising families, characters like Woody became more domesticated. Woody started caring for his nephew and niece, Knothead and Splinter. Meanwhile, over at Looney Tunes, Sylvester the Cat began raising his son. Even Foghorn Leghorn became a father figure to Miss Prissy's son, Egghead, Jr.
cartoon characters
Yes, the post-World War II cartoon characters were different from how they were before the war and for good reason. Part of the reason is because of the fact cartoons were shown in theaters before adult audiences. Also, animators' real-life personalities seeped into the characters and the characters changed as the creators' lives changed. And, of course, the fact cartoons started being shown on television meant characters needed to be tamed down a little. But, we'll get into cartoons being edited for television in another article.
cartoon characters
The wonderful thing is all the classic cartoon characters, such as Wood Woodpecker, Andy Panda and Daffy Duck, live on in television reruns and DVD sets. I thoroughly enjoy watching the adventures of old-school characters, such as Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig, whether we are talking about their early cartoons or later episodes. That's all folks...for now.
cartoon characters
I am an owner of Halloween Hill, an online store that sells haunted house props, as well as Halloween decorations. I am also a comic book collector and have been for more than 25 years!
cartoon characters
Learning how to draw a cartoon character is both, a very simple as well as a tricky job. You need to observe the faces of people around you and use your creativity to give the desired personality to your cartoon character.
cartoon characters
How to Draw a Cartoon Character - Method 1. This is a fundamental way of drawing a cartoon character, especially suitable for the beginners.
cartoon characters
Geometrical Shapes. Start drawing a cartoon character with the basic geometrical shapes such as squares, circles, and ovals for the head of your caricature. You need not be great at drawing for sketching these shapes. Think how each shape could represent the different personalities of people. Square-headed character looks stubborn and old, while a round head looks happy and smiling. Similarly, a lens shaped face can represent a feminine character.
cartoon characters
Free Sketch. Take a blank page. Draw one of the basic geometrical shapes and try to imagine a face inside it. Keep your hand as much free as possible while drawing. Of course, continue infusing your imagination all the while, you are raiding the paper.
cartoon characters
Body Drawing. Now let us go ahead with the rest of the body of the cartoon character you are drawing. Again, you begin with the basic geometrical shapes for this. Think about the cartoon characters that you are familiar with such as Simpson, Poppeye, and Tarzan. Observe their body shapes. If you still find it complicated, try to imagine simpler shapes that make up the body of the cartoon character.
cartoon characters
Simplicity. The secret behind learning how to draw cartoon characters is not that you have to be a fantastic artist. The secret lies in being able to separate complex arrangements and designs into simple shapes that anyone can draw. The magic of caricature drawing is to use your brain to imagine each part of the cartoon and then rearrange all to give your cartoon a meaningful personality.
cartoon characters
How to Draw a Cartoon Character - Method 2. This is a professional approach to draw a cartoon character. The method emphasizes on drawing a basic pencil outline of human characters by Sticks Method. This method helps in drawing a cartoon character in particular poses. The use of sticks to represent bones makes a cartoon more natural and expressive. We break the cartoon character down to show various joints of its body. With the help of this, any kind of pose can be reflected.
cartoon characters
political cartoons
The first real political cartoons were drawn back in the early 1500's in Germany during Martin Luther's campaign against the excesses of the all-powerful Catholic Church. During this time of upheaval, Martin was looking for a way to use the new printing press to get his message out to the masses. Unfortunately, the "masses" were largely illiterate peasants who had previously relied entirely on Catholic Clergy for all access to the written word. Since the message Luther sought to distribute was inherently against the Church, he knew he needed a different way to reach the common people. The political cartoon was born.
political cartoons
Looking less like our modern cartoons and more like detailed illustrations, these early cartoons made use of familiar characters and stories to appeal to the peasants in a way that they could easily understand. One of these early cartoons shows the scene where Jesus throws the peddlers and hawkers out of the temple, a Bible story that all onlookers would easily recognize. Opposite the Bible scene is another which shows the Pope writing out and selling indulgences to the people. The comparison of the Pope to the hawkers is unmistakable. In this way, Martin could expose people of all classes to his radical and complex ideas in a way that was both simple and entertaining.
political cartoons
The first real use of political cartooning by an American was Benjamin Franklin's 1754 cartoon "Join, or Die." Its image of a snake cut into eight pieces, each of which was marked as one of the eight colonies, was a direct call to all of the British colonies to unite in common cause against the French and Indians and their plans to take over land west of the Appalachians. Later, in 1765, Franklin would again use the cartoon to try to persuade the colonies to unite in order to fight the British for independence. In both cases, the image of the snake became a stark and easily recognizable symbol around which the unity movement could coalesce.
political cartoons
Franklin's famous cartoon is an example of how political cartoons have, historically, been a way for opposition groups to voice their opinions. The cartoon medium works well as a way for a new idea to gain a foothold in the public consciousness because of the brief and simple message it conveys. Since many cartoons couch their dissenting ideas in humor or satire, the artist can get away with making a radical idea seem more socially acceptable and less dangerous to the powers that be.
political cartoons
Cartoons continued to have huge importance in American politics during some of the more turbulent times in our nation's history, like the government corruption of the late 1800's, when Thomas Nast drew his famous "Boss" Tweed character to skewer thieving politicians. It was during this time that America's first humor magazine, "Puck," was started, creating a new, larger forum for political cartoons. This bargain priced publication pushed the cartoon even further onto the political stage, and the power and influence of cartoons on the public consciousness continued to grow over the years.
political cartoons
During the early 1950s, the term "McCarthyism" was coined by the cartoons of Herblock, one of the first people to publicly question Senator McCarthy's communist witch hunt. Today, political cartoons still entertain and inflame readers of print publications, but perhaps a more modern incarnation of their ability to educate through humor and depictions of the absurd exists in television shows like "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report." Using real news facts within satirical and sometimes ridiculous interviews, skits, and reports, these shows expose their audience to new ideas while entertaining them and making them laugh, just like political cartoons always have. These shows wouldn't exist today as the pop-culture phenomenon they are without the groundbreaking legacy of political cartoons.
political cartoons
There are other ways besides blogging, standing on soap boxes, excommunicating, sentencing to death, and public shaming, to vent your frustrations at the powers that be. In fact there is a medium that can be far more personal, honest, and direct at expressing your opinions than the above mentioned.
political cartoons
It can be achieved through the humanitarian arts. It is drawing political cartoons. If you like drawing but you have never ventured onto the path of the political cartoonist fear not you need not be an old hand to try it. Anyone in any field of the arts can make political cartoons. The only catch is that you have to be able to draw.
political cartoons
The first thing you need to do if do decide that you want to give drawing political cartoons a try is to think of anything in the history of politics that you found funny, upsetting, or unfair. Basically since most political cartoons have a subject you need to think of anything that interests you to comment on.
political cartoons
If you need help with coming up with ideas try researching the key phrase "editorial cartoons" in any internet search engine. A lot of examples of editorial cartoons are editorials in publications and they are mostly satire, and meant to make fun of or criticize the subject. One such example is the great political satirist William Hogarth who was a painter and engraver.
political cartoons
In a world today that is so influenced by media it is hard to imagine what could have been said or produced on paper about our early presidents. George Washington, the first president of the United States, must have been hounded by the media and/or other writers just as politicians of today, right? If you search you can find George Washington political cartoons on the internet or in libraries. Are they as brutal as some of today's political cartoons? No.
political cartoons
Good ole George Washington is very well known by many elementary children as the good man that "could not tell a lie". A more current past president, Bill Clinton, may not have such a historical impact in the memory of most. One is more likely to think of him as the man that had no choice but to lie as his personal affairs were brought very public for the world to critique. So, in comparison a political cartoon of Clinton would likely be distasteful and perhaps include a cigar whereas George Washington political cartoons would probably reveal nothing more than a cherry tree incident.
political cartoons
No doubt it must be difficult to live the lives of a politician and have to read about oneself in the daily newspaper. Since the 19th century when political cartoons started making their way into the media much controversy has risen about them. Political cartoons are used daily to express ideas and opinions in ways in which words can not always do so. In the United States freedom of speech is sometimes tested, sometimes people have been charged with libel when printing information another person considers false. Political cartoons did not come about until around the 1870's so it is interesting that one can even find George Washington political cartoons on the internet.
political cartoons
Too bad George Washington didn't have a previous party to blame". That comment is from a cartoon referring to today's presidents and their need to continue to blame the previous president and party for the demise of the United States and/or its policies. As previously stated, George Washington is not known for many scandals or personal problems so even the cartoons that exist using his name are usually referring to another time in history or another president and their current affairs. It would not be fair to claim that all of the cartoons involving George Washington are positive ones. There have been some George Washington political cartoons that reveal a questionable death caused by syphilis.
political cartoons
Without a doubt political cartoons can be funny. It is not always easy to figure out the message intended and sometimes cartoons can be read differently depending on the interpreter. Maybe it was the lack of existing technology that prohibited daily reports on George Washington. Maybe he really was a great man and deserves the lack of cartoon appearances; especially since most of today's political cartoons are negative. Whichever the case, perhaps it is comforting to know that children still remember him as the man that could not tell a lie.
political cartoons
Revolutionary War political cartoons are the very first American cartoons. These appeared in both mainstream and subversive newspapers that were circulated as the tension between England and what would be America built up. They were made by statesmen as famous as Benjamin Franklin as well as by anonymous authors. Usually made from woodblock prints, these pieces of artwork usually fall into one of a handful of themes.
political cartoons
Many of these cartoons focused on the need for the colonies to unite together to fight a common evil: the oppressive government of Great Britain. Most famous in this category is the well known "Join or Die" picture which shows a snake divided into pieces, each named for one of the American colonies. While many people supported the Revolutionary War, just as many people were reluctant because of the danger to their lives and property. Papers and political cartoons helped round up support for this necessary revolution.
political cartoons
Many Revolutionary war political cartoons also poked fun at Great Britain, which was perceived as a bloated and overbearing entity feeding off colonies around the world. These cartoons helped to rally the colonists behind a common cause and encouraged them to be more open in their disdain toward England. Because Britain at the time was truly not much better than its critics made it out to be, it was easy to find jokes and cartoons at the country's expense.
political cartoons
There was a lot of jostling for power and bickering over the new government's structure even before the new government had won its independence. Some people thought that the concept of government by the people was too populist to be successful, while others doubted the ability of farflung and very different states to agree and work together on causes for the common good. Revolutionary War political cartoons reflected these different opinions and showed the diverse opinions of colonists at that time.
political cartoons
Being involved in the making and distribution of any criticism of the establishment was risky business at the time. Great Britain had no qualms about hunting down subversive elements and making an example of them. However, this did not stop the tenacious American colonists. They used these cartoons to gather support for their cause and eventually were able to overthrow the British government.
political cartoons
Political cartoons from the Revolutionary War era are treasured pieces of history. They allow modern American citizens to see the mindset of the people who had a huge role in the forming of our nation. Thanks to these preserved cartoons, we will always have a record of the sentiments that our Founding Fathers felt in the early days of the United States of America.
