ART LESSON # 3

Everything you don't know about making comics and cartoons.

If you're reading this I'm going to assume for the moment that you are or want to be a comic book creator or cartoonist.

This lesson is about knowing your craft ... I don't mean knowing how to draw as I assuming you know how to do that to some degree or another already. This is more about learning the other parts of the craft of being creator.

As creators of images, we often forget about the importance of things like writing, story flow, panel flow, page layout, fonts, sound effects and a thousand other details behind our artwork that can really make a comic or cartoon work or fall on it's face (trust me, I've made all the classic mistakes).

Now I'm no genius on most of these subjects especially writing, so I'm just going to do the smart thing and refer you to some books I've been reading that are written by guys that ARE geniuses on these subjects.  Ya' I know, "uhg, I gotta read"? Well these are not you average books on the subjects, these are as entertaining as they are informative and I hate to read as much as the next guy.

But if you sit down and read these books and really get the meanings of what's being said, you'll know why every good art school teaches Art History as a prerequisite. These books are like getting a Degree in Comics Therory from some of the best minds on the subect.

Also be smart and get these books at great prices by buying from Amazon, just click on the links and save! I got most of these for way less than Book Store Prices.

"Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels"
(Revised Edition)
by Peter David

I'm really loving this book, as comic or cartoon artist we kind of assume we know how to draw and there for we can make comics. Well, sometimes we really forget how important a story that works is to making a comic that works

.

After just jumping around in this book reading bits here and there I could see an improvement in the writing for my single panel cartoons, I can't wait to read the book more and apply it to a full comic!

My only issue is that after you read the book, you'll never look at TV the same way again as you'll know how the writers are manipulating the audience.

"Making Comics" by Scott McCloud

This a book I highly recommend, I don't think there's anyone that can present information as brilliantly as Scott McCloud. If you are a comic book creator or cartoonist or want to be one, Scott's books will teach you things about your chosen craft that could take years to learn otherwise.

These are not "How to Draw" type books, these are about the "Art" of making comics, the things that make comics work, the nuts, bolts and mechanics of a comic.

Trust me on this, after you read all of Scott's book you'll be a better comic book artist in ways you haven't imagined.

"Reinventing Comics" by Scott McCloud

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Like all of Scott's books it forces you to think outside of what you think know about comics and then gives you a new understand of what a comic is and could be.

"Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud

To be honest I haven't read this book yet, but with the amazing way that the last two books altered my thinking about comics, I'm pretty sure this is a must read.

"How to Make Web Comics" by Scott Kurtz

Highly recommend for anyone that wants to get serious about doing and selling cartoons and comics. It's not just about Web Comics, it's loads of great info on EVERYTHING you want and need to know right down to good table setups for your first Comic Convention!

Enjoy the Books

 - gWebber

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