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Saturday, October 15, 2011

Cartooning for Kids: Three Books That Can Help You Get Started


Most kids I know love to draw at some point. Some of them love it so much, they go on to create video games, comics, cartoons, and graphic novels. If you are looking for some excellent books on cartooning for kids, here are three that can help you get started.

One of the absolute best overall introductions is Big Book of Cartooning by Bruce Blitz. He starred in a public television show for many years, and I was able as a young adult to learn from his techniques.

The book covers everything from basic cartooning skills, like combining different facial shapes, features, and hairstyles, to make various characters. It also shows how to draw human bodies and add motion to them so they are funny and dynamic, and not just standing still.

He does a great job of introducing cartoon effects and accessories. Those are the kinds of things that make cartoons fun and bring them to life, like the wavy lines coming out of a slice of pizza, to show that it smells good. Or the lines on a puddle of water or a mirror, to show they are reflective. And the most fun of all, those little beads of sweat or action lines, like when someone has just thrown a ball.

There is also a lot of mention on how to create comic strips, including how to lay them out, think up jokes, and do your lettering. For kids who want to try their hand at superhero-type comics, he covers different ways to make your man go from dopey to marvelous, from zero to hero. Also included are various poses you might use, like lifting, taking off, flying, and punching.

This all-inclusive work also has a section on cartoon portraiture or caricature. That way you can draw funny pictures of yourself, friends, family, and teachers, and give those away as gifts. You might even end up selling your work!

Another excellent overview is Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Cartooning but Were Afraid to Draw. The author is a Disney-trained artist, so it's a perfect reference if you like that style. But it too covers everything from expressions and drawing action poses, to comic strip layout.

One particular section I like is how to draw your cartoons from different camera angles, like way down low. That way, if you are trying to draw something from the perspective of a very small character, like a mouse looking up at a person, you can get a great funny look to your work.

Art for Kids: Cartooning: The Only Cartooning Book You'll Ever Need to Be the Artist You've Always Wanted to Be encourages kids to experiment with different techniques to get their own styles. The style is loose and open, so it's easy for kids to follow. There is also information on writing jokes and creating panels.

So if you are interested in cartooning for kids, these three books to help you get started are perfect. You will have three completely different styles to study, and you will have lots of ideas on drawing basics, plus details on how to put everything together into your own cartoon creations. Happy cartooning!




Find more great books for kids
Find more kids cartooning books plus books for reluctant readers and recommendations at http://greatbooksforkids.info




Friday, October 14, 2011

How to Draw Cartoons for Kids - Simple Techniques and Methods


If you love to teach kids or you want to draw for them, learning a few basics on how to draw cartoons for kids can be of good help to allow you to draw effective and appealing cartoons. Children do love cartoons, in fact, it has become a good medium to make them learn easily.

Whether you are a teacher, or someone finding a way to teach your kids in a creative and appealing way, here are a few things that you might find helpful on how to draw cartoons for kids and also pique their interest

Start with basic shapes. Especially if you are drawing with the kids and they are observing your actions, you can make it simpler and easy for them to follow if you start with basic shapes. This will help them associate your drawings to basic shapes that are easy to learn and familiar for kids as well.

Among the easiest ways on how to draw for kids is to use the stick method. By looking at it alone, drawing stick figures is quite easy to learn, for both you and the kids. If you intend to also teach the kids while showing them how to make cartoons, stick figures can be a good method.

Aside from being an easy method to draw cartoons, it is also easy to make a comic strip out of stick figures, thus you can actually tell a story out of it. You can also add more details to your stick figures to make an original character and add attitude to your figures. Although you can leave the stick figure with just the stick body and the head, you can also add clothes, or put in big eyes, hair, as well as some accessories that you may want to add to make your character.

To learn how to draw cartoons for kids, you don't need to make your cartoons look perfect. In fact, professional cartoonists are even making their cartoons look like being drawn by a child.

Another method that you can use in learning how to draw cartoons for kids is to use a combination of sticks and ovals. Of course, you can use ovals for the head, the hands and the feet and use sticks on the body and the arms and legs. You can also use oval for the body as well and use sticks for the arms and legs - there are actually a lot of options.

If you have mastered to draw your character and you have piqued the interests of the kids, you can then move on into learning how you make your cartoons walk, move, run and many other actions that you will use. Keep in mind that there are also techniques being used in making your drawings look like they are moving while keeping their balance.

Although there are just people who are born with such a great talent on drawing, it is not however impossible for someone to learn how to draw. With the use of just sticks or straight lines and ovals, you can already entertain kids with drawings and teach them to learn as well.




For a detailed guide on how to draw cartoons for both kids and adults, check out the guide How To Draw Cartoons. Also check out Creating 3D Cartoons, another great resource to you can use to learn how to create three-dimensional cartoons.




Thursday, October 13, 2011

How to Draw Cartoon Characters - The Easy Way


Learning how to draw a cartoon character is like making a picture with your mind. That's it. In the cartoon universe, there are no boundaries, except those imposed by the borders of your mind. Therefore it is extremely easy to draw a cartoon character. It would be best, if you leave all your real world biasness before starting to draw. Just let your imagination flow.

In this guide, we will be exploring how easy drawing a cartoon person can be, be it a male or female, young boy or an old man.

Usually drawing a cartoon person begins with either "ovals' or "sticks". In ovals, the cartoon's main body are made up of different oval sizes. There will be an oval for the head, body, torso, hands and feet.

There make up the outline of the character and all you have to do in finishing the cartoon is to just add in the distinguishing elements such as hair, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, fingers, and finally ending with the clothing on the character. Once that is done, all you have to do is color it.

In sticks, used by beginners, the main body structure of the cartoon character is made up of different length sticks. Generally seen mainly in comics, these "stick men" make the easiest cartoon character you can possibly draw. Just draw an oval for the head and fill in the body, hand and legs with sticks at the right places, and you'll have a cartoon character in no time. The stick method has the added advantage of being close to the actual human body structure and allow for a better representation of poses, when put into the actual storyboard.

These two techniques are used almost by all budding illustrators to begin their adventure into cartoon drawing. Some beginners also use a combination of these two techniques to get the idea that they want in representing the cartoon character.

What's most important is adopting whatever technique you are comfortable with. These techniques, provide the methodology an easy way for your to begin drawing your cartoon characters.




Do you know most beginners find face drawing to be the most difficult part? Learn simple cartoony face drawing techniques from this tutorial and do not forget to check this popular cartoon drawing course.




How to Draw 3D Cartoons - Tips and Techniques


Three-dimensional cartoons are great cartoons to learn these days. Yes, stick figures and simple cartoons are still appealing but if you want to go beyond stick figures, you can also explore and learn how to draw 3D cartoons.

Of course, they are more realistic and in these times, three dimensional cartoons are also the latest. If you want to try your hand on 3D drawing, especially on if you love to draw cartoons.

- Learn from the basic shapes. Spheres, cylinders, pyramids, hexagons and other basic shapes are your foundation in learning how to draw 3D cartoons. Practicing your three-dimensional drawing actually involves parallel lines to create a 3D effect.

- Shading or darkening is another technique that you can use to draw three dimensional cartoons. From a simple sketch of an object, you can actually apply shading to help bring out the 3D effect of your drawing. There are also techniques that you can use to do your shading. One technique is to use parallel lines for your shading, also termed hatching. Aside from parallel lines, you can also add lines crossing your parallel lines to create shading. You can also draw very faint lines to create shading on your drawings as well.

- Learn perspective. To learn how to draw 3D cartoons, it is also important to understand perspective. This is an important element for you to be able to draw in 3D. Learning how to get the perspective of your subject may be difficult at first, but if you are used to looking at something based on its perspective, you will also learn how to draw 3D quite easily. Take note that objects farther from you may appear smaller or shorter than those nearer than you. If you can train your eyes to look at objects in their perspective, you will eventually find it easy to draw in 3D as well.

- Practice with the usual things you see around. You can draw a bottle on top of the table or something that you find easy to draw. You just have to look at the lines and practice drawing it like it appeared in reality.

- Learn and hone your skills through practice. Mistakes are inevitable in any endeavor you want to undertake or skills you want to learn, just continue practicing and learn from your mistakes. Later, you can discover new things, learn new things and you can find it easy to draw in three dimensions.

There are a lot of techniques and tips that you can follow to learn how to draw 3D cartoons. It helps a lot to observe and learn from those who are masters of this skill as well. With constant practice, you can eventually hone your drawing skills and work on your own as well.




For a great resource that you can find helpful in learning how to draw, check out Creating 3D Cartoons Using Layers. Also check out How To Draw Cartoons, where you can easy tips to help you learn how to draw cartoons.




Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Make A Cartoon With The Best Animation Software


Do you enjoy cartoon animation? I know I do. When I was growing up in the 70's, everyone knew that Saturday was cartoon day. We would sit and watch our favorite characters: Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Tweety Pie...and the list goes on. I was amused for hours by their antics. But I always wondered how they could create these tickle you funny animations.

I even attempted to make my own cartoons with little flip books. I would draw a cannon on one side of the page. And each following page I made the same cannon but with a cannon ball a little further from the mouth of the barrel. On the last page there would be the word boom written in a cloud of smoke. I would amuse myself by watching that cannon ball mysteriously move across the page as I flipped those tiny pages.

That was my first experience with the idea of stop motion animation. That little animation technique would be considered old school for today's budding animation maker. Computer technology has turned child's play into an amazing growing art form. If you have ever dreamed of how to make a cartoon, it couldn't be easier with today's 3d animation software. Computer animation has made it easier than ever, for the animation maker in all of us.

Where does one begin today if they want to make a cartoon? I have a simple philosophy that I apply to most situations. We grow from what we know. In other words, it is really difficult to understand calculus if you don't have adding and subtracting down. Too often people want to jump in where they can't swim yet. And as an adult we can become quiet discouraged at our ever so slow learning pace. If cartoon animation really interest you, my suggestion would be to start with some basic animation program to get your feet wet...so to speak. There are plenty on the market.

Most basic cartoon software will use an animation technique that is similar to my cannon ball illustration. It is known as key-framing. An animator will make a simple representation of a character. It can be as basic as a stick figure. They will draw this figure repositioning legs, arms, and body with slight variable changes. The animator will then set these changing figures at different points on the screen. The animation software will work its magic by interpolating the movement. The end result is the seamless movement of the animation much like my cannon ball flip book and the big boom.

So stop dreaming and make a cartoon just like an animation master. Technology has brought us a long way from my childish cartoon flip book. Release your imagination and make your own animation.




Go here if you want to learn more about how to make a cartoon. You can also check out the best animation software for the money.




Learn How to Draw People - By Drawing Cartoon People


Have you ever wondered why learning to draw is believed to be difficult? Here's why... it's because everyone tells you so.

Those who can't draw tell you it's hard, those who can draw tell you it's hard, and, most of all, those who teach you to draw tell you it's hard.If you want to learn to draw you already hold the belief that you are going to have to put in a lot of work to learn, practice and master all the special techniques that "gifted" people get for free at birth.

So lets change that belief. Let's say you want to learn how to draw people... Now you could get a book on drawing people - study the anatomy of the human body, learn the general measurements of the head, where the eyes and ears are positioned relative to nose and mouth, how to divide the face up, where all the muscles lie and what happens to those muscles with expression change. You can learn about posture and balance, body proportions, movement, clothing,perspective, and so on, including special study of eyes, hands, feet, hair and other details.

And then there's the really difficult part - learning about shading technique and how to draw a portrait with likeness.

With all these instructions, it's not surprising anyone would give up trying to learn to draw people. But there is another way, an easier way, a quicker way - and that's by drawing cartoon people.

It's funny, but many instructions on drawing cartoon people begin by saying you should first understand drawing real people - but in my view it's better to work the other way round. Why? Because drawing cartoons is fun and easy, and because of this you are motivated and inspired to draw more and often - and the more you draw, the more you improve your observation skills and your drawing ability.

Here's how to go about it in practice. Put all the instruction books, rules and techniques away and start anew. Spend lots of time just looking at people, but look with your sense of humor. See the funny ways people stand, sit walk and talk, how they scrunch up their faces with expressions, the ridiculous ways they have their hair fixed, their personal fashion statements as they promote their individuality and personality to the world.

Viewing people with a perspective of humor will impress all their characteristics much more firmly into your mind, and you'll notice subtle details that you wouldn't have seen otherwise. People are funny, often ridiculous, more often stereotypes of themselves... understanding and recognizing this will help in drawing them.

The next step is to draw. Begin with sketching these characters and their characteristics - quick and easy sketching just for you, for reference (you're not drawing to impress anyone, you're sketching to build up and train your visual vocabulary).

Then start cartooning them. Don't try to draw "cartoons"- just draw the characters as you can remember them, or imagine them, using your reference sketches. Keep them simple, they'll be funny enough and cartoonish enough without any help from standard cartoon-drawing techniques or style.

Learning anything is often a process of practice - the more you do something, the better you get. The trick is to stick at something long enough to get good at it. If something is fun to do, you'll stick at it, and that is the reason cartooning will help you learn to draw. With hours of "fun drawing" instead of laborious "drawing practice", and the deep level of observation and interest you achieve by looking at people through humor-colored glasses, learning to draw will never feel difficult again.




Drawing is easy and cartooning is easy, if you want it to be, and my website http://www.drawingcartoon.net is there to show you how you can become an original cartoon artist.

Or watch me in action on http://www.youtube.com/user/MonaghanMike and be inspired to unleash your own unique drawing talent.




Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Where to Get Free Golf Cartoons


Golf is a major sport enjoyed by many people. It is a very popular game, especially to the elite class. But serious and enjoyable as it may seem, golf can be a funny sport too. It is often the subject of ridicule and jokes - much to the delight of both golfers and non-golfers alike. And if you are looking for golf jokes, your first stop should be the free golf cartoons that are currently available everywhere.

The primary source of free golf cartoons is over the internet. There, you can find hilarious jokes, anecdotes, and stories that can definitely put a smile on your face. They are especially helpful if you've recently had a bad day at the golf course. Many of the punch lines delivered in golf cartoons have a ring of truth in it. So you can only laugh at yourself either because you're guilty of acting that way or you have thought that way in one way or the other.

Golf humor is best depicted by golf cartoons. And if you keep a golf-related website yourself, you might as well get a load of free golf cartoons to spice up your site a little. These cartoons are eye-catching. Your visitors will surely be compelled to stay, if only to read the daily golf cartoons you have up.

Aside from over the internet, free golf cartoons can also be obtained from other golf reading materials. They are usually included in newspapers and golf magazines, more particularly in the entertainment pages. If you can't possibly access the internet everyday, at least you can try the newsstand daily and check out the latest version of your favorite golf magazine and look at their entertainment section. There should be some golf funny pictures there included. If there aren't any, you can always write the editor and request for some. He might grant your request and feature a funny golf cartoon for you regularly starting on the next issue.

The people who would benefit most from free golf cartoons would be the ones who maintain a golf blog and those who publish some golf-related newsletter. These cartoons would surely add delight to your readers. What's more, they might even look forward to your newsletters if only for the funny golf cartoons you always insert in one of the pages. Hilarity is important in life - especially in golf where hitting the ball with a golf club seemed to be the hardest thing in the world.

One reason why golf jokes and cartoons are popular is because of the fact that most golf players do not play by the rules of the game. The hobby players, most especially the novice ones, think that all they have to do is to hit the ball with the club up until they reach the hole. Simple as that may seem, there are things that you can and can't do while in the golf course. But of course, not all players would stop and read the golf book before embarking onto the field and play. Some would rather learn the game as they go along. As such, more jokes and funny stories are told. And more ideas for golf cartoons are obtained.

Free golf cartoons are definitely a good way to attract customers. Cartoons are always good marketing techniques. People may not always stop by the picture of a famous superstar because it's seen almost everywhere. But it if were a cartoon with funny looking characters, fifty percent of the people who have seen that picture while passing by would stop and read what it has to say. This is because people are always ready for a good laugh.

You can also get your free golf cartoons straight from artists themselves. Of course, you can always ask somebody to write you up a good joke and then ask another to draw a funny cartoon about it. Then add it in your brochures, posters, flyers, and all other marketing materials. You will surely get better sales, readership count, and subscribers. Maximize the power of humor. Golf cartoons can surely help you boost the page rank of your website. If you have not tried it yet, now is the right time to do it.




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Monday, October 10, 2011

How to Make Cartoons With A Pencil


One of the best ways to distract oneself from the chores and the demands of the personal and the professional life is to watch the cartoons. Cartoons are the epic creations that are loved by the people of all the nations irrespective of their age, gender and the professions. Though with the passing of time our preferences have shifted and the story lines have been altered yet, most of us adhere to cartoons for spending quality family time or enjoying a lazy afternoon alone.

As the cartoons gained popularity all over the word, more and more artists wanted to master the art of creating the cartoons characters. Even in the present era, there are hundreds of people all over the globe, who would like to create the cartoons characters, with their signature appeals and identity. However, becoming a cartoons artist is not an easy task, as one will have to be fluent in the techniques of sketching the cartoon characters which is very different from traditional drawing. The starting point for any extraordinary cartoon artist begins with mastering the cartoon sketches with the ordinary pencil.

The renowned cartoon artists of the world responsible for creating the cartoon characters that shook the world began with their humble offerings using the pencil. The immortal characters like Batman, Spiderman and many other have been created using the simple pencil sketches rather than the hi-fi technologies of animation and drawing.

The artists will be able to learn better and grasp the basics of sketching the cartoon using the various techniques employed in the pencil sketching of the cartoons. The artists will need to be through in the information regarding their tools and materials used for sketching, they should know the effects of hard lead pencil and be able to differentiate it from the sketches produced using the soft lead pencils. Furthermore, one will be required to study in detail the work of the other artists and the methodologies they have adhered to in rendering their characters.

One will need to broaden their scope of observation by studying the cartoons sketches in the various newspapers and studying the art of Japanese based cartoon characters known as the Manga. The artists will need to perfect their skills of sketching the basic shapes in a smooth and prompt manner using their pencils and shade them in an appropriate manner, while managing the effects of light and shadow in their compositions, which will make their cartoons appear more realistic. Once the artists have the basic grip of shading and shaping, using the pencil, they can advance further to add details to their characters like, weapons and attires etc.




Sketch Heroes' a new website for all of you who love sketching, drawing and just adoring art. On the website you can learn how to draw anything you ever wanted, for instant how to draw manga, how to draw animals or how to draw cartoons.




Learning How to Draw Cartoons - A Simple Guide to Help You Draw


A skill in drawing especially when it comes to drawing cartoons can be a very useful and fun especially if you are dealing with children or you want to teach children how to draw. Of course, a lot of people of all ages love cartoons, thus you can also make profits out of this skill. If you are interested in learning how to draw cartoons, here is a simple guide that might be of help.

- Start by learning how to draw basic shapes. You have to try practicing first with the basic shapes so that you will can learn how to see things and draw things as they are. Of course, we all know how to draw circles and squares or triangles but you have to learn also how to draw cylinders, pyramids as well as hexagons and spheres. Drawings start from these simple shapes and if you can master these, you will find it easy to move on to more complex ones.

- Practice sketching the things that you see around. Try sketching a container on your table, a vase, a view, animals you see and people as well. With constant practice, it will be easier for you to start drawing from basic shapes and finishing it off with shading and coloring.

- Practice with stick figures if you want to draw people. You can start with these easy cartoons if you want to draw people. With as simple as sticks or straight line, you can draw people and help practice establishing proportion as well as balance in your drawings. It will also help you on how to make your drawings 'move'. Of course, you just don't draw cartoons that are standing stiff, but you have to create movements with your cartoons as well.

- Learn shading and darkening. If you want to bring more life to your simple drawings, you can also learn how to shade, darken or lighten a part of your drawing to make it more realistic. Among the techniques that you can use in shading your work are hatching, cross hatching or veiling. If you have mastered the basics, you can also learn these techniques to make your cartoons more appealing. These are just actually shading your work with thin parallel lines of your pencil or adding faint lines and shadows in your drawings.

- Learning how to draw perspective is also another basic in learning how to draw cartoons. You have to consider that larger object in your drawing appears closer and those farther from you may appear smaller. You can find a lot of sample work and tutorials on how you can show perspective in your drawings.

Learning how to draw cartoons can indeed be fun and it can be easy as well. You can even observe professional cartoonist and check out some popular cartoons and how they are being drawn. You can get ideas from them to help you start learning the skill. Of course, constant practice is still important as well to hone your drawing skills.

If you want to learn how to draw with a professional, learn how to draw cartoons with Chad, a cartoon illustrator.




Also check out The ABC of Art Skills, a system that will help you how to draw as easy as learning the alphabet.




Sunday, October 9, 2011

Getting Started in Drawing Cartoon Characters


If you're interested in drawing cartoon characters for fun or for profit, there are some important things you need to know before you begin. Just follow these five tips to get yourself started successfully drawing cartoon characters for yourself or others.

1. FUNDAMENTALS

An important factor when you first start drawing cartoon characters is in making sure that you develop some fundamental skills such as: anatomy, which helps tremendously when breaking things down to more simpler cartoon shapes, as well as proportion, and depth. The reason why this is important is because it will give you a solid foundation to build upon when drawing characters. If you don't develop the fundamental skills necessary, then you run the risk of not developing a well thought out and visually solid character that may lack appeal.

2. OBSERVATION

Another important consideration for drawing cartoon characters is observation. It's critical that you observe the world around you and record it on or into something such as a sketchbook because it will help develop your fundamental skills and develop your own personal style of cartoon characters. By looking towards other artists to learn how they do it and observing the culture, people and things around you, you'll develop a great set of skills in creating great cartoon characters.

3. PRACTICE

You don't have to be a Van Gogh or complete several years of school in order to draw either. All you need to do is have passion and make sure that you practice your techniques daily whether in a sketchbook or on a computer.

4. START SMALL

Instead of complicating illustration and design efforts by buying expensive equipment or supplies and software, try it this way: start out with just regular white copy paper and a pencil or pen. I've even used crayons, brown paper bags and cardboard! Your technique will improve, so by the time you are ready to learn about and invest in more expensive equipment, and supplies your skills will already be ahead of the curve. If you are using a computer, you can get a free trial or totally free software to hone your skills. In fact, if you use the advice mentioned above, then you will find that you will be able to become proficient in drawing cartoon characters with little or no money needed.

5. Add Dimension

Have you considered creating your own graphic novel or manga, television or animated series? Or how about commercially licensing a cartoon character you created to others. It's not as difficult as you might think. What you need to do when drawing characters that are appealing and awe-inspiring, is create a back-story or history of your cartoon character. The back-story is the world and environment that your character lives and breathes in. This will enhance your character's image and engage the audience in which it will be presented.

So if you are really interested in creating the next hit television or comic book series or see your character idea on greeting cards or made into children's toys, follow these tips and start enjoying or profiting from drawing your own cartoon characters.




Andre "Dre" Saunders attended Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland as an art major. He started freelancing as a designer and illustrator and has worked on projects for such clients as Dupont and the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children as well as creating several covers for a small book publisher. He is married with four children (two boys and two girls) and is currently working on several projects including a comic book series, a short film, a stage and screen play, a graphic T-shirt line and preparing several characters for licensing and merchandising.

Drawing Cartoon Characters [http://www.drawingcartooncharacters.com/]

Getting Started in Drawing Cartoon Characters [http://www.drawingcartooncharacters.com/drawing-cartoon-characters/getting-started-in-drawing-cartoon-characters]




Cartoon House Drawing Techniques


Drawing cartoons is actually harder than you might expect. Whether you are trying to draw a person, an animal, an inanimate object, or even a cartoon house you need to expect to have a little bit of difficulty if you never drawn a cartoon before. Though most people underestimate the cartoon medium and leave it is relatively easy to do, the fact of the matter is that cartooning is a complicated art form.

When drawing cartoons, you need to be able to utilize shapes. While this in itself sounds easy enough, there is difference between knowing what shapes are, and knowing what to do with them. Most amateur cartoons use simple shapes and lines structure in order to convey relatively simple images.

Also knowing the angle at which you intend to draw is important as well. You can be drawing full frontal, or you could be doing a three fourths angle, or any other angle you decide to use. However, the more complicated angle that the image will be focused on, the more difficult is going to be for you to draw. For this reason, if you intend to do something that is not a straight on look at what you are drawing, you need to be fully aware of how different shapes look from different angles in order to get good results.

Exaggeration is also a big part of cartooning. The whole point of drawing cartoons is to take something realistic and make it larger than life. We could do this by large lines, soft edges, or just certain aspects of what you're drawing be larger. For example, if you're drawing a cartoon house, then you would want circular edges instead of hard edges in order to make it more friendly looking. You would also most likely keep details and a minimum in order to make it seem more like a cartoon unless like something from real life.

Also in drawing cartoon house, any details around the house should be certified as well. The focus should be on the house, and not on its surroundings. While in animation, pay attention to the background is important, and regular cartoons it is not so much a big deal. You can portray what you are trying to draw relatively easily without putting too much detail on things that do not matter. This also accounts for things on outside of the home, for example things like house damage. The house is damaged, do not draw in unless you are trying to make it look the dilapidated or scary. Cartoons are very simple, and a simple thing like a crack in the wall could make it seem intimidating. A cartoon house is only one example what you could draw, but these rules apply no matter what you are trying to portray.




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Saturday, October 8, 2011

How to Draw in 3D - 3 Simple Techniques You Can Use


If you love drawing, you may be exploring a lot of techniques as well as mediums that allow you to showcase your talent. Drawing cartoons for example is one fun way to use your love for drawings and can also be a profitable venture. You can also draw paintings, comic strips or even three-dimensional ones.

If you want to learn how to draw in 3D, you might need to learn a few techniques on how to make this effect. Of course, some people are just so talented that they may be able to draw things in 3D without even learning a few techniques but of course, if you want to learn the skill and you want to learn fast, here are three techniques that you might find useful.

1. Learning to draw perspective. Drawing things in perspective is one of the foundations to be able to master and learn how to draw in 3D. If you are drawing in perspective, objects closer to you appear larger while those farther away from you appear shorter or smaller. Practicing your eye to look at the perspective of objects will also help you draw them in perspective and give it a 3D effect.

To draw in perspective you can use parallel lines to create a 3D effect on an object, so that when you draw a square for example, you will not be making a flat square but a cube, which shows its different sides.

2. Shading and lighting. Another technique that you can use to create a three dimensional effect on your drawings is to make use of shading. In some cases you can also lighten a part of the subject to create a 3D effect. Shading is simply done by drawing dark parallel lines to make shadows. Cross hatching is also another technique in creating shades that also brings out its 3D effect. Instead of only parallel lines drawn together to create the shading, this technique uses crossing lines. Veiling is another technique used in creating shades to make the 3D effect.

3. Drawing what you see

If you are quite familiar with the two techniques above, you can also learn how to draw in 3D by simply drawing things around you. You can draw piled boxes, the stairs, draw a bottle and many other things you see around. Of course, you have to draw them as how you see them. Although this might not be easy at first, constant practice will help you hone your skills in learning how to draw things as you see them, of course, using your skills in shading or sketching in perspective as well.

These are just a few techniques to help you learn how to draw in 3D. However, you have to always remember that constant practice will hone your skills better and will allow you to master how to look at an object and sketching it just like how it appeared in reality.




To check out the details of how you can learn to draw, check out 3D Cartoons Using Layers. Also check out Draw Cartoons With Chad, where you can find important tips and techniques to help you learn how to draw 3D.




Friday, October 7, 2011

Cartoon Books and Collectors


An extraordinary relationship between word and image is developed within the pages of cartoon books. For some people cartoon books teach history lessons, for others, they are simple ways of relaxation and amusement, a way of access to fantasy, adventure and horror stories.

Nowadays, cartoon books became a widely accessible commercial way of expression in the form of visual narratives. They are tailored to specific loyal audiences. These can exchange views on the latest editions or simply talk about them.

People have also access to more technically sophisticated cartoon books. Better printing techniques and paper of higher quality are currently increasing these books' value.

More and more cartoon fans amuse themselves searching for cartoon books for their collections. They go to stores or they surf online for the best cartoon books related to subjects they know or they want to discover. Usually they look for old cartoon books, limited editions, no longer available on the market, so popular decades ago. For them, the period in which these cartoons were conceived is very important and they evoke their childhood.

Many of these cartoon books were transposed into television cartoons and characters became more and more popular. Some of the old characters are still very popular and producers are struggling in making new episodes.

Where can a cartoon collector find books? One can find them in the flea markets, other collectors that sell their collections, book stores, antique stores, auctions and online sources.

Nowadays, more and more collectors find what they look for surfing online and in this manner they choose what kind of cartoon books to buy. Payment methods are simpler, by credit cards or bank transfer.

Cartoon Bank is an online store that offers many different cartoon books in additional to many New Yorker editions, prints and covers available for sale.




Cartoon Bank has the best cartoon pictures [http://www.cartoonbank.com/apparel.asp?mscssid=DCCXKMEWM7R48MA67MQ5UCS7ETW947TC&sitetype=1] for you.




How to Draw Cartoon Faces - And Be Original With It


Are you happy with the way your cartoon characters are turning out, or are they lacking that touch of originality that makes them stand out, and makes your personal style and talent recognizable?

If you've learned to draw cartoons by following the standard, established rules and techniques of cartooning, then it's not surprising if your characters look much like those of other cartoonists who've learned the same way. But there is another way, a more exciting way, to create cartoon faces with complete originality - using a method I call: Spontaneous Cartooning.

With this method, you doodle a shape onto your drawing paper - freely, spontaneously, without forethought. It's actually more a sort of scribbling.

Next, you look at what you've drawn, turning the image around to see it from different angles, and you try to pick out specific elements that could be recognizable as facial features - it's not hard to see a curve as an ear, or chin, or nose. But the real trick is to construct a complete cartoon face from the lines on the paper.

You can add new lines of course, and ignore others that don't seem to fit. Retracing the most defining lines and adding shading help to isolate the recognizable features.

Start simple, using basic shapes, and increase the complexity of your squiggles as you become more adept.

This method of cartoon drawing has distinct and unique advantages:

1) It increases your ability to see form and shape in abstract compositions,

2) It develops your talent for caricaturing, by freeing you from the restraints of standardized cartoon-drawing techniques,

3) It encourages you to be more daring and adventurous in your creativity,

4) The results cannot be anything but original - since they have been created without planning, and using the unique dexterity of your own finger movements.

Rules can be followed, used, abused or ignored, including the rules of cartooning. Spontaneous cartooning is the "free-jazz-improvisation" of cartoon drawing.

As with any activity, the more you do something, the better you become at it. To be a great, original cartoonist, requires you to draw lots, and often. An activity as fun as spontaneous cartooning will give you many hours of stimulating drawing practice - without ever becoming repetitive, or boring.




Cartooning is easy, and my website http://www.drawingcartoon.net
is there to show you how you can become an original cartoon artist. Or see me in action on http://www.youtube.com/user/MonaghanMike and be inspired to unleash your own cartooning talents.




Thursday, October 6, 2011

Improve Your Drawing Skills Using Easy To Follow Techniques


Yes you can improve your drawing skills. No matter if you are a newbie or someone with few years' experience behind you improving your drawing skills is possible. Though it is true, that perfection in art forms like drawing comes with lots of practice. But there are certain techniques that you can use to make your drawing lively and your overall drawing experience fun filled. And you can not automatically discover them just through practice.

Here in this article you will find couple of such techniques that will help to push your envelop.

1. Whatever we see all around us are made up of 3d shapes. When drawing a figure of human being, animal or whatever, break the complex shape into simpler 3d shapes in your mind this will help to draw the core structure of your character easily.

2. Another useful technique is negative space drawing. In negative space drawing instead of drawing the details of the character you draw the space around him. As you can imagine when you draw the negative space around a certain object you end up drawing the outline of the object.

This approach of drawing makes your work easy because instead of messing up with smaller details at the outset you first easily finish the over all outline of your character and then you can concentrate on the details without much difficulty.

3. Drawing is an inexpensive hobby you can simply start with a pencil and piece of paper. Though you can also start with a computer and some fancy drawing or illustrating software, to start with keep it simple.

The computer can be too helpful to be good for developing your skill at initial stages. And know that many professional 2D animation production houses make their drawings on paper then the drawing is scanned into computer for finishing work, coloring etc. So do what the big boys are doing and sharpen your pencil skill first.




You can learn about cartoon figure drawing from this cartoon drawing article
Also do not forget to check the popular cartoon drawing course




Wednesday, October 5, 2011

How to Draw Your Favorite Heroes and Cartoon Characters


Drawing and art is a passion for many people but the good news is that this art is not only restricted to a paintbrush or an art pencil only. There is technological breakthrough in this field as well like in other fields and now you can draw online. You can draw your favorite heroes and cartoon charters which excite you and make you feel good about so many things.

Cartoon heroes have special place in everyone's heart. Obviously kids and teenagers are the main target audience for cartoons but adults also have their own passion for such heroes. When it comes to drawing your favorite cartoon characters or heroes, it certainly becomes a task that you look forward to. The feel of being able to draw your favorite hero really makes you look forward to the whole idea of how to do it online. This does not only become an involving idea for children but also for adults who might be able to add some level of perfection to their drawing as compared to kids.

The cartoon characters are stylish, funny, reflecting so many emotions and full of zeal and excitement. No wonder that they just put the adults along with the kids to look forward to some great entertainment that they provide every day. When it comes to drawing these characters, you have so much technology and advanced online tools available now, that without exaggerating you can come up with so many ideas to draw your favorite heroes.

Different online websites offer this fun activity. For example, you can draw these cartoon characters with certain tools and techniques that are specifically designed for the purpose. In that, you can shade the drawing or the sketch in the way you want to. You can enhance and develop various colors in the cartoon character that you may be drawing. Moreover, you can give a variety of expressions to the cartoons and sketches that suits your mood and behavior. The sketches can be made to look vibrant, energetic, funny, excited, sad and happy or horrific. Once you draw the choice of drawing and the technique applied over it is totally yours.

In short, drawing techniques online can be considered as the latest trend today that keeps on well entertained and employ the use of your imagination and creativity. All what you would need to do is use some knowledge of yours and some drawing skills. You just need to be creative so that you can find your drawings graceful and enjoyable at the same time.




Here you will learn about sketch heroes and how to draw




Drawing Cartoons Online


Do you want to draw Spiderman or Barbie? Now you can draw almost any cartoon characters you love with the help of online drawing sites. Drawing cartoons is the dream of every kid. There are scores of different characters which are loved by different kids. It is not easy to draw these cartoons on your own as they require proper drawing techniques. With the help of online drawing tutorials sketching your favorite characters has become extremely easy. You can draw various characters with the help of the tips and tricks that are provided by these online art guides.

There is a great variety of art tutorials which are available on the internet. Depending on your personal choice you can select and explore the drawing tutorial of your favorite cartoon. There are almost all characters you can on these sites. These include:

• Mickey mouse

• Tom and jerry

• Garfield

• Donald Duck

• Popeye

• Superman

• Batman

• Barbie

• Snow white

• Sponge bob

• Spiderman

Other than the cartoon characters, you can find a number of other drawing tutorials online. There are objects of nature such as trees, leaves, flowers, mountains etc. Also, you can learn as how to draw various animals such as tiger, elephant, butterfly, bear, horse to name a few options.

The wide variety of drawing tutorials available at these sites enables kids with different interests to learn to draw what they like the best. Drawing cartoons is what most kids love. They are naturally inclined to different heroes and characters. Little boys mostly enjoy drawing actions cartoon figures while little girls are more into drawing dolls such as Barbie etc.

The proper categorization of various tutorials enables kids with different interests to find the drawing tutorials of their choices. Unlike the traditional drawing classes, it is very easy to learn drawing online. You do not have to get out of home or spend anything as the online drawing tutorials enable you to become an artist without going anywhere or spending anything.

Other than the drawing tips and tricks, there are also a number of additional features which make these sites very interesting. You can join the community and become a member. There are a number of people who have joined these sites so you can make friends with them. Also you can also share your art work with others and also learn from the skills of other members.




Sketch heroes is a great place to learn how to draw cartoons. At sketchheroes.com, you can learn great drawing techniques and useful tips.




Cartoon Pencil Drawing - Why It Is So Important


If you want to be a top ranked cartoon maker, then the art of mastering cartoon pencil drawing is a must for you. All good piece of cartoon begins with the pencil drawing.

Even master illustrators like Charles Schultz and Stan Lee, the creators of Peanuts and Spider-man respectively began with cartoon pencil drawings. Therefore, it is important to learn the basic of this technique. Here we will begin to prepare you on your journey to becoming a great pencil artist.

First and foremost, you must have all the right materials. Choosing the right tools can be very important as different drawings need different tool. Understanding the difference between a hard lead and soft lead can make your task easier when you are starting out.

Second, learn and observe how the past masters have done their work. Looking at the newspaper comics section and manga comics can be extremely enlightening for the techniques they used in rendering their storyboard.

Third, practise the most basic items first. Learn how to draw a straight line with a pencil and perfect your technique before moving to other shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles and the like.

Most cartoon elements are derived from basic shapes and unless you master the basics like simple lines, you will not have a great cartoon pencil drawing. And never forget however sophisticated and complex your drawing may be it consists of numerous lines and strokes only.

Once you are done with the basic shapes, combine the elements to make a sketch of your first cartoon character. Learn how to best combine the shapes to get the best composition. Continue to build this with the other elements such as shading and more advance body structures.

The best part about cartoon pencil drawing is that if you do not like what you have drawn, just erase it and start over. Nobody ever gets the first attempt perfectly right and it is only through hours of practise that you will begin to find your zone in cartoon pencil drawings.

However, tedious the task may be, having a solid foundation in cartoon pencil drawing will ultimately be the difference between a bad or good artist. So put in the hard work now and reap the benefits later.




Do you know most beginners find face drawing to be the most difficult part? Learn simple cartoony face drawing techniques from this tutorial and do not forget to check this popular cartoon drawing course.




Tuesday, October 4, 2011

How to Draw Cartoon Characters Step by Step


First of all, I can not emphasize adequately the benefit of becoming proficient in how to draw cartoon characters step by step under the guidance of a pro. Investing in your schooling need not be costly and unattainable. Nonetheless, to promptly stand out from the crowd requires learning from the best.

It's so vital in the early stages of learning, to concentrate on exact technique rather than gradually developing a bogus work habit. Therefore, learn how to draw cartoon characters step by step from a credible source and fast-track your leaning in curve in order to make the most from your investment sooner.

Don't get me wrong... you can spend many a happy hour drawing for the enjoyment of it. However, it can become somewhat old if you're only making a gradual improvement or little at all! Just about anybody can draw cartoon characters and caricatures, but only those that have invested the time and right training will rise beyond the masses and indeed impress.

So anyway, let's get started with the following steps:

Step 1: Observation

Careful investigation of your topic is a crucial discipline. Your early sketches ought to be lose - cartoon characters can be developed with primitive shapes, where the progression of a caricature needs to be representative of your subject. The best caricature is one that is fully representational of your subject and indeed the most difficult to perfect. As you can imagine, you'll need to have a thorough understanding of your subjects every feature. Common features are clearly a necessary study such as eyes, ears, noses, mouths and what have you. Do they have big hair or any at all? What shape is their head... round, pair shaped, pointy etc. Search out certain features and qualities that will create interest in the rendering of your theme.

Step 2: Exaggeration (yet simplicity)

Amplify the noticeable with boldness, which is most notably the case when drawing caricature. A caricature is characteristically funny and most memorable when depicted in an exaggerated form. The variation with cartoon characters is only in their simplicity. South Park characters are the ideal example of large as life, while being extremely basic in composition.

Step 3: Stroke Heaviness

Stroke mass is absolutely more focused toward illustrating caricatures, whereas still appropriate to cartoon characters in the sense that you will use a heavier weighted line to magnify certain points and features. Shading using an assortment of approaches such as cross-hatch and similar techniques, will give your illustration a sense of depth and will in the end 'make or break' your labors.

Final Step: Celebrate your successes and continue in your learning

Take my advice and get pleasure from all your development - no matter how small. Most of all, your creativity will wither when you stop enjoying what you are doing. If this turns into your experience, then stop what you are doing and get some fresh air, exercise or what ever you do to revive yourself.




As much fun as it is learning how to draw cartoon characters - it's also a serious art form that is highly regarded and profitable. In fact, for the small cost of a few drawing pens, pencils and pads, you can learn how to become a pro, stun your friends and family and make a good living to boot. For more information check out my blog: http://www.learntodrawthings.com.




Monday, October 3, 2011

How to Draw Easy Cartoons - Simple Techniques to Learn Drawing


Although there are people who are born with a talent in drawing without even learning some steps and methods, you can however learn how to draw easy cartoons with the aid of a few resources that will teach you easy drawing.

If you are interested in learning how to draw easy cartoons, you can actually find a number of techniques to draw one. You can even draw cartoons with sticks or with just straight lines. You can also make cartoons with just the basic shape. Whether you want to use your cartoons as a visual aid in school or you want to draw cartoons for profit, even stick cartoons can be appealing for as long as you have a good character out of your cartoons.

Drawing with Sticks and Straight Line

One of the very easy way on how to draw easy cartoons is to use straight lines and a few circles. We all probably know how to draw stick figures but we can still enhance it by adding movements as well as creating an appealing character.

If you want to start with stick figures as your first steps towards drawing, you can use an oval shape for the head. Of course, an oval is just an imperfect circle, so you don't have to bother making it as perfectly done as possible. You can then make use of sticks or straight lines for the body, the arms and the legs.

Aside from the oval and stick, you can also add more accessories to your cartoons. You add a signature hair, dress or some other features that will make your cartoon stand out.

Although stick figures is an easy method on how to draw easy cartoons, you have to also keep in mind that there are also other considerations that you have to make. Proportion and balance are among them. Especially when you start making your stick figures to appear moving - running, walking, jumping or just any other activity you want it to be, make sure that you have a well-balanced and proportionate stick figure as well

Drawing with Ovals

Aside from sticks and straight lines, you can also draw using ovals. You can use it for the face, the arms, the legs as well as the body and you get a good cartoon that you can show your kids or your students, or as a good start to create you cartoon character and start making profit in drawing cartoons.

Drawing With Basic Shapes

Another important thing that you have to learn as well on how to draw easy cartoons is to start learning how to draw basic shapes. This will help you learn how to see an object. Practicing with these basic shapes will also be of very big help in learning how to make your cartoon drawing easy as well. Constant practice is also important if you want to master this skill.

You can also learn a few techniques from professional artists and learn from their drawings as well.




If you want to learn how to draw, check out this guide from a professional illustrator on How to Draw Cartoons. Also check out Fun With Caricatures, if you are interested to learn how to make caricatures as well.




Create Digital backgrounds in Photoshop

Create Digital backgrounds in 5 minutes with Photoshop. Download Video!

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Drawing Cartoon Characters Through Animation Techniques


A great way to learn how to draw cartoon characters and add life to them is through studying some classical animation techniques. You don't have to want to be an animator, but you should want to be willing to learn some valuable lessons that can potentially liven up your drawings with animation techniques such as squash and stretch, anticipation and exaggeration. Think of Disney and Pixar as examples. Have you ever seen a poorly developed character from these studios? Even the most grotesque villain or monster had a certain visual appeal. Animators have to draw a character over and over hundreds if not thousands of times to get the movement down just right to show weight and personality. One reason is, to animate a character, it's design had to be able to convey the right message in its movement. If a character was poorly drawn then it would animate poorly, which would be unacceptable. The animators had to be able to animate and move the characters around in as easy and efficient manner as possible to capture the audiences attention. Pretty amazing for something as simple as a line drawing.The importance of a well drawn cartoon character was one of the crucial first steps in achieving their goals.

OK now, step one, learn how to draw basic shapes and turn them into a three dimensional counterpart, for example: a circle to a sphere, a square into a box, etc. Once you are able to do this (with practice), then you can move on to step two which is, manipulating the shape by twisting, squashing and stretching it into various forms and easily create many types of characters by combining shapes together. Next (as always) practice drawing constantly and consistently. You cannot skip this step and expect to grow as an artist and draw appealing characters. Once you are able to draw a basic character shape using the techniques described above you can easily expand and alter the shape(s) to your liking. The world is yours! Always remember to also draw from life as it is the greatest teacher, giving you the ability to draw realistic movement that will transfer into your character.

Visit the world of classical animation to see how you are able to use some of those techniques to enhance your cartoon character drawing. There are plenty of online resources as well as books available to help you, so remember to keep a sketchbook with you at all times. Sometimes, when drawing cartoon characters, you have to look outside your field of interests to help develop a skill and through the fabulous world of classical animation we can gain a lot of valuable inspiration, knowledge and insight.




Andre "Dre" Saunders attended Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland as an art major. He started freelancing as a designer and illustrator and has worked on projects for such clients as Dupont and the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children as well as creating several covers for a small book publisher.

He is married with four children (two boys and two girls) and is currently working on several projects including a comic book series, a short film, a stage and screen play, a graphic T-shirt line and preparing several characters for licensing and merchandising.

[http://drawingcartooncharacters.com]




Sunday, October 2, 2011

How to Develop Professional Level Cartoon Drawing Skill


Drawing cartoons is a great hobby which not only entertains the cartoon maker but also others that watch the drawing. The simple hobby of cartoon making can be turned into a lucrative career also. These days with skyrocketing demand of cartoon makers it is not going to be a too tough task.

But to really make professional quality cartoons one should learn this art well. This is not to say that you should be doing a four-year course in some foreign university to learn the art properly. What I want to say here is that you may have great talents but without some training in basics of cartoon drawing your talent may not get chance to become visible.

True it's very easy to get started with cartoon drawing. Just have a pencil and a piece of paper and you are ready to go. But behind this apparent simplicity there is a hidden universe! There is a lot to learn and practice. And if you are not guided properly from the outset there is every chance you will be lost in this amazing world.

So what is important here is

Get your basics right: there are some basic techniques. And you need to get them right. Things like: perspective, use of shadows etc are backbone of any kind of drawing. And as an aspiring artist you have to be master of his drawing techniques.

Once you have strong basic skills build upon that: once you have the basic skills you need to build upon that. Learn how to draw expressive characters, how to make your composition convey a message and other similar high-level techniques.

Choose your style of drawing: there are in fact various styles and schools of drawing to choose from. You may want to draw cartoons in Japanese manga style, or maybe traditional European style of cartoon making is your favorite. Whatever it is select your style and stick to that.

Learn from the works of masters: watch and study the works of great masters and try to learn from their art. But do not copy their individual style because your goal should be creating your own signature style.

Never stop learning: this is very important never stop learning. Actually in this exciting world of cartooning there are so many things to learn and to tell the truth the art of cartoon making is evolving every day, so if you snooze you will get behind.

So, are you ready, grab your pencil and get started.




Do you know most beginners find face drawing to be the most difficult part? Learn simple cartoony face drawing techniques from this tutorial and do not forget to check this popular cartoon drawing course




Learn how cartoons drawn digital - know what and use to draw caricatures of digital

Now there giveaways were into the twenty-first century, more and more artists use computer, create more complex drawings. This is the case more than in the cartoon industry. The reason for this is that much easier, the computers use it to obtain only as desirable drawing freehand as in the past, rather than a result.
You can output much more drawings in this way in a smaller period of time. With the requirements, what they are today in the animation world this is a necessity. It is also a bit easier to impressive illustrations in this way with a computer and the right software create. If you want to learn, as you draw it digital caricatures some things that you need to know are into it so let's get.
First, you need a suitable program to create drawings on. Adobe Photoshop and corals are two of the most important programmes for the creation of digital images and cartoons due to the sheer number of features and capabilities that give you the artist. These are the two powerhouses, which use many professional artists, so always keep this. Both offer free demos on their Web sites, I believe, so they give a spin.
They cartoons that use your computer as these programs are powerful, but with, also benefit from a guide to creating that they have also a learning curve with them. There are a number of helpful guides are out there in online courses to teach you the basics to advanced techniques Learn digital cartoons, draw dedicated.
This are some professional school leaders/courses that you can work on your time in your own home without having to go or spend lots of money, to learn the same things, that it would learn, but for much cheaper.



A I better idea, what speech, and how easy it is to create professional-quality digital cartoon to get from drawings, you click this link for the Learn how to draw cartoons and start your drawing career today.

3 Top Cartoon Drawing Tips For Beginners


Cartooning is not about drawing it is about telling stories. Yes, even when you are drawing a single illustration you are telling a story. Cartooning is about expressing your thoughts. And it is your thoughts expressed beautifully through your cartoon characters that make you different from other average cartoon makers.

But as in every other field of life here also you must learn to walk first before you try running. To express your thoughts and ideas through your cartoon characters, you need to master the skill of cartoon drawing first. Then of course you can use your cartoon drawing skills to tell story to your liking.

To be skilled in cartoon drawing you have to face a learning curve. You just can't decide to be a cartoonist then copy some popular cartoon figures and become an accomplished cartoonist who is rich and famous. If you are lucky and talented with keen sense of observation you may pickup one or two tricks by making copy of popular cartoon figures. But that is too inadequate to be of any use.

There are various ways that you can take to learn cartoon drawing --you can join cartooning school or take a home study course or follow a book of an expert cartoonist -- the bottom line is you have to follow the steps. Like you should first teach yourself drawing 3d shapes, then learn to stretch, squash those 3d shapes in your drawing. Next you need to practice things like drawing hands and head before moving on to motion and emotion and advanced things like that.

If it sounds like lot of work, you are right. But what you achieve at the end is worth working for. If you are smart however you can use the tips you are going to discover here to make the whole learning process fast and painless.

1. ==> Do not start with computers. I agree I run the risk of sounding backdated. But here I am not opposing usage of computer altogether, no sane person can do that. But for beginners there is no alternative to using paper and pencil.

There are various software that help you so much that you can go ahead even without learning how to draw a smooth line. This kind of over dependency on computers from the very beginning always backfires down the road.

2. ==> Nail the fact in your mind that construction of human, animal, cars and most of the things that that we see around us are complex 3d structures though we draw them on paper which is 2D. So when drawing you must mentally analyze your model in terms of 3d shapes like spheres and boxes and not in terms of 2d shapes like circles and rectangles.

Also when you draw something from paper (i.e. 2D), look for and find out the 3d shapes that make up the character.

3. ==> Most of the cartoon drawing or figure drawing tutorials always start with some basic 3d shapes and after a number of steps end up in a complete and beautiful figure. This technique is very effective in learning how we can draw complex figures starting with simple shapes. But what I am going to tell you will make your pace of learning even faster. It is in fact very simple way of using the same tutorial. Just a lot more effective.

What you need to do is start where the tutorial ends and go backward from there. See the completed figure and try to recognize the ingredient basic shapes. And compare your analysis with the exact shapes that are used in the tutorial.

This will give you a very through exercise in recognizing the basic shapes. And after some time you will be analyzing the real life around you like an expert. Just take your time and practice this technique, and see how fast it will improve your skill in cartoon drawing.

Cartoon drawing is pure fun both for professionals who earn their living through cartooning and hobbyists who draw cartoon only for personal pleasure. I do not know what you goal is but hope the tips here will be helpful for you. Never stop learning: there are a whole lot to learn and even more fun to have in the process. Happy journey!




Do you know what the beginners find most difficult in cartoon drawing? It is drawing the head and face. Check this simple

tutorial on head drawing and never be nervous again.




Saturday, October 1, 2011

How to draw people set out step by step drawing

Simple steps for drawing to anyone. Learn how to attract people with easy step-by-step instructions. Discover the techniques of the masters and draw beautiful figure drawings.

Check it out!

Friday, September 30, 2011

Drawn as a cartoon

Drawing cartoon is similar to any object or draw characters of pen or brush. The important point imagine or draw a cartoon is that the artist should have a sense of humor or comic expression into the character. Although drawing cartoon is one in quality, but be achieved by a professional training program. Creativity can be reached also experiences and often work in this area.
Interested students can go for short guides for cartoon teaching drawing materials, the creative process, simple tips and techniques for a session. You can the principle, tricks and techniques while drawing cartoons. There are many ready-made cartoons, students follow and try a replica can do the same. There are instructions in the cartooning Kit available with the kit, or can be downloaded form Internet for manipulating cartoon images.
Cartooning Kit
The quickest way to start drawing cartoon is a ready to use Kit where the drawing material and accessories available. The tool may be a hard Pack or within a drawing software in the computer. The same tools are available for make cartoon drawings. A tutorial or help guide or illustration book can for the cartoon Maker help. A cartoon library offers to make many ideas and cartoon characters option. Can run a cartoon graphics complete the step by step procedure.
Digital cartoon-making
For creating digital cartoon images, you need a range of materials such as computers, software tool (drawing software graphics and text processing), a theme or concept as humor formats, such as riddles, puns, Limericks, cartoons, jokes, and comic strips. You can think humor about topics such as making about general topic people laugh, to make the different types of humor and its cultural dimension, the cartoon. The students should plan their comic strips on paper and then go for digital graphic form should be.
Creating comics
The aspiring cartoonist can article, go to instructional resources for published caricatures etc.,. An easy way of drawing a cartoon face when below specified:
The drawing on paper as the same as on computer screen.
Start with a new page with white background art area size approximately: 500 x 500 pixels.
Create a newsletter (using the ellipse select and hold shift in the computer tool) color or black (drag & drop) in the Panel.
You can delete the region of eraser.
Each curve (see) create the curve draw, then stroke the path this image serves as guidelines: the circle is the shape of the head, while the curves that result in drawing of the face, where the intersection is the location of the nose.
Draw sketch: use of the guidelines, your cartoon with the pencil. You can delete and edit, if it had been chaotic.
Draw curved outline for the production of roughly shaped objects (face, eyes, mouth, etc.)
Code colors: With various pencil / brushes for draw select contiguous regions, or color box software tool. Drawing requires eyes, nose may refer to: areas of the body, mouth, hair, etc.
Light effect on lips, eyes it is necessary, for the reality. Set grey color layer, that want to show shading.
Select the range outside of the nose for making glowing nose.
Choose for the production of glossy hair, the entire colored region.
You use for the design of the inner ear, you choose wiping finger tool and the blur effect the region for the inner ear, you just off to mitigate the shading.
For drop shadow shading, the option is available in software tool or manually specify an effect shade, to the object.



Shakir a is a freelance writer on interactive marketing, animation movies, cartoons and other related issues for Internet marketing, PPC, SEO, SEM, online marketing. Currently write more for http://www.aniboom.com/?ad=articleyedoll

Thursday, September 29, 2011

McDonald's Serves Up Interactive Digital Signage


In one McDonald's restaurant they have incorporated content managed digital signs. If this pilot is successful this solution could be deployed throughout the McDonald's throughout America.

The management at the pilot restaurant wanted to offer their customers a Las Vegas feel and realised that their current way of displaying their menu could not compete.

The digital signage solution.

This incorporated eight 15 inch LCD displays set end to end on a ceiling overhang above the checkouts that greet the customers. Then in the dining areas 42 inch displays have been deployed these show action sports mixed with McDonalds ads. This is easily achievable by splitting the screen with the video playing in the largest section, on the left of the display a scrolling text invite customers to text short codes from cell phones to change the video.

In the children's play area a large touch screen display is used that shows cartoons and promotional videos, children can use the touch screen LCD to select the cartoons they want to watch. The display is fitted with a camera that is useful for birthday parties as the cartoons are stopped and the birthday boy or girl can see themselves on the large screen.

The communications hub is the tiny office, looking more like a server room with several of the servers being required for the CPU of the digital signage system.

Outside two large 6 feet x 12 feet digital signs hang below the golden arches, hung back to back these displays play the content that is played in store.

Interactive digital signage at McDonald's is in it's infancy when it is proven it will be rolled out throughout the group.




LCD Enclosures Global have many years experience manufacturing a range of outdoor LCD cases for both LCD and plasma displays, that are used in both commercial and domestic applications. He has also developed a unique range of outdoor TV cabinets that are manufactured at their manufacturing facility, these along with the LCD enclosures are shipped throughout the world to digital signage integrators. Contact them on 888-460-3573 Toll free.




Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Adobe Photoshop Cartoon


Using Adobe Photoshop to make cartoons is probably one of the best ways to make your cartoons. There are definite advantages of using this medium, but are you stuck on using it? There are many different techniques and everyone should make sure to try something new because it might be useful in your way to finding your way.

Digital medium is the way to go because it is easy to replicate, so that you can sell your artwork. Even if it is just a hobby, would it be nice to see your Adobe Photoshop cartoon in a public place or in a magazine? It would be one of the best ways to know that you have succeeded.

Just using Adobe Photoshop is such a versatile product that you can definitely use other techniques from other programs the same way as most of the art programs really work in a similar fashion. There is a great review out there on such a technique that can be easily translated.

There are many techniques out there. Using Adobe Photoshop is probably one of the best ways to do this, but there are so many different ways to use it. There are people out there that have mastered their own way and they are willing to show you so that you can make your own technique.

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There is a great review out there on such a technique that can be easily translated.

Hope this article has helped someone in figuring out a small part of a bigger puzzle and good luck in all your endeavors!

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Creating a Cartoon of Yourself


One of the really neat things that new technology allows us to do is to have fun. And one of the things that is extremely fun and easy to do is to create a cartoon of yourself.

The other day I was on Facebook and I received a message from a good friend of mine. The meaning of the message was trivial but I was fascinated by the picture that sat along side the message.

It was a picture of my friend Jeremy but as a cartoon.

Knowing Jeremy, who is not too technically adept, I figured this might not be too difficult to do. After all, I already found a way to put your face on a dancing body so this could not be that hard to do either.

I immediately began searching about how to create cartoon pictures of yourself. It turns out that there are many sites that allow you to make cartoon pictures of yourself. Obviously, though, some are better than others.

There are a few things that you need before you can create cartoon pictures of yourself.

The first thing that you need to make these photos is a good photo of yourself. The way that these sites work is that you upload a photo and then the site can work its magic tricks to turn your photo into a cartoon.

However, not just any photo will do. To create a truly great animated picture of yourself, you will need a good picture of just you without anybody else in the photo. Ideally, this picture will be very clear and up-close. If it is not, the photo may blur too much.

For example, if you want to create a Facebook cartoon photo, you will want an up-close face picture similar to that which you would find on a passport photo. This is not difficult to achieve. In fact, with today's best digital cameras, it can be accomplished in a snap.

To accomplish this feat, you will also require a computer and Internet connection.

The computer does not have to be super powerful. If you have the ability to view and modify photos already, this computer will be powerful enough to use on these websites.

Finally, you will want an Internet connection that is suitable. Though a dial-up service might suffice, I would suggest some sort of broadband connection. That way, you're photos can be uploaded without waiting forever.

Once you have all of these things in place, you are ready to create great cartoon photos of yourself.




For more on this topic, visit the page entitled Create Your Own Cartoon Character and you will learn how to make your own cartoon character in a matter of minutes. The author, Richard Tyler, is a technologist, writer, and generally curious bloke!




Monday, September 26, 2011

Name One Black African Cartoon Series


'Transformers', 'Voltron', 'Super Ted', 'Fun Factory', 'Thundercats', 'Battle of the Planets', the list goes on.Most of us adults who grew up in Africa remember watching those programs when we were children. Those programs helped teach us everything from arithmetic and English, right through to we could defeat a very powerful decepticon robot in case the need arose. In fact, programs such as Sesame Street taught us general life skills.

Now fast forward a few years. You now have your own young family and you want to watch cartoons with your young children. The current crop of cartoons such as Dora the Explorer and Peppa Pig are great. But what if you want to watch a cartoon or animation that reflects some part of your black and African heritage? How about one that's available in major African languages so children can learn their mother tongue? Can you name one truly international children's program that was conceived and produced in Africa? It's difficult right?

This leads us to the next question. Why? There are many reasons for this.

These include;

Lack of financial support from the public and private sectors: Banks for example, see animation as a risky venture. In fact in countries like Nigeria banks have traditionally steered clear from supporting the entertainment sector with financial products. They are now talking with the creative sector to see how they can collaborate in the future. Also institutions like the World Bank have pledged funds to help industries such as Nigeria's Nollywood so things are looking up. As animation is a sub sector of this, there should be a trickledown effect in the future.
Lack of support and belief from local broadcasters: Many television networks don't commission such programs. In fact they prefer to import foreign children cartoons. To some degree this situation is understandable.
Lack of artists and technicians in fields such as animation production.
Lack of support from government: In some countries such as France, companies that produce animations are given encouragement in the form of incentives and funding. Unfortunately this isn't the case in the majority of African countries.

So it is easy to see why there are no cartoon series from Africa that have had global success. However, African animators have decided to tackle this challenge head on. In regions as diverse as Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and in Diaspora things are changing. Using the internet and new digital production technologies, African artists and companies are producing their own content for the world to see. The future for African animation is very bright.




Adamu Waziri is a lover of all things animation. As is common with most animators, he was drawing comics and cartoons from a young age. An architect originally, he further trained and worked as a 3D animator in London. He proceeded to set up EVCL http://www.evcl.tv/, a creative studio in Abuja Nigeria. EVCL is now producing a new children's series called Bino and Fino http://binoandfino.wordpress.com/.




Business Cartoons - The Cute Cartoons Designed On Variety Of Business


Business cartoons add a tinge of fun and humor to the world of business. In the competitive business scenario where the professionals have to face hectic business schedules to meet targets and acquire profits, the delightful cartoons bring comic relief and cheer in extremely stressful and hypertensive situations. Outcome of the creative acumens of the renowned cartoonists, the business cartoons are wonderful elements of entertainment and relaxation in the midst of busy working environs. The cute cartoons designed on variety of business themes refresh and stimulate the mind with the extra energy.

The corporate cartoons can appear in advertising, newsletters, greetings cards, textbooks, fax cover sheets, intranets, magazines, manuals, presentations, websites and anything else that make for good business. Not only they poke fun and laughter they also make the business interesting with their use of wit and humor. An ensemble of images and words the cartoons may also deal with important business issues and subjects. The presentations, reports, newsletters and websites acquire a new dimension with the vibrant cartoons.

Business cartoons can be purchased directly from the cartoonists' studios. They can be found in the stalls selling pictures and photos. Internet has facilitated the purchase of cartoons easier and faster. Plethora of cartoons appears in the various websites. Available in standard JPEG files some cartoons enable free downloading while some others allow downloading with payment. Some sites also prepare cartoons according to the customer demands. Cartoons for the workplace serve as a viable communication mode between organizations to clinch business. They reinforce the message of the organization with amusing pictures and texts.

Noted American cartoonist Randy Glasbergen is famous for his striking collection of business cartoons that he prepares for books, greetings cards, calendars, presentations, small and large businesses and more. The cartoons from Randy's website are published in the country's newspapers and other prestigious business domains.

His online catalog comprises of galore of downloadable business cartoons. His cartoons are enlisted under specific business heads like employee relations, finance, investment, global economy, mission statements, customer service, billing, sales and marketing, human resources, time management, leadership and management, motivation, meetings, seminars, information technology, telecommunication, safety regulations, stress management, digital lifestyle, computer business, technical support, wireless communication, Internet, Spam and various other assorted business topics. Another master artist of Business cartoons is John Pritchett. He is a specialist of cartoons in the financial arena. Some of his hit cartoons from stocks and investing are 'The Bull is Back', 'In a Bear Market', 'Don't Panic' etc. Some of his impressive cartoons on taxes are 'Go Ahead, Raise Our Taxes!' 'Tax Relief' and 'Property Tax on Dog House'. Attractive cartoons on small business are ''Accounts Payable', 'The Job Market' and 'Small Business Spooks'. Famous cartoons on big business include 'Enron', 'World Com', 'Bill Gates and the Feds' and more. Other well-known cartoonists who awe strike with their mind-boggling selection of business cartoons are Marty Bucella, Morris and Ted Goff. Feel the corporate humor and energize with fun filled cartoon pictures to bring some colors in your jaded corporate life.

For comprehensive information on paintings and related topics, please visit Ethnic Paintings




Amit Singh is Content Coordinator for http://ethnicpaintings.com This website gives you comprehensive informations on painting history, development, trends, popular painting styles, great painters, famous paintings, painting galleries and museums, painting tips, painting classes. In other words, this website is a treat to painting freaks.




Sunday, September 25, 2011

I'm Addicted to Superhero Comics, Movies, and Cartoons


X-men, Superman, Spiderman and his amazing friends, The Hulk, Justice League, Dragon ball Z, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Thundercats, Bravestarr, Thundarr the Barbarian, Ironman, Fantastic 4, and so on and so on. I'm 33 and I'm addicted to superhero cartoons and movies.

I mean every since the invention of the DVR (digital video recorder), I can't get enough of all the crime fighting stuff. Am I alone, and does anybody else like an overload of Spidey or X-men? Maybe I'm jealous, and it's the fact that kids today are spoiled silly, and as a kid I was unable to watch toons quite as much. I remember watching a little bit of cartoons before school, a hour or so after, maybe.

To be honest Saturday morning was the main time of the week to get your fill of cartoons. But in this day and age of 1,000,000 cable channels, there are several that just show cartoons. Which means that at any given time, a kid can just turn it on and watch away. I use to call my son in the room, just so I could say, " I was watching superhero shows with him". Now I just don't care anymore, and I DVR everything. Justice League Unlimited is my favorite right now and it's like the soaps for dudes or something.

I never knew watching Superman and Batman could be so drama filled, and everybody has a girlfriend. But enough about me and what I love, what is the message that superheroes convey. I think that heroes appeal to the good inside of everyone. We all would like to think that if we somehow gained unlimited power, that it would be used for the good of all mankind. I mean dedicating your entire existence to helping others, that's what a hero truly is. Which brings me to my favorite part of the comics, the Super Villain.

It's amazing how most of the villains were all good at one point, and there is always a specific chain of events to turn them evil. Is that the truth about most of mankind, and does everybody have just a little bit of evil hidden deep inside of them? Most villains are extremely rational, too rational and blinded by there desires. In desperate situations they can often be reasoned with for the good of everybody involved. But some evil knows no boundaries, an chaotic evil characters are the best example of this. Some beings just don't care about money, wealth, or assets. There only purpose and deepest desire is the watch everything and everybody burn.

When I was younger and read about Superman's battles with Darkseid, superman asked him, "what is was that he was after". He replied, "the Anti-Life Equation", and I'm like 8 years old but I fully understood what he sought! Total and complete devastation, and nothing less would be acceptable for him. Superman then replied," I will never stop fighting and I will always be here to stop you. The world NEEDS heroes like that! It could be said the firefighters and red cross volunteers are real life heroes.

Courage in face of danger and hopelessness, that's my definition of a hero and I love them for that. I think I just enjoy watching the struggle between good and evil. It never seems to bore me, and I just can't get enough of it. I'm always open to a discussion with anybody regarding, superpowers, best heroes, villains or anything else DC or Marvel related.




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