Imagine people turning to the editorial page of their local newspaper each day to find your latest cartoon, or heading to the comics section of the paper to see your latest strip. Being a cartoonist is not for sissies. It takes a lot of time to come up with a single idea that'll get people's attention, then draw it up. Multiply that time by 365 and you'll soon understand the pressure that cartoonists are under, and why they burn out early in their careers. That having been said, being a cartoonist is a great profession and one that many artists aspire to. If you're one of them, here are things to remember.
Instructions
1. Develop your own style. People gravitate to things that have a distinctive look. Own that style, and someday people will be able to immediately identify your work, a mark of true success in cartooning.
2. If you draw a comic strip, tell a good story. People will remember it more than your graphic work. A really good example is the late Charles Shultz and his cartoon strip, “Peanuts.” Its style is somewhat simplistic but the story “sold” the strip for more than 50 years.
3. Hone your business skills. If you treat cartooning as a sideline, you'll get mediocre results. Go into the business full time and think of ways to expand it. Understand market yourself, keep good books and be on the lookout for improvements in your work.
4. Stick with cartooning for the long term. Don't be discouraged if your cartoon isn't an instant success because it takes awhile for your talents to become known. In fact, doing non-profit work is one way to get your work in front of as many people as possible, the objective of most successful cartoonists.
5. Put together a professional presentation book, and get it in front of as many people as you can. If you can afford to have it duplicated, all the better because people will be able to see your work even before you meet them.
6. Become a member of a professional association that welcomes the promotion of your work. Get active in it and see that your artwork is shown in every place possible.
