Art-ernatives

March 9, 2010 11:43 PM

I've always enjoyed cartooning and writing, and tried majoring in graphic design - which sucked all the fun out of it. I wouldn't say I have an undying passion for it, but I have some talent for it, so what other ways can I put it to use?

I basically just wasn't a great student by the time I got to college. I did a strip for the school paper, did some online cartooning a few years later, and designed a personal web page. And while all of those were a nice, fun release for creativity, having a limited audience kinda negates any feeling of accomplishment.

There seems to be a consensus that art school is probably a waste of time. Even if weren't, I couldn't afford it, the competition during and after schooling sounds scary, and I doubt I'd be able to pour that much time and effort into it to make it worth it.

I'm guessing this is a fairly common scenario for creative types, so if you're in that category, what outlets (paid or otherwise) have you found or stumbled onto that let you do your thing, and felt productive doing it?

I may just end up learning simple web animation on my own, or looking into public summer courses. And the notion of a big collaborative project really appeals to me, but I probably missed my best shot of that in college. Although with the classmates I had...

posted by TheSecretDecoderRing to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Could you volunteer at an afterschool program or community center, teaching kids about cartooning? When my kids were in public school, the afterschool program was always putting out feelers into the community looking for people with interesting hobbies or skills to teach the kids.
posted by amyms at 11:46 PM on March 9, 2010

You might find this guy's blog interesting. He's a decent cartoonist and is currently studying user interface design at a tech school.

Here's a blog post about one of the assignments he did for one of his classes.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:57 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: The after-school/summer fun sort of thing was one of the options that seemed most prominent. If anyone's looked into or done that sorta thing, I'd love to hear about it. Teaching in general appeals to me also, so that seems like the next best thing.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 12:08 AM on March 10, 2010

having a limited audience kinda negates any feeling of accomplishment

This is what you need to come to terms with, in my opinion. The best creative writing teacher I ever had said you have to be happy to write knowing you may be your only audience, because for a very long time (maybe even forever), that's going to be the case.
posted by sallybrown at 6:11 AM on March 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

Spike of Templar AZ dropped out of Grad School to peruse cartooning full time and now makes a decent living of it off her successful web comic. She credit to lots and lots of drawing, hauling ass to conventions, promoting like a mofo and living like a monk. Her upcoming book "Poorcraft" address that last bit a lot. You're gonna be broke for sooooo looooong.

For me, I have no idea how I got to the place I am in now. The big thing seems to be doing lots of projects with other creative people (and actually FINISHING THEM, this could be the most important thing) and trying doing lots of things and getting your name and experience on lots and lots of things. and realize that you're Gonna Suck for years (I am only just now, after 10 years of drawing seriously, that I'm close to where I want to be artistically). When I was back in Art School, I just said yes to every opportunity (yes I will draw the cover for your zine!) that wasn't explicitly exploitative until i got my footing enough to ask for fair prices and avoid shit jobs. But the general idea "Yes I *can* do a 6 page mini-comic!" or "yes I *can!* do illustrations for my favorite book!" will keep you exploring lots of directions and help you figure out what you want to do. Don't be scared to submit your portfoilo to anyone and everyone.

That being said, times are really though for most illustrators or cartoonists. The direct fan base selling seems to be the emergent market. It involves a lot of community interaction, see the "get involved with other creative people" thing. I did soooo much fan art starting out. The more you draw, the better you'll get. For self-education, Drawing On the Right Side Of the Brain and Watson-Guptils : mastering Pen And Ink and All of Will Esiner's books where pretty much my entire class - that and life drawing. Lots of it. Lots and Lots of it.

This is probably be your bible.
posted by The Whelk at 7:32 AM on March 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

I say, just do it. Lots of people make webcomics for fun and no profit. If you've got an idea for a story or characters you'd like to try, the only thing stopping you is your rational knowledge of the time commitment involved. It would be a great way to commit to a regular drawing-practice schedule, though. Conveniently, making the webcomic will cost you almost nothing; inconveniently, it will absorb your time and give you nothing but internet comments in return. Check out webcomicsnation.com, a free (nearly-free?) hosting site, for some examples of both good and mediocre webcomics in strip, long-form, single-panel, and other formats.

Do web searches and try to find local artists in your area. Go to your local comic or anime con, stop by the artists alley, and find out who lives nearby. Most comics artists at the casual to semi-pro level are very friendly, and several cities have formal or informal groups of comics-makers who get together weekly or monthly. Example: Boston Comics Roundtable.
posted by aimedwander at 8:43 AM on March 10, 2010