CHAPTER ONE
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
GETTING TOOLED UP
The great advantage of being a cartoonist is that you do not need to spend a fortune on expensive equipment or materials. Ultimately all a cartoonist needs is something to draw with and some paper to draw on.
Of course, to be able to draw with consistency you will need a good supply of pencils, pens, and some decent paper. As you gain new drawing skills you will decide on just the right drawing implements that suit your style and your favorite type of paper. Cartoons can be produced in all kinds of media, techniques, and styles, but it is a good idea to start with black-and-white drawings. As you gain confidence, you can move on to explore color and a wider range of more advanced and sophisticated drawing tools, including the many possibilities of computer-generated cartoons (see Using computers, page 30).
Scalpels
Scalpels are invaluable for trimming your artwork and much more accurate than using scissors. Scalpel handles and packs of blades are easily available from art materials stores.
Light box
A light box is simply a lit screen that enables you to see through opaque paper and original artwork so that you can trace and amend the drawing on a new sheet of paper. These are not essential and can be expensive but they are useful if you intend to be a professional cartoonist. Sizes range from A4 tabletop boxes upward.
Drawing board
These can vary from a simple piece of plywood to a purpose-made, freestanding drawing board complete with an attached parallel motion device. If you don’t have the space for a large freestanding drawing board, a fold-flat tabletop drawing board can be particularly useful (a good size to start with is A3). To complement your drawing board you will also find it useful to have a set square since this, together with a T-square, will allow you to set up your artwork accurately. Throw in a ruler too and your drawing board will be ideal for efficient working.
Cutting mat
To avoid leaving nasty deep scratches over your tabletops or drawing board a cutting mat is another desirable item to have—it is simply a plastic mat that stops the blade cutting through to the surface below when you are trimming paper or card to size.
Miscellaneous items
Drafting tape is low-tack and is great for sticking down your paper onto the board while still allowing you to remove it without damaging or tearing the sheet. A dry glue stick is incredibly useful for a cartoonist especially if you are putting a patch of paper over your original artwork with a correction on it. Process White is an item used by professional cartoonists. It is a thick, opaque pure white type of paint that is used to cover up mistakes on original artwork and allows you to draw over it.
A WORKING SPACE
It is a fact that cartoons can be drawn in just about any place you care to think of, but if possible, do try and get yourself a set area or room in which you can work without too many distractions such as pets, children, and loud music (unless you happen to work well in such an environment).
A coffee table is usually good enough to start with, or if all else fails then you can set up shop on your lap! As you acquire more and more pens and paper and other cartooning equipment you will find yourself needing more space in which to work successfully so plan ahead and mark your territory from the start! Your own cartoon-dedicated work space will become absolutely essential and will help you to get in the right frame of mind for producing cartoon work whenever you are there.
Wherever you decide to set up your working cartoon space try and have some shelves nearby for all the books and files you will inevitably acquire. It is also very convenient to have a storage area for your paper since there is nothing worse than constantly having to stop and find some paper from elsewhere just when you are in the middle of a creative flow! A filing cabinet for storing in logical order all of your finished cartoons is also a great asset.
Many possibilities
Where you work will depend on where you feel happiest and most at ease. You may only feel happy in a large space overlooking a captivating view. But perhaps this would give you agoraphobia and you may prefer the bustle of a kitchen table. If working at home disagrees with you, try renting space in a graphic d...
