Teach me about becoming a cartoonist

[T.J. Combo]

Hi! I'm a guy who likes to draw in MSPaint and the feedback I've been getting from posting my cartoons on 2+2 have given me a big head and I think that it's possible that I might be able to land a job drawing comics.

I would like some input from people who work in advertising, graphic design, or cartooning that could reccommend necessary programs, art supplies, classes, or techniques.

Google has given me a pretty decent start on what to expect as far as making cartoons on the computer, I'm just really unsure of the steps on how to submit my work to possible employers. If anyone with a job in the field could provide some input would be great!

I'm gonna go ahead and post some of the cartoons I've made in MSPaint, or that I've drawn and scanned for criticism so I know areas I can improve upon.

[Futtocked]

first

[ApeAttack]

I lol'd at the first one.

holy crap! that bigfoot one is demented.

Ask garcia1000 for advice... his Konrad toon is great!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pokergrader]

1) Make a website
2) Add a new comic every day or so
3) ...
4) Profit?

[amplify]

three words:

fat sarcastic cat

[cianosheehan]

I like them. I think it could be a good idea to use MS Paint as your 'angle'. The comic industry is quite competitive and only a tiny amount of what goes out there ever gets attention. So hoping to make it using traditional methods (realism, 20+ pages a story, photoshop, pen+paper etc) would be very tough. At least if you stick to something different, you would stand out from the crowd.

I'd try and think of a really weird way to execute my comics...something that grabs peoples attention instantly

[garcia1000]

I feel like someone is giving me an opportunity to say something witty, but I just can't think of anything [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[KneeCo]

[ QUOTE ]
1) Make a website
2) Add a new comic every day or so
3) ...
4) Profit?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think every day is pushing it a bit, but if you make it into kind of a blog about trying to make it as a cartoonist and add like 8-12 strips a month that would probably help get some attention as well as giving you an opportunity to solicit advice and contacts.

[TexRef]

Scott Adams' advice here and here

[React1oN]

first one is really good