Dave Busters wrote:
Frank Fosco wrote:
Dave Busters wrote:
Isn't it all about confidence really? Art is subjective. How can you define talent? Did those guys get where they are by shining a lot of butts or by sleeping with the bosses daughter? What do you mean by paid their dues?
Putting time into it. This isn't a casting couch--you don't get off that easy. No pun intended.
I work as a data entry type dude at a staffing agency. Most of the time I see no one for hours and have work that can be done in 30 mins. The guy who hired me asked me, "Are you sure you want to work a boring job like this?" three--yes, three times. I'm on the internet for over 8 hours a day cuz there's virtually no work to do. Frank, I have time to put time into learning how to draw. Trust me. I just need to know what else goes into getting picked up. Any suggestions?
Well, Dave--that depends on what kind of cartooning you want to do? Funny cartoon characters, superhero, fantasy, sci-fi? What are your strengths? What can you draw? Also get an honest assessment and critique for pointers and direction from other artist that can help or mentor you. You need to be able to have a thick skin and handle some brutal honesty--try and grow and learn from it. Some of these guys will pull a Simon Cowell on you or an Erik Larsen. I seen Erik critique peoples work and portfolios--he doesn't pull any punches. He's not mean about it though--he's real and honest in his assessment.
And after drawing, drawing, drawing...do more drawing, drawing, drawing. It does take a lot of drawing for most people. There are some who have a natural gifted talent that don't have to work as hard--it's part of them--but they still have to work at it.
Then when you think you got something going on and want to show--hit the conventions, go show your portfolio to editors--submit and keep submitting through mailings, e-mails to editors at the comic companies that you wish to work for. There's all kinds of ways to hit up these editors nowadays. Just make sure to do their characters. An editor hates nothing more then to look at another companies characters as submissions to try and get work from them.
It takes work and persistence.