The ability to draw cartoons is an art, and to be able to make a living from it requires a dedication on par with other art forms, such as acting, dancing, music or writing. Dedication is just as important an attribute as talent. There are many talented cartoonists and illustrators who work nine-to-five jobs in order to pay the bills to subsidize their artistic work.
Many art schools now have courses that teach students the basics of illustration. People who draw comic strips or work in the comics trade can come from a variety of backgrounds, however. Many labor intensively over their creations and suffer rejection many times before they succeed.
One of the most important skills necessary to become a good cartoonist is writing. If you want to write your own successful cartoon strip, start with the writing. The character you draw must have its own life. Famous characters, like Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield or Charlie Brown, all have identifiable personalities, and they get into situations that follow a storyline or small plotline.
Readers love well made drawings, but a good cartoonist knows that there must also be some background to the character. If a comic strip does not have an interesting storyline, then it's unlikely that anyone will come back to it. Think of the superhero comic books of Marvel and D.C. Comics; some characters worked and some didn't. The ones that worked were usually those with relatable personalities.
Of course, you may simply wish to illustrate other people’s storylines, and there are many possibilities available if this is your goal. Animation is a growing business in the film industry, for example, and many of the highest grossing films are animated. Some are hand-drawn, but many use computer animation, so learning this aspect of the work is often very important.
A career as a cartoonist is a demanding job. You will often have only a computer or drawing board for company for long stretches at a time. If you have drawn a strip that you think may sell, show it to people you know and ask them what is wrong with it. By asking what is wrong as opposed to what is right, you should receive a truthful answer. If you simply ask friends what they think, you will usually receive an answer that is designed not to hurt your feelings.
If you feel your work is good, begin sending it out to newspapers and comics. Be aware that the newspaper industry is extremely competitive. There are only around 200 syndicated comic strips available, and only about 15 new comic strips introduced each year.
Send your work out to as many different illustration venues as possible, including books, film studios and newspapers. Do not be disheartened by rejection. If you are not getting at least one rejection in the post each day, you are not sending out enough work. In the end, if your dedication is high enough, your talent should shine through.
