Big Book of Cartooning
by Bruce Blitz, Foreword by Bill Keane of "Family Circus" Bruce Blitz
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Book Summary Information
Author: Bruce Blitz, Foreword by Bill Keane of "Family Circus" Bruce BlitzBrand: Running Press Kids
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-01-01
ISBN: 0762409398
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Book Reviews of Big Book of Cartooning
Book Review: You'll be drawing better than you ever thought!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been trying to learn cartooning for several years. Now I won't claim to be a great cartoonist and never will be because I don't have that great natural talent.
But thanks to this book, I've drawn quite a bit and have gotten many compliments on my cartoons.
The best way to learn cartooning is to study examples, sometimes trace over the examples.
This book is *filled* with examples. Hundreds of pages, many per page.
It also covers many subjects. I love the faces section, especially how to convey different emotions, but my favorite is the objects section. Bruce Blitz shows you how to break down any object into a few basic shapes (cylinder, cone, etc.). Basically you need to do is practice drawing the shapes, but once you can draw them decently, you can draw basically any object. You don't need to learn how to draw objects individually. You just need to learn how to "see" objects as a combination of a few basic shapes.
A few tips:
*Blitz says, rightly, that you shouldn't go overboard with art supplies. All you need to start with is a pencil, some regular paper, and a nice eraser. Yet he describes many fancy art supplies, which may confuse some readers. I suggest starting with the following: Pencils of a few different hardnesses. A good eraser; Blitz recommends a kneaded eraser, but I think Staedtler(R) Mars(R) Plastic Erasers are better. A small lightbox proved a great investment. Don't bother with the fancy screens and colors that he discusses.
*If you don't have great natural talent, begin by tracing over his drawings. It helps a lot to first imitate.
*Prepare to spend time than you think. Great cartoonists can churn them out in a few minutes, but for us non-cartoonists, it takes tons of time. I was surprised how long it took for me to produce a great cartoon, but it's been worth it, as I've gotten many compliments on my cartoons.
I can't believe how much you get from this book for the price. It could cost three or even four times as much, and it would still be well worth it.
Happy cartooning!
Summary of Big Book of Cartooning
Discover the tricks of the cartooning trade with help from Bruce Blitz, host of the Emmy-nominated PBS program Cartooning with Blitz. Transform the simplest doodles into elaborate illustrations of a policeman, a lion, or even a unique, original comic strip!
Get out your number 2 pencils! Bruce Blitz, professional cartoonist, television personality, and all-around enthusiastic guy, is going to teach you how to draw! The Big Book of Cartooning is a fun, comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to the basic techniques of cartooning. In his Big Book, Blitz explains the process of drawing cartoons with detailed chapters that cover everything from the selection of paper and pencils to sketching animals and portraits. And don't worry if it doesn't turn out right the first time--Blitz's optimistic style and encouraging words will help smooth over the rough spots. In the forward, Bil Keane, syndicated cartoonist and creator of "The Family Circus," writes, "It is a brilliant compilation of the many basic aspects of drawing, simplified and presented in a breezy, entertaining style." Whether you're a budding young artist or an old dog still scratching out stick people, The Big Book of Cartooning can help you sketch more interesting and expressive pictures. Reading this book won't necessarily turn you into the next Gary Larson, but with a little guidance from Bruce Blitz and a lot of practice, you could be drawing better cartoons in no time! --George Laney
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