Drawing on the Funny Side of the Brain : How to Come Up With Jokes for Cartoons and Comic Strips - Softcover

Hart, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0823013812 ISBN 13: 9780823013814

Publisher: Watson-Guptill, 1998

Synopsis

Teaching cartoonists how to evoke laughs is the latest great idea to come from a best-selling author who always knows just what readers want. Aspiring cartoonists and seasoned professionals all face the same problem: coming up with a steady stream of jokes for their drawings. But there's a science to funny art, and this book's complete course shows just how to create comic panels and strips that get laughs, setup right through to punch lines. The essential tools of joke writing are outlined: visual stereotypes of comic teaming (fat/skinny, short/tall): setting up a character's agenda, then putting up obstacles to create conflict; action that brings the surprise. Other valuable guidance includes whether to find resource materials for jokes, plus tips for drawing comic lettering styles and dialogue balloons.

About this title

About the Author

CHRISTOPHER HART is the world's bestselling author of drawing and cartooning books. His books have sold more than 6 million copies and have been translated into 20 languages. Renowned for up-to-the-minute content and easy-to-follow steps, all of Hart's books have become staples for a new generation of aspiring artists and professionals, and they have been selected by the American Library Association for special notice.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-12. Several recent books have dealt with cartooning, among them Al Bohl's overview Guide to Cartooning , which explores the art form's history as well as its practice. Hart, who keeps his eye on commercial potential, narrows his focus to one aspect of cartooning--creating single and multipanel comic strips. He begins with some helpful cartoon-art how-tos, but it's the subtleties about joke writing, pacing, framing, and dialogue he includes that make his book stand out. The graphics, many in color, are teamed closely with small blocks of text and captions to get the message across. Hart's swaggering wit occasionally gets in the way, but usually not long enough to stop the flow of information. To be sure, Hart makes it seem easier than it is, but teenage art students who would like to see their work in the Sunday funnies would do well to start here. Tips on becoming a professional cartoonist and some helpful resources round out the text. Point interested teens to Scott McCloud's excellent adult book Understanding Comics (1993) for an even deeper view. Stephanie Zvirin

About this edition

• Publisher: Watson-Guptill
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0823013812
• ISBN 13: 9780823013814
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160