Assuming you are drawing with a pencil, pen, marker or pen tablet on a computer, the basics for any artist, in this case, Cartoonist, to learn, include sketching out simple circles, spheres, boxes, lines of all angles and shading from light to dark and vice versa. Once you have practiiced those basics for a few minutes and have a handle on how to control your lines without being "ttoo careful", proceed to the next step.

I don't like doing drills or practicing drawing circles much, so the most fun way to start learning how to draw is to design your own Template character. A template character is a very simple figure from which you can build more detail onto. At first, it will be just a head, body, and limbs, but as you get more comfortable, you can add ears, eyes, a nose (or noses), hands, feet and more. The way you decide to draw your template character, based on how you use your lines to portray it, will showcase your style. A stick figure doesn't qualify in this case. Instead, your template character needs to have VOLUME, so he looks solid and has mass. A single line won't convey that. Two lines on the other hand can.

Having your own style is crucial to becoming a talented cartoonist. By creating lines that compliment each other with your own way of putting those lines down is what style is. The way a face is drawn, along with the eyes, nose, fur, legs, arms, whatever else, all ccontribute to your style. When I started, I had a very basic style of just getting the lines down without much finesse. As a result, the drawing of a dragon for example, looked flat and unispiring. A key secret to sytle is to raise your hand off the paper for each line. By doing this, you're breaking the constant flow of a single line to draw the basic form, including the legs, underbelly and tail for example. More on that later...

Let's assume you can't draw to save your life. What's the best way to start once you've practiced the basics?

I'd start by drawing a circle. Make it about 40% the size of your page, but put it near the top.

Once that's down, draw two more medium sized circles inside that circle, at about the upper mid point of the head, but think about how far apart you want them to be. I'd keep about a same sized circle length apart for them. It's your decision, and eyes are a big part of your style.

Then draw two more circles inside those circles, about half the size of the first two, which represent the eyeballs, while keeping in mind where you want it to look. Up, down, left right? Make it look right for now. With that done, color them in a solid black.

Now decide, is it a mad, sad, glad character? If he or she or it is glad, draw a line, about half an eyeball circle beneath the center of the two eyeballs, but give it a slight curve upwards on each end, bowing in the center slightly. On each end, draw another line like this, but make it bow outwards, so the center touches the edge of the mouth line, while keeping them tiny, about the size of a dimple on a face. By adding these lines, you're giving your character depth and mass. One on each side.

With that done, you hhave a basic template face. The eyes express emotion, but if you want it to have an evil grin, draw two curved slanted lines directly above the eyes, resting on top of each one, each about the length of the eyeball, but extend it slightly more at the outer edges for contrast's sake.

Under the main mouth, I'd suggest drawing another line for the lower lip, but make it about half the size of the mouth, at the same angle and shape, but about the distance you drew for your outer dimples of the mouth. This again, gives your character more volume and dimension, bringing it closer to life.

For the body shape, simply draw one line on the left side of the lower part of the head, I'd say on line with the left outer side of the left eyeball. Draw this line downward and curve it out slightly, making it about twice as long as the head, and as you get near the end, curve it back inward towards the center, then duplicate that side back up, oppositte for the other half, connecting back to his head on the right side. Vice versa.

From that trunk body you just made, you'll later be adding lines for the arms and legs, but that completes the basic template character. Later, you'll learn about perspective, and angling your character 3/4 view, done by making the eyes different sizes and shapes if needed.

MORE TO FOLLOW....

ART PROJECTS: As usual, please contact FSudolArt via email at blackarro3 at yahoo dot com. Please TITLE your email as NEW ART PROJECT, and write a brief, one sentence generalization of what you'd likke drawn or illustrated, whetther it's an album cover, design, tattoo, illustration and so on. Due to heavy time constraints, FSudol is currently not taking caricatures requests. If you have a pet you'd like cartoon-ized, only if Frank has confirmed an opening, find a clear, digital picture that showcases the best angle you'd like your pet to be represented. The more visual information Frank has to work with, the better the results. Frank will draw characters, but usually declines projects for vehicles such as vintage cars, modern vehicles due to their complexity and fine curves. Simple cartoon cars may be accepted as projects.

Please be patient for a response, due to the high volume of artwork in progress. Do not send any attachments with your email, or they'll be deleted, unless Frank specifically requests a pic from you. Not all projects may be accepted depending on the current load of artwork. Thank you for understanding, and for your interest. Please note, all projects are delivered digitally via JPEG, PSD, GIF and other files. The Client is responsible for printing via home printer, Staples store, etc. Thanks again for your interest.

Fan Email: Send comments or questions without any attachments (attachment emails are deleted) specifically with the TITLE of film you're commenting on or BLACKARRO in the email title, to blackarro3 at yahoo dot com. If time permits, BlackArro or FSudol will try to respond to your fan email. If you don't get a response, it's likely due to a high volume of work, art projects or production. Your emails are appreciated very much. Thank You.

Other Inquiries: Please note, BlackArro Productions, FSudol Films, FSudolArt and FSudol Art Video are not hiring at this time. Requests to read scripts, hire talent will be deleted as a result, but the interest is appreciated. Thank you. Business related requests: blackarro3 at yahoo dot com.