I have long admired Lynne Chapman’s beautiful children’s book illustrations since my children were first encouraged to read. She has illustrated 30 children’s books spanning over 17 years with characters filled with emotion that jump off the page letting the reader totally feel the story. Lynne Chapman – Expressive Picture Book Characters Course […]
I illustrate several web sites with my own original cartoons. Some are my own web sites and others are commissions. Illustrating blog posts with original cartoons has many benefits both to myself and other web site owners. Images for blogging and any other article is essential. If someone clicks on a page and sees […]
Say goodbye to the ball and chain of an art studio. Wouldn’t you love to leave the paints and canvases at home? Now you can enjoy the freedom of using all your creative tools without the hassle of carting them around with you. Everything you need to create an art project is packed into one […]
I have two strands of employment – art and fire consultancy. It has always been fun to draw and I eventually developed this happy pastime into an art based business. I am now a professional cartoonist and run several websites. As an ex fire-fighter I retired in 2008 but continued my own fire consultancy business. […]
Creative journal ideas can be the most valuable asset an artist or cartoonist can have. Artistic inspiration can appear at any time, any place with any person. A journal can be used to capture that fleeting idea before it evaporates into the ether of your subconciousness – gone forever! Art Inspiration Generator In addition a […]
In this graphics tablet review there are five tablets across the range that all have a common thread – quality and high customer rating. I look at both direct and indirect draw with different sizes and prices to suit a variety of situations. For those of you who are trying out digital art […]
There are quite a few wood carvers out there who are making and selling hand made custom drawing pens and pencils. However, there are not that many who really ‘cut the mustard’ with a quality product. I was fortunate to find Ritter’s Writers a small cottage industry based in Monmouthshire in South Wales UK. As […]
Perceptual artist Lester Blair was one of the two winners in the June 2017 Procartoon prize draw. I contacted him to arrange for the prize to be delivered and during correspondance I noted a link on one of his e-mails to his art web site. Curiosity got the better of me and I am […]
The magnificent 5 – Cintiq Revealed: Which Wacom Tablet Should I Buy? The Wacom Cintiq is by far the most sought-after computer drawing pad on the market today. The Cintiq is the ultimate tool for the professional cartoonist or digital artist. Like most good things, there are many options when it comes to actually purchasing […]
Airbrushing is great for cartooning, graphics, nail art, temporary tattoos, and many other types of art. For beginners just getting into airbrushing, it may be overwhelming to try to decide which supplies to buy. If you’re new to the world of airbrushing, the best airbrush system for you is ideally a kit with all of […]
The best markers for coloring are those that deliver impressive results. Inky fingers, bleeding, spills, and lost caps take the fun out of drawing and coloring. As an artist, your hands move quickly and in a wide range of motion over the paper. You don’t want to fumble with jerky motions and wet ink. The […]
Who was Dr Seuss Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, is an internationally known author of award-winning children and adult books. The son of German immigrants, he created the most popular beginner reader books in the world. A poet, a cartoonist, a film maker, a political activist, and an author are just a few of […]
The best mechanical pencil for an artist is the one that feels natural, lightweight, and leaves graceful lines. Having the right writing tool can make a world of difference in a drawing. The main advantage of mechanical pencils is that the lead never dulls, so it never needs sharpening. Pencil sharpeners aren’t a hot commodity […]
Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Layers take the pain out of line thickness! When you have been using photoshop and Photoshop Elements layers for years you often go on autopilot and don’t even think how you just made some adjustment or created something weird using a filter. I read the Jester this morning which is […]
Stuck for a topic or perhaps have a topic but not the right angle? My drawing ideas list might give you the sparke that you need. Sometimes it is random subjects and words that get your brain fired up and searching for that idea. Try this out and see what you can come up with. […]
Staring at a blank sheet of paper… what should I draw? My thoughts drift to the kitchen. Perhaps another cookie will help my blank brain. Why can’t I think of that hilarious, rib-tickling idea that other cartoonists seem to do with little effort? The truth is that most cartoonists have these moments which soon pass (and come […]
I was asked to review the Parblo Pearl P10 10″ LCD writing tablet and was wondering what it could offer for the cartoonist as it is a pretty basic electronic sketch pad in terms of functionality. What is a Parblo Pearl P10 Writing Tablet? The tablet consists of a 10″ (diagonal measurement) LCD screen with an […]
The best laptop for photoshop and video editing is one that’s built for handling large files and complex software. You’ll need a high-performance computer with lots of memory, functionality, and speed. A laptop with photoshop software bogging down its system is more of a burden than an efficient editing tool. If you plan on regularly […]
Gifts for young artists can serve as a stepping stone to a more successful life. Children are sponges for all types of information. Studies show that kids who have an artistic outlet are less likely to get in trouble. Why? Because they’re doing something productive and fun. Get them on the right track of developing […]
Some anatomy tools offer a glimpse into parts of the body we normally wouldn’t be able to view. Drawing a face, hand, or person from memory can result in ill-proportioned results. Anatomical models provide an accurate reference of the internal and external structuring of the human body. With the right anatomy study tools, artists can […]
Art Goes Digital: What is the best drawing tablet and which tablet should I buy? Introduction and graphics tablet comparison Artists all around the world are quickly finding themselves thrown headfirst into the age of digital art. Although not necessarily a new idea, the fact is that digital art is becoming more common, further prompting artists […]
5 high rated mobile plastic storage containers with drawers – do they live up to the mark? Keeping your pens pencils brushes paints and every other piece of art equipment organized and mobile in portable storage carts with wheels makes perfect sense. Quickly to hand and without having to wade through a pile of artists […]
The best tablet for the money should rank high in a combination of portability, functionality, and screen quality. These things mixed with a long battery life and fast response times are what makes it a good investment. We all want to find a spectacular deal on the best tablet for digital art we can […]
While trawling the net I stumbled upon a digital artist whose work intrigued me. I have recently published a childrens book ‘Andorra’s Box‘ on Amazon Kindle and the story is set on a magical land which floats in the sky. The images I was looking at on the Artsy Shark web site were very […]
One thing I used to miss about good old pen and paper was the scratchy not quite perfect look that adds magical character to cartoons. For those of you who are totally digital getting that feel of the hand drawn look into your work can be a pain in the neck. Digital art lets us […]
