by Christopher Hart | Dec 29, 2025 | Blog
Here are some possibilities to consider:
- Animation, including character design, storyboard, animating, writing, and backgrounds
- Licensed art. This refers to marketing your own character(s) or designs for – or on – products, often through art licensing agents. Such items could include sportswear, snack foods, baby accessories, flatware, figurines and more.
- Graphic novels
- Comic books
- Children’s book illustration
- Illustration for advertising and branding, often through an artists’ representatives
- Webstrips
- Toy design
- Theme parks
Many artists even create their own specialties!
by Christopher Hart | Dec 22, 2025 | Blog
Foolish mortal. Of course you do. And I am going to show you how. Like you, I’m a pretty busy person. It’s hard to find time for creative sketching or character design after you’re done with your work. Actually, it’s pretty easy. Here’s how:
Let’s say it’s dinner. You take your tray of food and place it in front of the television. Place a few drawing supplies on the coffee table before you. Put on your favorite show but don’t watch it. That’s right. Listen to it while you draw. It makes sketching easier because you’re not trying so hard. Your mind is elsewhere but your hand is drawing.
Now that you know the secret, you can’t tell anybody. Now go draw, and enjoy the show!
by Christopher Hart | Dec 15, 2025 | Blog
It hits every artist sometime. The Inertia Fairy lands on your drawing pad and drives you crazy. You can’t think of what to draw. What should you do?
I’ll tell you what not to do: Don’t wait for the Inertia Fairy to fly away. Artists often believe they must “feel it” to draw it. Here’s the trick: you don’t feel creative? Draw anyway. Draw anything. Making mistakes? Oh well. Keep drawing. Soon, and most likely very soon, something will click, and you’ll be on your way.
“Wait, you’re not saying you should just force creativity, are you?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Give yourself a push in the right direction. See if it works for you, and let me know.
Until next time,
Christopher Hart
by Christopher Hart | Dec 8, 2025 | Blog
When you decide to draw a new character, your intention is to transfer what’s in your mind onto paper or tablet. But as you begin to draw, you notice that the character takes a few twists and turns and doesn’t look exactly like what you had in mind.
People make all sorts of corrections at this point – but don’t fight it. This is a good development. The character is trying to tell you that while it appreciates the starting point you came up with, it has a better idea of who it wants to be.
Give it some rein. You can always change it back later.
After all, you have an eraser and it doesn’t!
by Christopher Hart | Nov 24, 2025 | Blog
- Do you make faces while drawing a character’s expression?
- Do you go through angst about changing a drawing even though you know it needs it?
- Do you add personality to your characters by changing the hair, pose or clothes?
- Do you focus expressions on the eyebrows rather than on the eyes?
- When you reassess a drawing, do you imagine what your character might be thinking?
- Do you try to keep a group of characters within a consistent style?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you’re exhibiting artistic traits well above the average hobbyist. You, my friend, are a cartoonist!
