Hi all

I just found out about this site (thanks to Jesca Marisa for a great article in the Argus), I didn't realise that a local comic scene even existed.

I am a freelance cartoonist working out of CT. I'm more interested in humour and comic strips than graphic novels and comic books. But that's mostly because I can't draw well enough to produce those kind of things.

I draw political cartoons for a local newspaper and am now doing illustrations for a magazine. The pay is rubbish, but I love my job and I can work all day in my PJs and slippers if I want to.

The reason joined this site is because I'm trying to find people with a similar intrest to me developing the comic and cartoon community in this country. Apart from Madam and Eve and the guys doing political cartoons (Zapiro, et al) very few in this field have made a commercial success in this country. I believe the market is there for local comic strips, cartoons and graphic novels and I find it strange that we don't have the publishing support to reach it.

I think comic books are what this country needs to improve it's literacy and encourage people learning English as a second langauge. I have tried to pitch some ideas about educational cartoons recently and the reception was not warm. But maybe that has more to do with my art than the priciple itself.

Anyway, that's enough of a rant. I'll include some of my work so you guys who have actually studied fine art can laugh and say: "that guy is actually getting paid?" (though you'll be happy to know it's very little).

First of all here are some political cartoons. Sorry if they're a bit dated:
Political Cartoons

Here is a comic strip I was working on, but abandoned when I realised how badly it was drawn. I'll come back to it once I've had some drawing lessons:
Comic Strip

Oh, and here's the prototype for my edu-comic, if anyone's interested in the idea. It's a bit silly, but I think it might be a good way to develop an interest in things like science and reading in young kids:
Educational comics

Allright, sorry for the long intro. I just wanted to throw a bit of idealism your way and see what the response is like.

Cheers

Hey bro! Welcome!!

Idealism is GREAT! Keep the passion going. South Africa has a whole pool of undiscovered talent. People with drive and will who want to make things happen, and the fact that the forums' going strong is proof of this!

Anyway, welcome, enjoy your stay!

I'll give you your first speech too!!

Your comment 'but abandoned when I realised how badly it was drawn' is just letting yourself down!! NEVER GIVE UP!! NEVER SURRENDER!! Just ask Cap Kirk! hehe.

Keep on keeping on, every time you do, you'll be better than the last!!

Welcome on board buddy!! And you have most certainly come to right place! I recently ran an initiative with the College I lecture at to create a series of educational comics and the results have been fantastic!! Three groups have gone to a Primary school to run a pilot/case study, and depending on the reaction we get, we're hoping to get national distribution!

If you'd like more info, feel free to PM me, otherwise, welcome to the grea-*test*-('") illustrative and spamming community in SA!

Oh, and your cartoons ROCK!!! Don't break yourself down like that!

Oh...meet Cap....He's like Iggy Pop on uppers!!

I resent that comment! I'm more like Hammy the Squirrel on a caffeine binge and possessing a penchant for spam!

As Meatloaf said...You took the Caffeine right out of my mouth!

Eeeeeeeew!! It was just that one time! Sigh... You had to bring that up, didn't you Phreak? *Sobs*

Hi.
Welcome.
Good luck, I see the Cap and Phreak has already tried to charm you in their own, adorable and sometimes sickening way.
Drawing is a science. Once you understand what you are doing, you can draw. Anybody can draw if they practise hard enough.

I'm glad you joined. I've just -*test*-('")ed my hand at a cartoon or two myself, but I'm just not there yet. Maybe I can get a few pointers from you!

Hey

Thanks for the welcome guys. I look forward to meeting a few more cart-lunatics like me. I've seen some great stuff in these forums so far and it makes me feel like we can't be too far away from getting the comic and cartoon industry really going in this country.

Phreak: thanks for the tip. I'm comfortable with my art, but I'm realistic about the room for imporvement. I think the day I'm satisfied with what I draw will be the day I retire because I'llhave nothing left to achieve.

Cap: I'm glad I'm not the only one to have that idea (and a little jealous of what you've got going). From what I've read there's enough research to show that comics really help kids to read at an early level. the panel structure and story flow from left to right really help understanding narrative structure and things like story-prediction and, later, associating words with mental pictures. I'll def PM you sometime to find out how it's going. It's something I feel pretty passionate about.

Morgan: Thanks for the advice. I'm with you there. Although I've started selling work I'm going back and taking drawing lessons again just to get a better understanding of the "science," as you put it so nicely.

Hi Dude!!! Welcome Welcome.!!! HOpe you have a great time here and like your stuff.

Hello Ackers. Welcome to the studios. We don't have a lot of cartoonists on here, so it's great to have you. Hope the forums are helpful and entertaining. It's always entertaining, so... I hope it's helpful

HEYA!

Ironically we share the same sort of lifestyle

aboard!

W E L C O M E

Glad you decided to join us and hope you can find the inspiration to keep working hard at what you love.

Keep up the good work and efforts and know that with enough people making efforts like you and putting positive thoughts out there and those that stubbornly don't give up no matter the set back, are the people who are going to make a difference and drive the community to become something the world can be proud of.