Bunches. If you're dead that is. Forbes Magazine has listed the top earning dead celebrities. Number one on the list is Elvis, The King. Surprisingly number two on the list is none other than...

Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts Gang. His 12 month earnings estimate was $33 million. Although Schulz died on Feb. 12, 2000 his cartoon empire continues to thrive.

A partnership was formed last October between the Peanuts comic strip and Warner Bros. studios. The deal sparked a spate of new DVD releases with fresh Peanuts content, sending the cult cartoons flying off shelves. In the spirit of the U.S. election season, Peanuts' main character, Charlie Brown, teamed up with the Rock The Vote campaign, and the movie You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown was re-released.

If that is not motivation enough to get busy with your cartooning career I don't know what is.

Labels: Cartooning, Making Money

Being called a cartoonist can mean very different things to different people. When I tell people that I am a cartoonist they ultimately ask what papers my cartoons are in. Most people think cartoonists just draw comic strips.

If you are considering a career in cartooning you might think about what field of cartooning you would like to specialize in. Here are a few examples if how diverse the world of cartooning can be.

1. Gag cartoonist - these guys draw simple single panel cartoons with or without punch lines. Most gag cartoonists work for magazines and newspapers but can also have great careers selling cartoons for newsletters, presentations and books. Many times the writing is harder than the cartooning in this field.

2. Comic Strip cartoonist - these are probably the most famous cartoonists and are the most associated with a career in cartooning. Getting a comic strip in the funny pages today is about like winning the lottery. A comic strip artist must not only know how to draw on some level but must be a great writer and storyteller. The best cartoonist in the world would not be able to sell one comic strip if it wasn't well written.

3. Graphic cartoonist - I put myself into this category of cartooning. A graphic cartoonist creates cartoons, logos and mascots for marketing purposes. There is no need for writing skills but a creative eye and a knack for color can really help out in this field.

4. Cartoon Illustrator - I think this is the most talented group of cartoonists. Just about anyone can learn to draw cartoons but very few people have the raw talent to become great illustrators. Cartoon illustrators create very detailed images that rival photography and painting. These artists design movie posters, illustrate books and create works of art.

5. Animators - these guys are a bit of a mix of everyone. They need good drawing skills, strong design ability, writing aptitude and for backgrounds they need illustration skills. Some animators are unskilled and use static cartoon images that are moved by hand rather than by drawing.

6. 3D Computer cartoonists - 3D guys create cartoons on the computer and use sophisticated programs to help animate the characters. The ability to use a computer is a must.

7. Caricature artists - a caricature is a cartoon interpretation of a persons face. Caricature artists take a persons features and learn how to exaggerate them. These cartoonists can work in a studio or on the street. Some caricaturists can draw quick facial sketches in a matter of moments while others take hours after studying many photographs of the subject.

8. Editorial cartoonist - these guys are a bit like the gag cartoonists but they must combine their drawing and writing abilities into a single image. Most editorial cartoons are political and run in print.

9. Greeting card designer - a greeting card designer has to convey a feeling or grab someones attention in just a split second. A card designer should have strong writing skills and a tough of illustration ability.

10. Comic Book illustrators - drawing for comic books takes the talent of being able to draw the human body. Comic book illustrators are very talented and have the skill to draw the human body in the best shape it can be. Writing skills are a plus in this career.

11. Internet cartoonist - due to the reach of the Internet, a new field of cartooning was created. Many unpublished cartoonists have started online comic strips and have had success. Most of their money comes through subscriptions, advertising and merchandise sales. You really need to target a small niche to be successful in this field.

Labels: Animation, Caricatures, Cartoon Logo, Cartooning, How To, Niches

Here are my most recent cartoon designs.
Click it for an outside view and then click for a larger view.

Labels: Cartoon Logo

This is about what each sketch I do looks like after I scan it at 300 dpi. I open the TIFF in Photoshop and start cleaning up the drawing. This is where the image becomes inked.

Labels: Cartooning, How To, Sketching

I continue to sketch with pencil on paper at my drawing board. I normally use Bic or Papermate disposable pencils and refill them with .05 mm or .07 mm lead. I sketch on HP Brite inkjet paper or whatever is handy.

I do draw on a very small light box. If you do not have a light box you are missing out on a major time saver. You can make quick changes to a drawing by using a clean sheet of paper and the light box. Just trace over the original while making the new changes you would like.

I draw my characters pretty small, most averaging only about 4" tall. The smaller size helps in the clean up process by speeding things up. Some cartoonists draw very large with thicker lines which looks more detailed once reduced and eliminates as much clean up. Many cartoonists actually ink the drawing before scanning.

I try to keep my sketch as clean as possible but I do end up with many erased areas. I scan my sketch into PhotoShop to clean up. This is where I "ink" my designs. More on that later.

Labels: Cartoon Supplies, Cartooning, How To, Sketching

I recently had a logo designer contact me and ask for my advice. They were just starting out, had a small portfolio and wanted to know how much to charge for a logo design. I get this question frequently because I have written an article explaining how much a logo is really worth. My article has helped out countless designers and is cited often when a client balks at paying more than they think is fair.

Although my article gives reasons as to why a logo is worth more than an illustration and why a designer needs to get paid a certain amount it doesn't take into account one other important factor... free market. In today's market it's not how much are you going to charge for a logo, it's how much is someone going to pay for that logo.

There's no rule, book, committee or law that states how much you have to charge for a logo design. There are guides given by different organizations and ways of comparing the rates of differing agencies and designers but there is no way to create a definitive standard rate.

All clients are different and all designers are different. You are not selling them an object that has set value, you are selling them an idea, a brand, an image. For some it may bring wealth, for others it may just be a mark on an envelope.

I explained to this questioner that selling usage rights to a logo is a difficult process. When a client buys a logo they pretty much want all rights and want the ability to protect their investment. There's not much value in owning a logo design that is not yours.

I felt the designer should just set a flat rate and forget about trying to keep track of usage rights. I also suggested that this upstart artist might be charging a bit much for the design. I received a polite response thanking me for my advice but also stating that they were not going to follow it and that I was underselling myself.

Wow! This coming from a designer with very little experience and almost no portfolio. I was a bit miffed at first but thought about the comments for a while. My conclusion is this:

I am a cartoon logo designer. I began this adventure online in 1998 before two-thirds of the country even knew what the Internet was. I was the first designer to specialize in doing just cartoon logos. I've done hundreds of designs for clients in just about every country in the world.

I own my business, I work from home, I belong to the country club, my kids are in private school, I have more work than I can handle, I have kept up to four different cartoonists busy with work and I have helped dozens of mom and pop entrepreneurs get their dreams started.

Am I selling myself short? In terms of dollars, maybe. Could I charge more? Probably. Am I only in this for the money? Nope.

I create these designs because I love to draw cartoons. I love to help working people start those side businesses that they have dreamed of for years. I could charge an arm and a leg and make more money but I would have missed out on helping the Mexican mother in San Antonio get a fun character for the side of her ice cream truck, I would have missed out on creating the design that helped a couple launch their milkshake business, I wouldn't have heard back from the father that wanted to launch a website with a fun little character logo.

I enjoy helping these people and after being online for several years I have a feel for what many people are able to pay. I can predict pretty accurately that raising my rates will kill off many of the quotes I send out and I'm usually correct because my bookings begin to drop.

You can't base your rates on something you read in a book. You have to get a feel for your ability and a grasp of how many clients will be interested in what you have to offer. You have to know who your clientele are and how much they can stretch their budgets to pay. If you're making a good salary, providing for your family and you're happy doing what you love, why get greedy? Don't always charge more just because you can. Help people out. Give them a fair shake like someone gave you when you started out. Be fair to yourself, but also be fair to the client.

Labels: Cartoon Logo, Design Prices

I'm on the verge of relaunching my greeting card line and my website. These are the new logos for each card division in my ChuckleBerry's line. I'll let you know when the new site is launched.

Selling your cartoon designs to greeting card companies is another great niche for making money with cartoons. Most card companies pay around $150-$300 per design for all rights. Be sure to pick up the latest copy of the Artists Market for all of the card companies accepting freelance designs.

I've sold a few designs to companies like Gallant Greetings but I'm now on a mission to start my own greeting card company big time. I'll soon be starting a greeting card blog which you can read and follow my entrepreneurial progress.

Stay tooned!!

Labels: Greeting Cards, Niches