Dear Dairy,
I've just been reading a thread from a super secretive cartoonists' web board about how to make a character look the same when drawing it from panel to panel. This was a question asked by a group of kids in a workshop being run by a cartoonist. It's a pretty common question but I have a different take to that of most of the thread participants. Many referred to achieving likeness through the use of drawing a model sheet of the character, similar to the animation industry. I really find that drawing in the manner of animation (constructing characters with circles etc.) really is restrictive creatively and time wise. The issue being there is lack of freedom in movement of your character in a panel strip. Panel cartoons are 2D not 3D so why use a model sheet? I believe the kids are referring to achieving a similar likeness throughout to maintain consistency! bwahhahahahaha....anyway.
No matter how hatful of smacked monkey bums* awful the drawing of a mouse with red shorts on best bet that viewers will say you've drawn Mickey Mouse. It only requires a few key elements of the character to make recognition easily identifiable. I've drawn our illustrious leader of the nation numerous times over the past 3 years in the Cactus Island comic strip and I'll guarantee you that none of those drawings are exact or as they say in the animation industry "On Model".
I like to think of my drawing style as unique as my signature. Something that could not be rendered by another person. Adding my flavour to the style of drawing. Signature drawing style if you will. I once did a course on Graphology (helps when your Grandfather was a Federal Police officer too) and noted a fun exercise. Have a look at the way you've signed the back of your keycard or credit card. Now look at a letter to a loved on or a birthday card with your signature on it. Your Keycard will have incomprehensible scribble while your Birthday Card will have a timely scripture done in the best copperplate possible. It's all about attitude. No care for the banks and lots of love and time for friends and family. Imagine what can be said about drawings!
My style for Cactus Island was purely done for speed. I worship Sergio Aragones. His style too is built from speed. When you have strict deadlines to meet you can't stop to correct the work too often without slowing down or getting stuck. Speed makes you release the best artwork you'll ever do. Trust me. I've taught many workshops and every attendee has gone away drawing 80% faster and better than when they were struggling before they arrived to class. I haven't been teaching anything new, it's just the simplest solutions sometimes can be the most allusive.
* Hatful of smacked monkey bums - pending trademark by me.
