A technique for fundamental drawing.

1. Drawing
Cartoons and the
Beginning of Art
Expression
Step-by-step with Illustrations
By Elly Potamianos

2. Cartoon drawing is most fun when
relaxing, observing, and analyzing
our surroundings. This is of course
true for any art form, but cartoon
drawing is simple and
characteristically a humorous
expression. It’s great for the
beginner artist. Remember though,
that to be a clown you must first be a
master. Measuring, practicing, and
Square Illustration 4
implementing a basis to your art, is
imperative. Within a composition of
art it is the basal of which every
artist must understand and perceive. It is a fundamental foundation
essential for any degree of talent.
As a priority, your keen observation is much more important than your
physical drawing capabilities and technique. Anyone can do it. The level of
an individual’s talent can only be reached by practice, more practice,
observation, and continued visual analysis. The highest level and best
resource to learning is visual, but listening to your favorite music can help
set the mood and open the imagination.
The best steps to take in learning the art of cartoon drawing would be to
obtain a good overview of your subject. View it in different shapes and
forms that may be camouflaged within its’ body. Your simplest practice
would be circles, squares, pyramids, and cylinders.
Let’s take the square and draw another over it, but move one slightly so that
we can see both shapes as one overlaps the other in a cascading manner.
Then draw lines from each square corner tip to the other. You’re now
beginning to see a little perspective. Now erase the extra lines to make it
solid. You can now add light reflection by either darkening the line
thickness on one side of the square, or shadow by color filling one side a
darkish grey shade. Here we’ve taken a three dimensional object and
converted it on paper into a two dimensional view. (See Square Illustrations
1, 2, 3, & 4)
2 Drawing Cartoons & the Beginning of Art Expression | with Illustrations by Elly Potamianos

3. Square Illustration 1, 2, and 3
Other practice techniques would be transparency drawing by using light or
thin paper. You can also take a picture and if necessary crop it, or even
pausing a video to draw from it. You can also begin by copying your favorite
cartoon for practice. Personally, I think Mickey Mouse is the most
characteristically created mouse featured with the most circles ever applied
on a cartoon drawing.
Cartoon Illustration 1 & 2
3 Drawing Cartoons & the Beginning of Art Expression | with Illustrations by Elly Potamianos

4. Once you’ve drawn an overview of your subject, filling in the details will now
be your choice, along with the extent of realism you want to portray.
Determining the emphasis and exaggeration in these details within your
object or character will produce your original cartoon or caricature. (See
Cartoon Illustrations 1, 2, & 3)
Whether you’re interested in a hobby or profession, it takes maturity and
practice, along with learning the many techniques through observation,
measurement, and drawing. There are many styles of art to appreciate, and
once you’ve practiced and cultivated your knowledge you will have your own
originality to contribute, and work to enjoy.
Cartoon Illustration 3
Drawing Illustration by Elly Potamianos
4 Drawing Cartoons & the Beginning of Art Expression | with Illustrations by Elly Potamianos