---

No. 2's Top Ten 'Toon Tips

1. Be prepared. Have materials handy. Don't run out of paper or sharp pencils when the mood to 'toon strikes.

2. Learn from the pro's. Look at cartoon strips and cartoon books created by artists who really know how to draw and how to make their stories interesting. Don't follow the crowd with the latest fad cartoon unless it is well done.

3. Use the library! libraries have zillions of ideas. Find time to "surf the shelves" for pictures and ideas.

4. Visit cartoon exhibits, museums, and studios. examine original art drawn by cartoon masters just as any other artist would examine the artwork of the masters of fine art.

5. Copy your cartoons and share them with friends and family. keep your original cartoons in a safe place, stored flat, not folded or rolled. If you save your original drawing, you can always make more copies.

6. Don't steal other cartoonists' characters and call them yours. It is not only illegal, it robs you of the satisfaction of creating your own characters and can prove to be embarrassing.

7. Make a morgue. A morgue is a collection of pictures clipped from magazines and newspapers. These references should be kept in folders or envelopes with subject headings such as people, costumes, SCENERY, animals, or whatever interests you. When you want to draw a certain object or costume, you might find it in your morgue.

8. Practice every day. It is easy to get busy and not have time to draw. But just like sports, if you don't practice, your skills slip away. A few minutes of drawing each day will improve your skills and keep them sharp. soon you'll look forward to your daily 'toon time.

9. Don't be afraid to redraw a cartoon. Redraw it until you get it the way you want it. If you are trying something difficult, have patience and confidence that you'll get it with practice.

10. Take classes in cartooning and related fields. Some communities don't have cartooning instructors, so take classes in drawing and writing. Some cartoonists actually take acting classes so they can pose their characters better. Support your local arts organizations, and encourage them to add cartooning to their class lineup if they don't have it already.