HOLA Night OwlZ, Early BirdZ & Dog LoverZ
Tonight’s Essential Cartoon continues the Spaghetti run.
The idea for this cartoon came from my job. Every 3 months we review emergency drills with our clients. Fire, Earthquake, and, unfortunately, Active Shooter drills.
Back to cartooning:
I’ve read a lot about the importance of doing warm-ups before sitting down to draw. I mean, it makes sense, right? Musicians and athletes do warm-ups, why not artists? Usually I get bored with all the circles and squares and cross-hatching exercises, because they tend to feel unconnected to whatever I’m working on. But today I realized I can keep the warm-up simple and more pertaining to the cartoon. So instead of random shapes and lines, I warmed up with the shapes that would be used in tonight’s cartoon. This way, by practicing these particular shapes –ovals & squares (heads), rectangles (body), arm, book, hands, letters– my warm-up would be more focused. If it interests you, then you can check out the attachment.
Also, took a book out on Labrador Retrievers from my most favorite place on Earth — the library. I will start to incorporate details that Labs have, like the shape of their ears, for example. I’m also experimenting with Spaghetti’s eyebrows, less Groucho Marx.
One last thing. I bought my first magazine in, like, 15 years. When I saw the dog on the cover, I figured, what the heck. It’s the National Geographic “The Genius of Dogs” issue. Can’t believe it was $14.99 ($17.99 in Canada, man they’ve got it rough) which is probably why I haven’t splurged on one in years. I could’ve gone out to eat for that money. I guess it’s food for the brain.
If you made it through this email — thanks! If not, then no worries. I just hope you enjoy the cartoon.
Catch you all on Friday.
WOOF!
Ian S.
Salinas!
P.S.
“No rulers were harmed during the making of this cartoon.”
“Let’s still be careful out there.”