The Drawing Club

(Fogra 29) Job:11-41057 Title:Drawing club Handbook

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78 The Drawing Club

(Text)

ExErcisE:

What makes you laugh?

When setting out to do funny drawings, it is really easy to

get stuck. Because everyone has their own sense of humor, it is

important to have a point of view and not worry too much about

what other people might think. The most important thing is

whether you think it’s funny. Which leads to the question:

What makes you laugh?

To help you put a finger on it, collect images of things you find

funny. Every once in a while, spread them out and look at them.

These could be illustrations, photos, caricatures, comics, video

clips, magazine ads—and some of your own drawings, of course.

There is something about having all of them staring you in the

face that helps clarify your sense of humor. Do this whenever

you get stuck, and always keep collecting new images.

ExErcisE:

Don’t censor yourself

When you are drawing a character and you want to make a

funny comment with your drawing, don’t censor yourself. Go for

the jugular, if you have to. The best artists I know who do the

funniest drawings are fearless in this way. Like a great stand-up

comic, you have to be brave and say it like you mean it, even

if you bomb every once in a while. Just don’t get in the habit of

playing it safe. If the character is trying to be cool and you think

he looks ridiculous, don’t hold back!

School Girl, colored pencil, cut paper and tape on paper, Rich Tuzon

Toulouse-Lautrec Dancer, colored pencil on paper,

Wilson Swain

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(Text)

Chapter 5: What Is Funny?

To help you put a finger on it, collect images of things you find

funny. Every once in a while, spread them out and look at them.

These could be illustrations, photos, caricatures, comics, video

clips, magazine ads—and some of your own drawings, of course.

There is something about having all of them staring you in the

face that helps clarify your sense of humor. Do this whenever

you get stuck, and always keep collecting new images.

ExErcisE:

Don’t censor yourself

When you are drawing a character and you want to make a

funny comment with your drawing, don’t censor yourself. Go for

the jugular, if you have to. The best artists I know who do the

funniest drawings are fearless in this way. Like a great stand-up

comic, you have to be brave and say it like you mean it, even

if you bomb every once in a while. Just don’t get in the habit of

playing it safe. If the character is trying to be cool and you think

he looks ridiculous, don’t hold back!

Toulouse-Lautrec Dancer, pen on paper,

Wilson Swain

(Fogra 29) Job:11-41057 Title:Drawing club Handbook

05-C70789 #175 Dtp:204 Page:79

001-144_C70789.indd 79 5/13/14 10:45 AM