The Cartoonist's Workbook Drawing, Writing Gags, Selling

by Robin Hall
Buy new: $13.95 $6.98 Buy used: $1.64

Editorial Reviews

“Comprehensive and entertaining...far more material in a cleaner format [makes] the reader laugh on every page....Thus, one learns that of 6,000 submissions to King Features Syndicate, only three are accepted, and...how to make snacks while preparing one of those submissions.”—Library Journal. “A wealth of information...Hall does everything but make the cartoon for you.”—Art Times.

Customer Reviews

A lot better than it might look at first., 2008-06-30
by J. Pannafino
If you quickly glance through it, it might not seem like a great book. But it's really good, it just uses simple drawings to show idea's. If you want to start a comic strip artist this is a must to add to your collection. If you want to pretty pictures by a comic book, this is to learn to create them.
It was More Fun Then Work in the End!, 2008-06-01
by C. Clayton (Tucson AZ)
Before I finished my third book I decided it needed cartoons to visually explain some ideas (a picture is worth 1000 words) and provide humor to a tough subject. I started checking with hiring a professional artist (or student artist) to do the work. It quickly became clear the task would be time consuming, expensive and I may not get what I wanted in the end.

First, it would be difficult to find someone who would be able to take what was in my mind and transfer it to a cartoon

Second, it became painfully clear it would be expensive (even with a student artist). I wanted around twenty five cartoons drawn.

Third, some individuals wanted to discuss contracts and usage.

My best option was to learn how to draw cartoons myself. I figured it would be less expensive (only the cost of books and art supplies), and frustrating and I would get exactly what was in my brain. It would take some time to become proficient, but it sounded like a fun project. I was fortunately right.

The Cartoonist's Workbook by and a couple other books helped me learn how to draw cartoons good enough to put in my latest book.

Robin Hall's common sense approach to teaching drawing made the challenge fun. There were also a tremendous number of different sketches in the book that helped jump start ideas for potential cartoons.

Robin Hall provides many excellent sections that helps teach drawing techniques. Some the sections that I found especially helpful were: The Expressions section, The Useful Outdoor References and The Gag Situations.

After finishing my sketches, I used Adobe Elements software to polish up the work. I was very pleased with the final cartoons that went into my book...and there have been many positive comments about the cartoons from people who have the book.

Overall, this is a great resource for learning to draw cartoons!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Drawing on the Funny Side of the Brain : How to Come Up With Jokes for Cartoons and Comic Strips

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Cartooning but Were Afraid to Draw (Christopher Hart Titles)
Good Cartoon Book, 2007-04-17
by dan
the cartoonist's workbook is a great book that just about goes over every thing needed to make a cartoon. of course since the book is only around a 100 pages it doesnt go into great detail on every issue. its a great recourse as it has around 20 pages of just gag ideas, useful poses etc...

Anyways the book teaches you a very 90's looking type of cartoon which i happen to like. I would recommend this book for anyone trying to draw some cartoons. This book assumes you know almost nothing and cant draw so its for absolute begginers. i highly recommend this book.
Helpful, Concise and Inspiring, 2006-07-16
by Rae A. Gaedke (Sperryville, Virginia United States)
This book is very helpful. I've had some experience before with attempting cartooning and I've been drawing seriously for years. However, this book teaches a different method for cartooning and drawing that is different than what I've been using before and reading it inspires me again to do more cartooning.

The way he writes is just encouraging, friendly and it is quick to get to the point. He accompanies his writing with illustrations that look comfortable and accomplished. The author is obviously a capable cartoonist and it allows you to feel like you are being taught well. He assumes you know nothing and I'm certain that his methods would seem comfortable to even the most inexperienced artists.

The gag writing section of the book is interesting too but it isn't as good as the rest of his book. This is understandable given the nature of writing humor. Even though it doesn't do as well as the drawing sections, it still is the best guide to writing humor I've ever seen. Like the rest of the book, it inspires me to write humor of my own. It's shortcoming though is that unlike the cartooning section, the examples don't seem accomplished. Though the methods he teaches seem promising with practice, his own stuff is not very funny.

Regardless of the flaws in the humor-writing sections, the whole of the book is just so inviting that it makes the book a great purchase. It's a useful and fun book and I'd have gladly paid twice what I did for it.
An unexpected art resource..., 2006-06-22
I've worked with fine art for years, and I was looking for a way to loosen up a little, do some simple sketching. Among art books there isn't much to choose from if you want to draw loose! I came across this book at a bookstore and I just liked the drawing style. I brought it home and within hours the looser style I wanted to achieve had emerged. If it's helped me this much, I can imagine what it would do for someone who actually wants to draw cartoons! It's a great reference for the simple basics of drawing everything from people to common objects. A great book!!!!

Ads by PicassoMio