not just cartoon style either. Draw like the masters. Only through a real grasp and control of the fundamentals of art can you even attempt to break into the upper echelons of the creative world. I’m always beating myself up artistically because I didn’t get that “angle of shot” the way I’d like it. I have several books on Anatomy and Perspective. You have to push your limits everyday. And don’t limit yourself to just 2-D art alone. Do sculpture, you will be shocked how much that will translate back into your drawings. Some of the most beautiful drawings i’ve seen are the preparatory drawings Michelango used for his sculptures. You will learn to think in 3-D and understand Volume much better than ever possible. Most of the web comics i’ve seen online (Yirmumah excluded) are always imitating someone else’s style and lack a clear understanding of volume and space. Not to say there aren’t good ones. http://manga.clone-army.org/ check out his more serious works. That guy has a good control of his drawing skills and I respect that a lot. Not all webcomics have to be cartoony or comedy. Variety is the spice of life after all.

my post was generally about being a cartoonist as a profession. I get mail from folks who just generally want to pursue some sort of cartooning for a living– it’s a rough road to hoe, and not the most lucrative of ventures, for sure.

DJ, I think you’re list is really good. But if I can add something to it…

Don’t get into comics - ESPECIALLY web comics - expecting money or fame.

People think because it’s just funny pictures, it’s easy to break into the big time. Compound that with the notion that anything you put online will find an audience and you start to see a bunch of frustrated cartoonists.

Do I enjoy the money my site makes? What little of it is profit, yes. But it’s not the reason *why* I do it.

I draw and write because I have to. Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t feel like I was the most fully-functioning version of myself. Money, fame, appreciation - all that stuff comes later. WAY later. And only if you’re passionate about what you do. If you’re not, people can see right through it.

Nothing bothers me more than someone who puts up a sprite comic with a “Make a Donation through PayPal!” button slapped big and bold on their site right out of the gate.

Build an audience. Justify the request for donations to improve operations of the site. But don’t EXPECT people to just fork over money. It doesn’t work like that.

…and the name of an Otep album.