Komik Strip Kartoonz: The art of Old School Cartooning vs. High Tech Art

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My name is Tim Winstead and I've been drawing cartoons of one sort or the other for as long as I can recall. No formal training whatsoever and even less listened to advice just provided more of a reason for me to try and realize my goal of cartooning for a living, albeit....life itself did pose some hurdles...... which I stumbled over countless times. I still don't 'toon for a living, but strangely enough I have been very fortunate to encounter certain people who have left an indelible impression on me. First and foremost is Phil Yeh, a highly creative person with volumes of very colorful and imaginative illustrations and experiences that very few will ever know. This profoundly creative man has enough energy to light up a stadium and the kind of commitment to a craft that is rare by today's standards and it's HIS commitment to our craft ,which is a quality I have always admired.
I have also 'met' some other great artists as well via social networking. Off the top is a highly talented graphic artist, who by day .....dons the guise of a school teacher, Mr. Johnny Hamm. The work this man can produce is exceptional and though we have never met...I have known him for quite a long time.The kind of art he produces is unlike the mainstream stuff we all see. I call him a mixed media maestro. I am blown away by the composition of his work. Now, we shift to another exceptional cartoonist, Mr. Coleman York, who is the creator of HUGO comics. Outstanding in his own right, he has always struck me as someone of class and style. A very humble attitude mixed in with a little sage advice and a bit of ' We all gotta look out for one another' persona.Then there is Karl Zorowski, who is a devout priest....and a very exceptional person and..... just so happens to be the creator of ' Church Mice'. I have never met Karl, but he is another of the great people I know from the message board I mentioned earlier. And last but not least, there is Andrew Bos, who employs his cartoons in ways I hadn't seen before. A huge talent, of which I hope to see more of. In between all of the tiny little, gaps in my life, which are way way too many to try and list here....one thing has ALWAYS been a constant. That is I love to draw cartoons. Always have....always will, and chances are I may NEVER make a living drawing cartoons, but one thing is sure.....I will ALWAYS love my drawing cartoons and even though my life didn't exactly play out as planned, I'm very grateful that it took the direction it did. My life in ' toons has been....creative. But then again....aren't we ALL creative in our own way ? Please feel free to visit any time and should you have a question about cartoons/cartooning, or any of the topics you've seen on this blog.... please let me know at otb666tw@gmail.com and Ill post your question with an answer. If I can't answer it. I'll find somebody who can. If you have a topic of your own, I'll be more than happy to post it, and see what kind of responses we get. That's pretty much the crux of this blog. My aim is to provide a forum for anything and everything 'toon. Thanks and come back often.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The art of Old School Cartooning vs. High Tech Art

Hey all......This is another installment of what I term as my N.R.T.D.T.Y. ( NOBODYS READ THE DAMN THING YET ) blog. But now as i write this,,,ive begun to relize that now i have my laptop as opposed to that cursed phone...I actually have capabilities not present on my phone. Im starting to learn to use some of the editing tools to do things unheard of on my phone. However, it does present to me some material to add to what my twisted mind terms as Old School vs, High Tech Art dilema. If you are one to keep up on whats what in the land of comics and cartooning, chances are you have heard that comics in the newspapers is gradually losing space in what is already a highly competitive market. Cartoonists across the country vie for that ever decreasing spot in the papers and magazines. On the flip side, Technology has increased productivity and the rate at which the consumer gets information, That is without arguement and therein lies the proplem. Far too many cartoonists are slowly losing ground to markets already aimed at profit loses and most, if not all will seek out the most efficient way to garner those profits without losing their consumer base. It does tend to make me wonder just how many cartoonists out there rely solely on the tech part to create their artwork. Its a safe bet that once a cartoon or comic is rendered, it is enhanced by technology from beginning to end, Ok, here is my issue......What would happen if the technology aspect of the creative process were to somehow go away. I mean, if it were somehow possible for our high tech life to suddenly grind to a low tech or no tech speed......who could still draw those comics or cartoons ??. In a world where the very instant you begin to draw, technoloy steps in so you dont have to. I am proud to say that I am old school from point A to point B. I will stop short of saying that i dont entirely denounce a tech aspect of the process, but only at the point where the cartoon is completed by hand do i rely on the tech. In all fairness to my fellow cartoonists who use and rely heavily on technology to do what they do, whatever helps helps. I,on the other hand have always loved that part of cartooning whereby you think...sketch...and build that artwork from the pen to the paper. If a super solar flare or E.M.F. took us out tommorrow and literally tosses us back to the dark ages, life would indeed suck out loud.....but, I would still be able to draw cartoons. For that ?, I dont need the high tech. Old Schoolers never do.

2 comments:

Hugo comicsDecember 29, 2012 at 9:19 AM
Great post Tim!

The truth though is the newspaper is going to be a thing of the past and the chances of us going backwards to the dark ages are slim to none. So those people who love to read the comics in the papers will have to look elswhere. The internet will be the place to see , read and prosper so those of us who use ink or sketch our art will somehow need the internet to promote our work. I have jumped from wanting my work in newspapers to the internet as I have seen the writing on the wall for a long time. Seven years ago I decided to quit trying the big syndicate companies, like you said, it's become even more difficult get selected. I have been drawing my comics in the paint accessory on my computer for years. I start with a fresh page and actually use my mouse instead of an ink pen. I still create from scratch but use technology so I can post on the internet. Let's face the music and realize that we don't have to throw away all that we know and go with the flow. People use the internet to read books, newspaper, inform themselves etc. If we want our work to be seen and create an awarness then we need to move with the rest of the world.
My work has been published in many magazines around the world and still is, but my greatest awareness has been on the internet through my own website and Facebook pages. You can still draw the old school way and transfer that work online by either scanning or using other methods available. Don't miss the boat by thinking technology will one day not be with us.

Coleman York
Creator of "Hugo"
www.hugocomics.com
www.facebook.com/hugocomics
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Tim Winstead / CartoonistMay 23, 2013 at 12:54 PM
First off, I'd like to thank Coleman York for taking time out of what I'm sure is a very busy schedule to reply to my blog topic. There are a wide range of subjects I could have touched on with regard to the field of cartooning and those who create such, but I believe his was a perfect response to the contrary.as he employs the very techniques and tools of the trade that for reasons I'll keep to myself.....work in his favor and it is those views I would like to see more of. I, myself am somewhat of an 'old schooler' and in that...I try to create my 'toons while adhering to standards I learnred as a young-un coming up. The downside is...that for reasons, if revealed will portray me as lazy and un-willing to accept a 'new age'....have actually put me behind the eight ball and playing catch-up has proved a learning curve that is sometimes overwhelming. But...enough of me....this reply is to simply say that as time has passed since Mr. Yorks comment graced my blog, I have had a change of heart( not completely, so don't wig out ), but a change nonetheless. For that, Coleman York....I thank you and in time, hope to be a better cartoonist because of it.
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