Cartoonist

OFO No: 265101

Other names for Cartoonist:

What is a Cartoonist?

Do you enjoy drawing cartoons? Do you know that you can make a career out of it? Well you can! Being a Cartoonist involves drawing cartoons all day.

It’s a fun career if you enjoy being creative, but it also requires hard work and dedication to succeed as an artist.

If a Cartoonist is hired by a newspaper their main job would be to make illustrations for the newspaper, or they can even have their own comic strip (remember- you need a good sense of humour for this job!)

Cartoonists also have to draw caricatures that resemble real life people to make political jokes and statements. 

Film studios hire cartoonists to make animated films or television series. Here, they are known as animators and have to make art work on computers. With the help of the latest software, the Cartoonist can make the cartoons move, but it involves a lot technical study and there are special degrees and courses for such work.

Cartoonists need to keep a strong portfolio of their best work to show prospective employers or clients. Many Cartoonists work on a freelance basis and get paid according to each project. The main skills they should have are drawing and how to use the computer.

What does a Cartoonist do?

• liaises with clients to understand their requirements
• reads briefs
• researches subject
• makes preliminary drawings
• keeps up to date with the news and other interesting facts
• draws, draws and does more drawing!!!
• sees the funny side of life

Are you … ?

• good at drawing and painting?
• funny?
• able to work under the pressure and meet deadlines?
• confident that your work is completely original?
• creative ?
• able to work on your own as well as on a team?
• knowledgeable about other artworks?
• knowledgeable of the technicalities about drawing?
• knowledgeable of the colour spectrum in detail?

How do I become a Cartoonist?

This is one of the few jobs that do not require any formal education but a load of talent and good drawing skills are necessary.

There are many professional art schools that give professional degrees; these degrees add good value to your skills package in the job market.

Having a good, original portfolio of artwork is a must have for any cartoonist. Make sure each drawing is copyrighted.

If you wish to pursue a qualification, most universities and private institutions offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Fine Arts (Visual Communication).

Minimum requirements: Please note, each institution may have additional requirements.

National Senior Certificate meeting degree entry requirements 

PATH 1

Diploma in Fine Art

BTech (Bachelor of Technology) in Fine Art

Rhodes University

University of Fort Hare

Master of Technology in Fine Art

Central University of Technology

Durban University of Technology

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Tshwane University of Technology

University of Johannesburg

Vaal University of Technology

PATH 2

Bachelor degree in Visual Art

Postgraduate Diploma in Art

PATH 3

Bachelor degree in Visual Art

Honours in Fine Art

University of KZN

University of Stellenbosch

Masters in Fine & Visual Art

North West University

Rhodes University

University of Cape Town

University of Fort Hare

University of KZN

University of Pretoria

UNISA

University of Stellenbosch

University of the Free State

University of Witswatersrand

PATH 4

Bachelor degree in Fine & Visual Art

University of Stellenbosch

Masters in Fine & Visual Art

University of KZN

University of Stellenbosch

Masters in Fine & Visual Art

North West University

Rhodes University

University of Cape Town

University of Fort Hare

University of KZN

University of Pretoria

UNISA

University of Stellenbosch

University of the Free State

University of Witswatersrand

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS:

• THE OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION

• PRESTIGE ACADEMY

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Graphic Designer … or … Tattoo Artist

Is becoming a Cartoonist the right career choice for me?