Cartoonist

A Cartoonist is a visual artist who creates humorous, satirical, or thought-provoking illustrations, often accompanied by captions or dialogue. These drawings appear in newspapers, magazines, books, comics, online platforms, or animation projects. Cartoonists use their artistic skills and wit to comment on current events, tell stories, entertain, or convey messages in a way that is accessible and engaging. Their work can range from editorial cartoons and comic strips to graphic novels and character designs for animations.

Cartoonists typically do the following tasks:

• Develop original cartoon concepts, characters, and storylines based on humor, satire, or storytelling goals.
• Create illustrations by hand or using digital tools and software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Procreate.
• Write and integrate dialogue or captions that enhance the humor or message of the cartoon.
• Collaborate with writers, editors, or animators when working on larger projects such as comic books, advertising campaigns, or animated series.
• Adapt artwork to fit different media formats, including print, web, social media, or broadcast.
• Stay informed about current events, cultural trends, and social issues for inspiration and relevance.
• Revise and refine artwork based on editorial feedback or audience response.
• Maintain a consistent artistic style, especially for recurring characters or comic series.
• Build a portfolio of work to showcase to publishers, clients, or audiences.

The following job titles also refer to cartoonist:

political cartoonist
strip cartoonist
comic artist
caricaturist
pocket cartoonist
satirical cartoonist
topical cartoonist

Cartoonists typically work in studios, either independently or as part of a larger creative team within publishing houses, animation studios, or advertising agencies. Freelancers often work from home or personal studios and may have flexible schedules, although deadlines for publication or client projects can require long or irregular hours. The work involves extensive use of drawing tools or digital illustration software, sometimes requiring repetitive hand movements and long periods of focus.

While formal education is not strictly required, many Cartoonists hold a degree or diploma in fine arts, illustration, graphic design, or animation. Strong drawing skills, a distinctive artistic voice, and a keen sense of humor or storytelling are essential. Practical experience is often gained through internships, self-publishing, webcomics, or working as an assistant to established cartoonists. Building a compelling portfolio and gaining a following through social media or personal websites can significantly enhance career opportunities. Continuous learning in digital tools, animation techniques, and narrative development is valuable in the evolving media landscape.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Cartoonist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to cartoonist.

illustrator
storyboard artist
desktop publisher
animator
special effects artist

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of cartoonist.

• Graphic design: The techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.
• Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

These skills are necessary for the role of cartoonist.

• Follow work schedule: Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.
• Create animated narratives: Develop animated narrative sequences and story lines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
• Follow a brief: Interpret and meet requirements and expectations, as discussed and agreed upon with the customers.
• Interpret illustration needs: Communicate with clients, editors and authors in order to interpret and fully understand their professional needs.
• Maintain an artistic portfolio: Maintain portfolios of artistic work to show styles, interests, abilities and realisations.
• Create sketches: Draw sketches to prepare for a drawing or as a standalone artistic technique.
• Adapt to type of media: Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.
• Finish project within budget: Make sure to stay within budget. Adapt work and materials to budget.
• Develop creative ideas: Developing new artistic concepts and creative ideas.
• Consult with editor: Consult with the editor of a book, magazine, journal or other publications about expectations, requirements, and progress.
• Select illustration styles: Select the appropriate style, medium, and techniques of illustration in line with the needs of the project and client’s requests.
• Analyse texts to be illustrated: Analyse texts to be illustrated; researching and checking sources.
• Study media sources: Study various media sources such as broadcasts, print media, and online media in order to gather inspiration for the development of creative concepts.
• Follow the news: Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.
• Practice humour: Share humourous expressions with audience, eliciting laughter, surprise, other emotions, or a combination thereof.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of cartoonist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• ICT software specifications: The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.
• Multimedia systems: The methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.
• Desktop publishing: The creation of documents using page layout skills on a computer. Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic quality text and images.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of cartoonist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Create original drawings: Create original drawings, based on texts, thorough research and discussion with authors, journalists and specialists.
• Use traditional illustration techniques: Create drawings using traditional illustration techniques such as watercolour, pen and ink, airbrush art, oil painting, pastels, wood engraving, and linoleum cuts.
• Apply desktop publishing techniques: Apply desktop publishing techniques and software to create page layouts and typographic quality text.
• Use digital illustration techniques: Create drawings using digital illustration programmes and techniques.
• Perform image editing: Edit various types of images such as analogue and digital photographs or illustrations.
• Use CAD software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
• Create 2D painting: Produce a drawing by using a range of digital tools.
• Design graphics: Apply a variety of visual techniques in order to design graphic material. Combine graphical elements to communicate concepts and ideas.
• Write captions: Write captions to accompany cartoons, drawings, and photographs. These captions can be humorous or explanatory.

2651 – Visual artists

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References

1. Cartoonist – ESCO
2. Featured image: Photo by RDNE Stock project