Art Careers / Comic Artist and Cartoonist

Media and Entertainment

What Does a Cartoonist Do? An Art Career for Kids

Curious about this job? Here is what the work looks like, a typical day, the tools, where people do it and how to get started, plus a small activity so you can try it yourself.

What a cartoonist does

A comic artist tells stories with drawings in boxes called panels, along with words in speech bubbles. Cartoonists draw comic strips, graphic novels, webcomics and funny or thoughtful single drawings.

Real-world examples: Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts; Raina Telgemeier, author of Smile.

A day on the job

  • Write or read a script and plan the pages
  • Sketch panels and characters
  • Ink and color the final pages
  • Share work online or send it to a publisher

Tools of the job

  • Pencils and ink pens
  • Bristol board or comic paper
  • Drawing tablet
  • Comic and illustration software
  • Ruler for panels
  • Lettering pens or fonts

Where they work

  • Home studios
  • Publishing companies
  • Newspapers and online comic sites

The path in 4 steps

  1. Start now

    • Make a 4-panel comic about your day
    • Invent a character and draw them with different feelings
    • Read lots of comics and graphic novels

  2. In your teens

    • Make a mini comic book (a zine) and share it
    • Take drawing and writing classes
    • Draw comics for the school paper or club

  3. Training

    Many cartoonists study illustration or fine art, but a degree is not always required. Drawing skill, a sense of humor or drama, lots of practice, and a portfolio of finished comics matter most.

  4. Build a portfolio

    Finished comic pages or strips, character sheets, and a short complete story.

Skills that help

  • Drawing
  • Storytelling
  • Humor and timing
  • Writing dialogue
  • Lettering

Try this job

A small taste of the real work, using things you already have.

Fold a paper into 4 boxes. Draw a 4-panel comic: panel 1 sets up, panel 2 something happens, panel 3 it gets worse (or funnier), panel 4 a surprise ending. Use at least one speech bubble and one sound effect. Comic artists use this same setup for countless daily strips.

Ms Artastic lessons

Lessons that practise skills this career uses.

Cartooning Selfie Self PortraitCartooning Selfie Self PortraitMs Artastic lessonSee the lessonCartoon Grid Drawing WorksheetsCartoon Grid Drawing WorksheetsMs Artastic lessonSee the lesson

Watch with Ms Artastic

Videos from my YouTube channel that practise skills from this job.

Draw a Pufferfish! Cartoon Pufferfish Drawing Tutorial Art Lesson for KIDS!Draw a Pufferfish! Cartoon Pufferfish Drawing Tutorial Art Lesson for KIDS!Ms Artastic on YouTubeWatch the videoDraw a Cute Cactus! Cartoon Cactus Drawing Tutorial Art Lesson for KIDS!Draw a Cute Cactus! Cartoon Cactus Drawing Tutorial Art Lesson for KIDS!Ms Artastic on YouTubeWatch the videoDraw a Cute Banana! Cartoon Banana Drawing Tutorial Art Lesson for KIDS!Draw a Cute Banana! Cartoon Banana Drawing Tutorial Art Lesson for KIDS!Ms Artastic on YouTubeWatch the videoDraw an Armadillo! Cartoon Armadillo Drawing Tutorial Art Lesson for KIDS!Draw an Armadillo! Cartoon Armadillo Drawing Tutorial Art Lesson for KIDS!Ms Artastic on YouTubeWatch the video

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Learn more

For pay, job outlook and training details, read the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook page for this kind of work.

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Questions teachers and parents ask

What does a cartoonist do?

A comic artist tells stories with drawings in boxes called panels, along with words in speech bubbles. Cartoonists draw comic strips, graphic novels, webcomics and funny or thoughtful single drawings.

How do you become a cartoonist?

Many cartoonists study illustration or fine art, but a degree is not always required. Drawing skill, a sense of humor or drama, lots of practice, and a portfolio of finished comics matter most.

What skills does a cartoonist need?

Drawing, Storytelling, Humor and timing, Writing dialogue and Lettering.

The Artastic Collective art curriculum

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