G'DAY FOR CARTOONIST

by Stephanie Piro, Circulation Desk
Goodwin Library, Farmington
(603) 755-2944
www.goodwinlibrary.com

As a full-time cartoonist, I never really expected to take on anything else, but when I walked into the Goodwin Library in Farmington to check out some magazines for research, I walked away with a part-time job and entered a whole new world. Since that day I've done everything from work the circulation desk, to running programs for adults, teen, and kids, and done lots of artwork.

When a co-worker suggested I enter the competition for choosing art for the 2008 SRP (Summer Reading Program), I debated about it until the last minute as I'm not technically a children's book illustrator, and that seemed to be what the committee chose in the past. Needless to say, I was delighted to hear my samples had been chosen and I was going to have the honor of designing all the art including posters, bookmarks, T-shirts and certificates. So, I buckled down and did a lot of research on Australia and all the creatures that inhabit it. I love drawing animals, anyway, and I had a lot of fun playing around with creatures like Koalas, Tasmanian devils and platypuses.

Our Children's Room staff invited me to do a program especially for them based around the art and the G'day for Reading theme. I came up with a few ideas. For example, I made up pages that feature multiple squares, some that have strips, and some others that are one big square. My plan is to use an easel and draw several characters, then have the kids choose a character and create a cartoon strip or panel based on their character. One fun method I employ is having kids learn to draw a character's feelings and expressions. This is what brings a cartoon to life.

By creating a sample page and then encouraging them to go crazy with their drawings it gets the kids involved and they really enjoy themselves. Sometimes I partner them up and have one child make the expression I request at his/her partner, then switch. This is a great way to break the ice and get everyone laughing. After creating their characters, the next step is to put them in a cartoon. This involves coming up with a brief storyline for a strip, or a caption for a panel.

By showing examples and encouraging each child to find their own unique voice, they finish the program with some art they can take home and be proud of. And, who knows, maybe continue on the path to becoming a professional cartoonist, graphic novelist or comic book creator.