What would you think about the same person who said the same thing about learning to write? You'd probably think that it was a pretty stupid thing to say, and you'd be right. Now, that's not necessarily the students fault. The number of failures in drawing classes is no doubt due to an almost total lack of system in teaching the fundamentals, and the denial to students of basic teaching aids.

So called "freehand drawing" is at the bottom of most failures to grasp the groundwork knowledge necessary to enable almost anyone to make simple, accurate, drawings from copies or other models. "Freehand" drawing should probably becalled "Hap-Hazard" drawing.

A teacher of handwriting instructs according to a recognised system. He/she requires the use of guide lines for the formation of the written characters ? the faint blue lines on some writing pads etc.

The average drawing teacher on the other hand, encourages the novice student to go ahead blindly and do the best they can. Avoiding every aid and depending only upon the untrained eye and hand. You may as well try to teach carpentry without the use of a set square or tape measure.

Experienced teachers of drawing are aware that the easier they make the study, the greater, and quicker, the progress of the student. And do not hesitate to make use of all the aids available. The use of things such as rulers, compasses, grid or tracing paper, are to be encouraged, not frowned upon. Study should be a pleasure, a recreation even, and not a hardship or distasteful task.

If you can learn to write, you can learn to draw. From this it follows that if someone wishes to learn to draw they should seek the best instruction they can afford. Now it's pretty obvious that not many would be students of cartooning are going to be able to afford professional one to one tuition, which is certainly the best route. However there are several courses available that will take the student from would be cartoonist to paid artist in only a few weeks.

These courses need not be expensive, especially when you consider the earning potential when the skill has been aquired. They can also be great fun, and the way to a hobby for life, or lucrative sideline, even if you don't want to be a full time cartoonist.

OK, so you really want to learn to be a cartoonist, check out available courses, and please take one if you are at all serious. I can promise you will not regret it.