The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 5 with Cartoonist & Illustrator Josh Latta

Josh Latta, (@JoshLatta) is a cartoonist & illustrator based in Baltimore, MD. This discussion covers how he got started in art, his daily workflow and routine, and making a name for himself on the Internet. We also dissect the difference between a cartoonist and an illustrator, and question the use of hand-drawn vs. typeset lettering in comics.

Avatard of Prescott, according to Josh Latta

Show Notes & Links

• Josh Latta (@joshlatta), Cartoonist & Illustrator
• The Brimstones, Josh’s new comic series
• Ads, commissions, apparel — some of his other work
• Not so much with logo design or commercial work
• Avatards, an ongoing caricature project for the Internet
• Josh still draws by hand
• Informal education — dropping out of high school and take an apprenticeship
• Took a while to develop a creative rhythm — “it’s just so un-punk rock”
• Josh is naturally skinny, but his fiancée wakes up early to work out.
• Head-nod to the day-job warriors. Josh works at a coffee shop in addition to drawing.
• The Oatmeal, a successful web comic
• The Brads, a very funny web comic
• XKCD, a widely-known web comic
• Harvest and FreshBooks, online invoicing tools to stay organised
• Josh loves hand-lettered text in comics, hates computer fonts
• Drawing tip: put the hands and feet in first, for better energy and dynamic pose
• The Busy Creator mascot, tentatively called “Buzz”, but we’ll see what the lawyers say
• In art, “90% of the time, you can use your mistakes.”
• “You might think it’s crap, but that crap can become fertilizer.”
• Lattaland the website, and on Facebook

Tools

• Adobe Photoshop
• Blue pencil, especially in accordance with dark ink and a scanner
• PayPal, the much-aligned online payment system
• Harvest, online invoicing and payments system
• FreshBooks, a competitor to Harvest
• A lightbox, to trace drawings and see detail
• Wacom tablet for drawing and colouring in Photoshop or Illustrator
  
• Ames Lettering Guides
  
• Comic Book Fonts, a website with massive selection

Techniques

• Use tracing paper, copy paper, cheap bit pens
• First an idea, then a few sketches/doodles
• Scan to Photoshop, print out enlarged. Trace the printout and add inks. Scan again.
• Use two pencil tones for logo design
• Avoid debt to avoid having a day job
• Promote yourself online, even if it feels awkward
• Use calendar reminds for online/social media promotion
• Use a whiteboard to keep a list of “what’s next”
• PayPal keeps track of incoming payments
• Draw the construction of a cartoon, action lines

Habits

• Find a formula that works, even if it takes years
• Wake up early if you better work in the morning (night time is for TV-watching)
• Do something in the morning
• Illustrators should try their own typeface or lettering

Get The Episode

• Download The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 5
  (MP3, 34:13, 33.2 MB)
• Download The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 5
  (OGG, 34:13, 32.7 MB)

Subscribe to The Busy Creator Podcast on iTunes

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