Lines in Cartoons

Garfield by Jim Davis

For our second blog, we were asked to pick a black and white cartoon from any cartoonist and evaluate the use of line and shadow upon other techniques that the artist has used. I have never been a comic strip or cartoon fan, so the only cartoon that I was really familiar with is Garfield. After searching for a good comic strip, I found the one above.

While looking at this cartoon, I stumbled upon many different line techniques that were used by the author. This first set of lines I would like to point out would be the directional lines. There are a variety of directional lines found in this cartoon starting with just the first picture. Directional lines in this drawing are presented beside the tree and around the apple. These lines create a sense of movement. We can tell that Garfield is shaking the tree, and in turn, the apple is moving. Also, in the fourth frame, we can see a directional line behind the apple, allowing us to visualize the movement and pace of the apple.

The next set of lines I would like to address would be textural lines. There are a few examples of textual lines in the comic, such as the lines on the tree and the lines on Garfield in the last frame. The straight vertical lines on the tree in the first and second frame create the feeling that the tree is smooth. Also, there are many textural lines on Garfield in the last fame. The checker-like design on Garfield's side, gives us the sense of "rough" and "banged up". In the previous frames of the comic, Garfield's fur is smooth, while in the last frame, the lines on his back and tail allow us to notice the dirtiness and pain he went through trying to catch the apple.

Gestural lines are also presented in this comic. Throughout the entire comic strip, we can see that the majority of the lines and shapes are curvy and rounded. From the directional lines of movement, to the shapes of the smoke clouds in the third and fifth frame, we can see the smooth gestural lines.

Overall, I can conclude that the artist has used many of the techniques mentioned in class. Before knowing all of the different forms and representation of lines, this would just be a fun comic strip. Now, after learning how the artist can express emotion in just a stroke of a line, its makes it that much more interesting to read the cartoon.