Some time ago, we shared with you two posts featuring single-panel comics by Anthony Smith. The series titled “Cattitude,” which you might already be familiar with, showcases all things cat-related. However, the cartoons we would like to present to you today are quite the opposite of what you previously saw! And we don’t just mean the format of the series itself, but also the topic. The “Doggonit” collection, as you might figure out from the title itself, features all the funny situations and daily dilemmas of a cute dog character.

As we learned more about the author of both comics, Anthony started his career as a cartoonist, working for various publications including Marvel UK and Hodder Children’s Books. Then, Smith became a writer and art director, working for some of London’s top advertising agencies. Finally, the artist returned to cartooning and illustration. Now he shares his “Cattitude” and “Doggonite” strips on GoComics.com.

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#1

Bored Panda reached out to Anthony to ask him some questions about his work. We wanted to know how he approaches character design, and what considerations he takes into account when creating characters for his cartoons. The artist shared with us: “When creating a character I tend to start with a few sketches and then I progress to a style guide that gives me a good feel for how the character will look from a variety of angles. This is especially important if there’s a chance that the character will be used in animation. Sometimes I create characters for myself, sometimes I create them for clients. Either way, it’s good to get a clear sense early on regarding how they will look when they move around.”

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When asked about the most rewarding aspects of being a cartoonist, Anthony mentioned: “Coming up with ideas and drawing cartoons is a great way to get your creative juices flowing! It also requires a very small budget when you are first starting out. All you really require are pens and paper. You can of course progress to creating your cartoons digitally and that adds a lot of flexibility to the process, but you should really get the basics right first. It’s difficult to say what keeps me motivated. I’ve always been motivated to draw cartoons since I discovered comics as a child. I don’t really consider it a job, it just comes naturally.”

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We were also curious about Smith’s influences in the world of comedy and humor. We found out: “I have so many influences in comedy and humor. I love the surreal nature of Far Side, but equally I really love the effortless charm of a really classic cartoon strip like Peanuts. I watch a variety of comedy shows on TV and I always have an ear out for something that might translate well into a cartoon. But real-life situations can also provoke comedy in the most unlikely of situations. Inspiration can come from anywhere.”

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Lastly, Anthony told us what, in his opinion, makes a good comic, and what common mistakes artists should avoid: “What makes a good comic is so subjective and what I like isn’t necessarily what others do. I suppose the mark of a good cartoon is success. A cartoon that finds a responsive audience has clearly worked.

I think a common mistake artists make is giving up too early on a concept. To get something to really work takes lots of practice and effort. I think you know you are on the right track when you look back at previous work you’re done and you don’t like it. That demonstrates you are getting better and that you are understanding where you were going wrong before. The trick is to keep going!”