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Home | Arts-and-entertainment | Humor
Becoming A Cartoonist....Instead Of A Realtor 
By: Rick London
Ms. London," I used to joke that the OB/GYN told my mom, "It's a Realtor". His nurse was holding me in her arms as my mom tried to smile. I was not a pretty baby. Really! My parents owned a very old real estate stable family real estate company and were from a generation where, if and when an offspring arrived, especially a male, they were born to be bred.that is, bred into the family business, not the prodigal offspring to which I eventually evolved.
In my early days on the planet, I was not aware of these southern traditional family values, and, as I became more aware of my environment around me, I was certain I wanted to have something to do with humor as I grew older. How did I know this? The answer was so simple. But I was a slow learner.
I was constantly in trouble for something, about to get in trouble, or locked in my room with no going out with friends for some wrong-doing (never violent or terrible); even for the tiniest practical joke, which I thought was a contribution to society, maybe even making the world a better place.
I can recall feeling safe and mom and dad laughing and leving me alone, but onlyis when they had friends over on weekends and were playing record albums by such comedy greats as Don Rickles, Tom Lehrer, Jack Benny, and the like. I introduced them to The Smothers Brothers as a teen, thinking I would earn brownie points but again given the pink slip for having juvenile taste in humor. I felt telling me this while listening to Don Rickles albums was the pot calling the kettle black.
My first shot at comedy was doing stand-up in New York City. Keep in mind this was straight off the farm from Mississippi to the Big Apple. I won't "even go there" as to how awful I was. It was sort of like Dan Quayle in his memorable v.p. debate, but more like me debating, say, Steve Martin and my comparing myself to Lenny Bruce. Steve to me: "Mr. London, Lenny Bruce was a friend of mine, and you, sir, are no Lenny Bruce." I think you get the picture.
A decade later I decided on humor-writing for magazines and was published in a few and decided that is where I would carve my niche in the world. I was planning a book but decided on forming a group of artists and creating a cartoon instead. All of us were surprised when Londons Times Cartoons, surprisingly, went to the top of Alexa and other such sites within about eight years.
Reaching mid-life, and suffering a lengthy illness, I decided to start opening stores, selling products with my cartoon images which now amount to over 8500 in number and our Londons Times Cartoons remains one of the most visited sites on the web, again to our surprise (and happiness).
Starting a cartoon is not an easy task, but an interesting and educational one. No matter what branch of humor in which one may find their niche, it is a growth experience and a process. I found out rapidly it is not so much knowing what you are doing when you start, though that doesn't hurt of course, but being persitent and not giving up in spite of the obstacles, and there will be many, I can assure you. But the obstacles are important in developing one's creative skills. So take a new attitude toward obstacles and even look forward to them. Believe it or not, I do, and I'm much better at turning them into opportunities.
If it is in your blood, you will know it, and no matter what you were "born to be", will not matter. It will have to come out in some way, shape, or form. Educate yourself, hang out with others who have blazed the trail, learn all you can.and just do it.
Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles
The Internet's top cartoonist Rick London is loaded with surprises. Two of his big ones are his cartoon site and his cartoon superstore with over 85,000 cartoon gifts and collectibles Rick London started with nothing. Now he owns 9 websites including Londons Times Cartoons. Click here.
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