Jesse Hamm

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 020: Problem Solving Most lessons on cartooning are meant to be applied under ideal circumstances, when no special problems block the cartoonist’s goals. But in practice,…

KATIE’S FIRST DRAWING TUTORIAL! Carousel 019: Close Read of Batman Year One Among the best ways to sharpen your grasp of cartooning is to take a close look at a…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 018: Anatomy We hear a lot about how we must improve our grasp of human anatomy. Complaints about anatomical errors are perhaps the common criticism I…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 017: Backgrounds A common refrain from editors when you’re starting out as an artist is “work on your backgrounds.” Backgrounds are the unsung hero in comics,…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 016: Outside Influences Aspiring cartoonists are often advised to study other fields, and allow non-comics disciplines to inform their comics work. But “other fields” covers a…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 015: Common Sights I once wrote a column here on how to draw EVERYTHING, but here are a dozen key things you’re likely to draw OFTEN. Whether…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 014: Convention Tips Summer means conventions! If you make comics, comic book conventions are a chance to show your work around and meet potential readers and…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 013: Mapping Comics are often described as a medium that deals with time. We talk about the pacing of a story, about a story’s moments being ordered chronologically, we describe a…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 012: Thumbnails When I was twelve, and living in Sedona, I decided to climb a mountain called Greyback, which was situated just outside of town. From…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 011: Close Read: King Tut’s Tomb We’ve all seen (and sometimes suffered!) critiques of comics pages drawn wrong, but it’s uncommon to find a detailed discussion…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 010: Getting Organized The new year is upon us, and it’s a great time to start some new organizational habits. Drawing comics poses special challenges to…

JESSE HAMM’S CAROUSEL Carousel 009: The Context of Fantasy Today’s bookstore shelves are packed with volumes about how to draw fantasy subjects—superheroes, dragons, fairies, aliens, robots, elves. The focus in…