The Use of e-learning within a Fine
Art Communications course with particular focus on the Cartoon
Component
By Heather Osner

• In 2004 FSET staff were offered course in elearning.
• Challenges of students missing lectures or parts of lectures – sometimes with valid reasons
• Course notes were missed – impacted on results.
• E-learning has addressed these problems- is available whenever there is access to a computer and Internet.

Challenge: How to create Fine Art
Specific Communications Curricula
• Keep it “Real” – address needs of a practicing
Artist – Entrepreneurial skills.
• Allow it to evolve as needs change.
Currently course includes:-
-Cartooning Skills -Business Plans
-Logo Design -Assignment writing skills
-Curriculum Vitae -Personal Responsibility
-Layout of Business Communication Stationery

Role of the Computer in Fine Art
Body Copy Communications
Previously
• the Computer was considered the main focus of study.
Now
• Deliver Course content on
E-learning.
• Word Processing Tool.
• Offer Art Related software -Adobe
Photoshop.
• Enhance Content of course.

No Comprehensive Text books
Body Copy available for this new curriculum
Reference Books
• Only one Item may appear in one book
• Limited number of books
• Time constraints
• Number of Students in class
• Libraries on different sites
E-Learning
• Comprehensive notes can be compiled - cover all aspects
• Including examples from previous student works to illustrate good and bad practice
• Inclusion of images make it more interesting

Previously
• Advised not to use any copyright images
• Time consuming hand drawn Cartoon images took
2 weeks of Christmas vacation .
• Identifying Plagiarism meant extensive searches in
Libraries.
Now
• Use Images and Text however be sure to
Acknowledge all sources.
• Safe Assign – Students can check assignments for plagiarism
• Send to Lecturer who can also identify plagiarism

Cartoon Notes on E-learning Allow:-
• some insight into methods of drawing Cartoons
• Varying lines and pen & ink methods to be illustrated.
• Students to understand the need for a climax in the
Storyline .
Unlike other Courses – using the same Assignment Brief ie: “A
Cartoon strip using a currently pertinent South African
Storyline” allows originality - diverse selection of events covered.
• It has allowed an interesting “Historical Picture” to emerge.
• Selection of the Cartoon Project notes - Follows

Cartoon by Buntu Qina showing correctly utilised format

Cartoon by Leigh Durrheim – Alumni showing acceptable alteration of Format

Title Block & Cartoonists Name
• The Cartoon title should appear in the first block.
It can include characters as well as the name.
• The Artists name should appear either next to the Title block in the margin
• or at the end .

Some ways you can Personalise your
Cartoon.
• Each cartoonist will develop his/her own style of Cartooning.
This can be done by
• Portraying your personal type of humour. – let joke unfold over length of cartoon strip.
• Controlling and varying, fluctuating thickness of the lines used,
• Using areas of negative and positive – by brushing black ink into sections to make the cartoon more dramatic.
• Tonal fluctuation by cross hatching, lighter washes, groupings of dots etc. in sections.
• Practising drawing figures in action – by simplifying into a couple of l ines .

Look in a Mirror and make exaggerated expressions these are a form of communications and help to create visual impact to your story
Then try to decide what moods the expressions indicate…

Making Up
Individual
Characters
Unlike the Normal placement of eyes on the mid line of the face it adds character to cartoons to fill the head shape with face as indicated below.

Different hair styles can also alter the look of identical faces.
Hairstyles should also alter with movement and make the storyline more lively.
Exaggerate and alter the shapes of heads.
Watch the following characters heads shape change in order to emphasize expressions.

Ideas When Drawing Cartoon
Characters .
• Body Language
Communicates
• Bodies should only be
4 ½ times bigger than the head.
• Is the Character fat or thin. Using exaggerated Body shape shapes will individualise each character

Hands and feet are very important when indicating
Action
Body Poses should be exaggerated

Backgrounds
• Backgrounds set the theme. They should be simplified with a few props used.
• Park bench,
• School desk, clock bell
• Netball hoop, cricket pitch, rugby posts etc.
• Office desk &
Computer.
• Props will help clarify your idea.

Actions Lines
Are essential to emphasize
Movement
Examples used in Previous
Student’s Cartoons.

• Storyline
• Use of Medium
• Speech Bubbles &
20 Marks
10 Marks
•
Format
Title Block
15 Marks
15 Marks
• Images & Characters 20 Marks
• Backgrounds 10 Marks
• Action Lines & Expressions10 Marks
Total 100 Marks

Division of Blocks
Effective use of Facial
Expressions

Previous Student Works
Some Reactions to HIV AIDS
Pandemic
No Words Needed….

Previous Student Works
Simple backgrounds can be effective
Could you see Thabo Mbeki dancing like this? A sense of Humour is Important.

Previous Student Works

Previous Student Works
This was from 2004 & remains
Current… Unfortunately so does Crime

Student Works from following
Students have been included in
• Leigh Durrheim
• Buntu Qina
• Ntembeko Bonkolo
• Cara Malala
Examples .
• Spear Gwazela
• Songezo Sokhanyile
• Mzuvukile Sishuta
• Litha Ncokazi
• Sinoxolo Tshiva.
• Athule Nano
• Banele Kom
• Sonwabiso Ngcai
• Xolela Sogoni

Body Copy
E-learning allows:-
• more consistent results.
• Improved of assignment quality .
• Videos of Practical Methods and Techniques to be loaded.