Do you need an illustrator? here is Michael sagikwa...

CAMPAIGN COMICS: More samples

2011-02-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

Hi! Thanks for visiting and giving comments to various topics on this blog. For those who are new you are warmly welcome. Today, I have some additional sample from RED CARD campaign comic story. You can learn more about campaign comics on this blog in my previous posts. Thanks! artist.mike@yahoo.com

Sketches

2010-05-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

Sketching is the most important part in creating an illustration. Each line involves thinking and determination as to how a finished image would look like. There are different techniques of doing this task all with the intention of precisely presenting the subject required in drawings. I normally present sketches for discussion with clients. The reason is -to confirm if at that particular point their ideas have been reflected in my drawings. Also, it is easy to do corrections at this stage. I prefer to do my sketches as clear as possible so that when discussing with clients they don't confuse them. When an OK is given I peacefully continue to the rest of the processes. Above are some samples from my past works. Bye! and thank you for visiting this blog. artist.mike@yahoo.com

Vector graphics

2010-03-11T02:11:00.000-08:00

Hi! In my previous posts to this blog, I have shown illustrations that I did "hand on paper". They were then scanned and pasted into books by using appropriate layout programs. These days, advancements in computer technology and software creation has made it possible for artists to draw direct into drawing programs by using various tools provided in. The final images created in this way are called vector graphics. Unlike bitmap graphics, vector graphics have the advantage of appearing good at any print size because they are resolution independent.

Here are some vector graphics from my file. I created them by using Adobe illustrator software. Click the image to view them closely. Bye!

artist.mike@yahoo.com

Campaign comics (B)

2010-02-10T06:28:00.000-08:00

I have seen and read many comic stories before I started to draw them. Comics are powerful, popular and extremely flexible when it comes to griping a readers' attention. They are the best alternative of communication at low cost. Many people like good stories with interesting characters and this, is the key element in comics.

Back in my carrier as a comic artist, I used to draw regular mainstream comics and sell them to some tabloids here in Tanzania. Later on after joining TAPOMA, I learnt the possibilities of comics as an information and education medium in development work. This knowledge changed me from a mainstream comic artist to a campaign comics (education an information) artist. It wasn't easy because sometimes you may find out that you are not familiar with the organizations' objectives or the topic provided therefore, you have to ask for thorough explanations and details before you do the story lines and characters for the assignment. Thanks to Katti Ka Batembo to whom I apprenticed campaign comics. He helped me a lot to manage this. Since then, my drawings have always been for education, something which I'm happy with. I have done campaign comics for SSIPDO(small scale irrigation project in Dodoma), Inades formation Dodoma, Rodents and Soil water management projects( Sokoine University of agriculture), Tanzania AIDS project(Morogoro cluster), KEPA, e.t.c. Click the image to see some samples.

Comics, have the following advantages:

They are popular! people can read them every time, anywhere.

You can dramatize your story and manipulate reality to bring about interesting characters.

You can teach people new skills at low cost.

Thank you for reading this article! For more information and contacts here is my email artist.mike@yahoo.com. Bye!

Educational comics and Cartoons (A)

2010-01-14T22:40:00.000-08:00

When I joined TAPOMA (Tanzania Popular Media Association) an association for educational comic artists and cartoonists in 1996, I did not have much interest in drawing cartoons. It was after meeting some popular cartoonists that I started to like them. Through TAPOMA and the FINNISH-TANZANIA FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY, I attended two successful seminars titled COMICS AND DEVELOPMENT. There, I discovered that cartoons and comics are the strongest tools in development and education communication. Here (in the white column of the image), are some cartoons I did for KEPA's environ meter checklist in 2009. Written by Annie Tarvainen, the checklist is about environment conservation. The art style is cartoons with no bubbles for dialogue. Each picture emphasized a certain idea. For more info, contacts, my email is artist.mike@yahoo.com

Line drawings

2010-01-14T02:25:00.000-08:00

Illustrations in full colors is a prime preference to most clients these days. However, others haven't given up yet to drawings created by using other techniques such as washes, scratches and line drawings. This is due to the fact that these kind of illustrations can be published at a lower cost if compared to full color illustrations. Also artwise, they've a taste of their own. The educational materials that I have illustrated in the past were in line drawings technique sometimes with two colors, scratches, washes or just lines themselves. Well, just have a look at these drawings and feel the artistic taste! For more info, here is my email: artist.mike@yahoo.com

illustrations

2010-01-13T07:22:00.000-08:00

Hi!

Some years back in my carrier as a freelance book illustrator, I used to draw only line drawings with cross hatches or washes. At that time, educational comics and cartoons were my major lines of trade. Later as I advanced, full color illustrations came to the attention of every client and therefore I had to change accordingly. I then became a book illustrator in addition to comics and cartoons. Here are some of my past works all in full colors! For more information, contacts, please use this email artist.mike@yahoo.com