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Editorial Cartoon Workshop with Illustrator Alex Fine

The assignment of the day: create a cover the The New Yorker magazine. If this seems like a tall order, don’t worry; professional illustrator Alex Fine led the students in this seminar about the conceptual process of creating an editorial cartoon. Alex Fine’s work can be seen in Newsweek, the Washington Post, and many more publications. Alex also teaches at the Baltimore Academy of Illustration. 

Alex explained that editorial cartoons are “basically socio-political commentary”. Unlike political cartoons, editorial cartoons don’t use words and rely on the content of the illustration to convey a message. Simple ideas are better, Alex said, to communicate an idea that can be understood quickly simply by looking at the image. Although the cartoons can be about any subject, Alex advised the students that in his own work, he makes sure to keep the subjects based on facts and truth. Additionally he says cartoonists should always “punch up”, that is, never go after someone who doesn’t have a position of power- and don’t be afraid to criticise those in power no matter what part of the political spectrum they occupy. 

With Alex’s one-on-one coaching, the students worked on cartoons with subjects ranging from climate change to body image to tobacco addiction. This workshop was an excellent lesson in turning concepts into visual communication. Special thanks to Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts for arranging this seminar and thanks to Scholastic, who sponsored today’s seminar to promote the new Political Editorial category of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Alex offered to continue to coach the students with their illustrations over email to get them ready to submit to the Art & Writing Awards. We are very grateful for opportunities such as this for the students to get hands-on experience with creative professionals!