Ramblings

Bloviating: to you, from me. Chide me if you will. algot@runeman.org

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Sun, 15 May 2011

Exploration is Exciting
There's always something new going on in my brain. I enjoy experimenting...lifelong learning, I guess. Hence "betty 'n' bob."

I recently came across a simple cartooning idea. Basic characters in a simple comic format. Just add the dialog and...there it is, a cartoon. Thanks to Leo Loikkanen at All Filler, no Killer for the idea and inspiration. He created and released a cartoon template called "American Efficiency" using the CC0 "Creative Commons Zero" license. That makes the template essentially public domain. Anybody can use the template. Just download it to your computer. Print a copy and add your own dialog to make your own cartoon with marker, pen or pencil.

There was also the cartoon from Nina Paley which I mentioned in my last post. There are all sorts of creative people out there.

I've been exploring graphic ideas using Inkscape, a free open-source program for drawing vector graphics. I am NOT very artistic, and find that my limited talents are harnessed better by using a vector graphics tool than a freehand sketch/paint program like Krita (both on a GNU/Linux computer). I decided to try out the idea from Leo Loikkanen in Inkscape. Along with a basic template, I created a series of mood-showing characters, one male "Bob" and the other female "Betty." Here's my first effort.

Please feel free to make use of the full Inkscape "betty 'n' bob" page. I'm releasing it as CC-Zero as Leo did his.
Perhaps you could use it with students in your school or with your own children. Inkscape is a great tool for all sorts of things.

Inkscape Template of "betty 'n' bob".

If I stay motivated, maybe you'll see more of my own betty 'n' bob ideas.