1. An editorial cartoon should be simple but also cause a
reaction from the reader.
An editorial cartoon is an illustration, typically appearing in a
newspaper, which attempts to satirize political or cultural
events in a way that's funny or at least thought-provoking.
Success as an editorial cartoonist requires far more than
simply possessing drawing skills. Aspiring cartoonists also
need to understand how to make a point through the
cartoon and have an ear for the news, so they can turn
recent events into relevant illustrations.

2. Complexity into Simplicity
An editorial cartoon typically only has one frame in which
to get its message across, so you'll need to turn
something that could be quite complicated into a
simple drawing that is understandable to most readers.
It helps if you've got a clear idea of the point you're
trying to make -- and make sure it is just one point --
otherwise your cartoon could become cluttered and
too complex by trying to say many things at once.

3. • Go for Emotion
However you choose to draw the image and
whatever your message, you've got to aim to
trigger an emotional response of some kind in
the reader. An editorial cartoon that causes no
reaction doesn't say much about your abilities in
the field. Typically, a cartoonist will aim to make
readers laugh through her creation, so it's worth
injecting humor into your work; but editorial
cartoons also can be designed to cause
controversy, if the issue involved is polarizing.

4. • Originality
• Any cartoon must be original, and this is
especially the case if you're commenting on a
statewide or national issue that's likely to be
addressed by multiple other cartoonists. Even
if your view is similar to many other
people's, you need to find your own take on
any news.

5. • How to Draw a Political Cartoon
Creating a political or editorial cartoon requires a
different skill set, thought process and
occasionally different materials from any other
type of comic art. Not only does an artist need to
be able to draw, but he also needs an
understanding of current political and social
trends, and a sense of irony in order to express
that trend in a creative yet humorous manner.

6. Cartoonists use 5 main elements to convey their point of
view.
• symbolism – using an object to stand for an idea.
• captioning & labels – used for clarity and emphasis.
• analogy – a comparison between two unlike things that
share some characteristics.
• irony – the difference between the way things are & the
way things are expected to be.
• exaggeration – overstating or magnifying a problem or a
physical feature or habit: big nose, bushy
eyebrows, large ears, baldness, etc.

7. Examples of Symbols Used in Political Cartoons
• peace – dove, olive branch, victory sign, scales of
justice.
• United States – Uncle Sam, flag, stars and
stripes, shield, lady liberty.
• Democrats – donkey.
• Republicans – elephant.
• death – vulture, skeleton w/ shroud, skull and
crossbones, grim reaper.
• love – heart, Cupid, Venus
• money – dollar bill or dollar sign.

8. Symbols used
• Dove – Peace
• Olive branch -- Peace, forgiveness
• Vulture -- Preying on others, death
• Skull/bones -- Death
• Phoenix -- Something new, rebirth, powerful
• Uncle Sam --US government, American people
• Tortoise -- Someone slow, winner
• Hare -- Someone quick, loser
• Scales, a balance -- Supereme
court, justice, fairness

9. • Eagle -- American government, constitution
• Laurel wreath -- Victory
• Statue of liberty -- Freedom
• Bear -- Strength
• Chains -- Bondage, slavery
• Dawn -- Beginning, hope
• Island -- Lost, paradise, isolation
• Key --Knowledge, liberation, mystery, initiation
• Lightning -- Sudden illumination, destruction of ignorance.
• Ocean -- Unfathomable, formlessness, chaos, stability
• Pen -- Learning, knowledge, creation of destiny
• Raven -- Bad news