Cartooning Is Serious Business
By Dewi Mohd Sofri

Bandar Seri Begawan - Cartooning is not considered a "real" job in Brunei but those willing to take the leap of passion will find it rewarding.

"The money is good," said Denny Azriman, a local cartoonist at the Brunei Press during a cartooning workshop at. International School Brunei (ISB) in Berakas.

The 27-year-old cartoonist was invited to conduct a workshop for the school's Year 12 and Year 11 art students.

During the workshop, the students were all eyes and ears as Denny demonstrated the basic techniques and skills he employed when creating his cartoons, such as the initial sketches to pencilling and inking.

He also showed the students how to add backgrounds to make their cartoons distinctive as well as how to draw characters from different angles and engaged in different activities for variety.

"What's important is the end product, you have to imagine the finishing and then start from the beginning. When you feel confident then you do the inking, that way you will be satisfied," said Denny who is inspired by Malaysian cartoonists such as Datuk Lat. He added that if the students had no desire to become a full-time cartoonist at least they can learn the ways to draw the cartoons the right way and improve their drawing techniques.

ISB art teacher Ben Peacocke, a fan of Denny's work, was the coordinator for the day. He considered art to be "the most important subject" and felt that the workshop gave the students more exposure and allowed local cartoonists to share their skills with the younger people.

According to Peacocke, art is "one of the ways kids can express themselves, be able to talk about the world that they live in critically and it is something they enjoy."

In addition, art was is one of the few subjects that allow children the freedom to create something totally unique.

Halfway through Denny's demonstration, Peacocke instructed the students to follow what Denny was doing as he explained the stages. The students did as told and followed the stages but drew their own individual pieces, a reflection of their own style.

One boy, Azim Kadri started sketching the face of popular comic book hero, Spiderman. It was one of the things that he knew how to draw, he said. "Spiderman is cool," said the student.

"The workshop is helpful, fun and interesting and I learned how to get ideas as quickly as we can," he said.

Like Denny, who started by copying comic book characters, Azim discovered his talent the same way.

Ann Lee drew a cartoon of a man sitting on a toilet bowl with a surprised look on his face which she said had no particular meaning. She said that she often practised how to draw at home as she found herself drawn to the subject.

"I think I'm always an arts person, I have never been a Maths person," she said.

Previously, several foreign artists had also conducted workshops at the school such as Corky Paul, but their styles were of a different style - more "dream-like," said Ann.

The students were attentive and bombarded Denny with questions towards the end as they wanted to know the status of cartoonist in the country. Denny expressed his happiness at being invited and said that it was good for schools or groups who are interested in cartoons to contact them. "We need more talented people to be involved in arts especially cartooning. There are already many vocal artists but only a few of us." -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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