Drawing a speech bubble is a fundamental skill in cartooning and visual communication, typically involving a shape to contain text and a pointer indicating who is speaking.
A standard speech bubble consists of a main shape, often an oval or rectangle with rounded corners, and a smaller shape or series of dots that 'points' towards the character speaking. Different shapes and pointer styles convey different emotions or tones.
Basic Steps to Drawing a Standard Speech Bubble
Here's a simple guide on how to draw a common speech bubble:
- Draw the Main Body: Start by drawing a shape to contain the speech. An oval or a rectangle with slightly rounded corners are popular choices. This shape should be large enough to hold the text or image you intend to put inside.
- Add the Pointer (Tail): Draw a smaller shape, like a triangle or a series of connected circles (like bubbles) extending from the main body towards the character who is speaking. The pointer's position and shape can convey nuances – a short, pointed tail is standard, while multiple small bubbles can indicate a whisper or thought.
- Refine and Connect: Ensure the pointer smoothly connects to the main body of the bubble. You can erase any overlapping lines if necessary to create a clean outline.
- Add Content: Fill the speech bubble with your desired text or symbols. As seen in references like the video titled "How to Draw a Cartoon Speech Bubble", artists often draw specific characters or symbols inside. For example, the reference shows drawing an "H", a little dot on top, and an exclamation mark within the bubble.
- Thicken Lines (Optional but Recommended): To make the bubble stand out, you can go back and thicken the outline, especially in cartooning. The reference mentions "just going to thicken it up a little bit by doing it that's kind of doubling" the lines, which is a common technique to add weight and definition.
Variations in Speech Bubbles
The shape and style of a speech bubble can communicate tone:
- Standard: Oval or rounded rectangle with a simple pointer. Used for typical speech.
- Shout/Yell: Spiky or jagged outline.
- Whisper/Thought: Cloud-like shape with bubbles leading to the character's head (thought bubble) or a standard shape with a broken or dotted outline (whisper).
- Broadcast: Jagged lines emanating from the bubble, like a radio signal.
Adding Content and Detail
What you place inside the bubble is just as important as the bubble itself. This is where the speaker's message or internal state is conveyed. As demonstrated in the provided reference clip, content can include:
- Text: The most common content.
- Symbols: Icons representing emotions (! for surprise/exclamation, ? for confusion, musical notes for singing, etc.).
- Images: Small drawings or icons.
The reference specifically highlights drawing "an H. And I little dot on top. And an exclamation mark." inside the bubble, showing that symbols and basic text elements are common fillers. Thickening the lines afterward helps finalize the look.
Drawing speech bubbles is a versatile skill that allows characters in visual media to communicate effectively. By understanding the basic shapes and variations, and incorporating content and detail like thickening lines, you can create dynamic and expressive dialogue.
