Stop copying photographs!
Seriously, I keep seeing this. Even in tutorials, I see image after image that is just reproducing a photo. The point of photo references is not to reproduce the photo, but to use it to help with an image. The key word there, is "help."
Think of it like writing a paper, for school. If you just copy the encyclopedia entry, you're cheating and you're not really learning much. The point is to use multiple sources and points of reference to create something your own, hopefully something new.
Copying a photograph or another painting or drawing can be a useful exercise. But that's all it should be: exercise. If all you know how to do is copy photographs, what are you going to do when you don't have references? Anyone can copy, it takes an artist to create, from nothing.
Showing posts with label advice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advice. Show all posts
Monday, October 7, 2013
Monday, May 7, 2012
Female Faces
Ugh, every time I get used to something's layout, it gets changed. Google/Blogger has changed the layout, so now I'm probably going to screw up, on this post. Enough bitching, for now...
Most comic artists are men. Most men, kinda suck at drawing women. Obviously, I'm not the first to make this observation. One of the theories as to why, is men try to make their female figures too perfect. You'll see a wide variety in the male figures, generally. While there is a standard heroic male body type, these guys clutter their universe with women that all look like centerfolds. On the rare occasion that they are asked to specifically draw a woman who isn't of that body type, the guys typically screw up.
Learning the three basic human body types is a helpful tool. Look at real people and you'll see plenty of examples of the endomorph, some of the ectomorph, but rarely the mesomorph. If you're not familiar with those terms, just have a quick search, because right now, I want to focus on faces.
Too many artists just draw the same handful (if that) of faces with different hair and maybe some scars or something, over and over. This is particularly true of women's faces.
It takes practice to draw faces. It takes even more practice to draw faces that look different. And, it takes a lot more to draw faces that are attractive, yet still have unique features.
Scarlett has a pointy chin. Sofia has big eyebrows. Laverne has a bulbous nose. Lindsay has a cleft chin. Lucy has a tiny chin. Thora has deep set eyes.
These features jump out at you. None of them are "perfect", but does it make them any less attractive?
Most comic artists are men. Most men, kinda suck at drawing women. Obviously, I'm not the first to make this observation. One of the theories as to why, is men try to make their female figures too perfect. You'll see a wide variety in the male figures, generally. While there is a standard heroic male body type, these guys clutter their universe with women that all look like centerfolds. On the rare occasion that they are asked to specifically draw a woman who isn't of that body type, the guys typically screw up.
Learning the three basic human body types is a helpful tool. Look at real people and you'll see plenty of examples of the endomorph, some of the ectomorph, but rarely the mesomorph. If you're not familiar with those terms, just have a quick search, because right now, I want to focus on faces.
Too many artists just draw the same handful (if that) of faces with different hair and maybe some scars or something, over and over. This is particularly true of women's faces.
It takes practice to draw faces. It takes even more practice to draw faces that look different. And, it takes a lot more to draw faces that are attractive, yet still have unique features.
Scarlett has a pointy chin. Sofia has big eyebrows. Laverne has a bulbous nose. Lindsay has a cleft chin. Lucy has a tiny chin. Thora has deep set eyes.
These features jump out at you. None of them are "perfect", but does it make them any less attractive?
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Things They Don't Always Tell You In Books
There are a lot of how-to books for drawing and even making comics. I've read a few and most seem to be lacking in practical advice. Things like,
Often, the oldest advice is the best.
If a book has been in print for 20, 50, 80 years, good bet it's what the newer books are based on. Norling's Perspective Made Easy, is a good example. I've flipped through a few books on perspective, and that one is best, in terms of comprehensive and easy to follow. I think some of these writers mistook themselves for Pythagoras.
When you're starting off, work cheap.
Those fancy comic boards with the measurements marked off and printed are nice, but they end up about a dollar a board. When you're starting off and just doing practice stuff, it's better to just go get a ream of 11x17 paper from the copy shop. The measurements on those pre-printed boards help a lot, so maybe get one pack and use them as guides, using masking tape to tape down a piece of the regular stuff. Or you can find some templates, online, to print out (like these http://elfkin.deviantart.com/art/Comic-template-kit-1-215257523 ). If you're planning to paint on it, then you'll want a book of watercolor paper (or something similar) and to use a lightbox. Which brings me to the next thing...
Learn how to build your own lightbox.
A good lightbox costs a small fortune. But building one is not big deal, because it's really just a wooden box with a Plexiglas top and a light inside. If you're not secure in your construction skills, you can jerry rig one. A couple ways to do that: turn an empty fish tank on its side and stick a table lamp inside, or get a glass top drafting table and get a flat light to put under it (like the kind they put in fish tanks).
Kill your ego (and don't take it personally).
When someone offers you a constructive criticism, they aren't trying to make you feel bad, they saw some sort of potential there, and want to help you get to the next level. If your stuff is just that bad, they won't bother criticizing. Sometimes, the only way to learn, is to fail. So if you failed, get over it, and don't do it again - learn from your mistakes. But when your failure isn't obvious, it takes someone with experience to see it. One of the biggest favors you can do yourself, is to kill your ego and listen to advice from someone who's been there, done that.
Don't be afraid of the pros.
They had to start somewhere, and if they see a talent, they may just latch onto it and try to guide it to the next level. That's what happened with Neal Adams and Frank Miller - Neal recognized the potential that Frank had, and tried to guide him, and eventually helped Frank get into the industry. And don't get discouraged because your favorite artist didn't respond. Often your favorite artist is a lot of people's favorite, and just doesn't have the time to take you under their wing. Most comics artists are really nice people and they'll help you, if they can, but they just don't have the time to go over everyone's portfolio and give them critiques.
Special thanks to Eric.
Often, the oldest advice is the best.
If a book has been in print for 20, 50, 80 years, good bet it's what the newer books are based on. Norling's Perspective Made Easy, is a good example. I've flipped through a few books on perspective, and that one is best, in terms of comprehensive and easy to follow. I think some of these writers mistook themselves for Pythagoras.
When you're starting off, work cheap.
Those fancy comic boards with the measurements marked off and printed are nice, but they end up about a dollar a board. When you're starting off and just doing practice stuff, it's better to just go get a ream of 11x17 paper from the copy shop. The measurements on those pre-printed boards help a lot, so maybe get one pack and use them as guides, using masking tape to tape down a piece of the regular stuff. Or you can find some templates, online, to print out (like these http://elfkin.deviantart.com/art/Comic-template-kit-1-215257523 ). If you're planning to paint on it, then you'll want a book of watercolor paper (or something similar) and to use a lightbox. Which brings me to the next thing...
Learn how to build your own lightbox.
A good lightbox costs a small fortune. But building one is not big deal, because it's really just a wooden box with a Plexiglas top and a light inside. If you're not secure in your construction skills, you can jerry rig one. A couple ways to do that: turn an empty fish tank on its side and stick a table lamp inside, or get a glass top drafting table and get a flat light to put under it (like the kind they put in fish tanks).
Kill your ego (and don't take it personally).
When someone offers you a constructive criticism, they aren't trying to make you feel bad, they saw some sort of potential there, and want to help you get to the next level. If your stuff is just that bad, they won't bother criticizing. Sometimes, the only way to learn, is to fail. So if you failed, get over it, and don't do it again - learn from your mistakes. But when your failure isn't obvious, it takes someone with experience to see it. One of the biggest favors you can do yourself, is to kill your ego and listen to advice from someone who's been there, done that.
Don't be afraid of the pros.
They had to start somewhere, and if they see a talent, they may just latch onto it and try to guide it to the next level. That's what happened with Neal Adams and Frank Miller - Neal recognized the potential that Frank had, and tried to guide him, and eventually helped Frank get into the industry. And don't get discouraged because your favorite artist didn't respond. Often your favorite artist is a lot of people's favorite, and just doesn't have the time to take you under their wing. Most comics artists are really nice people and they'll help you, if they can, but they just don't have the time to go over everyone's portfolio and give them critiques.
Special thanks to Eric.
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