Comment on Dave Elliott, An Authentic Citizen by techgnotic
Can anyone give me some advice on creating comics traditionally (I am absolutely HORRIBLE at working digitally)? I can pencil easily enough, and I'd like to learn to ink and colour, but how do I find (and choose) someone to collaborate with if I decide to go that way? And does anyone have any tips on learning to ink and colour, other than "practice makes perfect"?
Based on the little I saw on your dA page I would start out be copying as many different artists as possible. Trace and copy their work while at the same time studying human anatomy. Don't just learn to draw comics while copying. Studying the varying approaches to the way different artists approach storytelling. Storytelling is as important as the actual drawing itself.
As a test, why don't you try adapting a sequence from a film or TV show. You can pause the scenes to pick the right moment to illustrate. Your eye is a camera and your approach should be the same as a film directors only yours is a little harder because you have to pick a moment to illustrate a mood or scene where they can use movement.
It's also best to focus just on drawing for the time being. Inking can come with practice but don't get hung up on the finishes before you have the basics down. Experiment with pens, markers, brushes as well as pencils. With all the different technologies at your disposal and reproduction techniques you can have your work colored directly from your pencils or use ink or watercolor washes.
It doesn't hurt if you look at artists who are doing the type of material you want to do. Some artists look at artists outside of comics, so don't restrict yourself to only looking at comic artists.
Good luck.
- Dave
As a test, why don't you try adapting a sequence from a film or TV show. You can pause the scenes to pick the right moment to illustrate. Your eye is a camera and your approach should be the same as a film directors only yours is a little harder because you have to pick a moment to illustrate a mood or scene where they can use movement.
It's also best to focus just on drawing for the time being. Inking can come with practice but don't get hung up on the finishes before you have the basics down. Experiment with pens, markers, brushes as well as pencils. With all the different technologies at your disposal and reproduction techniques you can have your work colored directly from your pencils or use ink or watercolor washes.
It doesn't hurt if you look at artists who are doing the type of material you want to do. Some artists look at artists outside of comics, so don't restrict yourself to only looking at comic artists.
Good luck.
- Dave
fav.me/d6s167p
Just a small sketch following your advice, but I was wondering if you you tell me if there was anything I could be specifically working on given my skills?
I'll be trying to get my hands on an anatomy book or two and practising whenever I can using other artists work, as well as storytelling.
Thank you so much for the advice you've given me so far, I really appreciate it, especially considering I'm currently living in a country were any art classes would be in a foreign language (a little hard to learn when you don't understand the teacher!). Also, I was wondering, seeing as you see a lot of other people's work, would you be able to point me towards some adventure and supernatural comics and graphic novels?
HMU, we might be able to help each other
It's difficult to comment as I haven't seen the original, but let me throw it back at you. Why did you copy this particular piece and what were you looking to learn from it?
Here's a link I'm posting to some PDF copies of Andrew Loomis' art books that you should find very useful:
www.hightail.com/download/OGhk…
Andrew Loomis died in the late 1950's so he won't be upset you're downloading his books. His art is very classical illustration that I think will serve as a good basis for where you want to go later.
As far as other artists work to look at I'd recommend looking for yourself and making your own mind up. For a start you can look through the artists I follow on my page and pick for yourself. They're all very different and have very different styles.
When thinking about the supernatural and horror a lot of it is about pacing, storytelling and lighting. Experiment in drawing objects and people lit to give a strong contrast.
Yours,
- Dave
Here's a link I'm posting to some PDF copies of Andrew Loomis' art books that you should find very useful:
www.hightail.com/download/OGhk…
Andrew Loomis died in the late 1950's so he won't be upset you're downloading his books. His art is very classical illustration that I think will serve as a good basis for where you want to go later.
As far as other artists work to look at I'd recommend looking for yourself and making your own mind up. For a start you can look through the artists I follow on my page and pick for yourself. They're all very different and have very different styles.
When thinking about the supernatural and horror a lot of it is about pacing, storytelling and lighting. Experiment in drawing objects and people lit to give a strong contrast.
Yours,
- Dave
Thanks a ton for the tips, they're all really helpful.
Most of my art isn't actually on DeviantArt (silly, I know), especially the more up to date stuff. I'm sure you're quite busy, but if I upload some more and send you a link, could you have another look? It probably won't be for a couple of weeks though...
I can't promise when I'll get back to you, but yes, send me some stuff to take a look at.
- Dave
- Dave