by Matthew Russell - Posted 10 months ago
Welcome my CryptoComics Compatriots.
As many of you know, I have been a teacher both inside the classroom and out. Most recently, I have been writing tutorial after tutorial on how to draw comics. I was going to write one about “How To Draw the Ear” but that will have to wait until next week due to this crushing question that has punched me in the face.
I was asked by a friend of mine, “How will I fail at this?” At first, I was like “What!?!” and then I started thinking about the most common ways that I see people fail and eventually give up; the ultimate fail.
I couldn’t put pen to paper until I got this out, so here you go The Most Common Things That People Do Wrong When Learning To Draw For Comics.
Learning to draw in a comic book style can be an exciting and fulfilling endeavor. While there are numerous potential pitfalls along the way, being aware of common mistakes can help you avoid them and progress more effectively. Here are some common things that people often do wrong:
One of the biggest mistakes is neglecting the basics of drawing, such as anatomy, perspective, and proportion. Building a strong foundation in these fundamental skills is crucial for creating convincing and dynamic comic book art.
I have written several posts about this before. The fundamentals are the key to every good drawing. Here are a few links to the articles. If you haven’t read them before, read them now and practice, practice, practice until you are going crazy…then you are about halfway to having enough practice.
1,000 hours makes an expert.
Failing to use references can hinder your progress. References help you understand how objects, characters, and environments look in real life, providing valuable information for creating believable artwork. Always gather visual references and use them as a guide.
Many artists (noobs) say that having a reference stifles creativity. They are 100% wrong. I have several models on my desk for the human figure. I also use several different apps for posing various figures. I have watched many professional artists use things such as Pinterest boards to generate ideas.
Use references!!! Here is an article that I wrote a while ago that should help you get started by comparing various iPad reference apps.
I know what you’re thinking “Isn’t this the writer’s job, not the artist?” Nope, it’s both. Have you ever watched a movie and thought “This would be a great movie but this actor is horrible.” The writer may have come up with the most bestest script ever, but you as an artist are responsible for your character’s acting.
Comic books rely heavily on visual storytelling. It's essential to learn how to convey emotions, actions, and narrative flow through your artwork. Failing to master these storytelling techniques can result in confusing or uninteresting comic panels.
When starting out, it's easy to get carried away with complex panel compositions. However, overcrowded panels with too many elements can confuse the reader and make the artwork difficult to follow. Keep your panels clear and focused on the essential elements.
This goes back to the minimalist lifestyle that is popular today. Only keep the essentials. Everything else is overcrowded fluff. It has the added benefit of cutting down your workflow and saving you time as well.
If a panel only has 2 essential characters and you drew 25, you have wasted your time by drawing 23 extra people. Would they be better as silhouettes or eliminated altogether? If you must draw them, can you get rid of 90% of the detail in order to better highlight your main focal points?
Less can be more!
Establishing a consistent and recognizable style is crucial in comic book art. However, beginners often struggle with maintaining consistency across multiple pages or characters. Practice regularly to refine your style and ensure it remains consistent throughout your work.
This is where that practice comes in again. When drawing eyes, do it 1,000 times until you can do it in your sleep. The same with hair, lips, and facial structures. Keep each character looking different, but have the same style in drawing.
Avoid “same-face” syndrome. I am referring to shading, line weight, and coloring styles, not the features themselves. Each drawing should look like they are from the exact same artist.
Yes, this is one of the fundamentals of Art that we covered before, but it is so important that I am mentioning it again.
Composition plays a significant role in the effectiveness of comic book art. Beginners often overlook composition principles such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and visual balance. Understanding these principles will help you create visually appealing and engaging compositions.
Inking and coloring are essential steps in comic book art that can greatly enhance the final result. Neglecting or rushing through these stages can detract from your artwork. Take the time to learn inking and coloring techniques to add depth, volume, and atmosphere to your drawings.
Yes, a good grasp of this will help you understand the penciling stages so much more. In the military, you are always taught the job of the man before and after you. When I worked for a web design company, we did the exact same thing.
This ensured that I always knew how everything was set up before me so I could better manipulate the process to help both myself and the people after me. It also had the added benefit of me being able to fill in when needed.
Trust me, in comics, you will need to occasionally fill in various projects.
Learning any skill takes time and practice, and it's important to have realistic expectations. It's natural to make mistakes and encounter frustrations along the way. Don't get discouraged by initial failures; instead, view them as learning opportunities and keep practicing.
These expectations also go both ways. Sometimes people believe that they are further along than they truly are.
As I mentioned before, 1,000 hours. I see so many people draw 1 or 2 figures and think that they are an expert. When I was younger, we called this “Yellow-Belt Syndrome.” In martial arts, you get your first promotion and think that you’re Bruce Lee.
NO!!! He spent thousands of hours perfecting a single punch, then thousands of hours on a single kick. Eventually, you can get to that point, but not at first.
It is vitally important that you don’t set yourself up for failure with expectations. Instead, look at art as an ever-growing and flowing process. You never master anything other than your time management. You can always get better or faster.
All you can truly master is how much time you spend on a picture before you move on to the next.
Remember, the key to improving your comic book art is consistent practice, seeking constructive feedback, and learning from your mistakes. With dedication and perseverance, you can overcome these common pitfalls and progress on your journey to mastering the comic book style.
Personally, I still see areas in my own art that needs improvement. This is partially why I write these articles. It forces me to deconstruct how I do things. A long time ago someone once told me “If you really want to learn something, teach it to someone else.”
