Here are more sketches from Shadows of Oblivion: Better days. I’m trying to get all of these posted before Issue #1 comes out and I start posting sketches from that series.
ENJOY!
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Well If you’re not a professional comic book artist, chances are you’re right. As logically if you were good enough you’d be a professional… and so it goes in circles.
But the fact of the matter is that if your answer to “Why don’t you try and make comics?” is “I’m not good enough.” Then what you have here is a full fledge Excuse. And if you haven’t figured it out by the title of this blog yet, I’m here to force you to stop making excuses and start making comics.
So you’re not good enough? So what? So that means you don’t even try? What are you Homer Simpson?
Now lets be realistic. You probably really aren’t good enough…. right now. If you’re reading this blog it means you’re interested in becoming a comic artists and you figured following one might give you some tips and tricks on how to succeed. Which means you probably have zero to minimal experience making comics. When you compare that to the masters who have been working in comics for 20, 30, 40 and sometimes even 50 years, you’re level of skill pales in comparison. And when you make that comparison, yes, you are not good enough. But how did these masters become so good? Can you go through the same process that made them masters?
Yes, yes you can.
That process is called PRACTICE.
Yes my friends the key is practicing. Practice anatomy. Practice perspective. Practice drawing chairs, and cars. Practice drawing sequential art. Practice using different types of paper. Practice using different computer programs. Practice practice practice practice practice. And when you’re sick of practicing study. Study anatomy, perspective, sequential story telling, and medias. And when you are sick of studying go back to practicing. Continue for 5-10 years and you will be good enough to do any comic project you have your heart set on. Its as simple as that.
Okay so the solution is simple, but the execution isn’t. You have to really be dedicated. Its very hard work, and frustrating work. At times you’ll feel like you’re not getting any better and you’re wasting your time, but I PROMISE you that you ARE getting better.
I feel like some of you don’t believe me. Let me put it this way:
No one is born with the ability to draw. Have you ever seen a 3 year old’s drawing? Have you ever seen one that was photo realistic? No. Because kids don’t know how to draw. Everyone starts off on an even playing field. The ones who practiced and studied gradually became better and better and better and better until they became great. While the ones who did not do that still draw like they are 3 year olds.
I still sense some doubt. Let me show you a couple examples of my own work. This is promotional art I did for the original inception of my comic back in 2006:
Kinda sucks doesn’t it? But I didn’t let that stop me. I didn’t use it as an excuse to stop me from my goals. I continued to practice for many many years since, and in 2010 when I decided to re-start Shadows of Oblivion I decided I wanted to revisit the promotional art. I redrew it:
Quite a huge difference don’t you think? Do you believe me now?
So it’s okay. It’s okay if you’re not good enough now. Really and truly it is okay, as long as you do not use it as an excuse not to try. If you are not good enough then practice! You’ll get better whether you want to or not.
And what better way to practice than to Make Comics, Not Excuses.
Happy Valentines Day!!
To celebrate I’m going to share with you my love of making art!
Most of you who follow me know that most of my art is black and white. It gives my rough line art the gritty feel that complements my comic book stories…plus I just like how it looks.
But some of you who follow me and follow this blog might be blossoming artists who don’t like the rough or gritty style of art. You like the clean and polished style. You like bright colors. You like a realistic painterly style. And you’re asking your computer monitor “Shono!? when are you going to do a tutorial on how to digitally paint?” Or “Shono I love the realistic style, I have no idea how to start doing that on my computer….”
… well neither do I. I don’t really digitally paint, and I don’t really do the realistic thing. I mean I CAN do those things, but they don’t come natural so i have to work extra hard and long to make anything thats any good.
But Since I cannot give you a tutorial on how to digitally paint, or how to how to digitally paint realistically I’ll tell you where you can get them.
Ironically its from the same people who taught me how to color my comic line art digitally. (ironically? i don’t know if thats really ironic…)
Go to DigitalArtTutorials.com
Here you can find dozens of art tutorials on how to create art digitally. From Sketching, to Digital inking, to photoshop brushes, to lettering, to digital painting, to comic book coloring. And they’re incredibly affordable as well! Just $25!! Thats hard to beat!
“But Shono” you’re probably arguing, “I come to your blog so I can get FREE tutorials. Why are you pitching someone else’s paid tutorials? Do you get a kickback for any CD’s you sell?”
Well you are a cynical person, aren’t you? No, the fact is I used their CD’s to teach myself how to digitally color, so I know they’re good, and I know it works. I wouldn’t recommend anything to you guys that wouldn’t benefit you. But incase you are doubtful and still cynical you can download free tutorials from these guys.
Go to their Freepository
there you can download for free their Digital Painting: Photo Real Tutorial. as well as their Sketch Painting, Santa Painting, and Tips & Tricks tutorials. All for free. This is stuff I don’t use in my every day art, so I’m not really qualified to teach you guys about it.
These tutorials are by some of the best in the Biz so check these out and learn some techniques that I can’t teach you!
And Stop Making Excuses, and start Making Comics!
This is eerily true..