Why Do It?

Nothing beats accomplishment.

Art is not Fun

Making art doesn't make me happy.

It's frustrating, time-consuming, fraught with failure, difficult, and often lonely.

I get a certain kind of satisfaction out of making art, though. I feel like a more valuable contributor to humanity. I feel like I'm on an upward trajectory.

A satisfying life is more than happiness. Art makes me feel more whole.

You Need to Read Akira

I've just been inspired and I think you can be, too.

Akira.

Not the movie. I'm talking about the Manga. 1982. Katsuhiro Otomo.

I just finished reading Otomo's 6 volume masterwork and was blown away by his mastery of perspective and virtuoso rendering. He draws his characters with real weight. The environments are meticulously crafted and engrossing. The pacing is exciting.

If you want some fuel for your artistic fire, I highly recommend that you dig up Akira and learn from a master.

Here's a taste:

Inking with a Brush

I feel like I'm supposed to be using a brush to ink. The idea doesn't thrill me because I love the way I can bear down on a pen.

Lately, though, I've been using a Prismacolor Premier with brush tip for some of my inking. I still use the pens, but I incorporate the brush pen and the results are nice!

The Prismacolor is nice because the brush tip is very short, bridging the gap between a pen and a real brush.

You've gotta try a brush (at least a brush tip). Something about the brush adds an element of happy accident to the process. There is an unpredictability of line that adds a lot of value to the work.

Happy inking.

The Number One Goal of the Young Comic Book Artist

Get rid of the awkwardness in your drawings (unless it's working for you).

Some Advice from Brandon Peterson

If you read the last post, you know I went to HeroesCon last Sunday and chatted with several artists, asking each one for a piece of drawing advice.

Brandon Peterson, who was putting some watercolor on a tremendously wonderful drawing of a girl in a space suit, said whatever that thing is you don't want to draw...you should be drawing it (my paraphrase, of course).

Some Advice from Jenny Frison

I went to HeroesCon in Charlotte, North Carolina Sunday and chatted with several artists. Not knowing what to say to a boat load of great artists, I asked a few of them to share a piece of drawing advice. Jenny Frison (a great cover artist) said to draw all the time, because the only way to get to the good stuff is to slog through the bad (my own paraphrase).

Good advice if I've ever heard it.

Don't Use Your Rough Drafts

The first version of a story is the rough draft. Once the ideas are down on paper, the writer then rearranges, rewords, and reworks the text until it's efficient and effective.

Artists are often guilty of using rough drafts.

Something I Learned from Seth Godin

Post number 100!

By the way, I update this blog every Tuesday and Thursday.

I've been preparing for Heroescon in Charlotte this Sunday. I also drew up 4 new comic pages while putting some time in on a logo for a veterans transition program. Busy week!

I will post some drawings tomorrow.

Until then, remember this one piece of advice I learned from Seth Godin. Push towards the edges.

Don't Try to Solve 2 Problems at Once

The number 1 tip I can offer to help you in your art projects:
Don't try to solve 2 problems at once.

You're creating something and notice that it's too busy, the lines are boring, and the composition could be better. Don't work on all 3 issues at the same time. Fix the composition, then adjust the business, then improve the lines.

Fix something, then move on to the next thing. Then, do it again. Then, again until you run out of time or things to fix.

Are You Afraid to be Critiqued?

You need more critique, not less.

If you're not out there, you're not making a dent.

The Real Secret of Drawing

I've been on vacation this week, which is always glorious simply because I do exactly what I want. No responsibilities and no worries.

I didn't touch a pencil for 5 days.

When I picked it back up yesterday I was reminded of one of the greatest drawing lessons you can learn.

To draw well you have to think well.

Your mental approach to drawing is more important than the way you move the pencil. Good art is mainly a series of good decisions. How do you set up the compositions? Where do you put the shadows? How do you most effectively depict a scene or action?

Beyond that, intelligently naming your problems is the key to solving them. Too busy? Awkward posing? Flat drawing?

If your drawings are suffering, begin to explicitly name the problems and apply your best logic to every artistic decision. Begin to make sound artistic choices.

And now, back to the beach.

I'll Tell You What's Stupid

I just want to know that there are people out there who can relate to this.

I drew a picture yesterday and hated it.
I woke up this morning and like it.

sigh

At least I like it now! Better than the alternative.

A Tip for Improving as an Artist

One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard...

If you're not getting the results you want, do something different.

How often do we forget that?

Choosing Lines

Wave after wave of drawing inspired frustration combined with some Paul Pope, Ashley Wood, and Jamie Hewlett has taught me that I don't really understand what lines look good in a drawing.

Time to reset my instincts.