A few Pages I'm working on

[comixink]

These scanned funny... I use a col erase green because I love the color green so eff off! Haha, err... Let me know if this makes you tingle in your undies or not. This is step two of the penciling process for me, as you can see I use a lot of perspective grids which I suggest you do as well if you are serious about this industry! They are key for a successful composition and correct placement.

[metalgearray09]

Nice so far. Kind of hard to differentiate some things because of the construction lines and grids (though I love seeing those as it tells me how you do it, hehe).
Would love to see the finished product. I have to do everything digitally because I don't have a scanner.
Also..saves paper, lol.

[chargedgraphite]

Looks like a good start.

Keep the habit of using your ruler though. Even at this stage of the game in your construction, it will give your work a more enhanced and finished look. I know, I've fallen down that trap. It is a rookie mistake that will cost you when doing a line of framework freehand and it jacks up the whole look of the page because of that one flaw.

The editors will kick you right in the funny pages for doing it. So, save yourself the pain now. the perspective is really solid. The shots seem well planned. Run with it.

[comixink]

Thanks for the advice guys! I appreciate the kind words and the critique. I'm getting started on the inks and plan on using the ruler then, but I will throw it in the next round of pages and see how it feels to do the ruler thing. Really in my opinion I think it takes away a lot from the feel of the comic, but if it'll make it look better I'll go your route. Thanks again!

[seraph]

I think I'm mis-reading what you were just saying..

Did you say using a ruler takes away the feel of the comic?

[comixink]

Mar 21, 2009 18:47:11 GMT -5 seraph said:

I think I'm mis-reading what you were just saying..

Did you say using a ruler takes away the feel of the comic?

Haha, I may have worded that funny. I just like the aesthetic that some of the indie guys have where they don't quite use rulers. So the line is imperfect and has a more human feel to it. Is that a little clearer?

[rach83]

ok so im not a sequential artist. but i am learning illustration...sooo its close enough. having those clean neat lines makes your work look professional. editors don't want to see squiggley lines on the page. from what i understand about the art industry (and thats very little at this point in the game) it doesn't matter what you think about your work, in the end if the client dosent like your dont get paid, you dont get paid you dont get your next meal.

mmmm.... sorry if that came out kind of offensive. ya never know with some folks =D

fantastic work.

[comixink]

Haha, I don't know man. Some publishers like certain things, I'm definitely not looking to be working for Marvel or DC, I just like self publishing.

[chargedgraphite]

Well, even though, I do understand where you are coming from, I have to say that there is a difference in both parts of your statements...


Editors are looking for 3 major things from an artist. It doesn't matter how they phrase it or tell you, it's always these 3 root things.

1. Your ability to draw.

2. Your ability to tell the story.

3. Your ability to produce professionally, responsibly and timely.

The rest don't mean crap. Style is nice, sure but it doesn't sell books once people are used to it.

Clients are more involved and tend to be in love with their projects as we are with drawing them. They want the same things the editors do but with a twist in 99% of cases...they are fans and want to be us. That's why they tend to want to hover and work through us for their ' vision ' to make it across the boards.

As for the artist having it not matter what they think of their work...this one is a huge mistake to keep in your professional mindset. As an illustrator, you absolutely must be sure and know without a doubt that you are ready and can produce anything requested of you. If you don't, then you are still in training and aren't yet a professional. Understand that doesn't mean that you know it all and should stop learning/training. Not at all.

What I am suggesting is that with my previous mention of the ruler...The artist should be the ultimate say-so in his/her artistic productions, always wanting to better and master the craft. Don't ever draw for someone else to judge your work. Let them guide you for their desired vision of the final product without changing your position and integrity as the artist.


Take a test and see what people want, be it from working with Marvel, DC or self-published properties. You can do this by following what fans say in your own local comic stores and through communities like this one. Try an experiement of sifting through some comics out on the shelves right now and recent back issues of those titles...pay close attention to how many books the super stars produce and how many other lesser known talents produce way more art and successfully selling works than the top dogs do.

It's not always the big gun artists that get the most work. If you want to be successful in this industry, focus on what the editors are looking for, follow those artists doing just those things and then make your living mastering those skills.

Pay attention to the collectors, which are your end resulting sales of those wouldbe titles from the racks that keep them being reordered for the next issue...That's where the real success in comics is hiding. It's not about being famous, it's about being consistant. The artist is the front runner on who should be in the know about their work. The key is to not fall into blind love with your work so that you can't see the technique anymore.

Mar 21, 2009 22:16:38 GMT -5 rach83 said:

ok so im not a sequential artist. but i am learning illustration...sooo its close enough. having those clean neat lines makes your work look professional. editors don't want to see squiggley lines on the page. from what i understand about the art industry (and thats very little at this point in the game) it doesn't matter what you think about your work, in the end if the client dosent like your dont get paid, you dont get paid you dont get your next meal.

mmmm.... sorry if that came out kind of offensive. ya never know with some folks =D

fantastic work.

[comixink]

chargedgraphite my friend that is some great advice. I thank you so much!

[seraph]

Additionally-

While I can understand what you're referring to about indy artists and not using rulers- you have to make sure the style and things like rulers fit the genre/concept of what you're trying to do. For example, Jhonen. His stuff works for the insane things he puts on the page. Rulers? Bah.

However, here you're doing a space story. In this instance, I believe the story demands clear, concise lines. You've used technical skills for every other thing in these pages from your vanishing points to the edges of your ship, to the signs and details in the background. Not using a ruler when you've used it for everything else definitely impacts the work, in my opinion.

[chargedgraphite]

Well, it sounds like you are arguing ' style ' vs. technique. My point about the use of a ruler was for proper ability to draw. Style, in this case, as distorting an object due to the intentional purpose of stylizing a look vs. distorting a line or image due to bad form is no contest.

It's wise to careful not to confuse the two aspects because they are completely different, operating under two opposite sets of standards for function and application.

I do agree that independent freehand styles have an interesting look to them and are great for what they are. However, again, it doesn't apply here in this case. In this reference, it is a matter of keeping the work clean and consistant for the overall look of the page to show the best end result.

Interesting point to make none the less.

Mar 22, 2009 12:19:14 GMT -5 seraph said:

Additionally-

While I can understand what you're referring to about indy artists and not using rulers- you have to make sure the style and things like rulers fit the genre/concept of what you're trying to do. For example, Jhonen. His stuff works for the insane things he puts on the page. Rulers? Bah.

However, here you're doing a space story. In this instance, I believe the story demands clear, concise lines. You've used technical skills for every other thing in these pages from your vanishing points to the edges of your ship, to the signs and details in the background. Not using a ruler when you've used it for everything else definitely impacts the work, in my opinion.

[seraph]

I'm not disagreeing with you on points of being able to draw within proportion, perspective, etc and needing to use a ruler. I was more addressing the point of style within a story- paneling and such in particular.

[chargedgraphite]

Yeah, I know you were just adding to the original topic, not arguing literally... I was saying that you were bringing up an interesting point for ' style ' and that in this case, the only difference is we are working for technique by these samples.

It's all good. Made for another great point to discuss on the differences none the less.

[comixink]

Actually, I didn't use a ruler at all on this. But I see your point, and it does make sense. Here is another page.