[ART] Is there something I can help you with?

[Snowdrop]

Hi there, how are you today ?
I like teaching, sharing art tricks, making tutorials and talk about the crafting of art.

So, as the title say : is there something I can help you with ?
Is there something in art you keep struggling with even after seeking for tutorials and trying by yourself many times ?

It can be drawing, colors, lights, comics, animation, 3D art, characters... Of course I am no specialist of everything, each person learns/teaches a different way, and I have my own things I'd like to learn, keep improve and working on, so I can't unlock everything but talking together might be a start, what do you think ?

Have a nice day !

[jgreene2433]

There may be no answer to this, but do you know a fast way to color a comic page, digitally.
I spend hours on my pages and I love the results but hate the time and energy I have to put in. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Snowdrop]

Hi @jgreene2433, thank you for your question !
I suppose there can be multiple answers to this depending on where we look into this situation
I would say that some steps of creating are, by essence, time consuming (and that can be one of the things that make it rewarding when we finish an artpiece). What becomes problematic is if it becomes painful for you.

If the time issue is related to a publishing schedule but you still enjoy taking the time you need because you enjoy this part of the process regardless of the schedule, then I would say to rethink the schedule if possible.
If not, there can be ways to make your coloring process faster (but it might not look the same way it does now).
• It can be by tweaking your preparation methods (for example making a step of flat colors, it takes time but can help being faster for the next painting step).
• Or it could be by finding a new art direction for your pages, based on a new coloring technique less time consuming for you ! (experiment, try things on a sample/one page, it's fun to do and come up with results you did not expect)

What is important in my opinion is that it stays true to you, your artistic choices and intentions for your story. You decide what is important for your storytelling to express it to people. Does colors take an important part in understanding of your story ? Is it to be pleasing to the eye for the reader ? Is it because you enjoy working in colors ? Is it to keep your coloring skills updated ?

...

There can be many things to say !

As what is the most important here in this question is you, you shall be the starting point. Is it okay for me to begin by asking what is your current coloring process ? (or would you prefer to talk about your personal question together in private maybe ?)

[jgreene2433]

Thank you for your response. These are all things I consider as well, I think for me it's a habit or some kind of psychological pattern I'm having trouble breaking because I feel the need to color in as much detail as possible. I lay out my flats 1st which definitely gets the ball rolling, but then I spend days blending and shading and getting the right colors and I feel like if I don't do all that stuff, I'm not giving my work 100% and I don't know how to change my way of thinking like that.

[Snowdrop]

Haha yeah it's difficult to find compromise when mind patterns come in play . Some changes takes time but you are right, sometimes it is a little change of point of view, it's not necessary a complete 180° (it makes the change less scary/uncomfortable doesn't it ? ).

Maybe the repetitive task creates a frustration and creates the need to renew your connection with coloring at each page to not get bored ? (it's only a possibility I do not know how you feel and think, so sorry if I got it wrong )

Or maybe that, after the flat color steps, your process is not as structured/organised as you would like it to ? From what I read it seems that you search while doing it, walking in a blurry place until you finally get to the result you want ? When painting it is pleasing to be lost and search for a while, but I get that in a "production setting" logic it does not come efficient.
Do you have color palettes for your characters and backgrounds ? Reference sheets for your ambiances before hand ? Mood boards and research for your new locations ?
If you enjoy the experimental part of painting (while still being "productive") an idea could be to find a rotation ? For example : 1-"[writing & page layout done] characters are in this type of environment, [reseach on the side] for this scene I want these tones." 2-"apply this found color logic to all the pages that follow this color script.[productive part]" 3-"New environment/Emotional tone for a scene > [research]" repeat and so on
In cinema we plan/think ahead every scene in the pre-production step for the need of efficient production and visual constency/coherence in teamwork.
But since you work alone, and on a comic, you can find your own "workflow"

[Snowdrop]

(and I can't tell you about "self-discipline" /aka saying "no stop we go this way now" to your own mind/ and making choices, I have not found the magic key to it myself )

[jgreene2433]

This really great advice, thank you. I actually don't plan too much ahead when it comes to the coloring, so that can definitely be part of the frustration. You really gave me alot to think about.
I'm going to try this approach and if it works out, I owe you my 1st born child,.
But seriously thank you, I appreciate the fresh perspective.

[Snowdrop]

You are welcome ! Thank you for sharing your question
Haha, I am honoured, it will be all thanks to your hard work !
I hope this method can help you in some way ! I'll be interested in seeing what approach you found working for you
I'm still around if you need something.
Have a nice day !

[catluckey]

May I jump in? I checked out an episode of your comic and you have some coloring skills--more painterly looking. I can see why it would be time consuming for you, but it's beautiful.

Like @Snowdrop said, start with flat colors, but the question is what drawing/digital program do you use?

Just for starters, I use Clip Studio Paint and an artist monitor/digital pen with it. The thing I find helpful in coloring in CSP are the menu program helps, like color pallet areas to name your character and have their color pallet squares available to you.

Then the amazing vector layer that allows you to draw the finished ink lines of your character(s) and change the sizing without pixelating.

Then with that lined layer, you can identify it for your paint bucket to easily fill in the colors in the next raster layer.

Oh, need I mention the ease of making your own custom brushes of your character's face, clothes, etc., etc., with the properties of another csp brush there that you need.

I don't know if your drawing program offers features like that, but it sure helps significantly. Or perhaps, you already access these. Bottom line, I hope I've helped.