Does art precede story?

[marshal]

As someone who has a story but lacks artistic skill, I find myself wondering if it really would be ok to jump right into the medium and draw my own comic. I've countered this thought with the arguments that 1) I can use this as a fun learning opportunity and gradually improve 2) the story may be interesting enough to offset my underwhelming skills and 3)I might as well do something as I'm not doing much of anything else.

I'm curious on everyone's thoughts. Is there a "right time" or "enough skill" to think about before drawing a comic? How important is the art work and can good art work make up for story?

[joannekwan]

I'm not put off at all if the art looks "amateurish" if the story and writing are good. The important thing about the art is that it's clear in what it's trying to show. If a reader can't make heads or tails of the image in the panel, then you might have to rethink your story-telling medium.
The right time to do a comic is when you want to do a comic. Nothing's stopping you! And for me, really pretty art does not compensate for the story. Sure I might take a few screencaps of the art for my own reference, but if the story is boring or the writing is terrible, I won't read it.

[sundanceann]

I tend to read for story quality over art quality, so I wouldn't worry about it. Also a story that updates often will get more readers than a story that has great art, but updates every two months.

[fighterxaos]

Well, maybe in the published world you need to be a certain level. Though I've seen people at my level drawing comics. I'm in your shoes kinda right now myself. I'm a writer first and I prefer to have someone else draw my comics. I've been pondering the same thing for my upcoming webcomic "New Courage" I want to put it up but I have no artist and I'd have to draw it myself.

I pondered the question if I have enough skill or if it's the right time and decided that I should just go for it. I think the story is fun enough and I want to have something out there so people can get a feel for my writing style.

If you really like your story then I think it will trump the art anyway. I'm part of "the press" and review comics before they release and let me tell you me and my peers certainly enjoy the art but it's about story first with us. So go ahead and go for it if you want. Most likely your art will grow anyway from experience. Just like I hope mine does when I start my comic.

[Raven_C]

While art is something that initially grabs people's attention, I have to say that story is much more important than the art style -- for me anyway. Story is really what makes something much more memorable (if it's interesting and well-written). There are comics out there that I read which don't have a very polished or "professional" looking style, but the story is so interesting and the characters very compelling/intriguing that I've come to really love them.

Start your comic if you're really itching to do it. That's what I did. When I started, my art really sucked. But it's been really fun and liberating to just tell your story and share them. And now, my art still sucks, but at least a little less.

[aspiderjonny]

Good art grabs your attention but a good story keeps it. That's my philosophy. Besides you'd never know if people like your comic until you post it. So just do it. Do you have concepts or pages from your comic. It's probably not as bad as you might think. (Btw I think my early pages suck but I got better, so will you)

[oliviasstephen]

Dive in. Don't wait. Don't wait for a point where you'll be satisfied enough with your art because it's not gonna happen, haha. Start off small. Maybe stories that are just a few pages long. Work up from there. The art and clarity will come with time and practice. Each page adds to the time you spend improving your craft. There is no right time or enough skill. We all have to START somewhere.

[AnnaLandin]

I built up my drawing-skills before I started a comic - but that's not because I felt like I needed to be a good artist. It just took me a while to realise that comics were a thing I could do (dim, I know! XD).

Some of the best comics I've read have had "bad" art - and by "bad", I mean that the style is not one that people think of when they think of good art. It has shaky lines, or weirdly proportioned people, or no solid perspective on the buildings, or whatever - but it's used to serve the story. The shaky lines become part of the storytelling, and so on. While I adore fantastic artwork in a comic, there are times when fantastic art can get in the way of the story; sometimes, what a story needs is a shaky, badly drawn character, to get the feeling across.

And no - great art can, for me, never make up for a bad story. It can make up for a mediocre story, but it can't ever make up for a bad one - the same way all the glossy special effects in the world can't save a bad movie.

My advice to you is to just start drawing your own comic. You're never going to get better as an artist unless you draw, and comics are a perfect opportunity to do so!

[Jelw]

If you feel like like bad art will get in the way of the understandability of your comic, then wait if it's a project you adore. Try another project to test the waters- I think more important than having good art for a story is having good understanding of technical aspects. Learn about paneling and speech bubble placement and action flow with a test run, and improve your art while you're at it. That doesn't mean make a throw away comic necessarily, but maybe if you have an idea that's close to your heart and you want to do full justice for, do a little practice first on another project. You might get feedback that will help with both projects as you go.

[scythe]

Think of it like human attraction. The looks are what everyone notices at first, but unless they have a good personality, that will only ever take things so far. At the same time, if someone has a great personality but is severely lacking in the looks department, they're going to have a hard time attracting someone.

Comics is a visual medium, so I won't lie and say the art isn't as important as the story. A lot of the time, it IS the story.

That being said, I think the right time to start something is usually now. I mean, we're not getting any younger.

[scythe]

And to answer your last question... no. Great art cannot turn a poor story into a good comic.

If anything, it'll just make it a wasted opportunity.

[Aeonhue]

@marshal
Personally there has to be some sort of art foundation for me to even look at it. It doesn't need to be perfect but shows they know what they should be doing even if it doesn't look good enough. For example your profile picture shows some sort of structure so I would look at it. So Intially art does but then story does. So I thnk the right time would be the fundamentals not a highskill but just application of that knowledge have those and I think you'd be fine. But making a comic regardless of skill is good practice to get better by applying the fundamentals. I could be wrong but...whatevs.

Also I don't draw my best because that would take forever to do and I just don't have the time to be good & perfect.

[Spinester]

Good art is the gateway drug for me. I'm more likely to give a story/comic a chance if it has nice art but it's the story that will ultimately make me stick around.

[Doubtcent]

This has been said almost everywhere on the forum:
People come for the art, and stay for the story.

A good example of this is Homestuck.
It was literally made in MS paint, and yet for its complexity, charm and story, millions have become dedicated to it. (Of course the art got better as time went a long, but if you look at the beginning, you can tell immediately why people stayed)

[yvettegustafsson]

Start your comic I think! You'll never feel good enough at drawing anyway because there will always be someone out there who you compare yourself with (the curse of wanting to always learn and get better all the time) so get started, publish it and before you know it you are both better at drawing, better at telling stories and you've made a bunch of friends at the same time

And your audience/friends will be delighted to see the evolution of your art - they'll feel like they've been with you for a long time and their bond to you will be stronger.

[UzukiCheverie]

There's a reason why series like Cyanide and Happiness, XKCD, Homestuck, etc. are so popular - they don't need to look good to have good content.

You're always, -always- going to find some kind of excuse related to your artistic skill to push off a comic. Just start it. There's no point in waiting and waiting because most of the time, by the time you do choose to do it, it's already too late and you'll still be looking for ways to improve because you never truly master your craft.

If your content is good enough, the art won't matter. Just do it.

[eagle1]

The only thing that I can add to all of the excellent comments on this thread is this. Art does not precede story in comics. Art IS story in comics. Comics are writing and art come together to tell a story. That being said, having a good story is far more important than good art. If you can draw to the level required to tell the story (not look pretty), then do so.

Eagle
(The Gods know my art is not going to win any prizes)

[ck_tapastic]

Good art is the gateway drug for me. I'm more likely to give a story/comic a chance if it has nice art but it's the story that will ultimately make me stick around.

Nailed it. Can't be said better than this!

[TAMAnnoying]

There is a comic called One Punch Man: This is all I have to say about it. http://missannoyingtam.tumblr.com/post/117303305160/an-important-message-to-aspiring-comic-artists

(also go read it : I )

[Raven_C]

I totally reblogged it from u now xD