So how do you talk about comics, anyway?

[Tanako]

wow same here. I have the same problem and I have no idea what to do about it.

[punkarsenic]

What I would like to see is more topics on traditional publishing!

yes!! now that ive had a lil more experience in print i think its a really essential part of a cartoonists development to delve into bookmaking & the print industry. more threads on zines too!

i think theres less threads on this simply bc we're webcomic artists first and foremost; most people dont have experience with print, and those who do have a pretty straightforward 'make the PDF and send it to the printer' process, maybe with a kickstarter (theres been kickstarter threads)

it would certainly be great to see more threads abt this side of the industry. @GabbieWolf perhaps you could kick off with a thread abt the research youve done?

[elyss]

I've gotten better at how to approach it by looking at comics that do a lot of group shots, specifically shots where people are colored out of focus so that all eyes are on the main people.

@punkarsenic I would love more info on printing. Color printing is especially confusing to me because of how people color digitally.

[punkarsenic]

theres a great book by iron circus called 'how to print a comic and not fuck it up' (iirc) - im yet to read it, but i think its a great place to start! the editor of iron circus also talks in-depth abt publishing on the podcast dirty old ladies.

mb when i get to reading it ill do a thread sharing some key points. its a pretty small press production so i dont wanna share out the whole thing for free, but i imagine its pretty cheap to download or buy a copy of

[Reign]

I’d also love to see threads about how everyone else does scripts, or just where everyone can share their general process of comic creation. I know there’s no concrete way, but I’m so lost and wondering if the way I’m doing it is hurting my comic’s potential. I’m starting to get some ideas on new topics. Also the composition of creating great cover art. That would be cool. Or how to find an aesthetic to your art style that is pleasing and sellable.

[punkarsenic]

I’d also love to see threads about how everyone else does scripts, or just where everyone can share their general process of comic creation.

i feel like these have certainly cropped up before?

Do you use script for your comic? Do you use it because you work in tandem with someone else and need to keep things clear and consistent? If not, how detailed do you keep it, and how far ahead does it reach? All the way to the end? Would you mind posting an example of it? More of a curiosity question than a necessity one, since I tend to go directly to thumbnailing stage after thinking scene over in my head, so I don't really use scripts besides most simple bare bones outline of "these events…

I know that scripts is an important part of creating a comic since it helps lays out the story but I'm not much of writer so I'm wondering is there anybody that doesn't use scripts at all for their stories? I know that scripts are written out by the writers to help the artist to see how the story should drawn out but since I'm doing both the art and the writing, I usually lay out the stories in thumbnails like a storyboard artist. But I wasn't sure if anybody else feels the same way since most "…

For me, I have a large Google Doc guide of planned chapters (I've written 12 so far, and illustrated the first 2, now on 3). I write out each chapter in a 3rd person omniscient style like in a novel. ex. ...On her way there, she starts to notice small black puddles on the campus grounds and becomes suspicious as they appear to attach to what they pass by. Everyone seemed completely oblivious to them. She pretends that they don’t exist. I try to be as detailed as possible so that when I r…

[elyss]

That can be especially fun if the people who respond have links to their works. For some reason, I enjoy looking at their method and seeing how it translates into their finished product. Does anyone else do that?

[Reign]

@punkarsenic

Oh...I guess I just need to look. Heh heh. Thanks!

[Reign]

I’ve been kicking around the topic about cover art for a while now, though. Poster art would be cool, too. I just don’t understand aesthetic.

@punkarsenic

[Tanako]

I've gotten better at how to approach it by looking at comics that do a lot of group shots, specifically shots where people are colored out of focus so that all eyes are on the main people.

same here. I did the same thing here in my comic

I'm still learning and I know it looks a bit amateurish but I guess we all gotta start somewhere. so I'm ok with it. I just hope my readers are LMAO:joy:

[elyss]

I want a cover art one as well. Also picking titles for series. I'm interested in how people go about it versus getting direct help my project. I feel I learn more that way.

[Reign]

I’ll make a post with the question, then! I’ll just need to figure out how to phrase it.

[GabiWolf]

When it comes to style that’s really personal. My advice would be don’t think about what is sellable but what is simple and clean for you to draw. I grew up in the high times of anime and everyone in middle school drew that style. For the longest time I drew like that too. Then I took art classes where I had to draw realistic. After all that, all the different styles I finally found my own.

Just focus on improving your skill and your style will emerge! Also look at other artist and find things you like in their work. That’s your taste and part of your style!

[elyss]

I've found that the most sellable is often the most pleasing to the artist. A good style doesn't have to be super pretty per se, it just has be confident and consistent. When developing a style, look at artists that you like and replicate the pieces you do. Also do a lot drawing from life. Slowly, this will culminate into a style.

[Reign]

@GabbieWolf @elyss

Those are good pointers! I have been drawing a lot of manga. That’s my number one art style, apart from my comic, Tom and Shelldon. I want to do the manga style, but I want to find my own style within that style. Like how One Piece stands out, or Mob Psycho. I want it to be manga, but I want someone to see it and then know that it’s my work - not just the generic anime style. Does that make sense?

[elyss]

It does! I recommend stepping away from anime for a bit and doing life studies. It sounds strange, and I would upload pics if I wasn't at work and away from my pc, but my spent an entire semester of college drawing live models and just focusing on realistic proportions and realism in general. I was too busy to even touch my comic. When I finally did again, my style was so much better. Everything finally breathed in a way that I was confident in.

[GabiWolf]

One thing I always heard in art classes is, “;learn the basic rules, and only than can you break them.”

I use to draw in anime style but had the generic problem. It was just easier to get art books on that style. But then I stoped and asked myself what kind of art I like. I love the new Disney style, and I loved Mulan. Slowly I started taking parts of different styles I like and mashing them together, while also “breaking the rules” of anatomy I learned. Eyes got bigger necks smaller, and all than I had my style!

But taking art classes with a live model really does help!

[Reign]

@elyss @GabbieWolf

That all makes a lot of sense! I think I definitely lack in drawing from life. I realized that my art got better after taking an illustration class for a semester. I need to get back in school, and, if I can’t at the moment, get some books and study anatomy and stuff.

[elyss]

The power of google is great too and more free. Look up gestures on sites like pinterest, they can be very effective as well. Just getting the hang of how a body can move and relax is a great place to start

[NanettesClouds]

Hey somewhat off topic but I recently graduated (this week) and due to popular demand (@SleepingPoppy) I plan on relaunching Nitty Gritty Tips in the nearish future alongside some other forum-based content :V