Sep 2015
20 / 27
Sep 2015
Sep 2015
TrustyShamrock
Sep '15

ugh. ugghhhh i hate doing backrounds. i do them a lot but i haaate them. i usually have a rule in comics to have at least one backround a page to show where the characters are. and then if theyre just standin around and not going anywhere im allowed to just gradient the frak out of it for the rest of the page. but usually i fill in backrounds cuz i like the look of it. and i think ya just gotta like threaten yerself into finishing it cuz i dont know how else to get it done

characters are fun tho i like those. no complaints

kazukitakamura126
Sep '15

Drawing Characters isn't as hard as making environments for me. I use perspective for bother, so as long as It follow those rules my drawing will look decent. Of course I love designing characters because I can apply many aspects of to their outfits like their personality and social class. As for the environment I draw them only when I need to , like the environments in the comic's world or the background for a picture. I will not go out of my way to draw environment on its own like hos I do with a character.

bsienk90
Sep '15

Drawing characters easy.
Drawing backgrounds the bane of my existence.
Drawing backgrounds + characters...makes me want to jump off a bridge. for real something I'm TRYING to do. Honestly, the only want to get around that is to practice. That has to be the hardest thing with comic making. But I shall prevail!

And tips to avoid artist block, don't burn yourself out. Don't GO GO GO. Take a break and not do art for a while. You need to find a balance and a rhythm. I also take time to look at other artist work, watch things that inspire me (animation/movies/books/tutorials), and I also binge on music. Sometimes if I have a few projects going (example: I have a freelance graphic job, freelance illo, and my own comic) I switch between projects, 1 hour here, 1 hour there, and 1 hour Not Doing and on FB or something or going out with my friends. smile

scythe
Sep '15

I actually find the two about even. I've struggled with a face or expression just as much as some difficult perspective or scale in the background. I love backgrounds though. They're partly the reason I wanted to make a graphic novel rather than a typey typey novel. My story spans a vast amount of time across a wide array of locations, and I trust my artistic skills to portray the necessary atmosphere about a million times more than my prose.

I usually get a fair amount of compliments on my backgrounds, which is nice, considering the amount of time and effort I put into them, and while I'm far from an expert, I can offer these advices based on what I've learned so far or gleamed from those much more experienced than I .

  1. Don't just sketch and ink your characters first thinking you can worry about a background when they're done. That way lies damnation (and much hair pulling). Sketch both out at the same time, even if it's just the bare bones.

  2. Utilise perspective tools. Par example, I use Clip Studio Paint, which has amazing perspective tools of all stripes. Pretty much anything you need. If you haven't trailed that program yet, close this browser tab right now and go download it. Seriously, why are you still reading this? GO!

  3. Take advantage of Google Images and Maps. I read somewhere some artist saying that there's literally no excuse anymore not to know what something looks like, and I tend to agree. If you want your street to look like authentic downtown Tokyo, well, all that's just a couple of clicks away! Street view is your friend!

  4. Learning a 3D program like Poser or sketch up may cost you couple of days now, but it'll save you untold hours in the long run. If you know your characters are going to be in the same place for a while (or it's be a regular setting) build it first in a 3D program. Obviously you don't need to build every little detail. For buildings, I just use blocks. Then you can go in and play cinematographer and lighting guy. This takes away so much guesswork it's not even funny.

  5. Don't be afraid to eyeball things from time to time. As in, not everything has to be perfectly scaled and in super accurate perspective. Because, really, the background is just that, in the background. The reader will absorb the atmosphere rather than scour every little detail for imperfections.

  6. Don't avoid backgrounds because you find them hard or mundane. Making comics isn't all fame and fortune. There's a lot of heads down grit involved. So if it'll make your story better, you're losing a lot by neglecting your settings.

wendoabuto
Sep '15
Kayke

I never thought of it like that Kayke! My work has little or no backgrounds but thanks to you I'll try and use backgrounds more often to help establish my stories!

tableflipstudios
Sep '15

L always had problems with backgrounds because of little details so I normally go do a photo walk when she needs a certain background of whatever she needs for reference. smile