Would you be able to draw your comic in another style?

[Mallory]

@GothickangelStudios

Hah, yeah I think DC/Marvel type art I wouldn't be able to do either. I can do semi-realism but it's just a hair... off, and fixing the "off" thing would I think just be too time-consuming and not very fun. But I agree, I think the different art styles are what makes comics fun, and I love seeing stories where the art is clearly designed to compliment the story.

@IndigoShirtProd

Hah, I hear you on being easily distracted. I think recently I've finally started to see that there are elements I seem to draw over and over, kind of understanding that it's my "style", but I see so many other cool art approaches and just go "...okay but what if I did that instead".

I do also prefer internal consistency though. I always find it so jarring when comics change style, unless there's like... a time skip or a tonal shift to a new storyline or something. And yeah, hah... I have multiple art styles for different projects too, but it seems like when it comes to comics, I just cannot find it in me to draw things with more realism.

@lizardlullabye Ah, animators are wizards when it comes to adapting style. It's honestly kind of magical. And, oh gosh, I love the stylistic variation in all of those pieces. Makes me want to try and do a study of those studies, haha.

@Lazy-Gamer - yeah, it is true, and I have encountered that as well. I AM pitching it for kids, but it's kind of tricky because it's like "okay, but kids want to think they're mature, so maybe they won't pick up a book that's too cute..." I'm definitely still pitching the story because I believe in it. But I don't wanna close too many extra doors if I feel like it's something that can be changed!

@darthmongoose Yeah I played around with a different inking brush and I feel like it "aged" the art up just doing that alone. But, guh, I don't know anymore. I found a recently-published comic with a style very similar to the one I'm pitching, aimed at a similar age range and featuring a similar narrative, and I was like "yes, this!"... and then discovered that it seems like the artist was friends with the editor ._______________. (I mean that not in a jealous way, more in the sense of... It means there's no agent or someone I know for sure is interested in that kind of stuff I can query)

I can definitely tell you enjoy drawing Errant, it's so expressive and purposeful, like everything on the page is exactly as you wanted it.

And yeah that's kind of what I'm afraid of. I know I can draw in different styles, I just... don't know if I can sustain it over the period of producing a whole GN and not burn out like a lot of other artists I'm hearing. I'm also disabled, so it would effectively mean that I can't draw outside of working on the GN, to let my body recuperate. So it's not like I could escape into my webcomic on the side.

@moontokkym I appreciate the advice, but my interpretation of "too young" and "experimental" is the correct one. I had long conversations about the topic with the editor/agents, which I only summed up here. They specifically wanted changes to the lineart (not posted here) to make the characters look "older"/less stylized.

@UrMom

Hah, I think we had a somewhat similar stylistic journey! Until the very end, anyways, hah. I went full-time chibi and don't draw in the "main" style anymore.

But, gosh, your use of textures is to die for. It gives the whole page so much visual interest/direction!

@NickRowler thank you! And hah, yeah I think most of us settle on a style in our own comics that we think compliment the story, so changing it would pretty much always be a strange idea.

@TheLemmaLlama

Ahaha "footballer artist". You should see the grin on my face when I read that. Yeap, that's me. I like to draw Big Muscl, but mostly just cute noodle people.

Also, I so very much admire your confidence to let your thoughts stand on the page. I am constantly like "oh no I need to clean things up, I need to redraw the lines", but that kills so much expression, and yours is so natural-looking akjshkjasksadads. Especially God's World - there is like... nothing extra there. Everything on the page is everything you need to communicate what you meant, and as you said, to place the reader in the scene. It's so cool to see. I have experimented with constant-width lines and I must say, I am growing... quite fond of it. It certainly makes some mental calculus a lot easier. xD

[RedLenai]

Would you be able to draw your comic in another style?
If the pay is good, long term and worth it, yes.

I personally adapt to what is required of me in order to achieve a specific result, flexibility is one of the most important things when it comes to opportunities and jobs, an artist that only sticks to one style may be very unique but I believe it limits their chances of getting jobs or to adapt to the circumstances, and a lot of times this is worse if ego is involved, and the more frustrated they feel if their pitches or job applications end up rejected.

As well is not like by getting hired to draw in a specific style means you'll be stuck drawing that eternally, you can still draw what you want in the style you like off the clock, administrating your time and such. Balancing responsabilities and passions is important in order to have a healthy relationship with your work or daily life.

As well, sometimes a lot of artists make a big deal about how difficult is to change their style, but honestly, is not really much a matter of changing the style but a matter of structure and technique. Same process but different tools.

Summary

[Caro]

Yeah I’m actually starting to work on a secret horror project that is a massive departure from I think my audience is used to which I’m mildly nervous about but its something I’ve wanted to do for years and only just felt like my art skills have gotten to a place where I feel like it would be taken a little more seriously?? (we’ll see I guess!)

I love changing my style up. If I only drew in my cutesy silly style all the time I think I would have trouble improving. I do think they are different beasts to me though like, my silly stuff is just kinda automatic and very much muscle memory. With my more complicated drawings it becomes very meditative and involved and I love both processes.

Summary

[allisoncandraw]

I have done multiple styles, actually! My comic "Signs Point to Bobbie" was more experimental when I first started, I wasn't sure if I wanted to make it a long term project.

Now that I've started uploading on Tapas regularly, I decided to make my comics in my regular, more detailed style. Here's a comparison!