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The Art of an aspiring cartoonist: YoungPrometheus

YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
edited August 2010 in Artist's Corner
Uh, well, nice to meet you all. This is actually my first ever time posting here, so I would like to properly introduce myself:

I am fifteen years old, going to be sixteen in August, and I want to create comics. I really started since eighth grade, though I did struggle with my own limited drawing skills. Thankfully, looking back and comparing it to now, I think my art has improved significantly.

This is going to sound egotistical, but I want to be one of the best. Why? Because if your the best, you get the most attention and the most money. Money I can use to financially support my family, who currently has seen better times.

The reason I wanted to post here, is beacuse from what I have read, you people have an amazing sense of art. Though, to be clear, I think there is a difference between "illustration" and sequential story telling. Hopefully that doesn't sound stupid, but I figure, that as long as I get the point clearly and appealingly across, I've done my job.

This picture is some thing I did very recently, as in "I finished it last night" recent. Its actually not an example of sequential story telling, but rather a sort of promotional page. Its done quite crude, and somewhat simplistic, but I hope it gets its message across.

scan0001oz.th.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thank you, please critique.

EDIT : I think I fixed the picture.

YoungPrometheus on
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Posts

  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I don't think deviantart allows hotlinking, and I can't visit there while at work anyway. Can you rehost your picture?

    Welcome to the forums, though

    Metalbourne on
  • WassermeloneWassermelone Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Deviantart doesn't allow hotlinking. Try imageshack.us

    I'm glad you want to be good. Understand that it takes a lot of work, and will not happen overnight. Also please understand that where your art is right now, there is no specific critique that we will be able to give you that will help more than this advice:

    Draw from life. Draw people, objects, environments from life. Just draw from life. Art is at its most basic level a reinterpretation of the things that already exist. It doesn't matter if you are Craig Mullins, or Masamune Shirow - drawing from life educates you as to how things truly look and once you know that, you can make as many stylistic changes as you want.

    Hard analytical study of the world around us is the quickest and surest way to skill.

    Wassermelone on
  • m3nacem3nace Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Cool, another 15 year old aspiring comic artist =D (like me). Listen to these guys and draw naked ladies, then you will get far.

    m3nace on
  • ProjeckProjeck Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    It's good to see another young buck around here!

    You're off to a good start, and you ambition is admirable, but at this point you need to work on your fundamentals if you want to see any real progress

    The biggest tip I can give is to just carry a sketchbook everywhere you go and just draw what you see

    Projeck on
  • PeterAndCompanyPeterAndCompany Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Wasser and the rest pretty much said it all in a nutshell. All I can add is the recommendation to start collecting reference material that matches your artistic interests as well, either in book or digital form. Start harvesting a massive archive of anything that could potentially provide you with inspiration down the road. Build up a wealth of relevant information and you'll be amazed how helpful it will be when you need help with how to draw something at a moment's notice (and don't have immediate access to Google Images).

    PeterAndCompany on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Re:

    Metalbourne: I think I adjusted the picture. It was too big, so I made it a thumbnail. Thanks for the welcome.

    Wassermelone: As usual the advice you give is spot on. Just to explain, I have drawn from life, stuff like sketches of houses and in gesture drawing. This is just my personal drawing method, but I've been trying to do both equally, to an extant, so one doesn't overwhelm the other. Though I think I will do more live drawings.

    m3nace: Wow really? So I'm not alone! Awesome :D

    YoungPrometheus on
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    There's nothing wrong with workinig on both equally. Don't let the pretentious fart-bags in here convince you otherwise.

    Hell, I started with a copy of "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" and built up most of my knowledge from that alone. But drawing from life helps immeasurably, through just about every aspect of drawing.

    Metalbourne on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    To be realistic, pretty much the true reason that I don't practice live drawing more often is well....

    Texas summer heat. Yikes. I've been living with my grandparents for a while, mostly during school, and they both have jobs, so for the majority of the morning, I'm by myself. I DO go out and draw when they come home, and I do get a few drawings done.

    And if anybody cares, I have a DevianArt account under the same name as here: YoungPrometheus.

    YoungPrometheus on
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    man, head over to the mall, the library, or a local book store and hang out in the air conditioning. You can do quick studies of people as they walk around or sit, or you can just crumple up a ball of paper and draw that.

    Metalbourne on
  • ParadiseParadise Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    People are the best things to draw; even though people are things, don't treat them like objects.

    Seriously, if you're drawing somebody at the mall, and they give you a death stare, draw somebody else.

    Paradise on
  • WassermeloneWassermelone Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    I understand on the Texas heat - I lived in Houston for 8 years. As far as air conditioned places, Barnes and Noble is a great place to draw people.

    Wassermelone on
  • ParadiseParadise Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    The DMV is supposed to be a great place to draw people, but visiting the DMV out of free will is like voluntarily walking into Hell. The choice is yours.

    Paradise on
  • HeartlashHeartlash Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    At this stage, it seems like you need to start changing the way you're thinking when you approach drawing a cartoon. Remember, no matter how stylized you go, your ultimate goal is to create the illusion of a 3 dimensional scene. In order to do that, you need a fundamental understanding of reality, including anatomy, perspective, and physics (for dynamic scenes). This is why you'll get the common suggestion "draw from life", as it can help with almost all of these things.

    Have you taken any art courses or are you planning on any in the future? They can be really helpful, providing you with perspective techniques (1-point, 2-point, and 3-point), live models/still life, and practice time/feedback.

    Also, for more specific cartoon-related theory, Scott McCloud's Books are pretty good, despite the ragging on them you might hear on the internet.

    Heartlash on
    My indie mobile gaming studio: Elder Aeons
    Our first game is now available for free on Google Play: Frontier: Isle of the Seven Gods
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    who's been ragging on scott mcclouds books? I'll shit in their mouth!

    Metalbourne on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Well, thankfully, I don't think that I've ever been to the DMV. I like the idea of going to Barnes and Noble, since I go there sometime to buy books as well. Thanks a hundred times on your thoughts guys!

    Actually, out of curiosity, I'm genuinely curious about what people think of the picture I uploaded. While sequential story telling IS essential, I'm also practicing design in general. It takes a fair bit of influence from manga, without being overly generic.

    Does it "stimulate" you in the sense of "This has 'something' to it, I want to see more"? Please, I really want to know!

    YoungPrometheus on
  • HeartlashHeartlash Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    who's been ragging on scott mcclouds books? I'll shit in their mouth!

    Silly geese, that's who.

    Heartlash on
    My indie mobile gaming studio: Elder Aeons
    Our first game is now available for free on Google Play: Frontier: Isle of the Seven Gods
  • ParadiseParadise Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Heartlash wrote: »
    Remember, no matter how stylized you go, your ultimate goal is to create the illusion of a 3 dimensional scene

    Some cartoons are completely flat. Like my recent ones. Lately I've been purposefully ignoring dimension Z.

    Do whatever you want, YoungPromethius, but there's some cool tutorials and anatomy resources over here if you're interested.

    Paradise on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    RE:

    Heartlash: Oh, I LOVE Scott Mccloud's books. I actually own only one: Making Comics. Seriously, I think I got this somewhere on December/January; I've read this book so many times its like the back of my hand, and it never gets tiring.

    Also, I got the MASSIVE book on making comics, somewhat similar, called Drawing Words and Writing Pictures. I don't think I'm that far into yet, but it is AWESOME. Its like a serious college course, so its a bit intimidating.

    YoungPrometheus on
  • HeartlashHeartlash Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Well, thankfully, I don't think that I've ever been to the DMV. I like the idea of going to Barnes and Noble, since I go there sometime to buy books as well. Thanks a hundred times on your thoughts guys!

    Actually, out of curiosity, I'm genuinely curious about what people think of the picture I uploaded. While sequential story telling IS essential, I'm also practicing design in general. It takes a fair bit of influence from manga, without being overly generic.

    Does it "stimulate" you in the sense of "This has 'something' to it, I want to see more"? Please, I really want to know!

    Honestly, it's pretty flat and generic. There are a number of proportions irregularities that don't look intentionally stylized. The composition has a lot of tangents between the monster and the character that make it feel a bit muddled. The monster feels particularly underdeveloped, as it has very few features that give it form on depth. Overall it feels more like a starting sketch than anything else.

    This is not meant to be discouraging. I think you have a long way to go but with patience and hard work you can most certainly improve.

    I like the expression on the girl, that's probably your strongest point. She has a distinct, albeit simplified look on her face. That said, I don't really get her overall mood. She's coming off as annoyed by the monster, but it feels like a stronger reaction would be more appropriate given the circumstances.

    Heartlash on
    My indie mobile gaming studio: Elder Aeons
    Our first game is now available for free on Google Play: Frontier: Isle of the Seven Gods
  • HeartlashHeartlash Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Paradise wrote: »
    Heartlash wrote: »
    Remember, no matter how stylized you go, your ultimate goal is to create the illusion of a 3 dimensional scene

    Some cartoons are completely flat. Like my recent ones. Lately I've been purposefully ignoring dimension Z.

    While true, you still have to create the illusion that what's on the page makes some sort of sense in its own world.

    Also, given the content of the OP's original piece, it looks like they're going for something that will involve a Z axis.

    Heartlash on
    My indie mobile gaming studio: Elder Aeons
    Our first game is now available for free on Google Play: Frontier: Isle of the Seven Gods
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    what I'm taking from this picture is: Girl gets slightly annoyed by monster while on an errand. for a comic cover, you'll have to dream up something that conveys a sense of drama. You need some action in there. The monster about to crush the girl or bite her in half, or she's holding the monster off while her father lays injured on the ground. I know its a tendency for people to want to make an invincible character, one so badass that the most they'll ever be is slightly annoyed at the most eldertich of evils, but that doesn't make for a very interesting comic book.

    Metalbourne on
  • ParadiseParadise Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Heartlash wrote: »
    Well, thankfully, I don't think that I've ever been to the DMV. I like the idea of going to Barnes and Noble, since I go there sometime to buy books as well. Thanks a hundred times on your thoughts guys!

    Actually, out of curiosity, I'm genuinely curious about what people think of the picture I uploaded. While sequential story telling IS essential, I'm also practicing design in general. It takes a fair bit of influence from manga, without being overly generic.

    Does it "stimulate" you in the sense of "This has 'something' to it, I want to see more"? Please, I really want to know!

    Honestly, it's pretty flat and generic. There are a number of proportions irregularities that don't look intentionally stylized. The composition has a lot of tangents between the monster and the character that make it feel a bit muddled. The monster feels particularly underdeveloped, as it has very few features that give it form on depth. Overall it feels more like a starting sketch than anything else.

    This is not meant to be discouraging. I think you have a long way to go but with patience and hard work you can most certainly improve.

    I like the expression on the girl, that's probably your strongest point. She has a distinct, albeit simplified look on her face. That said, I don't really get her overall mood. She's coming off as annoyed by the monster, but it feels like a stronger reaction would be more appropriate given the circumstances.

    Look, the point is: you're fifteen years old, and you're just starting out. You're doing alright for the time being; if you focus on learning and practicing/experimenting, you should start to see results that please you.

    Now go out and get to work. Good luck!

    Paradise on
  • HeartlashHeartlash Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Forgot to mention, your "hook" line: "This is a story about a teenage girl and how she helps her father" is good. It contrasts with the fantastical imagery in an intriguing way. That said, it can probably be tightened up and given more dramatic delivery by punctuation usage.

    E.g. "This is a story about a girl who helps her father." or "This is a story about a girl... and how she helps her father."

    Heartlash on
    My indie mobile gaming studio: Elder Aeons
    Our first game is now available for free on Google Play: Frontier: Isle of the Seven Gods
  • m3nacem3nace Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Heartlash wrote: »
    Forgot to mention, your "hook" line: "This is a story about a teenage girl and how she helps her father" is good. It contrasts with the fantastical imagery in an intriguing way. That said, it can probably be tightened up and given more dramatic delivery by punctuation usage.

    E.g. "This is a story about a girl who helps her father." or "This is a story about a girl... and how she helps her father."
    it also needs Don La Fontaine voicing it

    m3nace on
  • PeterAndCompanyPeterAndCompany Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    m3nace wrote: »
    Heartlash wrote: »
    Forgot to mention, your "hook" line: "This is a story about a teenage girl and how she helps her father" is good. It contrasts with the fantastical imagery in an intriguing way. That said, it can probably be tightened up and given more dramatic delivery by punctuation usage.

    E.g. "This is a story about a girl who helps her father." or "This is a story about a girl... and how she helps her father."
    it also needs Don La Fontaine voicing it

    "IN A WORLD... where fathers need help... ONE GIRL stands alone..."

    PeterAndCompany on
  • MustangMustang Arbiter of Unpopular Opinions Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Even though that was a joke, P&C hit the nail on the head.

    "When trouble finds her father, only her determination can save him."

    That still needs work, but you can see how "This is a story about a teenage girl and how she helps her father" can become infinately more dramatic with a little word play.

    Mustang on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Wow, looking back I'm surprised so many people commented. I'm very humbled.

    But, I must ask a question: I believe some time ago, my grandmother told me that she knew a woman who could give me art lessons; however, it will be over oil painting. While it certainly is exciting that I am going to finally get art lessons of any kind, would this help me out significantly?

    YoungPrometheus on
  • earthwormadamearthwormadam ancient crust Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    it surely wont hurt

    earthwormadam on
  • MustangMustang Arbiter of Unpopular Opinions Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Painting with oils certainly wouldn't damage your progress in anyway. Don't ever ignore your pencil work though. Constant practice with life sketches, reading and taking an active interest in your progress is essential.

    Mustang on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    This picture also isn't technically sequential storytelling, though its sort of a promotional thing. It was done during school, but not for artclass; it was for career course. We were essentially designing pamphlets. I like how it turned out. When I scanned it to my computer the colors looked faded, though I adjusted it.

    I'm curious what people think.

    scan2blackt.th.jpg

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    YoungPrometheus on
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited June 2010
    well, my first impression is that "black tangerine" is a punk band.

    Why a punk band would be giving out pamphlets, I don't know. But without any other knowledge of whatever the pamphlet is trying to tell me, that's my first impression.

    So if that's what you wanted to get across, good work. Otherwise, back to the drawing board.

    additionally, you need to tighten it up. Make your letters the same size and on a single line so that it looks like its professionally done.

    Metalbourne on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    ^
    The pamphlet was basically for this short story I had written. I admit that it does look like it needs to be tightend. Thanks.

    On another note, I've been working on a single page comic, a sort of homework assignment from the book I mentioned earlier, Drawing Words and Writing Pictures. I should be able to finish it and upload it tomorrow, hopefully.

    Also, this picture was ALSO something I did at school, specifically art class. A black and white ink drawing, using textures. I took inspiration from comics, mainly Japanese but also American. I "reads" from left to right and is called "Frightmare".

    scan1frightmare.th.jpg

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    I personally think that its quite unsteady in a number of places, though I like the "starkness" of it. But whatever. Please critique, and thank you so, so, so much for your time.

    YoungPrometheus on
  • MustangMustang Arbiter of Unpopular Opinions Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    It's chilling. Don't ever kill someone, because the lawyers will eat this shit up.

    Mustang on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Okay, this picture is essentially a homework assignment from the book Writing Words and Drawing Pictures. Basically its about using panels, with this story as a template:

    The Wrong Planet:
    1. An astronaut launches his rocket
    2. Lands on the moon
    3. Plants a flag
    4. He returns home to much fanfare
    5. But then he realises he has gone to the wrong planet.

    It's done somewhat crudely, and the lines are sloppy, but I hope it gets the point across.

    scan0002so.th.jpg

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    Please critique, and give your suggestions. Thank you.

    YoungPrometheus on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited June 2010
    Incidentally, I've been working on some life drawings; I would scan them, but I drew them in a thick, leather bound sketchbook, making it difficult to take out the drawings. I'll see to it that a few are uploaded at least.

    YoungPrometheus on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Okay, I've also been working on this sort of comic, so that's why I haven't been posting. Its basically a polished up and better (well for ME, at least) drawn story I drew completely freehand while I was still at school. It was about four-ish pages long, and done so I could prove to myself that I had the potential. The vast majority of it was done during odd times, during certain classes, times when I could relax. It wasn't planned at all, no references, not even a ruler. It was done purely for the purpose of being done.

    Now, I'm almost halfway thru completing the new version, but I wanted to give a free sneak peak, if only to get some criticism. It'll probably read much better as a whole. I just want you to give your thoughts on the storytelling; but also judge my still crude art.

    Right:

    scan0003ec.jpg


    scan0004hg.jpg

    YoungPrometheus on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Wow, I shouldn't neglect my own thread. ANYWAY, the reason for my absence was because I've been drawing quiet a bit; stuff such as negative space drawing, a fair amount of life drawing, and some comic stuff. Theses are the negative space stuff I did, looking at the negative drawings supplied at Posemaniacs:

    scan0001ek.th.jpg

    scan0002tk.th.jpg

    scan0003o.th.jpg

    scan0004zm.th.jpg

    This one that I'm also posting is not too dissimilar to the one at the very beginning of the thread: it's a single page, basically drawing whatever came to mind. Looking back, I guess its okay, but I still feel that there are corrections to be made. The slight inconsistency in the legs bother me the most. So, yeah, expect another version soon, but I'm curious what you people think:

    scan0007fr.jpg

    Expect more art soon!

    YoungPrometheus on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Presenting: ANOTHER homework assignment from DW and WP. Rather than going into too much detail, I'll just quote the website:

    "The goal of this assignment is to practice using the different panel transitions discussed in the chapter. It is, of course, also a chance to work on visual storytelling in general."

    To expand, draw a two page, very rough thumbnail comic using different panel transitions. This is what I did (sorry if it looks yellowed and a bit hard to read, but I guess that's my fault.) Please read and critique. For possible reference, you can read the links at the bottom of the page here.

    http://dw-wp.com/2010/03/chapter-4-bridging-the-gap/

    scan0005m.jpg

    scan0006n.jpg

    Please, give your thoughts.

    YoungPrometheus on
  • m3nacem3nace Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Arrows? I'd never use arrows to guide the reader.

    m3nace on
  • YoungPrometheusYoungPrometheus Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    The arrows were sort of a weird accident. I noticed that there was a bit of empty space there, and was trying to think of a good sort of symbolic joke. The thought being that the arrows were basically connecting the dots. I recall reading something simillar in execution, though I can't recall. Nice catch, though.

    YoungPrometheus on
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