How do I get above XKCD quality?

youknoweverything

Or heck, how do I get to XKCD quality?

Are there any reasonably cheap tools or tricks one can use? Tonight I posted an illustration that I penciled then inked, then scanned. It really pains me that I can't even jump over the kiddie bar.

Drawing isn't my thing, but I'd like my next effort (or my next revision of this effort) to reach a higher plateau. Or any plateau.

Mustang

What is XKCD quality?

Tam

stick figures

Mustang

Oh is it a thing?

Tam

yeah it's a webcomic

OP, there's no way you're getting over hurdles with cheap tricks
if you want relatively good skills, it's going to take a lot of time drawing things you see around you or learning to draw shapes and put them together

m3nace

Tam wrote: »

yeah it's an awesome webcomic

fixed ^^

Stupid Mr Whoopsie Name

m3nace wrote: »

Tam wrote: »

yeah it's an mediocre but somehow popular webcomic

fixed ^^

Fletcher

most of the advice you're going to get is:

- DRAW FROM LIFE
- DRAW EVERY CHANCE YOU GET
- DRAW PEOPLE
- DRAW THINGS

- DRAW

Which, while repeated a lot, is all good advice! the old "practice makes perfect" adage has stuck around for a reason (the reason is that practice makes perfect)

obviously it isn't going to happen overnight, but if you keep on drawing and trying new things, then you'll slowly get better!

personally the main thing that stands out to me about the posted image is that you seem very uncertain in your linework

focus on drawing things with one sure stroke, rather than multiple short wobbly lines

sure you'll make mistakes, but eventually you'll get more accurate, and in the long run it'll make your linework look that much more confident and crisp

ALSO if you're going to be hand-lettering, make sure to keep the letters from running over the top of each other. The current occasional mashups of letters (combined with letters that aren't all a uniform size/style), makes the annotations harder to read than you probably intended

those are my two cents, i hope you enjoyed looking at them

Kendeathwalker

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Guy Bell

bad day, ken?

Kendeathwalker

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MKR

From your post, it seems like you're looking for basic advice, which the OP of this thread is perfect for. Browse through the articles, watch the videos, and preview the books on Google Books (and buy them if they suit your skill level and learning style).

Pereza0

ripping off the style and humour of another webcomic is not going to get you anywhere,

especially if the webcomic in question is xkcd

there are no cheap tricks, if you want it to look good you are going to have to put some effort on it

Guy Bell

Ken, you make some good points. I have more musician friends than artist friends and I was always a little envious that their talent kept them in a mostly social environment. Drawing is a difficult solitary endeavor that keeps you alone in a room all night working your ass off. I've ended a couple of relationships over the years because some people just can't give you the amount of alone time that your going to need.

youknoweverything

Thanks for the remarks. I especially appreciate the link to the thread for novices, and the comment about what needs the most improvement. The comment about crapping in peoples' eyeballs, not so much.