New to art.

NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
edited February 2009 in Artist's Corner
Hi, I'm new to art (I started drawing a week or so ago but I've always made stick figures), and I've always wanted to make a webcomic. I finally got the grit and started writing it,http://nardycamix.smackjeeves.com/ but for now, I have a friend doing the illustrating. I'd like to be able to carry it on my own in the future. First off, all I've been doing is imitating PA in my sketches but I think that if I use that in my webcomic, it'll be nothing more than a clone.
Here comes the begging:
Can I get any tips?
Here comes the question:
How do I create my own style?

NardyCamix on
«1

Posts

  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    anyone?

    NardyCamix on
  • JerikTelorianJerikTelorian Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    NardyCamix wrote: »
    anyone?

    It might take more than 25 minutes to get a response here :)

    Just give it a few hours. US primetime is coming, and people will be on the forums. Give it some time, and welcome to PA.

    JerikTelorian on
    SteamID -- JerikTelorian
    XBL: LiquidSnake2061
    Shade wrote: »
    Anyone notice how some things (mattresses and the copy machines in Highrise) are totally impenetrable? A steel wall, yeah that makes sense, but bullets should obliterate copy machines.

    I don't know about you, but I always buy a bullet proof printer. Its a lot more expensive, but I think the advantages are apparent.
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited February 2009
    You wanna post some art?

    Metalbourne on
  • erisian popeerisian pope Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    You'll get more responses if you post some samples of your art directly into the thread instead of merely a link to your site. Most people click the thread, see no art, and move on. Post images that you feel are your strongest, or ones you feel are weak but are not sure why - that will give people something to sink their teeth into to then offer you meaningful crits.

    In the mean time, to answer the last question based on what everyone here tells everyone who starts off in art: practice practice practice! Draw everyday, and draw from life. Don't try to develop a style. Try to draw what you see as skillfully as you can. You'll develop the style over time. Once you can faithfully reproduce what you can see you'll be able to decide how to draw it. But if you start off trying to make a style before you can really draw then your art will always be lacking and seem false to the viewer.

    erisian pope on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    Well, the only thing i've ever drawn on the computer is the banner for the webcomic. I only draw on paper because drawing on the pc is too hard for me. Just think of my art as a direct imitation of PA art. Just the faces and hair are a wee-bit different.

    NardyCamix on
  • erisian popeerisian pope Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    If you draw on paper, scan it or photo it with your digital camera.

    What do you want people to comment on if you have no art to post? If you merely seek a discussion, see the discussion thread above.

    erisian pope on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    Have neither. As I said earlier, just imagine that I can reproduce fairly accurately a "Gabe"-ish sort of character. The head and body shapes are the same, only the face is diffirent.

    NardyCamix on
  • erisian popeerisian pope Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Well, I've offered the advice I can. I really encourage you to carry this discussion over to the discussion thread. As the rules state, new threads are for posting art in specifically. Good luck!

    erisian pope on
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited February 2009
    NardyCamix wrote: »
    Have neither. As I said earlier, just imagine that I can reproduce fairly accurately a "Gabe"-ish sort of character. The head and body shapes are the same, only the face is diffirent.

    Somehow I doubt this. Draw something, take a picture of it, and show us what you can do

    Metalbourne on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    I'm serious man, I don't have a scanner or a dig. camera. I have them at home, but I'm living in college dorms right now.

    NardyCamix on
  • mullymully Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    we can't help you unless we can see what skills you have currently

    and describing your skills doesn't work -- i've seen a lot of people say, "oh yeah i can draw photorealistically" and oh, oh no they can not

    mully on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    oh wait! I do have a camera! My laptop's got one integrated.

    NardyCamix on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    [IMG][/img]picture0081.th.jpg

    NardyCamix on
  • RubberACRubberAC Sidney BC!Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Making a thread solely to advertise your site is actually against the rules, here. You can put the link in your sig, but don't do... this.
    Unless you're looking to get advice and help on your artwork, take this stuff to either the doodle thread or, if you have a question that doesn't quite warrant a thread, the Questions & Tutorials thread.
    Thanks!

    RubberAC on
  • crawdaddiocrawdaddio Tacoma, WARegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2009
    Hrm...I suppose that'll have to do for now, but seriously, man; for next time, if you're at college, I think chances are pretty good they'll have scanners available for student use. Even the community college I went to for a spell had some.

    Anyway, about the art, I'd say ditch the PA style; without a firm grasp on what makes that style work for Gabe, it doesn't translate well. There are anatomical problems (yes, you can have those, even on a cartoon), like the placement of the mouth--that little tick before the actual mouth starts represents the profile of the space above the upper lip, so it should either not be there, or be under the nose. The ears strike me as being too far up (and back), which is reinforced by the awkwardness of the lines of the dude's glasses. That second eye looks like it's kind of melting off. I (and the others, I'm sure) would like to see what you can do with real-life stuff, if you don't mind. If it's at all possible, try to get the camera a bit more focused for future stuff (until you find your school's scanners, that is)

    crawdaddio on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    So, you're not only calling my attempt at art as a doodle, you're also accusing me of SOLELY trying to advertise my site? Real cool man. You feel better about yourself now, think that you cut to the core of this Sherlock? They should make being a douche against the rules here.

    NardyCamix on
  • crawdaddiocrawdaddio Tacoma, WARegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2009
    Don't take offense, man; you're not supposed to link to your site without posting any art, so he's pointing out that you should change your first post, among other things.

    You'll need a thicker skin (and cooler head) than that to stick around here, I assure you.

    crawdaddio on
  • mullymully Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Dude is trying to help. And your pencil doodle is just that -- a doodle. Just because your best attempt at art (for the time being) is what we consider a doodle, don't get offended. You said it yourself: you just started drawing a week ago. And it shows.

    Practice some more. If you've only been drawing for a week, why even bother trying to make a webcomic? It takes skill; and to be perfectly honest, the jokes I see in there are really lacking. With sub-par jokes and uninteresting art, there's really nowhere for it to go but down.

    I'm fairly sure you'll take this as me being mean, but it's just me being honest. It's one of the many services we provide here.

    mully on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    crawdaddio wrote: »
    Hrm...I suppose that'll have to do for now, but seriously, man; for next time, if you're at college, I think chances are pretty good they'll have scanners available for student use. Even the community college I went to for a spell had some.

    Anyway, about the art, I'd say ditch the PA style; without a firm grasp on what makes that style work for Gabe, it doesn't translate well. There are anatomical problems (yes, you can have those, even on a cartoon), like the placement of the mouth--that little tick before the actual mouth starts represents the profile of the space above the upper lip, so it should either not be there, or be under the nose. The ears strike me as being too far up (and back), which is reinforced by the awkwardness of the lines of the dude's glasses. That second eye looks like it's kind of melting off. I (and the others, I'm sure) would like to see what you can do with real-life stuff, if you don't mind. If it's at all possible, try to get the camera a bit more focused for future stuff (until you find your school's scanners, that is)

    I've heard that the pc lab at this school is severely underfunded.
    So that's what the little tick is. Wow. Yeah, I'm having alot of difficulty with the eyes actually.
    Real life stuff? Someone else also mentioned that I should start with real-life stuff as well. guess I should start doing that.
    Thanks.

    NardyCamix on
  • XaquinXaquin Right behind you!Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    OK, I'm curious about this.

    What are the metal(?) things on the side of the door?

    77e2401a9079.jpg

    Xaquin on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    mully wrote: »
    Dude is trying to help. And your pencil doodle is just that -- a doodle. Just because your best attempt at art (for the time being) is what we consider a doodle, don't get offended. You said it yourself: you just started drawing a week ago. And it shows.

    Practice some more. If you've only been drawing for a week, why even bother trying to make a webcomic? It takes skill; and to be perfectly honest, the jokes I see in there are really lacking. With sub-par jokes and uninteresting art, there's really nowhere for it to go but down.

    I'm fairly sure you'll take this as me being mean, but it's just me being honest. It's one of the many services we provide here.

    there's a difference between an accusation and a criticism. I can take criticism, just not something like that. I'm not trying to learn how to draw in a couple of months for the sake of the webcomic, that's secondary. It's just that with the start of the project, I really got interested in drawing.

    NardyCamix on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    I think those are hinges. Again, this is not my art, it's the person that draws the webcomic for me.

    NardyCamix on
  • DMACDMAC Come at me, bro! Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2009
    You'd think I would have built up an immunity to crappy Webcomics by now...

    Anyway, how you develop a style is, as erisian pope said, by drawing. A lot. And then drawing some more. Your work will obviously be influenced by artists you like but don't just ape one person's style. Look at what lots of different artists are doing. What you like, what you don't. What works, what doesn't. Fusing that with being able to observe and draw from life is where style starts to emerge. Eventually you'll start doing things your way.

    Gabe may not do a lot of life drawing but he does at least 3 comic strips a week. And I'm sure he looks at what he's doing with a critical eye. He tries new things. Some work, some don't. The worst thing you can do is just decide that your art is "good enough" and stop trying to improve.

    DMAC on
  • crawdaddiocrawdaddio Tacoma, WARegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2009
    If I may be intrusive enough to ask, what college is this you attend?

    I'd also, as advice, strongly encourage you to browse some of the threads here, and pay attention to some of the crits that are given, especially from Leggraphics's, Vann Diras's, and surrealitycheck's threads (those are the "beginner" threads I can think of at the moment), and the doodle thread. There's some good advice there as well.

    EDIT: And, of course, the discussion thread.

    crawdaddio on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    DMAC wrote: »
    You'd think I would have built up an immunity to crappy Webcomics by now...

    Anyway, how you develop a style is, as erisian pope said, by drawing. A lot. And then drawing some more. Your work will obviously be influenced by artists you like but don't just ape one person's style. Look at what lots of different artists are doing. What you like, what you don't. What works, what doesn't. Fusing that with being able to observe and draw from life is where style starts to emerge. Eventually you'll start doing things your way.

    Gabe may not do a lot of life drawing but he does at least 3 comic strips a week. And I'm sure he looks at what he's doing with a critical eye. He tries new things. Some work, some don't. The worst thing you can do is just decide that your art is "good enough" and stop trying to improve.

    Thank you. I'm not trying to ape, I just like Mike's art very much and this strip was one of the major sources of inspiration.

    NardyCamix on
  • DMACDMAC Come at me, bro! Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2009
    RubberAC wrote: »
    Making a thread solely to advertise your site is actually against the rules, here. You can put the link in your sig, but don't do... this.
    Unless you're looking to get advice and help on your artwork, take this stuff to either the doodle thread or, if you have a question that doesn't quite warrant a thread, the Questions & Tutorials thread.
    Thanks!

    Everything RubberAC said is true. Your questions should have been posted in the Questions/Discussions/Tutorials thread. If that's your idea of being a douchebag then maybe you should try lurking for a while before you post. Lashing out at people trying to point you in the right direction is not the way to endear yourself to the forum.

    DMAC on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    DMAC wrote: »
    RubberAC wrote: »
    Making a thread solely to advertise your site is actually against the rules, here. You can put the link in your sig, but don't do... this.
    Unless you're looking to get advice and help on your artwork, take this stuff to either the doodle thread or, if you have a question that doesn't quite warrant a thread, the Questions & Tutorials thread.
    Thanks!

    Everything RubberAC said is true. Your questions should have been posted in the Questions/Discussions/Tutorials thread. If that's your idea of being a douchebag then maybe you should try lurking for a while before you post. Lashing out at people trying to point you in the right direction is not the way to endear yourself to the forum.

    How is everything he said true? It is not a ploy to market the webcomic, I posted art, and i personally do not think that he was trying to point me in the right direction.

    NardyCamix on
  • acadiaacadia Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    NardyCamix wrote: »
    DMAC wrote: »
    RubberAC wrote: »
    Making a thread solely to advertise your site is actually against the rules, here. You can put the link in your sig, but don't do... this.
    Unless you're looking to get advice and help on your artwork, take this stuff to either the doodle thread or, if you have a question that doesn't quite warrant a thread, the Questions & Tutorials thread.
    Thanks!

    Everything RubberAC said is true. Your questions should have been posted in the Questions/Discussions/Tutorials thread. If that's your idea of being a douchebag then maybe you should try lurking for a while before you post. Lashing out at people trying to point you in the right direction is not the way to endear yourself to the forum.

    How is everything he said true? It is not a ploy to market the webcomic, I posted art, and i personally do not think that he was trying to point me in the right direction.

    You posted a blurry laptop webcam capture of a single doodle about 10 posts in. Initially, you just posted a description of your overall skill and a link to your webcomic. Do you honestly not see how we could possibly jump to the conclusion that you were blatantly trying to market your strip?

    acadia on
  • NardyCamixNardyCamix __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    acadia wrote: »
    NardyCamix wrote: »
    DMAC wrote: »
    RubberAC wrote: »
    Making a thread solely to advertise your site is actually against the rules, here. You can put the link in your sig, but don't do... this.
    Unless you're looking to get advice and help on your artwork, take this stuff to either the doodle thread or, if you have a question that doesn't quite warrant a thread, the Questions & Tutorials thread.
    Thanks!

    Everything RubberAC said is true. Your questions should have been posted in the Questions/Discussions/Tutorials thread. If that's your idea of being a douchebag then maybe you should try lurking for a while before you post. Lashing out at people trying to point you in the right direction is not the way to endear yourself to the forum.

    How is everything he said true? It is not a ploy to market the webcomic, I posted art, and i personally do not think that he was trying to point me in the right direction.

    You posted a blurry laptop webcam capture of a single doodle about 10 posts in. Initially, you just posted a description of your overall skill and a link to your webcomic. Do you honestly not see how we could possibly jump to the conclusion that you were blatantly trying to market your strip?

    I see it yes, but why bring this up again after the art, however shitty, has been posted?

    NardyCamix on
  • crawdaddiocrawdaddio Tacoma, WARegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2009
    NardyCamix wrote: »
    DMAC wrote: »
    RubberAC wrote: »
    Making a thread solely to advertise your site is actually against the rules, here. You can put the link in your sig, but don't do... this.
    Unless you're looking to get advice and help on your artwork, take this stuff to either the doodle thread or, if you have a question that doesn't quite warrant a thread, the Questions & Tutorials thread.
    Thanks!

    Everything RubberAC said is true. Your questions should have been posted in the Questions/Discussions/Tutorials thread. If that's your idea of being a douchebag then maybe you should try lurking for a while before you post. Lashing out at people trying to point you in the right direction is not the way to endear yourself to the forum.

    How is everything he said true? It is not a ploy to market the webcomic, I posted art, and i personally do not think that he was trying to point me in the right direction.

    He wasn't accusing you of doing anything underhanded, and he certainly (upon a second reading) wasn't being harsh about it, at least not by the standards of the AC. His point was that a thread with no art, just a link, is against the rules of this forum, and he was letting you know where your questions would be better served. Seems to me he was being helpful, there.

    crawdaddio on
  • DMACDMAC Come at me, bro! Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2009
    NardyCamix wrote: »
    DMAC wrote: »
    RubberAC wrote: »
    Making a thread solely to advertise your site is actually against the rules, here. You can put the link in your sig, but don't do... this.
    Unless you're looking to get advice and help on your artwork, take this stuff to either the doodle thread or, if you have a question that doesn't quite warrant a thread, the Questions & Tutorials thread.
    Thanks!

    Everything RubberAC said is true. Your questions should have been posted in the Questions/Discussions/Tutorials thread. If that's your idea of being a douchebag then maybe you should try lurking for a while before you post. Lashing out at people trying to point you in the right direction is not the way to endear yourself to the forum.

    How is everything he said true? It is not a ploy to market the webcomic, I posted art, and i personally do not think that he was trying to point me in the right direction.

    You finally posted art 15 posts into the thread and it was a tiny little drawing of a head. All your initial post contained was a link to your site and questions.

    Quick sketches belong in the Doodle thread. Questions belong in the Questions/Discussion/Tutorials thread. Posting a prominent link to your site in your initial post is commonly referred to as "Site Whoring".

    If you haven't bothered to read the forum rules or gotten to know how things work around here then don't complain when someone points out what you're doing wrong.

    DMAC on
  • SublimusSublimus Artist. nowhereRegistered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I had a feeling this thread would turn out like this.

    Sublimus on
  • acadiaacadia Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    In any case, marketing ploy or not, you are requesting critique, so you shall get it. The webcomic itself is cookie-cutter. I don't really see anything that makes it stand out. The art looks somewhat half-assed (white jaggies in the final version of a strip? please.) and the writing isn't stellar. The drawing you posted up looks like a 2 minute doodle of Gabe with glasses. I love Mike's style, too, but that doesn't mean I'm going to ape it. If it helps you to learn, continue doodling in his style, try to work out the logic behind his drawings (in terms of anatomy -- where he places certain body parts and why). An easier way, though, would be to start drawing from life. There are countless tutorials online from which to gain the basics of drawing, and you can take it from there.

    Don't give up, but don't lash out at people trying to help.

    acadia on
  • SofoSofo __BANNED USERS new member
    edited February 2009
    First off, I want to thank you all for participating in a social experiment of sorts. I AM trying to start a webcomic, and learn how to draw, yes, but the webcomic I linked is not a serious effort, just something that could allow me to accumulate various peoples comments and criticisms. In this time and age there are countless webcomics, and I just want to see what people think of others' work while being the person criticised. I'm just trying to see what works and what doesn't.
    Sorry if I appeared to lash out.
    thanks for everything.

    Sofo on
    It's funny how people act.
  • RankenphileRankenphile Passersby were amazed by the unusually large amounts of blood.Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2009
    so... you were site-whoring then

    as an alt

    smooth

    Rankenphile on
    8406wWN.png
  • crawdaddiocrawdaddio Tacoma, WARegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2009
    ...





    ...?

    crawdaddio on
  • DMACDMAC Come at me, bro! Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2009
    ...What?

    DMAC on
  • acadiaacadia Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Uh.

    acadia on
  • MetalbourneMetalbourne Inside a cluster b personalityRegistered User regular
    edited February 2009
    DMAC wrote: »
    ...What?

    What's so hard to get? He was asking for the thread to be locked, to be banned and his house burnt down.

    Metalbourne on
  • RankenphileRankenphile Passersby were amazed by the unusually large amounts of blood.Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2009
    see, it's a social experiment

    Rankenphile on
    8406wWN.png
This discussion has been closed.