Drawing manga
Rogmonoth
start? Should I start by drawing my own manga, or should I first try to
copy other people's work to try and get a feel for it?
Thanks for the help
(If possible, please mail answers to 1335...@firga.sun.ac.za ,since I'm on
a subnet - thnx)
Rogmonoth
Leaping Larry Jojo
Rogmonoth <1335...@firga.sun.ac.za> wrote in message
news:9bfqtm$2ais$1...@news.adamastor.ac.za...
> Just a short question. If one wants to learn to draw manga, how should
one
> start?
I still call 'em comic books, but anyway...
> Should I start by drawing my own manga, or should I first try to
> copy other people's work to try and get a feel for it?
>
Well, you could try studying basic anatomy and perspective first. I can't
tell you how many times I've seen people try to start comic books without
learning the basics. You could take an art course, but since I get the
feeling that people want to do this on the side (not base their future on
art studies), you should try to take out a few books on drawing to teach
yourself how to draw properly. Plus, art courses do not help with
everything. Some teachers waste a lot of time studying other people's stuff
and their history, without teaching you fundamentals like shading, detail,
anatomy, bone structure, depth...
Drawing all the time helps. Most artists will tell you that they do lift
from other people's work, but that everyone should practice life
drawing--that is, drawing from real life and sketch out your own style. So,
taking a sketchbook to draw stuff helps.
OTOH, if you go for a more cartoony style (like Simpsons/Beavis and
Butthead), anatomy is less important (that doesn't mean you shouldn't study
it, though.). What you should shoot for is clarity--your drawings may be
crude, but should be clear and easy to read. Comic strip artists tend to be
cruder, and some obviously have not studied art at all. Still, constant
practice will help one come along nicely (Garry Trudeau is an example of
this).
You should also study storytelling and layouts. Well, some of this is
part-instinct and some is part experience. I recommend watching movies--try
breaking scenes up into different shots and see if they flow well together.
Or look at your favourite comics/manga and see how they tell stories.
Then, try drawing your own stuff. Tracing other people's stuff doesn't
really teach you anything, I find. I can draw a much better stick figure if
I'm not tracing it from someone else, LOL.
Well, that's my lame advice, at least. Mostly, I recommend practice and
constant study, independent or otherwise.
Jojo
Brown
Someone posted the Art Materials FAQ a bit lower down. that should help.
the Rec.arts.manga ng likely has many suggestions.
My suggestions:
1. Get some Manga or other comic. And handcopy the drawings therein
preferably with a good pencil or pen.
2. When you are comfy with that watch some anime and hit the pause button
every now and then, draw and render what you see(render means to add shades,
textures etc.) Don't worry about color, just focus on B&W values.
3. Take a class or book on Color theory, cause getting color down is dang
hard.
4. Practice often in good light.
Sam Brown
microbunny
As far as learning to draw manga, there are some manga
technique books that run roughly $20 US a piece that come
out every few months. I see them listed all of the time in
Previews magazine, which is available in most comic shops.
If you order it through Previews you will have to wait
anywhere from 60 to 120 days though.
As far as beginning story telling, I would suggest
something more radical. Let me preface this by saying I have
never drawn manga or anything else for that matter, I just
thought that this approach might work. Draw four separate
pictures first that relate to each other in some way. They
don't have to be the greatest artwork, just a starting
point. After you are satisfied with them arrange them into
different orders, one after the other until you find a
pattern you like. Now start with the first two and write
some sort of a story starting with what was in the first
picture and going along until you reach the second,
imagining transitions in between that you haven't seen. Now
do the same thing from the second to the third, and then
third to the fourth. After you are done this, look at all of
your text and see if it flows into a story. Take some time
to clean it up so that it all ties together. When the text
is polished, begin drawing more pictures to tell the story
of the text. Start simple, get more difficult as you become
more experienced. I guess this is kind of like
storyboarding, now that I read it.
microbunny
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Ethan Hammond
manga, I think my friend who is really artistic and into drawing ordered it.
I will have to ask him what he thinks of it.
--
All Purpose Cultural Randomness
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/apcr/index.html
Frank Raymond Michaels
There's a series of books called _How to Draw Manga_, I've
seen them at bigger comics stores and art-supply shops, but
I don't have an ISBN for you. Try an Amazon.com search.
I also recommend a series of books by Burne Hogarth on
dynamic figure drawing. Anything by him is good.
Also, a quick Internet search found these links:
1. Free Anime and Manga Drawing Tutorials
Free online art lessons: anime, manga, cartoons,
animation, drawing, carving, sculpting, pottery and more.
2. Spitfire Services: Comic Artist Agency
See superhero art from comic artists who work on X-men,
Batman, Spider-Man, etc. Commission art or hire artists.
Budding artists can submit art to agent for review (small
fee).
3. Buy How to Draw Anime Manuals at TFAW
Manga isn't just big eyes and speed lines. Come to Things
from Another World for a huge selection of how-to drawing
manuals. From beginner to advanced, you'll find it here!
4. Trenchcoat Steve's How To Draw Manga Page
Welcome to Trenchcoat Steve's How To Draw Manga Page The
following examples should be used as an introductory guide
to the Japanese drawing style known as manga (translates as
"cartoon", anime is animated manga for tv). Each artist has
his/her own
5. PolyKarbon: Comic, Manga Tutorials & Photoshop Tips
How to draw Manga style! complete site with Photoshop
tips, online manga and more!
Then, you'll need paper, pencils, patience, and practice.
Have fun...
====
Frank Raymond Michaels
Mr. Edison
start? Should I start by drawing my own manga, or should I first try to
copy other people's work to try and get a feel for it? >>
I’ll write this quickly, and try not to digress to much….
Before you go any further, you need to ask yourself: Do I want to learn how to
draw ‘manga’ (or comics) or simply draw in a popular ‘manga-like’ style?
These are two very different things. IMO, drawing manga is essentially a form
of graphic storytelling. Whereas, drawing in a ‘manga-like’ style is a form of
figure drawing based on an established style on drawing made popular by
Japanese artists.
If you want to learn how to draw manga, there are three easy steps to get you
started:
1. Take all the imported manga you own, your favorite artbooks, and toss them
somewhere were you can’t look at them (I’m not joking).
2. Visit your local art supplier and pick up a sketchbook (the 11x14 black,
hard-bound) and some pens and pencils (you really don’t need to break the bank
on these)
3. Go out to a park, a mall, a city street, or coffee house and draw everyone
and EVERYTHING in sight. Draw people as they walk, run, talk, or sit. Include
as much of the environment around these people as you can.
4. Draw quickly and don’t pre-occupy yourself with how good your drawing looks.
Why? You goal is to take down as much information as you can in the fastest way
possible. To put it simply: you’re creating a scene.
After reading this small bit, you’re probably wondering (as is the casual
reader) what the hell I’m writing about and what does this crap have to do with
drawing manga? Everything. The straightest way to become an awesome manga-ka
(manga author) is to become an awesome storyteller and illustrator. That’s what
you’re aiming to do, am I right?
All you need to do is just draw, draw, and draw some more. Keep drawing as much
of world around you as you possible can. Before you know it, you’ve developed a
style of drawing that you can call your own. While you’re at it, try finding
out if there are ‘FREE’ life-drawing classes at a local art college or
university. Don’t be shy about asking the live models there to re-create
certain poses that aren’t as common in everyday life (e.g. Spike Spiegel’s leg
kick on the cover of COWBOY BEBOP).
After all is said and done, go ahead and pick up a ‘How To Draw Manga’ book (or
break out your manga collection). If you find yourself skipping the chapters
aimed at pigeon-holing you into a certain style of drawing, don’t be surprised.
This just means your comfortable with your own drawing style, but that your
just ready to include the popular aesthetics of Japanese manga into your work.
The advice I’m offering is not all that different than what your favorite
Japanese artists were told before they got started. Yeah---a lot of them worked
as apprentices or copied from other artists’ styles. The real standouts in
Japanese manga developed their own personal styles by just drawing a whole damn
lot. These are the folks all the fans are copying from! Why bother copying when
you can create your own unique style of drawing?
My view isn’t the ‘be-all-and-end-all’ of drawing. I’m only writing from
personal experience. Although I don’t know you very well (or at all), I still
wish you the best of luck in reaching your goal.
-----------
-blend
:: purdiegoodart+design ::
:: http://purdiegoodart.com ::
:: better illustration through non-violence ::
sanjian
news:3adba51d...@news.i-2000.com...
> On Tue, 17 Apr 2001 00:21:17 +0200, "Rogmonoth"
> <1335...@firga.sun.ac.za> wrote:
>
> >Just a short question. If one wants to learn to draw manga, how should
one
> >start? Should I start by drawing my own manga, or should I first try to
> >copy other people's work to try and get a feel for it?
> >
> >Thanks for the help
> >(If possible, please mail answers to 1335...@firga.sun.ac.za ,since I'm
on
> >a subnet - thnx)
> >Rogmonoth
>
> There's a series of books called _How to Draw Manga_, I've
> seen them at bigger comics stores and art-supply shops, but
> I don't have an ISBN for you. Try an Amazon.com search.
>
> I also recommend a series of books by Burne Hogarth on
> dynamic figure drawing. Anything by him is good.
>
> Also, a quick Internet search found these links:
<snip list> Although these are all fine and good, none of them will teach
you how to draw. Manga, in is essence is caricature, or an exageration of
reality. Until you know how to draw reality, you won't know what you're
distorting. If you're in High School, take a drawing class (not a general
art class, one specifically in drawing). If you've graduated, then take one
at a local community college. Once you've learned how to draw, the "How to
Draw Manga" books will help you with style.
--
sanjian@wido(you know the drill)maker.com
http://www.widomaker.com/~sanjian
President P.A.C. Order of the Mallet
----------------------------------------------------------
Smile -- Ruka
Rythem -- Corvette
Dignaty -- Extra
Guts -- Layla
Tomadachi -- Parapu
Kokoro -- Shion
Believe in yourself -- Yuri
S.t.A.n.L.e.E
>
> Rogmonoth <1335...@firga.sun.ac.za> wrote in message
> news:9bfqtm$2ais$1...@news.adamastor.ac.za...
> > Just a short question. If one wants to learn to draw manga, how should
> one
> > start?
>
> I still call 'em comic books, but anyway...
>
> > Should I start by drawing my own manga, or should I first try to
> > copy other people's work to try and get a feel for it?
> >
>
> Well, you could try studying basic anatomy and perspective first. I can't
> tell you how many times I've seen people try to start comic books without
> learning the basics. You could take an art course, but since I get the
> feeling that people want to do this on the side (not base their future on
> art studies), you should try to take out a few books on drawing to teach
> yourself how to draw properly. Plus, art courses do not help with
> everything. Some teachers waste a lot of time studying other people's stuff
> and their history, without teaching you fundamentals like shading, detail,
> anatomy, bone structure, depth...
>
How about Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics?
Easy to read and understand,
and a good intro to what comic-drawing is all about.
Laters. =)
Stan
--
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/ _ | |/ Stanlee Dometita sta...@www.cif.rochester.edu
| ( _| | U of Rochester www.cif.rochester.edu/~stanlee
\ ______| _______ ____ ___
/ \ / \ | _ | \ | |
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/___/\/___ |__| |__|___| \ ___|
L
Start off with observational drawing. Draw from life and what you see in
front of you. That's the basis for everything. Do some figure drawing
and get a feel for anatomy and structure (this will be beneficial no
matter what sort of art you're planning on doing, from oil painting, to
manga, to graphic design).
Once you've done some life drawing and gotten a good enough feel for
things to be able to reproduce them from memory, you can move on to
comics. Look at the styles of artists you like. Then do lots of
sketching. Try out different character designs, different poses,
different emotions/facial expressions.
To get started, you can copy pictures that have already been drawn. When
you do this, though, keep in mind that when you draw from artwork your
product will be somewhat diluted (like a xerox, it won't be as good as
an original work). If you need a pose refrence, it's better to draw from
a picture of a real person rather than a manga person, and the same can
be said for anything else you'd want to draw.
For instance, if you want to draw mecha, I'd suggest drawing from
pictures of tanks, bulldozers, and the like (and getting to know what
the particular parts do) and then, once you've become familiar with
machines, you can put the different parts together in your head to make
your own mechs.
One thing that cartoonists very often do is collect pictures for future
reference. That is, they'll collect magazine clippings or internet
pictures of anything that strikes them as interesting, and later on when
they're drawing comics, they can just pull out the reference pic they
need. This is very useful.
So then, yes. After all the life drawing, and the reproduction from
memory, and the investigation into style, you should continue to
challenge yourself by drawing characters from different
angles/viewpoints/perspectives while using body language (and general
facial expression) to convey particular emotions/ideas. Then you can do
the same with environment, and eventually incorporate. This variety will
make your manga visually interesting.
After that, you can learn how to ink, use photoshop and/or inkwash
colors, and tell a story.
And that's about all I can think of that would be relevant. You should
probably try to have fun though. So...have fun and good luck.
-Liz