How to become an Artist Fast, as a Writer?

• You’re a Writer.
• Maybe you’ve published some Stories already, or are about to.
• You’d want to make your own illustrations.
• Because you want to Share your Full Vision.
• You also want to be able to Draw fast.
• Here’s your Formula.

Summary – 6 steps to becoming an Artist faster

1. Apply this Routine every Day.
2. Draw at least 1 Character.
3. Draw at least 1 Environment.
4. Draw 1 Comic Strip.
5. Animate 1 short clip.
6. Show your productions to your Team.
   1. Ask for Insights.

• Applying this Routine on a Daily basis help you build the core Habits of graphic production.
• You become more Efficient in terms of production.
• As well as a more Versatile Storyteller.
• Adding Skills will always help you Define your Identity.
• And Enjoy your work more.
• For now you start to develop a Complete Vision.



Characters

• Identity
• Characters are defined by their Quirks.
• Limit yourself to 1 or 2 Accessories per Character.
• Overloading it would confuse the Public.
• A Character should be recognizable through her Silhouette.
• Keep the Character’s Silhouette simple.
• The Accessories should Define 3 dimensions of the Character’s Identity:
  • Behaviors
  • Goal
  • Origin

• Heads
• Characters are defined by their Head Shapes.
• As well as the Features used.
• The Head Shape should be approached as a whole: Head + Headdress.
• Try as many Hairstyles & Headdresses as possible.
• Do the same for the Main Features : Nose, Eyes & Mouths.
• Focus on the Features to maximize Diversity.
• Focus on the Complementarity between the Features.
• Once you’ve got the Main Features right, experiment with the 2ndary features : Ears, Eyebrows, Eyelashes & Nostrils.

• Bodies
• Characters are defined by their Relationships.
• Draw 1 different Body Type every day.
  • Muscular, Slender, Curvaceous, Thick, Small, Busty.
• Draw Characters side by side to create Scenes.
• Combine Characters on the same page.
• Compare them.
• Display Diversity & Complementarity.
• You’ll draw a Full Body.
• Head Included.
• Just don’t spend too much time on detailing the face.

• Routine
• Draw at least 1 Character every Day.
• 5′ for the Head.
• 5′ for the Body.
• Keep it short to gain velocity & not get bored.

If you want to know more about displaying Diversity.



Environments

• Materialize your World
• The more Senses you Solicit, the more Real your world feels.
• You want to be able to Visualize your World.
• Drawing offers you this Visualization.
• Arranging the Shapes & Color to create a Contrast will help you to make your writing more Contrasted.
• It helps you write more fluidly.
• It help you create more vivid description.
• And it offers a visual support for the Public.

• Themes
• To build every Story, to build every World, you’ll need Themes.
• If you haven’t 1 define a list of the Fundamental Themes you’ll use in all of your Stories.
• If you can already Affect specific Themes to specific Worlds, it’s even better.

• Routine
• Draw at least 1 Environment every Day.
• 5′ for the Blocking Phase.
• 5′ for the Detailed Shapes.
• Keep it short to gain velocity & not get bored.

Fast Compositions

1. Start by Focusing the Action on a Subject.
   1. Place your Subject either in the Middle of the Scene or in a Corner.
2. Then Define the Major forms of the Composition.
   1. Use simple shapes, clear shapes: combinations of straight lines & curves.
3. Finally, detail the shapes.
   1. Define their Structure.
   2. Create more Contrast.
   3. Revise your Colors.

If you want to know more about creating diverse Environments.

Comics & Panels

• Simple Stories
• Can you summarize a Story in 4 Images?
• Comics should help you this way.
• Comics are visual Summaries.

• Efficient Storytelling
• Start with 4 Panels.
• This will entice you to select your Jokes.
• A 4 Panel structure induces Economy.
• You have to display Characters relationships efficiently.
• Explain through Graphics.
• Tell through Movement.
• Not every comics need Words.
• As often as you can, do not use words.
• Shorten your phrases as much as possible.
• Long Phrases, more than 5 words, kill the rhythm.
• And they take space on the panel.

• Basic Photography
• Comics teach you how to Focus on the Subject.
• Focus is the Quintessential force in Composition.
• Everything should be focused around the Subject.
• Wherever it is by using Shapes, Colors or Light.
• Make Use of Light to reveal Essential parts & attenuate Forgettable ones.
• Choose clear Angles to make the most out of Perspective.
• Make use of Symmetry.
• Learn how to choose your backgrounds to amplify the Subject’s presence.

If you want to know more about short Stories.



Animation

• Short Films & Cinematography
• This is the last stage.
  • Really, the last stage is making games but we’ll wait for the programming skills.
• Start by making 10 to 15″ short clips.
• Commit to it for a year.
• Then, try 30″ clips.
• Then 60″.
• When you reach 60″, realize that you have now the potential to produce up to 365′ of content every year.
• That’s up to 6 Full Hours of Animation per year.
• From there you only have to go up in terms of Quality.

• Better Flow
• Animation may be 1 of the most changing skill you’ll learn.
• Until you’ve tried it you’ll have no idea what Rhythm & Pace really are.
• Starting with 2D animation is the best way.
• It will force you to develop a Sense of Economy even more so than Comic Panel Design.
• Animation is quite a brutal skill to acquire.
• You may want to try Paper Animation before going for Digital.
• As you advance you’ll realize how efficient you’ll become.
• It may be the most difficult part of the craft but stick with full 2D at 1st.
• You can go for 3D later.

• Promotion Tools
• These short clips can be used as Promotion videos for your Stories.
• Promote your Stories with your friends 1st.
• And then, Publish.
  • Start with 3 to 5 different platforms.

If you want to know more about illustrating your own Stories & Books.