- 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
- Apply this Routine every Day.
- Draw at least 1 Character.
- Draw at least 1 Environment.
- Draw 1 Comic Strip.
- Animate 1 short clip.
- Show your productions to your Team.
- 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
- Start by Focusing the Action on a Subject.
- Place your Subject either in the Middle of the Scene or in a Corner.
- Then Define the Major forms of the Composition.
- Use simple shapes, clear shapes: combinations of straight lines & curves.
- Finally, detail the shapes.
- Define their Structure.
- Create more Contrast.
- 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.