ART + LIFE
Manga Art Tips #10
Wooot, tenth entry ^_^! Just got back from doing some workshops and chatting to people IMAF (International Manga Anime Festival, in London) so I've got some more ideas to put down!
1) Don't Be Apologetic!
How often have you seen work posted online prefixed with 'This is just some crappy thing I did when I was 13'? And how often did you feel excited enough to leave a comment? Deprecating your own work may seem like an easy way to fish for compliments, but in actual fact it just hugely turns people off from commenting at all. If the artist clearly doesn't like the piece, they why should they expect the public to?
You can mention specific parts of the image you're not happy with and ask for constructive feedback...but trashing the piece as a whole will lead people to question why on earth you're showing it in first place (and very few will take your ambitions as an artist seriously). Adopting a permanently negative attitude is quite obviously unhealthy for yourself as well...even if you're genuinely unsure of your skill level force yourself to believe it has potential, and let that the shine through in your presentation.
2) Higher Education (?)
First off, manga artist jobs are based on portfolio content, not formal qualifications. But many people still toy with the idea of studying an art or design degree. In my experience, the skills I learned from manga drawing helped me out much more with my course than the other way round! So if you're familiar with graphic tablets, software, image transfer or even web design, you'll be at a huge advantage on a design course.
Then there's the familiar dilemma of art/design universities hating manga style so you really have to go by feel whether your particular course would be receptive (and if not, whether you're prepared to 'hide' your hobby entirely for 3-4 years). But many manga artists who were self-taught express regret that they never had formal training, so on the whole it does seem beneficial to study art/design. (However I don't need to remind people that designers never become millionaires...if you're after lush lifestyle then keep manga as a hobby and go into investment banking XD!).
3) Set Small Goals
Over IMAF, I met loads of people who loved drawing manga, but were less experienced in sequential art. It goes without saying that drawing comics is radically different to pin-up illustrations. It will take any artists a solid couple of tries (spanning several months to a year) before they can get the 'feel' for narrative storytelling using pages and panels. So even if you're a good artist (and used to reaping compliments), just bear in mind that your first attempt at a manga may not be as successful as you had hoped. But just keep practising and once you get the hang of panelling, you already have the skills side to your advantage!
3-5 pages is a good length to begin with...sounds ridiculously short but a well-drawn 5-page comic is quite satisfying to read. 16-20 pages, as for an RSOM entry, is already a hefty amount to put together. Anything over 30 pages should be attempted with the greatest ambition...the most satisfying part of drawing manga is being able to have a 'complete' story to present. It's far better to settle for a lower page count and have a finished piece of work than aim for an ambitious epic which never gets past the first quest!
1) Don't Be Apologetic!
How often have you seen work posted online prefixed with 'This is just some crappy thing I did when I was 13'? And how often did you feel excited enough to leave a comment? Deprecating your own work may seem like an easy way to fish for compliments, but in actual fact it just hugely turns people off from commenting at all. If the artist clearly doesn't like the piece, they why should they expect the public to?
You can mention specific parts of the image you're not happy with and ask for constructive feedback...but trashing the piece as a whole will lead people to question why on earth you're showing it in first place (and very few will take your ambitions as an artist seriously). Adopting a permanently negative attitude is quite obviously unhealthy for yourself as well...even if you're genuinely unsure of your skill level force yourself to believe it has potential, and let that the shine through in your presentation.
2) Higher Education (?)
First off, manga artist jobs are based on portfolio content, not formal qualifications. But many people still toy with the idea of studying an art or design degree. In my experience, the skills I learned from manga drawing helped me out much more with my course than the other way round! So if you're familiar with graphic tablets, software, image transfer or even web design, you'll be at a huge advantage on a design course.
Then there's the familiar dilemma of art/design universities hating manga style so you really have to go by feel whether your particular course would be receptive (and if not, whether you're prepared to 'hide' your hobby entirely for 3-4 years). But many manga artists who were self-taught express regret that they never had formal training, so on the whole it does seem beneficial to study art/design. (However I don't need to remind people that designers never become millionaires...if you're after lush lifestyle then keep manga as a hobby and go into investment banking XD!).
3) Set Small Goals
Over IMAF, I met loads of people who loved drawing manga, but were less experienced in sequential art. It goes without saying that drawing comics is radically different to pin-up illustrations. It will take any artists a solid couple of tries (spanning several months to a year) before they can get the 'feel' for narrative storytelling using pages and panels. So even if you're a good artist (and used to reaping compliments), just bear in mind that your first attempt at a manga may not be as successful as you had hoped. But just keep practising and once you get the hang of panelling, you already have the skills side to your advantage!
3-5 pages is a good length to begin with...sounds ridiculously short but a well-drawn 5-page comic is quite satisfying to read. 16-20 pages, as for an RSOM entry, is already a hefty amount to put together. Anything over 30 pages should be attempted with the greatest ambition...the most satisfying part of drawing manga is being able to have a 'complete' story to present. It's far better to settle for a lower page count and have a finished piece of work than aim for an ambitious epic which never gets past the first quest!
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I like this tip article very much. But I liked the others too. This though, I just had to jot down notes from. : )
RITSUNE
2007-02-08 22:59:51
Tip no.3 was very helpful, thanks. I will consider setting smaller goals before taking on anything major.
WISEMAN5
2007-01-08 08:07:30
Tip no.3 was very helpful, thanks. I will consider setting smaller goals before taking on anything major.
WISEMAN5
2007-01-08 08:07:24
I guess I can agree to almost all of them, although I don't think about #2 much because I'm not looking to make a career out of a hobby....unfortunate -/- fortunately, for different reasons. #1 I can definately understand....but I'm not sure I could get around it because that's kind of my nature. I know my art isn't as great....a lot of my art was better several years ago, and has almost gotten worse. I guess it's my way of saying 'I can see the character really well in my head, but I just can't seem to draw it like I want to'. And #3.....might just be the source of my problems. I have a "To Do List" that I placed in my Start Up menu, specifically to bug me about what I want to get done. It's a LONG list. And almost none of it gets done. Mostly AMVs, but some reminders of manga I wish I could do...but yeah, every time I think about it, I seem to be in this rut of not doing anything because everything I look at feels like a chore....maybe I really am thinking too hard about it. That said, the type of manga I'd like to do would require more than just 5 pages. If I went that short, I'd have to go with a lighter/comical type of manga, and I had hoped to establish the sliiightly-darker side first to tone up the comical one. *shrug* Thanks for the tips!
MAGNUS8M
2006-11-23 18:42:53
I have trouble trying to get the first panel in, but I'm going to try to do the short story. I don't have any tone right now, but I'll try anyway just for the heck of it just to see if I can. Art school is where I'm planning to go and get some formal training. I found that having a teacher telling me where and how to improve helps me push myself a little more.
MARIKU
2006-11-20 20:05:53
I think the two main benefits of going to art school are probably learning to meet deadlines and getting to know people. I would have never done any freelance illustration/artworking if it wasn't for who I met at uni.
ANNALOUISEXX
2006-11-19 08:06:51
Hell I know! I went to an arrt college and what they taught was absolutely NOTHING! I am not a studious person, I'll admit that and everyone knows it. My teachers know it even. In that school ( which will remain unanomous) wasted my time. Instead of doing what I went there to do, I was stuck in classes that had no relativeity whatsoever to what I wanted to do and when I couldn't "pass" them, they would hold me back. Hrrr... My classes afterwards were off limits because I did not pass some random class! I hate School! Not the right attitude I know, but hell, I wish I had done some homework on searching for schools to actually teach me something. I spent 10,000 on nothing! I don't think you actually need a sort of school to enhance. If I prevail it will be my own iron will not some school only after my money! Thanks for Tooning in! erg ...feel sick
BOSSY
2006-11-11 14:58:15
You're right about #3. Since I'm new at it, I want to do short comics. The one I'm working on now is 10 pages though. I'll keep it short next time. I also like #1. I tend to critize my work too much. :)
ANIMAE
2006-11-11 14:12:18
hi, i like this page. Very good information. i never been majorly published , but ive made copys of my manga and sold them in my city and it got popular. I did this about 3 years ago. I plan to start it again Becuase many people want to see more of it. But anyways, i just wanted to tell you its nice of you to give tips to people like me.
MICHAELPOP
2006-11-11 13:01:41