When I was but a wee lad, drawing was my passion..but I never seemed to get over this 'hump' that all the adults wanted me to. I loved drawing comics and fantastical stuff. It's just soooo much more interesting to make up a world and characters and whimsical stories than painting a bowl of fruit. Though, I did do plenty of fruit paintings I always came back to comic art.
What it taught me...
- Lines- Line weights are critical in explaining surfaces, materials, and depth.
- Visual Library- You have to be able to draw EVERYTHING, buildings, people, cars etc. I had the chance to research and build a massive visual library.
- Composition- Each and every frame is an individual image and needs to flow with the others, so readability is critical.
- Story telling- This is probably the most prized possession I gained from the industry. Being narrative with an image requires a lot of nuances. An image that doesn't need words, tells a story, but allows the viewer to fill in the gaps is a fun and successful image.
- And many more things
Art Tip: No matter what Background you come from, weather it's Comic art, playing the guitar, skateboarding or doing genealogy, there are going to be elements that you can apply to art! Composition, balance, rhythm, mystery, a good story or any other skills will make your art absolutely unique. Capitalize on that friend.
