How To Draw Comics

In this weeks episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk talk about the art of taking and giving critique. Getting feedback on your work is one of the fastest ways to grow as an artist - unfortunately many of us have an automatic defense mechanism that kicks whenever someone points out a flaw in our work. And rightfully so! Our art is an expression of us, an extension of who we are. So when it gets criticized, it feels like we're being personally attacked. But in most cases, that's not the case at all. When someone takes the time to give you thoughtful feedback, usually they're heart's in the right place. They see your potential and they just want you to succeed! So we've got to be open and know that people are just trying to help us out when they offer a suggestion on something that might work better. But what makes for a solid piece of advice? When giving feedback, how can we critique someone's work in a way that's strategically going to tell them what they're doing right, what they're doing wrong, and then how to go about solving it? We talk about all these topics and more this episode - we hope you enjoy it and that you get a ton of value out of it. As always thanks for listening - and remember to keep on practicing! -Clayton For more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, be sure to visit www.howtodrawcomics.net

In 2019's first episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton and Ric talk about clearing the slate, and setting new resolutions to reach your goals in the new year. Breaking into the year with a crystal clear idea as to what you want to achieve helps give you direction, priority and most importantly, substantially increases your chances of reaching the goals that matter most. We hope you enjoy this episode and that you take away a whole lot of value from it. Thanks for listening and let us know - what are your New Years resolutions for 2019? -Clayton Find more comic art tutorials, videos, courses and learning resources at www.howtodrawcomics.net

In this Episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk team up to discuss the biggest mistakes we make when it comes to learning and practicing the art of comic book illustration. We all know the saying "Practice makes Perfect". But in reality, practicing in the wrong way can be even worse than not practicing at all. Perfect Practice is in fact what makes Perfect. So figuring out the right method and approach is oftentimes the great challenge of all, with the highest pay off. How do we get there? Sometimes it's straight forward - and we simply stick with what we know works best. But commonly, we reach success by constantly rerouting via the mistakes we make along the way. But what if you could avoid those mistakes in the first place? Wouldn't that mean you could short cut your development? That's what we hope to help you do in some small way with this episode, as Ed and Clayton share the mistakes, challenges and obstacles they had to overcome in order to push their drawing skills to the next level. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. For more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, visit www.howtodrawcomics.net .

In this week's episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Co-Host Ric Bulow and Clayton Barton talk tactics on how to keep your skills sharp - even after you've been away from the drawing board for a while. Taking long breaks from your craft can leave you feeling fearful about getting back into your groove. We believe our abilities just won't be at the level we left them, and that can lead to a severe lack of confidence in what we're capable of artistically. So we end up in this perpetual cycle of increased anxiety over the fact our skills are getting rustier by the day, which prevents us from daring to go back and shake it off. The longer we leave it, the more freaked out we get about forgetting what we've learned! Luckily, for an aspiring comic book artist such as yourself, who's on the path to comic art mastery and has got a little mileage behind them already - it doesn't take a whole lot to hit the drawing gym again and ramp up your artistic fitness. It's not like you're starting out at square one. Everything you've learned up until the point you stopped is still there - you've just got to remind yourself of what it's like to go through the motions of your process again. This is something else we chat about in this weeks episode; how to actually re-inspire your creativity when you're just not feeling it. Maybe you don't like the direction your work is headed, maybe you're self conscious about what other peoples reactions are going to be to it after you have stepped away for a bit to take a break, or maybe you're just feeling burnt out and in need of a motivational boost. We hope you find this episode valuable and that it gives you a ton of insight into keeping your skills sharp and ready. For more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, be sure to visit us at www.howtodrawcomics.net.

So many of you gained a ton of value out of our first Q&A Session, that we just couldn't wait to do another one! This episode Ed Foychuk, Ric Bülow, and Clayton Barton are back to answer your questions on such topics as - - Camera angles and lighting set-ups for dramatic mood and energy - Building teams to produce comics for Portfolio work - Workflow ideas for practice sessions - Guides to drawing chubby men - Scheduling and planning Plus loads more. This episode is packed full of valuable tips and insights for comic creators and we had an absolutely awesome time putting it together for you. What's amazing is that we all learn so much from each other's unique perspectives - and we hope that by tackling these topics from different angles, we're able to help you find the ideal path that's going to lead you to the next level in your artistic growth. As always, thanks so much for listening! And of course, if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, remember to visit our website at: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ - where you'll be able to find a ton of learning resources designed to help you improve your skills in the fastest amount of time possible. -Clayton

This episode we're joined by the two headed hydra of comics - Comfort Love and Adam Withers.  Having published numerous acclaimed comic book titles such as "The Uniques" and "Rainbow In The Dark", Comfort and Adam are a power team who write, draw, color and letter all of their work together. They take equal part and ownership in the production process, brain storming ideas, developing them and ultimately bringing their vision to life. When it comes to collaborating as a team, Adam and Comfort know what it takes. Whether you're working with a studio of like minded talent, a group of friends, brother, sister or significant other to realize a common dream - having someone there to re-inspire you through those bouts of artist block, or to pick you up when you're feeling creatively depleted can be one of the most valuable perks a creative partnership can bring. But that doesn't mean there won't be a few hurdles you'll have to overcome together along the way. Sometimes finding solutions to the problems that pop up within the creative dynamic of a team, and reaching a compromise that serves the greater purpose of the project itself can require just as much creativity. Comfort and Adam have also garnered a plethora of wisdom over more than a decade of experience in self publishing - and even wrote a comprehensive book covering the topic in detail! This episode, they bring an invaluable amount of insight to the table as they share the true and tried tactics they've acquired over their years in the indie comics arena.  If you're looking to get a start in self publishing your own comics, this is not an episode you're going to want to miss! We hope you enjoy this weeks Podcast Ep! Thanks so much for listening, and always, keep on creating! -Clayton Follow Comfort and Adam at: http://www.comfortandadam.com/ If you'd like more comic art tutorials, videos and courses be sure to visit https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/

This episode I'm joined by Co-Host's Ed Foychuk and Ric Bulow for HTDC's first Q&A session. We'll be answering questions straight from the How To Draw Comic's Community on topics such as - Is self publishing a creator owned title the best way to break into the comic book industry? Is it okay to sell B&W Line Art Illustrations at Comic Con's, or will coloring it (or paying a colorist to do it for you) make your prints stand out amid the crowd? How do you choose the one idea that you'll see through all the way till the end, when there's so many choices to choose from? What is the best approach to learning anatomy, proportions and how do clothes fit around the body of your comic book character's? We take a stab at answering all of these questions and much more in this week's value packed episode of the HTDC Podcast. Thanks for listening, and as always, keep on creating! - Clayton For comic art tutorials, videos, and courses, visit https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/, and take your comic art skill set to the next level!

In this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton, Ric Bulow and Ed Foychuk talk about the art - of teaching art. We reflect on our past experiences in the class room as both students and teachers, and discuss what we think it takes to be an effective art instructor who can walk the talk. Like art, teaching is a specialized skill all on it's own. A brilliant artist can create awe inspiring work no problem, but can they articulate exactly how they did it, in a way where their students are able to replicate the same results? We also discuss the pros and cons of learning in the class room, vs online training, and what each can offer to enhance the learning experience for aspiring artists. If you're on the look out for an art course and aren't quite sure where to start, give this episode a listen - hopefully it'll point you in the right direction. If you enjoyed this episode and would like more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials - please visit www.howtodrawcomics.net.

Is drawing a natural talent that some people are just born with? If so, where does that leave the rest of us - are we doomed to always be two steps behind the elites with little chance of ever reaching their divine level of god-given skill? This is both a question and a statement we hear all too often in the face of a masterfully executed piece of comic book art. When we see someone who can draw well, especially someone young, it's an almost automatic response to exclaim how brilliantly talented they are. But is there really any magic behind it? Or, as with any skillset, does becoming a great comic book artist come down to hard work and dedication? In this weeks Podcast Episode Clayton Barton and Co-Host Ric Bulow look at both sides of the equation, as well as the pros and cons of each. Hope you enjoy the episode, and thanks for listening! -Clayton For more comic art tutorials, videos, podcast episodes and courses visit www.howtodrawcomics.net

Where should you begin if you want to learn how to become a comic book artist, ? There's vast oceans of information available online, but how do you sift through the fluff to get to the good stuff? Art school and university seems notoriously ineffective, serving merely as an introductory taste into the extensive skill set one must acquire to become a successful comic book illustrator - plus it's extremely costly. There's online courses and books, containing laser focused information designed to address the fundamental gaps in your drawing abilities - but which ones are best for a beginner? In this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast, we're joined by Co-Host Ed Foychuk to share our experiences as up and coming comic book artists - where we sourced our drawing knowledge and our highest recommendations for beginners who are looking for some direction in their learning. Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks for listening. -Clayton For comic art tutorials, videos, podcast episodes and courses, visit us at: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/

In Episode 25 of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton and Co-Host Ric Bulow are joined by special guest artist Vince Rodriguez to talk about his background in comic books and storyboard illustration - and what it takes to deliver the best possible product to your clients, on time. Vince is an insanely talented artist who like many of us grew up adoring comic books. He was so inspired by artists like Jack Kirby that he pursued a career which allowed him to make the most of his artistic abilities. Throughout that journey, he's gained deep insights about what clients expect, how to juggle multiple jobs at once, and how to meet the intense deadlines that must be kept to keep ones reputation intact. One of the things I admire most about Vince is his killer work ethic, and listening to him speak about some of the work he's undertaken and what it took to execute those projects was truly inspirational. It was an honor to have him join us on the show and hope that the knowledge and experience he brings to the table here gives you the confidence you need to step onto the field and hustle your way to the top! Thanks for listening, -Clayton Want more comic art insights? Visit https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ - for comic art tutorials, training videos and of course, more podcast episodes!

In this jam packed episode, we blow the lid off the age old question every aspiring comic book artist wants an answer to - should you be using references when you draw?... How much should you really depend on them and is it worse not to use them at all? Find out in Episode 24 of the HTDC Podcast! Want more comic advice, tips, tricks and tutorials? - visit us at http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/

In Episode 23 of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton and Ric revisit perfectionism vs getting your work finished! There's certainly something to be said about honing your skills through mileage, but does perfectionism offer a chance to enhance your learning experience, and raise the quality of the work you produce to a higher level?

As most people do, we artist also strive to have a good and strong family life. Many have wives, kids and a day-job. So how are you supposed to have all that and still have time to work on your art? Moreso, how can you best jump from having that dayjob and go into focusing on being a freelance artist, if that is your end-goal, while you still have a family to care for? In this episode hosts Ed Foychuk and Ric Bülow talks about these things and how they made the change work for them and their families as best possible. Furthermore they also take up an equally important subject and that's keeping healthy. As an artist, you tend to not move around alot while working, which can strain the muscles you're using while working alot and in the end cause great pains from it.

Success can mean many things to different people. But what remains true for all of us is the deep, core need to pursue a worthy cause that we find fulfilling. In our case, that's creating comics, and that's exactly what today's guest is setting out to do with his new studio. To make our dreams a reality, mindset is everything. Because what you can and can't achieve all comes down to belief. If you believe in your potential as a comic book artist, that potential will become a promise. And vice versa - if you think it's an impossibility to become a true master of your craft, you'll never be motivated, or driven enough to do what needs to be done to succeed in the first place. Tom Bilyeu is the man behind Impact Theory - a multi-media platform created to empower the minds and will of people to succeed in a world where most of us are born into a narrative that hinders what we're truly capable of. Interviewing some of the most successful people on the planet such as Tony Robbins, Gary Vanerchuck and many more, Tom aims to shed a light on the epitome of human potential. But that's not the only vehicle Tom intends to use to inspire people. As it turns out he's just launched the first title coming from Impact Theory Comics, Steve Aoki's 'Neon Future' (coming October) - His studio promising a plethora of original stories authored to pull people out of the matrix of negative mindsets and belief systems that blind their visions. In this episode we talk with Tom about how his studio went from being an idea to becoming a reality, why he’s doing it after building companies like Quest into billion dollar successes - but most importantly I’ve invited Tom here today to talk about the mindset and determination he needed to pull it all off. There's loads of value packed into this episode, and I sincerely hope you take away every last pearl of knowledge you can pull from it. Be sure to catch Tom and Impact Theory Comics at NYCC Oct. 4th - 7th at Booth number 236 - and if you'd like to follow Tom and find out more about Impact Theory Comics be sure to check out - https://impacttheory.com/ -Clayton