How To Draw Comics

There's many things that set comics apart from other art forms. Not only must you be skilled in the traditional teachings of drawing, but you must also harness the ability to take the audience on a visual journey throughout your stories. Comics are about guiding the reader through an immersive narrative and it's your job as the creator to cultivate that experience - an experience that makes them feel like they are right there inside the panel as they read. This requires an in-depth knowledge of the hidden nuances that make a comic book work, and in Episode 20 of the HTDC Podcast, special guest artist Moti Friedman shows us the tip of the ice berg. Moti has had his art published around the world since 1993, fulfilling his most recent role as co-writer and artist on Tom Raches Black Alpha Comic Book Series. As well as honing his abilities as a practiced comic book artist, children's book illustrator, and writer - for almost three decades he’s developed courses and taught aspiring artists at numerous universities. This episode is packed full of valuable insights for comic artists, beginners to advanced. We hope you enjoy it, and take home ton of value. Thanks for listening, -Clayton

Wouldn't it be great to wake up everyday and work at your passion? To put your time and energy into something that matters to you, something that you truly find fulfilling. Maybe you've got characters to share and a story to tell in that future comic book series you've been thinking of creating. Imagine how surreal it would feel knowing that your fans have posters, collector cards, and T-Shirts of the titles you came up with. It can happen. But only if you get down to business. Because if you're creating art for more than just the love of it, that's exactly what you are - a business owner, your art, the product. It's more than just a matter of mastering your drawing skills. You might be the best of the best when it comes to skill and raw talent, but if no one ever gets to see what you can do, they won't be able to pay you for it. In this special, extended episode of the HTDC Podcast, I'm joined by Co-Host Ric Bulow and special guest artists Ed Foychuk and Deth Phimmasone to talk about the business side of being an artist. This episode we'll share our ideas and experiences for earning money from your craft, revealing the tactics used to promote and sell our own products. In a techno-savvy world full of opportunity, that encourages creative entrepreneurs to pursue their endeavors - it's now more possible than ever to make a considerable amount of income from your art. Cover Art By Deth Phimmasone See more art from our featured artists at: Ed Foychuk - https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ Deth Phimmasone - https://www.instagram.com/dethdfyed/

When it comes to pursuing your passion, knowing your 'why' is everything. You must have a powerful enough reason to break through the challenges, self doubt, and fear you'll face on the road to mastery. Without it as your compass, your goals are aimless. In a very special, extended Episode 18 of the HTDC Podcast, we're joined by guest artist Caanan White to talk about the approach he took to developing a high level skill set that allowed him to create some of the most spectacular comic book art in the industry. Having worked for multiple studios, including Marvel, Caanan's unrelenting drive pushed his ability to the epitome of it's potential - dangerously coming close to sacrificing everything for the love of his passion. The question is, was it all worth it? This 1.5 hour episode is packed with loads of value as Caanan shares his experiences and wisdom gained from lessons learned over the years. Don't miss it! -Clayton Check out Caanan White's art at: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfCaananWhite/

Do you prefer to create your art digitally or traditionally? As the world of technology has evolved in our modern age, so have the creative tools we have at our disposal as comic book artists. A whole new array of mediums, processes and styles are now possible thanks to the advent of digital technology, but where does that leave the traditional ways of working we've held sacred for so long? In Episode 17 of the HTDC Podcast, I'm joined once more by Co-Host Ric Bulow to discuss the pros and cons of traditional and digital methods of production for comic book illustration. We hope you enjoy this episode! Thanks so much for listening and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments. We all have so many different perspectives on the merits of digital and traditional ways of working - so lets get the conversation happening around this topic. How do you prefer to work and why? -Clayton

So you want to learn how to draw comic books but don't know where to begin... The self taught route could lead to a unique approach that yields an original style and way of working. On the flip side, it can take a while to bang out the kinks and develop a fluid production process. Something that could take months to learn, may very well end up taking years without formal direction and guidance. Art school is another option of course; expensive but a possible avenue that could fast-track the learning process. Even better, you could apprentice under a mentor capable of teaching you the way of the comic book Jedi - though would their way of working work for you and would it leave you lacking an identifiable originality in your own work? In Episode 16 of the HTDC Podcast we discuss the best options you can go for when it comes to excelling your learning. We look at the pros and cons of each as well as their financial practicality. Learning the art of comics isn't easy, and no matter which way you cut it you're going to need immense amounts of patience and determination to truly become a master pencil-wizard. But there is a long way and there is a fast way... ... and in this episode we hope to set you down the path that's going help you harness your skill set in the shortest amount of time possible. Thanks for joining us once more and I hope you enjoy "Episode 16 - Easy Ways To Get Good Fast". -Clayton

Sometimes life throws a curve ball at your creativity and forces you to take an elongated break away from that which you're most passionate about. In Episode 15 of the HTDC Podcast we talk about getting back into the saddle after you've been knocked off track.

In Episode 14 of the HTDC Podcast we’re joined by special guest artist Robert Marzullo of Ram Studios Comics. Over the years Robert has produced hundreds of comic art tutorials and several courses, helping aspiring artists around the world harness their abilities and master their craft. If there’s one thing that can be said about Robert, it’s that he has a burning passion to not only create comics but to help others develop the skillset they need to do the same. During our catch up with Rob we talked about where it all began for him as an artist and the journey he took to develop his artistic abilities. Like many comic creators, the desire to tell his stories through the medium greatly over powered his doubts about the industry. Regardless of how much money, fame or praise it earned him, creating comics was simply something Robert had to do out of love for the craft. But it took time to learn it; to master the tools, techniques and habits of a seasoned pro. That’s why at the core of this episode we’ve focused on what it means to truly commit to the comic art craft. In the end, true commitment is the only guarantee any of us have of becoming the artist that we someday hope to be. It ensures that we don’t give up in the face of failure, fear or doubt. It pushes us through the obstacles and challenges that lie before us. And gets us through the hours and exertion of energy we must invest into our art so that it can be the very best it can be. To thank Robert for joining us, this episode’s album art is a tribute to his original character Blackstone. If you’ve read issue #1 of Blackstone then you’ll already know how much of a bad-ass this character is. Not to mention the level of quality and attention to detail put into the book is just breathtaking – it was great to chat with Rob about how he came up with Blackstone, his backstory and the creation process that went into producing the book. With one issue down and another soon to come, I’m excited to see where Blackstone’s story goes next. We hope you enjoy this episode. It was an absolute honor to finally get Robert onto the Podcast. We’ve talked about collaborating for a long time now, and this was by far one of the best episodes we’ve recorded to date. Here’s to more team ups in the future! Thanks for listening, and until next time – keep on creating. -Clayton If you like this Podcast Episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Robert Marzullo's Website: https://ramstudioscomics.com/ Robert Marzullo's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrRamstudios1 Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

No matter how excited you are to start a new comic book project, there will come a point where your motivation to keep on going will diminish. Our mind loves novelty and the anticipation of embarking on a new endeavor, but with familiarity grows lack of interest. So what get's things done? In Episode 13 of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton and Ric Bulow talk tactics when it comes to cultivating unbreakable discipline when it comes to seeing your projects through to the end. As artists, developing an ability to sit down, grind through our challenges and force ourselves to succeed despite our lack of motivation is incredibly powerful. It can determine whether you get your entire comic book done in a month, in years, or at all. When you know that everyday you're going to be able to wake up and produce, regardless of if you're in the mood or feeling inspired, there's a new level of self trust a creator can hang onto. The things you create come first, your procrastination comes second. Starting a project and seeing it through to the end is a trial every creator must conquer again and again. It's in the job description. What's worse is you're on your own. No one else can manifest your creations for you - it must be by your hands. In the end, you've got to be your own cheerleader, barracking for yourself until you win the game - only to play another round the next time you pick up the pencil. Here in Episode 13 we wanted to share with you some of our strategies for developing productive habits and effectively rigging your brain for productivity - so that you can optimize your working day to squeeze as much work out of it as possible. Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy it, -Clayton

In Episode 12 of the HTDC Podcast, Ric and Clayton reveal techniques for expanding your visual library so that you can come up with unique and compelling ideas that capture the interest of your audience.

When it comes to learning the art of comic book illustration, there's many paths we can take. The question is, do we venture down a path lead by those before us, armed with their wisdom as we face the trials and tribulations on the road ahead, or should we enter into the unknown ourselves, conquering each lesson as it comes? Sometimes the road we take can say a lot about us as an artist. Are we someone who learns from example or would we prefer to figure things out on our own? Do we feel safer being held by the hand, knowing that the advice from those more experienced should lead us to the success we seek - or - are we brave enough to think outside the box, rebuilding the wheel to arrive at an outcome which is truly unique? Most importantly, when is it time to take off the training wheels and learn to walk on our own two feet as an artist? After all, if we never step out and make our own discoveries there can be no way to feel confident within our own abilities.

In our 10th Episode of the HTDC Podcast Clayton Barton and Ric Bülow are joined by guest artist Nick Melanshek to discuss his art, process and the challenges he's faced as a comic book creator. Nick is the author and illustrator of two self published series titled "White Cell Inoculation" and "Big Man Down". For the past several years he's put his head down to develop his skill set and bring the stories he wants to tell to the world. But as many artists know this is often a time of true trial and tribulation, as an artist searches deep to overcome fear and self doubt. We talk with Nick about his journey through these different fazes of self discovery - the moment he got serious about his work, letting go of perfectionist expectations, the taxing experience of his first issue, and how now he's reached a point now where he's able to produce a book once per month while raising a family.

As artists we tend to put a lot of emphasis on the end result. We want the outcome to be the best it can be otherwise why set out to create anything at all? Problem is while we're so focused on the destination we completely miss the joy of the journey. In this weeks Podcast Episode, Clayton Barton and Co-Host Ric Bülow talk about the importance of embracing the process. Ultimately, if you're an artist who's making progress, improving, evolving; that destination will always be out of reach. What you create today will always be trumped by what you create tomorrow. So it's pointless stressing out over reaching perfection. You've got to revel in the imperfections. Learn from them, and remember that often times what you consider an impure characteristic within your work reflects a signature style unique to you. If you don't enjoy the process of creation, there's no point in pursuing it in the first place. So remember to have fun with your art. The outcome isn't as important as you think. -Clayton

In Episode 8 of the How To Draw Comics Podcast Ric Bülow and Clayton Barton talk about the dangers of Burn Out, in the physical and mental sense. As artists we've all experienced the onset of eye-strain, carpal tunnel, headaches and even back pain from long, unbroken periods of time at the drawing board. Nothing feels more debilitating to an artist then to have to take a month long recovery break from overuse. So taking regular breaks is important, ensuring we look after our physical well being so that we can maintain peak, artistic performance. But what about the mental fatigue we also often suffer from? Those days, weeks or even months where we simply lack the motivation to pick up the pencil. Constantly being bombarded with deadlines to meet, crazy schedules, lack of sleep and physical exercise, and a poor diet are all sure fire ways that lead to mental depletion - which is ultimately just as debilitating as the physical counterpart of burn out. This episode discusses the dangers of falling victim to burn out as a creator and what you can do to avoid it. Big thanks to Aaron Alfeche and Rob Arnold (creator of Replicator) for this episode's cover art.

In Episode 7 of the HTDC Podcast Clayton Barton and Co-Host Ric Bülow are joined by Ed Foychuk to discuss the comic book grind and what it truly means to dedicate all the focus you've got to mastering your skill-set. Having released two issues of his Comic Book Captain Corea, Ed lets us in on his approach to creating comics. He gives us insight into his mindset and tactics for getting better, and shares his thoughts on experimentation, development and dedication to the art form. We learn about the incredible value community forums can offer the aspiring artist both in receiving critical feedback for improvement and challenging us to lift our game to greater heights. We also discus diversity in comics and the many ways in which we might be able to branch out and experiment from time to time to come up with stories that are truly unique.

In this episode we're joined by guest artist Jenevieve Broomall to discuss what it means to follow your passion. Like many, Jenevieve is a self taught artist, who over the last eight years has refined her skill-set, mastered her medium and developed a finessed style that sets her apart from the rest. Having worked as a cover artist for publishers such as Zenoscope, Valiant, IDW, Coffin Comics and more, Jen shares her insights into the challenges that hold many of us back such as burnout, ego, self-doubt, and pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone to grow as an artist. We also learn about the importance of nursing your passions, expressing yourself regardless of the outcome and allowing yourself to become part of the creative process. Jen ends off with a heart felt message all artist's can relate with which is the act of giving, and the amount of impact our art can truly having on those around us.