Tag Archives: featured

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Comic Art Review – Livestream – Special Guest David Finch

Art Review Livestream with Special Guest David Finch
Art Review Livestream with Special Guest David Finch

Welcome back comic art enthusiasts! We were honored to have the awesomely talented artist David Finch back on our humble little Youtube channel for another Art Review Livestream! As you probably already know, David Finch has worked in the comic industry for over 27 years and is  known for his work on Top Cow Productions’ Cyberforce, as well as numerous subsequent titles for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, such as The New Avengers, Moon Knight, Ultimatum, and Batman.  He has provided album cover art for the band Disturbed, and done concept art for films such as Watchmen.

With such an impressive resume we are very fortunate to have him reviewing the art of our aspiring colleagues. There is something entirely powerful about getting feedback from a pro. It helps us to see things that we otherwise might be struggling to figure out. I truly feel that this is an essential aspect of becoming a better comic book artist and probably the path of least resistance! Well, as long as we are ready to receive the information provided to us of course.

This is the third time David has been on our Youtube channel and each time he has taught us some very useful techniques. Even though this was more for the subscribers of the channel to benefit from you can bet I was taking my own notes! Hey, I’m still learning to you know! 😉

The other nice thing about this process is that David will sometimes stop what he is explaining and start drawing for the student. This is insanely beneficial as you might expect because as artists we are generally visual learners. These interactive sketches just seem to make things click. It is one of the reasons why we do so much better in a studio with other skillful individuals. By watching their approach and being able to ask questions we tend to gain a sense of confidence. Unfortunately, not all of us have that opportunity so these live sessions are the next best thing in my honest opinion.

David Finch explaining some techniques to a student.

If you weren’t able to attend you are welcome to watch the latest episode here –

David is also creating some exceptional course content for us to learn from. You can find his comic art courses here on his site. I have taken a few and they are exceptional and well worth the price!

Check out David’s Courses here on his website – https://davidfinchart.com​

You can support his Youtube channel here – https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidFinchartist

Thanks for stopping by and we hope to see you on the next Art Review Livestream. Keep drawing and keep having fun!

Sincerely,

Robert A. Marzullo Ram Studios Comics

Blog

Ram Studios Comics ART SCHOOL Online

Welcome to Ram Studios Comics Art School Online!

Happy to announce that I will be hosting my courses here now https://ram-studios-comics-art-school.teachable.com
Not to worry if you are a student on the other platforms, I will still be taking care of you and adding new content. This new site will allow me to address certain needs that have come up time and time again.

For those of you that are new here, my name is Robert A. Marzullo and I have been creating online courses for over 7 years now and it has been an amazing journey. I have been able to help over 120,000 students from all over the world. I get to see their progress and offer feedback or encouragement where I can. I am extremely grateful to be doing this for a living.

I have been primarily using Udemy, Skillshare, and Gumroad to host my content. They are all great but they all have some major flaws as well. With Udemy and Skillshare I have to be careful how I communicate with the student. I cannot direct them off site for one. That can be a problem when I need to help the student but afraid to get a strike from the platform. Skillshare is pretty great overall but I can’t currently respond to students with any draw overs. Those are really helpful to show someone exactly what I mean in a response to their question.

What will I learn?

The main things you can expect to learn from this site are figure drawing, comic art, benefits of digital art programs and how to use them, traditional art techniques, creature design, and character design. I also want to help artists realize their potential at achieving success. It amazes me that so many talented people fail to achieve their goals when they have so many awesome opportunities these days.

The primary Art applications I use and teach are Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, Photoshop, and Sketchbook Pro.

Here are some of the great features of the new site –

  1. Better lesson structure with comments + images attached to each lesson.
  2. Live-streaming options to be help students and offer mentor ship programs.
  3. More control for me to communicate with you properly without worrying.
  4. Specifically designed and focused on art education.
  5. Better overall student experience.

I will be uploading all my courses here in the next few days. I already have a couple of my most popular courses on there. Be sure to sign up for updates if you are interested in knowing more.

This should be a huge help for everyone involved. Feel free to give me any feedback you have or let me know if have any questions.

Thank you for your continued support and good luck with your art!

-Robert

Blog

Dynamic Anatomy for Artists – Drawing the Muscles of the Arm

As artists and especially as comic artists we have to have a good understanding of human anatomy. It is not an easy task but it is definitely worth the effort. You can immediately tell when an artist spends time doing their studies of the human body. From gesture and figure drawing to countless illustrations of the complex muscles and their relationships, nothing about it is simple but it truly transforms your art into something to be desired.

I avoided these studies for far too long in my own career. Even after hearing criticism from professional artists and editors that I admired. We have all been there or will hear it at some point, “You need to work on your anatomy! It is never fun to hear a comment like that but it is the cold hard truth. If you want to be a great character artist, you need to study anatomy.

So let’s stop avoiding what we know we need to learn. I created these lessons to help simplify the anatomy and make the drawing process easier to accomplish. In this first class we will focus upon the Arm Anatomy. Here is the class introduction to let you know what you can expect to gain from it –

Welcome to my class, “Dynamic Anatomy for Artists – Drawing the Muscles of Arm.”

Dynamic Anatomy of the Arm for Artists
Dynamic Anatomy of the Arm for Artists

I am extremely excited to bring you these lessons on drawing the muscles.  Learning anatomy isn’t easy but it will vastly improve your ability to draw impressive character designs and comic book superheroes.

What You Will Learn in This Class – 

  • How to Draw the Muscles
  • Basic Terminology
  • Visual Patterns
  • Form + Volume
  • Stylizing the Work
  • Efficient Ways to Improve

This class is designed to simplify the process of drawing the arm anatomy.  I will teach you the basic forms that I use to draw the arm from memory and you will get access to all the art files to study along with.  Including diagrams with all the terminology.

Don’t beat yourself up though!  Just try to improve a little each day and commit a muscle or two to memory here and there.  Consistency is the most effective way to improve in my opinion.  Rome wasn’t built in a day, right?! 😉

Dynamic Arm Anatomy Drawing
Dynamic Arm Anatomy Drawing

After you work through the anatomy breakdowns I will show you how to implement this into a few examples. We will work on these to help you transition your new skills into your own stylized version.

Signup for this class here on Skillshare – https://skl.sh/2REAuCA

or

Get the Lessons Here on Gumroad – https://gum.co/pXUkR

I am here if you have any questions and remember you can send your artwork for me to review by using my contact form here on the website. You can also submit your artwork as a project file on Skillshare as well. Next we will be covering Leg Anatomy so I hope you will join me for that class as well! 🙂

Sincerely,

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics

www.staging.ramstudioscomics.com


Blog

For Aspiring Comic Artists

Hello Fellow Comic Artists!

My name is Robert Marzullo and I have been drawing comics since I was about 14 years old. ( Getting ready to turn 44 ) I was first published when I was 18 in an independent series called Aerial and Assault by Tyme Press. I have since published my own comic Blackstone Eternal and I am the author of the book “Learn to Draw Action Heroes”. I have done many other things as an artist but this is about creating comics so I won’t list everything. I don’t want to bore you to death!

The main thing I want to impart on anyone reading this is that if you want to be a comic artist you have to just start creating comics. I wish I would have focused more of my time creating comics rather than trying to figure out how to get into comics. The act of doing is the most important part. Nothing will grow your skill set quicker than actually drawing page after page of sequential storytelling. I only have a total of 5 comics under my belt but I have noticed great improvements from completing each of them.

Blackstone Eternal Comic Book Art by Robert A. Marzullo
Blackstone Eternal Comic Book Art by Robert A. Marzullo

You might say, “I draw every day already. I draw pin ups and splash pages!” So that is enough, right? Wrong! That actually can hurt you as much as help you unless you are specifically going to be a cover artist and the odds are you won’t start there. Pin ups are great but they don’t tell much story. You won’t learn how to direct the viewers eye through the page, you won’t get as good at drawing the same character with a variety of emotions, you won’t develop your ability to move the camera in and out of the scene more confidently, and the list goes on. You learn these things by drawing a comic book. You also need to practice working from a script not just drawing whatever pops into your melon while your watching Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube! ( Make sure to visit my channel by the way! 🙂

You may look at my work and say, “Rob, you draw Fan Art all the time!” You’re right, and that is why I can honestly speak from experience. I have drawn comic books and I have drawn countless pieces of fan art. Guess which ones will get me more offers to work on a title. Yep, sequential art. I don’t currently get calls from the big guys like Marvel, Dc comics, or Image but when I draw and post sequential pages I get more offers from other independent comic book creators.

Blackstone Eternal Comic Book Artwork by Robert A. Marzullo
Blackstone Eternal Comic Book Artwork by Robert A. Marzullo

I am speaking from my own experiences but also reconfirming what I need to implement in my own strategy. If I want to work in comics I need to draw amazing stories that show the viewer what I can do. Besides, working through a series of pages from a script will expose my flaws and that is exactly what I need to fix within my work so why fight it.

So I challenge you to get out there and create some comics! Throw a script together or find one online and put yourself to the test. If you can’t muster up a 22 page book then go for a short story. Show it off to everyone you know and accept the criticism so that you can make the next one even better. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There is no such thing as a perfect comic or a perfect piece of art. Remember, done is better than perfect!

Good luck to you and thank you for reading my blog! Check out my YouTube channel for more content on drawing comics – http://www.youtube.com/c/robertmarzullo

Get my Video Course content and custom brushes here on my Gumroad – http://www.gumroad.com/robertmarzullo

-Robert

Blog, Uncategorized

Custom Brushes by RAM – Clip Studio Paint / Manga Studio 5

Are you a fan of custom brushes for Clip Studio Paint? I know I am! They save a ton of time and can really open up some new ideas when utilizing them. If nothing else, they are just plain fun to use!

I have been creating brushes for years now. I started in Photoshop about 15 years ago but quickly feel in love with Clip Studio Paint’s brush engine. It is the absolute best on the market so far. Not only does it have a supperior use and control of the “Ribbon Effect” it also supports full color brushes. As well as controling the two primary colors with the Foreground and Background swatches. Super effective in my opinion!

I have two primary sets for Clip Studio Paint / Manga Studio 5. They are the “RAM – Manga Studio 5 / Clip Studio Paint – Inking Set” and “Clip Studio Paint – Manga Studio 5 – Digital Painting Brush Pack.” I started by creating Inking Brushes for Comics. Then I realized that I could create all sorts of time saving effects. Brick patters, cross-hatching, hair and fur, power effects, and the list goes on.

The new brushes that I just added are focused on repetitive patterns or “Ribbon Effects”. Things like Chain Links but with a comic style line art applied to them. Or my latest brush… Spider-Webs! I draw Spider-man a lot so with will save me years of webbing! 🙂

Spider-Web Brush by RAM

Here is an image of Spawn that I drew in the Procreate app and then added my custom Chains Brush in Clip Studio Paint.

Spawn Comic Art by Robert A. Marzullo ( Character is Property of Todd McFarlane. )

So hopefully you can see how these brushes can be very useful as well as huge time savers. This is just how I use them so feel free to experient with your own creative illustrations!

Get the Inking Set here – https://gum.co/gGIye

or

Get the Painting Set here – https://gum.co/TQPbf

Both include the new brushes and more Comic Art Style brushes will be added as soon as I create them. Feel free to let me know which brushes you need and I would love to see the art you create with them!

Thanks for stopping by and best of luck with your art journey!

Robert A. Marzullo Ram Studios Comics

Blog

Introduction to Digital Painting in Photoshop – Beginner’s Guide

Introduction to Digital Painting in Photoshop - Beginner's Guide
Introduction to Digital Painting in Photoshop – Beginner’s Guide

Introduction to Digital Painting in Photoshop – Beginner’s Guide

Hello Digital Artists!

I have just released a new course, “Introduction to Digital Painting in Photoshop!”  Very excited to be bringing you this course and I hope you learn a ton of great techniques to add to your skill set.  Currently, this course sits at 33 Lectures and a Runtime of 3hrs 55 Minutes.  ( You also get the Art Files + over 50 Custom Brushes to work with. )

In this course, you will learn all the basic tools and how I use them to create professional looking digital art in Photoshop.  This course is designed to get you up and running with digital painting in Photoshop quickly and effectively.  Without all the confusion and complex jargon.  Photoshop is a massive program with tons of options and can quickly become a hindrance if it isn’t explained properly.  I teach this course is an easy to understand way!

After covering all the basic tools and shortcut commands we jump into a scene creation.  You will learn to illustrate this Space Scene from scratch.  You will learn how to create this scene with a very simple approach.  This way you can focus on being able to paint without learning all the complexities that Photoshop has to offer.  This course is designed for the beginner to the intermediate digital artist in mind!

As with any of my courses, if you feel this content needs an additional lecture or two I am happy to help.  Just message me and I will improve the course as soon as possible.  Also, feel free to leave your honest review of this course so others will know what to expect!

( Lifetime access + 30 Day Money Back Guarantee ) 

Thank you for everything you do and more lessons are on the way very soon!

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics

Blog

How to Draw Dynamic Superheroes – Start to Finish! Now on Udemy

How to Draw Dynamic Superheroes - Course
How to Draw Dynamic Superheroes – Course

How to Draw Dynamic Superheroes – Start to Finish

Get the Course here – https://www.udemy.com/how-to-draw-dynamic-comic-book-superheroes-start-to-finish/?couponCode=RAMSTUDIOSCOMICS

In this course, you will learn how to draw dynamic superheroes step by step. You will work along with me as we break down all the major components that comprise the superhero characters that we know and love. You will learn about proportions, anatomy, suit design, foreshortening, rendering, perspective, and how to draw dynamic poses from your imagination. These action poses are essential to creating powerful characters that can tell an amazing story!

If you want to improve your ability to draw a variety of characters effectively, then this course is for you. The techniques that I will teach you here can apply to all sorts of art styles. Everything from game art, comics, concept art, and even figure drawing. These methods will teach you how to draw imaginative bodies with confidence.

I am very confident you will find this course to be a valuable asset in your educational collection but if you find anything that would make this a better experience for you and the other students, please let me know.  I will be happy to improve the course content as well as add new lessons when needed.

You also get all the art files to work along with throughout this course.  Please share your artwork in the Q&A Section and I will give you any feedback that I can.

I thank you for viewing my course and good luck with your art!

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics

Blog

Procreate Like a Pro: Create Awesome Digital Art on an iPad – Udemy

Procreate Like a Pro: Create Awesome Digital Art on an iPad
Procreate Like a Pro: Create Awesome Digital Art on an iPad

Procreate Like a Pro: Create Awesome Digital Art on an iPad

In this course you will learn about the app in two fundamental ways. You will watch me explain the interface while demonstrating the hand gestures that are used to complete various tasks. You will learn how to import and export images, flip the canvas, share the  work in various formats, export video, setup the perspective tools, and adjust the interface to your preference.

Want to Learn How to Draw on an iPad?

In the next section I will take you through a complete illustration from start to finish. This will allow you to see and work through the process of creating the illustration and commit it to memory. You will learn about the brushes, layers, blending modes, lock transparency, selection tools, color adjustments, and general tips and tricks on painting various effects with texture.

By the end of this course you will have created a fun and informative art project. I would love to see what come up with and I would be happy to give you any feedback I can. Just share the work in the Q+A Section when you are done!

Get this course here  – https://www.udemy.com/procreate-like-a-pro-create-awesome-digital-art-on-an-ipad/?couponCode=RAMSTDIOSCOMICS101

Promo Video –

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics

Blog

How to Draw Comic Style Heads – Step by Step – From Any Angle

How to Draw Comic Style Heads From Any Angle
How to Draw Comic Style Heads From Any Angle by Robert A. Marzullo

How to Draw Comic Style Heads – Step by Step – From Any Angle

In this Course you will learn how to draw heads from a variety of angles and different styles. You will learn how to break down the head into thirds with the “Adrew Loomis” method. This will make turning the head on the page much easier to accomplish. You will also learn techniques for mapping out the facial features of your character. We cover front, side, upward angle, downward angle, with both male and female faces.

You will also learn how to draw the heads of your characters with a less structured approach. This comes with practice but it can be very fun and expressive to do.

This course is 25 Lectures and the Run Time is 4hrs 14min.
You get all the Art Files in a single PDF Document at 300dpi to work along with.

NOTE – In this how to draw comics style heads course I reference other lessons that are available on my Gumroad or Skillshare. I talk about the lessons that teach you about drawing eyes, noses, mouths, etc. They are not part of this course but may help you if you need work on those specific areas.

Next the Project File!!

I would love your feedback on these how to draw lessons and I would also like to see your work! Complete the project file that I talk about in the Promo Video. Feel free to message me through Gumroad or Tag me in a post using Twitter or Instagram.
Instagram – @robert_marzullo
Twitter – @RobertMarzullo

Watch the Promo Video here – https://youtu.be/aS_JcZNpmVQ

Check out the full course here –

https://ram-studios-comics-art-school.teachable.com/p/how-to-draw-heads-step-by-step-from-any-angle/?product_id=2447770&coupon_code=RAMSTUDIOSCOMICS777

I hope you find this course to be helpful and good luck with your studies! 🙂

Sincerely,

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics
www.staging.ramstudioscomics.com

Blog

New Lessons on How to Draw Comic Style Hair – Male Characters

How to Draw Comic Style Hair Male
How to Draw Comic Style Hair Male Characters

Welcome back everyone!

In this class you will learn how to draw these 3 hair styles. We will cover basic form and rendering techniques that will apply to not just these but lots of other various hair styles as well. This should give you a basic understanding of how to design your own favorite hair style for your cool characters!

You can get this class here on my Gumroad – https://gum.co/KsSja

Or on my Skillshare here – http://skl.sh/2Bu5spR

Run time is 49 Minutes / 5 Lessons / 2 Art files

You will start with a male face that I have created for you. This allows you to simply focus on the hair drawing and not worrying too much about the characters face. Try creating lots of variations over the same pose. See how much you can change the characters look with a new hair style! Have fun with it! 🙂

If you have any questions I am here to help and thank you for your support of my lessons! More on the way real soon….

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics