Tag Archives: how to draw comics

Art Tutorials, Blog

How to Draw An Eye – Step by Step ( Comic Style )

In this tutorial you will learn how to draw a comic style eye step by step. Be sure to practice this often but also to experiment with each stage of this process. You will find your style by experimenting with variations of shapes and rendering so just have fun with it!

In this drawing exercise I will be using a 2H lead on Bristol board smooth paper but you can follow along with whatever art supplies you prefer. Remember to start loose and get some sketches going to warm yourself up.

Step 1 – Drawing the Basic Shape of the Eye

Step 1 - Drawing the Basic Shape of the Eye
Drawing Comic Art Style Eye Tutorial

For this first step I like to focus on the overall shape of the eye as well as the angle from the tear duct to the opposite side where the eye lids meet. I tend to notice an upward tilt and by establishing that early on, it becomes easier to consistently draw them.

This is an excellent time to play with various differences in the shape of the eye. Practice making the shapes more narrow, more rounded, more pointed to one side, and so on. You can create all sort of fun variations for your comic book character types!

Step 2 – Drawing the Iris and the Pupil

Step 2 - Drawing the Iris and the Pupil
Step 2 – Drawing the Iris and the Pupil

For the second step, draw in the iris and the pupil. A good rule of thumb is that the iris is about one third the distance across of the eye. To be honest I experiment with this proportion as well. Sometimes to really push the expression of fear or excitement I will purposely make the iris smaller by comparison. It’s comics so we can get away with it I promise.

Also notice that the iris is touching the top eye lid. This gives a more relaxed look to the eye. Subtle differences in the position of the iris and pupil can change the expression of the character so keep an eye on it!

Step 3 – Drawing the Shape of the Eyelid

Step 3 - Drawing the Shape of the Eyelid
Step 3 – Drawing the Shape of the Eyelid

In this third step, draw the shape of the eyelid. This can pretty much follow the existing edges but I like to taper it a bit taller as it moves around the rounded or middle part of the eye. We have to try to envision the spherical form of the eye ball beneath the skin. Again, play around with this area within your work to find what suits your style the best.

Step 4 – Drawing the Shape of the Eye Lashes

Step 4 - Drawing the Shape of the Eye Lashes
Step 4 – Drawing the Shape of the Eye Lashes

In this fourth step, I like to draw the eye lashes as large basic shapes. This helps me to simplify the process a bit and it makes a lot of sense for comics especially when you are drawing your smaller faces within a scene. Individual eye lashes are great for close ups but that’s about it. Besides you can always add those in as you will see shortly.

I think it goes without saying but this is another on of those times where you can really experiment with a variety of shapes. I will be honest and tell you I didn’t like the look of this stage of the work but I knew I could save it so I pressed forward. Some times you just have to keep fiddling with it and not give up!

Step 5 – Drawing in the Shape of the Eyebrow

Step 5 - Drawing in the Shape of the Eyebrow
Step 5 – Drawing in the Shape of the Eyebrow

In this fifth step, draw in the shape of the eyebrow with some basic angles in mind. I like to imagine the plane changes of the characters forehead when doing this. I also feel that by keeping this step as simple as possible I can lay in the ground work for the details later. If I start by trying to draw in a bunch of little hairs I tend to end up with a mess. No one likes messy eyebrows!

Step 6 – Drawing the Glare and Shadow

Step 6 - Drawing the Glare and Shadow to the Eye
Step 6 – Drawing the Glare and Shadow to the Eye

In this step we will draw the glare and the shadow on the iris. Draw the shadow over the iris as a curve. This helps to push the look that the eye is a sphere and not a flat object. Then draw in the glare on the highest point of the eye, usually right by the pupil. This is another chance to play around with style choices but then again, you already knew that didn’t you?

Step 7 – Draw in the Shadows and Add Some Eye Lashes

Step 7 - Draw in the Shadows and the Eye Lashes
Step 7 – Draw in the Shadows and the Eye Lashes

In this step we can fill in the shadows and add some eye lashes. I tend to change the shape of the eye lashes as I do this. Sometimes I will erase back the perimeter shape so that I can try different effects with the eye lashes. I like paying attention to other comic artists and how they define this area of their work. One of my favorites to study for eyes is the late Michael Turner (RIP). His work is breath taking and the way he rendered eyes was nothing short of AMAZING!

Step 8 – The Final Rendering

Step 8 - The Final Rendering
Step 8 – The Final Rendering

In this final step, soft eraser all those rough lines and clean it up. I like to push and pull the lines here. Some need a little more curve and some need a little less. I also like to add in a bit of cross hatching to the eyes to create a look of tonal value. And, that’s it. You can take these same steps and apply them to all sorts of eye variations.

For some more examples you can head over to our Artist Resources and Templates page here – https://staging.ramstudioscomics.com/index.php/art-resources-templates/

I hope you found this drawing tutorial to be helpful and if you did please share the content with your fellow artists. More on the way soon and good luck with your art!

Sincerely,

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics

Art Tutorials, Uncategorized

How to Draw a Muscular Arm Pose – Step by Step – Tutorial

In this tutorial we will be drawing the outside of a male muscular arm. This time it’s the old, “Which Way to the Beach” pose. We have all done it one time or another, right? Let’s get to it!

Step 1 – Draw out the direction of the pose with the line and circle method. Think of these like the bones under the muscles and at this stage just focus on the length and direction of each section of the arm and hand. Notice the relationship from the wrist to the shoulder and the shape of the base of the hand from this angle.

They are both triangular. It helps to notice shapes like these to make your drawings more consistent.

Drawing an Arm Pose – Step 1 – Arm Structure

Step 2 – Now draw out the cylinder shapes to establish the basic forms. Think of a mannequin or marionette. Keep it simple and still only think about proportions and direction of the segments. Also be open to changes at any stage of this process.  Correcting things early on will save you lots of time and heartache.

Drawing an Arm Pose – Step 2 – Basic Forms

Step 3 – Now soft erase your lines and start to draw more curvature for your anatomy. Notice the way that each area tapers inward to meet the next. The shoulder tapers in to meet the upper arm and the upper arm tapers in the meet the lower arm and so forth. And notice where I changed the shape of the anatomy to go inside and outside of the initial mannequin stage. The basic construction is only meant to be a guide, so I never hesitate to make changes if I see something that could be better.

Drawing an Arm Pose – Step 3 – Anatomy

Quick Tip – Study anatomy often but improve over a long period of time. Don’t let the idea of perfection slow you or stop you from completing your work!

Step 4 – Now like before, soft erase your lines and begin to refine the anatomy a bit more. This time giving more line weight and clarity to the drawing. You can also start to draw in some veins to add to the depth and realism to the drawing.

Drawing an Arm Pose – Step 4 – Refining the Line Work

Step 5 – Draw in the shapes of shadows to your muscles. And if you are working with an inker make sure to sketch the small x’s so they can read the artwork more clearly. You don’t necessary have to do this step if you are your own inker but it doesn’t hurt to get in the habit, just in case!

Drawing an Arm Pose – Step 5 – Adding in the Shapes of Shadows

Step 6 – Now add in your rendering lines and really start to make the artwork pop off the page. Notice how the veins cast a small shadow of their own on one side. And, how they catch light on them even in the shadow of the arm. This is more stylized but it gives the appearance of depth. Overall this is a very stylized arm drawing but that is the fun of comics, not everything has to be entirely accurate!

Drawing an Arm Pose – Step 6 – Rendering and Cross Hatching

I hope you’ve enjoy this quick tutorial on stylized arm anatomy for comics. This is a sample tutorial from my book “Learn to Draw Action Heroes” which you can find on Amazon or at Barnes and Nobel.

If you want more educational content like this and prefer video courses you can get them here – https://ram-studios-comics-art-school.teachable.com

Thank you for stopping by and more tutorials are on the way soon.

Keep drawing keep having fun! 🙂

-Robert

Uncategorized

How to Ink Various Textures and Effects with Traditional Tools

How to Ink Various Textures and Effects with Traditional Art Tools
How to Ink Various Textures and Effects with Traditional Art Tools

I just created a new class on Traditional Inking Techniques. You can get it on my Gumroad or watch it on Skillshare with the links below.

In this class I will show you my methods for drawing and inking various textures with traditional tools.  You will learn about line weight, textures, cross hatching, and making corrections as you work.

This class currently include 3 project files and the run time is at just over an hour.  The first project is drawing and inking a monstrous face.  Here we will go over the benefits or random textures and effects.  Sometimes you just have to let the pen go and see what happens!

Cross hatching - Drapery

For the next project you will draw and ink a fantasy art sword.  This will allow us to work on something with more structure and talk about clean lines.  This is also a good opportunity to render some chrome like effects.

For the third project we will draw and ink some drapery.  This is something we need to practice a lot and it will relate to clothing and a variety of other materials.  This one is a time lapse with narrated since many of the concepts will be redundant.

You get all the art files to study and work along with.  I will be adding more examples very soon but let me know if there is something you would like to see covered in future lessons.

Tools that we will be using in this class – 

  • Strathmore 200 Series Bristol Board Smooth
  • Micron Pens – 01, 05
  • Tombow Dual Brush Pen – N15
  • Zebra Pen WFSS4 150
  • Presto Jumbo Correction Pen ( White Out )
  • Pentel Brush Pen Fine Point
  • Staedtler 2mm Lead Holder – 2H lead

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

Watch it here on Skillshare – https://skl.sh/3nXut1i

Get the class here on my Gumroad – https://gumroad.com/l/OgsQC/ramstudioscomicssite777

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics

Blog

Drawing for Comics – The stages of comic art

In this post I want to talk a bit about the primary stages of the drawing process for comics. There are obviously a lot of different ways to create stunning art for comics but the main ones that come to mind are the rough sketch, the pencils or refined lines, and the inks!

Most artists develop the work in this way but not every artist goes about it the same. Some comic artists can draw a clean image over a very loose sketch and sometimes no sketch at all. Yes, they do exist and yes, I do want to Karate kick them in the face. Just kidding…I don’t know Karate. 😂

People like me at least need to refine things a bit more to stay consistent with my end result. Some artists might need to draw things over and over again to get what they want. The point is, whatever works for you is, “The Right Way!” Over time we all get better at skipping steps that once were essential to the goal. It’s kind of the magic of art really. It’s also why it’s so powerful when you see the work of an artist you admire. You are witnessing the collective ability that they have acquired over years and years of hard work. That is the reason they make it appear so easy. Drawing for comics isn’t an overnight process, it’s a journey so be ready.

Step 1 – The Rough Sketch

I take my time with the initial sketch. Let me be specific, I take as much time in the thumbnail stage as it takes to know I have a good concept to work from. I purposely draw them loose and fast. I know, I just contradicted myself. I draw them quickly because they are small and very little detail but I also take my time to draw as many as I need to get the composition right. Not getting caught up in the details too soon.

Drawing for comics is a tricky thing. We tend to overthink it or put details where they don’t belong or will not even get noticed. Try to think big to small as you layout your scene. If the big shapes make sense then all those amazing details will just be icing on the cake.

J. Jonah Jameson from Spider-man “Get me Parker!!”

Drawing for comics is hard work but it gets much easier when you plan it out!

Step 2 – Refining the Pencils

Now I move to exploring my composition. Refining the lines and seeing if I can realize my original vision. The good news is if you work through the rough sketch properly this part is much easier. If you fail to put in the necessary ground work then you have to work harder at this stage. Some artists can envision things a bit better but if you can’t just double check you initial sketch. Check the perspective, proportions, composition, and gesture. Chances are if those things are working this stage will be much more fun!

Tighten up the work and add in the details but not everywhere. You have to have negative space for the viewers eye to rest. Cluttering up every square inch of the page can actually hurt the scene. Use a combination of angles and curves to explain the forms. Too much of one or the other can leave the art feeling too stiff or too soft. Same rules apply to texture. Some surfaces need to look shiny, some need to look gritty. Balancing out the contrast while keeping your focal point In mind is the key.

Step 3 – Inking the Work

Now you get to put those pretty solid lines everywhere. This is where the real commitment comes in. I like to think about this part as making the art feel solid but not so much that it looks lifeless. Not always easy to do, for me anyways. Depending upon your style, rendering can make things appear overly stiff. Just do your best to remember that initial concept. That is one of the reason I like to save the incremental steps as I work. I can look back and see where I may have lost the initial energy of the thumbnail sketch.

I also think that when your inking the work you should experiment with different levels of shadows and cross-hatching.

Some styles work better with less and the opposite can be true too of course. Another thing I like to pay special attention to is the time to add all those glorious little details.

As I mentioned before, think like a painter does, large to small. Make sure everything works with the bigger shapes and then render in the tighter refined lines. We can get caught up in the details that no one ever really sees. Plus, we are trying to draw comics here. Waste too much time and we miss our deadline and no one wants that!

In what ways do you stage your work or break things down. Be sure to comment below and let others know how you draw for comics. We all learn and grow together.

I hope you find this post helpful and be sure to share the content. Good luck with your art and remember to have fun along the way! 🙂

-Robert

Do You Want to Learn more? Check out my Art Courses here – https://ram-studios-comics-art-school.teachable.com

You can sign up for my free course on The Importance of Thumbnail Sketching –https://ram-studios-comics-art-school.teachable.com/p/the-benefits-of-drawing-with-basic-forms-and-thumbnail-sketches/?product_id=2474109&coupon_code=RAMSITEDRAWFORCOMICS

Art Tutorials, Blog

How to Draw Smoke + Clouds + Explosions for Comics

In my latest Youtube video I explain how to draw some of the basic dynamics for smoke, clouds, and explosions. These effects are widely used for comics and other forms of storytelling.

Drawing Smoke Clouds and Explosions for Comics
Drawing Smoke Clouds and Explosions for Comics

Check out the video below to see these two effects created!

Hopefully this post + video will help you get a bit better at drawing these elements within your own work. Remember if you don’t get it right the first time there is nothing to worry about. I didn’t either! Let’s jump in and start practicing.

Drawing Smoke

Let’s first start by drawing some basic smoke coming off a smoke stack. This is used in countless scenes in comics and is pretty much my favorite one to draw.

You can have this effect swirling in the background and make any city scene immediately look 10 times cooler. ( In my opinion of course! 😉

Step 1 – Start by drawing the area of influence or the basic flow of the smoke. Don’t be afraid to swirl it around a bit. I like to think about ribbons and scrolls when drawing smoke.

Drawing Smoke - Step 1
Drawing Smoke – Step 1

Step 2 – Erase back your construction lines or turn the opacity down on your layer. Then draw the smoke again with a bit more clarity. I like to go back and forth from thick to thin forms as the smoke rolls around. This way it looks more organic and dynamic. Use S and C curves for energy.

Drawing Smoke - Step 2
Drawing Smoke – Step 2

Step 3 – Draw in some of the interior lines. These can swirl around any which way you want. I like to start envisioning how the smoke might look with color at this stage. It helps me to think more dimensionally about the work as I go. You can also add in some line weight at this stage as well.

Drawing Smoke - Step 3
Drawing Smoke – Step 3

Next just ink and color it and voila! Comic book smoke! Just play with lots of variations and see what you can come up with. There is no right or wrong way with comic book smoke and art in general for that matter. If you’re having fun then your on the right track! 🙂

Watch my this Youtube video on the subject and get more tips and tricks on creating more effects.

I hope you enjoy the tutorials and more on the way soon!

Check out my Gumroad Store here for Video Course Content and Custom Brushes – http://www.gumroad.com/robertmarzullo

Let me know what other topics you would like to see covered on this blog and I will do my best to answer them with a new tutorial. I love doing break downs like this and your ideas help me to focus on what to do next.

Keep Drawing and Keep Having Fun!!

-ROB

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

How to draw comic style art – from sketch to rendering

How to Draw Comic Style Art – From Sketch to Rendering

Welcome back fellow comic art enthusiasts! I have completed a new series of lessons for you on drawing in a traditional comic art style. From rough sketching to the final rendering and cross hatching stage, you will learn the process I use to create my art with good old pencil and paper.

If you are looking to learn how to draw comics in a step by step fashion then this course is meant for you!

I first walk you through my basic supplies. I show you how I use a variety of pencil leads ranging from 2H to 2B to get the look I am after. This course has multiple projects files so that you can work along with me to better understand drawing with Line, Shape, Form, and Shadow. With these fundamental ideas you can draw anything around you and translate it into your imaginative work of art!

Here are some of the things you can expect to learn in this course –

  • Understanding Line – Shape and Form
  • Constructing Your Designs with Primitive Shapes
  • Working with Light and Shadow
  • Cross hatching or Rendering Techniques
  • Line Weight and Line Clarity
  • Focal Points
  • Contrast within the work
  • And Rendering a Variety of Materials
  • Drawing Dynamic Poses
  • Creating a Superhero Character Design

Get Lifetime access to these video lessons here on my Gumroad – https://gumroad.com/l/PNGi/RAMSTUDIOSCOMICS101

If you prefer to get this course on Udemy then please use this link here – https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-draw-comic-style-art-from-sketch-to-rendering/?couponCode=RAMSTUDIOSCOMICS111

Once you have purchased this content you get all updates for free. I will be adding more lessons as I learn new techniques to share with you on drawing comic superheroes! Currently this entire course is 6 hours long.

I hope you enjoy the lessons and you can share your artwork with me here through my contact form. Good luck with your comic art and have a great day!

-Rob

Blog

11 tips for Improving Your Skills at Drawing Comics

4 Comments

Ever wonder what steps you should take to improve your comic style art?

I always get this question, “How can I improve my comic art?”  I will admit the most common answer you will ever hear in your life is Practice!  It’s is the answer that no student wants to hear.  I remember hearing it and thinking, “I practice like a madman already. How much does it take?”

Instead of giving you the lazy answer, let’s delve into the details a bit more.  It isn’t enough to know that you need to practice a lot.  You need to know what to practice and why.  You also need a few other concepts to think about.  Strangely enough, it’s not all about practice.  Let’s jump on in!

Practice Poses as Often as Possible!
Practice Poses as Often as Possible!

TIP#1 Practice Daily! 

Wait! You just said?!  I know, it seems like a low blow doesn’t it?  It really is the first and easiest answer.  You have to practice daily to improve.  Long gaps will hurt your development. 

What should you practice is probably the best question but you have to answer that one for yourself.  Find the weakest link in your chain and make it the strongest.  If you can’t draw faces but you draw really great muscles then you know what you need to do.  It is hard to do because we gravitate to what we are confident at. 

So fight the habit and dedicate a good portion of your studies to what matters most or something that is holding your work back from being amazing.

TIP#2 Create Finished Art!

You need to create finished pieces of comic art or you are setting yourself up for potential failure.  Sketching and studies are extremely important of course but if you don’t focus on completing your work you won’t develop a strong portfolio and ultimately won’t secure any work. 

People don’t commission or hire based upon sketches.  Finishing your art pieces will also force you to deal with the fact you may not be able to draw feet, hands, or faces.  It is easy to hide those things in rough sketches. ( Maybe not the faces. )

Completing your work will also make you fully aware of how fast or slow you can draw.  Extremely important if you hope to work as a professional artist.

Venom and Spider-man - Stages of the Artwork
Venom and Spider-man – Stages of the Artwork

TIP#3 Ask for Constructive Criticism!  

The reason I say to ask for it is I feel that if you request it, you are far more likely to receive it as sound advice.  We have all gotten someone’s unwanted criticism at times and just decided to not accept it.  Truth be told, it only hurts you to keep a closed mind to it. 

Even someone that is a complete stranger draws like a 5 year old and has a profile pic of road kill could still be a fantastic art critic with sound advice.  It’s not always going to come from someone you admire and it is more about how you choose to use the information. 

When you jump into the professional world anyone and everyone can quickly become your critic and even your boss.  Best to get used to it now and stomach your sensitive little ego!

TIP#4 Get Back to the Basics!

We sometimes get to a certain level in our art and we think we are the next Jim Lee or Todd McFarlane so we go for more advanced drawings.  Hoping to hide any flaws in our work by applying our fancy smancy rendering techniques.  It’s okay to practice this once and a while to develop our “Eye Candy” effects. Just don’t do it every time and think that no one can tell that your characters are stiff as cardboard cutouts or that your page compositions are as interesting as peeling potatoes on a Saturday night.

Getting back to the basics of drawing gestures, primitive shapes, understanding perspective, composition, understanding your tools, jumping back into your art books, and so on is often overlooked because we think we are better than we actually are.  It is easy to get caught up in all the “likes” on social media from people that want to be supportive of our work or just get a bit of tunnel vision. 

We have to remember that our polished art needs a sound foundation to rely upon.  Only then can it soar to the heights of Mount Olympus or whatever fantasy reference you prefer.

TIP#5 Keep an Actual Sketchbook!

I really wish I would have done this more consistently through my younger years.  I have tons of sketches on loose pieces of paper and although I love sifting through those fond memories a lot of them aren’t dated. 

A series of completed sketchbooks gives you a more somewhat linear view of what you have accomplished.  You still need to be adamant about dating your work of course.  Sketchbooks are much more organized and as artists we need all the help we can get in that area.  ( Well, I do at least! : /)

Sketchbooks are Very Important to Track Your Progress!
Sketchbooks are Very Important to Track Your Progress!

TIP#6. Go to the Comic Conventions!

This is so important if you truly want to be a professional comic book artist.  The comic conventions are an amazing way to learn and grow as an artist.  Even if you don’t like spending money to have a table, it is still a great experience to attend and show your work around. 

This part ties into the constructive criticism from Tip #3.  Showing your comic art and starting some dialogue with others about it, will teach you a lot.  Just be receptive and leave your ego at home.  You can’t fill a cup that is already full, right? 

Also, the conventions give you a “behind the scenes” look at what works and what doesn’t.  Speak to as many artists, writers, and editors as you can.  The nuggets of advice you will learn from them is priceless!

TIP#7 Update your Portfolio Often!

As you complete new works of art, update your portfolio.  Don’t just add to it either.  Your better works should incline you to show the lesser works to the nearest exit.  Your portfolio should only have room for your best comic art. 

Don’t make the mistake of showing an editor a stack of sketches mixed with a few covers.  It should contain 10 to 15 of your best pieces of art.  It should also reflect what you want to be as a comic artist.  If you want to draw books, then you need sequential storytelling not a bunch of pinups. 

Also, if you do show this work to an editor, don’t make excuses on why it isn’t your best work.  Only show your best work and listen more than you talk.  Becoming defensive shows weakness.  Just take notes and go back to the drawing board and make improvements.

In my opinion, you should also make sure to include a nice range of your abilities within those pages. Draw people with expressions and emotions as well as super-powered heroes punching through walls. Make good use of perspective and include lots of props like cars, street signs, a damaged fire escape, and so on. It shows that you can draw lots of little details and enrich the scene. If you can illustrate a scene with lots of clutter and make it read well visually then you have an edge on a lot of artists. Don’t be they guy or gal that draws superheroes against a blank white canvas all the time!

TIP#8 Draw with a Focus!

It’s not good enough to just draw.  You have to have a focus.  This sort of ties into Tip #1.  You have to go into your drawings with a purpose. 

Are you going to draw an amazing piece of fan art to show the world what you can do with their favorite character?  Are you developing your studies of anatomy and poses for the next few hours?  Are you going to strengthen your understanding of “Dynamic Light and Shade” with the Amazing Burne Hogarth Book you picked up? Get it here with my Amazon Link – https://amzn.to/2YsP0yO  ( I highly recommend all of his books! ) Are you going to enhance your speed by doing timed studies of areas within your work? 

Having an intention and focus is much more powerful than simply drawing whatever pops into your melon. It allows you to maximize your efforts. You will learn much faster by doing this and not get burned out so quickly by spending time on the wrong aspects of your work.

TIP#9 Sell your work!

You may think that this is only reserved for the pros.  So not true!  I started my art business in high school.  I would barter my amazing ( unrefined ) art skills for good grades and social status.  We all know good grades may eventually help you pay the bills but you might say, “You can’t pay your bills with social status.”  Maybe not directly but it will translate to income over time. 

It’s basically branding and self-promotion.  Becoming the guy or girl known for being an amazing artist will get you the word of mouth that sells the work.  So why all the enfasis on selling your work.  It teaches you a lot about how the real world process will work. 

Being able to take instructions from a client, negotiate a deal that is mutually beneficial, make changes as needed, communicate clearly, tame your ego, and deliver your artwork on a deadline.  This Tip will probably teach you the most about yourself and if you can’t do this for regular joe’s then you may not be ready for the big leagues.

TIP#10 Use Reference and Draw from Life

Just because we are comic artists doesn’t mean we can’t use reference.  In fact, it is quite the opposite. 

Reference can take a decent artist and turn them into something amazing.  I am all for drawing from imagination as much as possible but sometimes you just have to feed the brain box.  Draw from life and interpret it into your own style.  Then your comic storytelling will know no bounds. 

Your fans will love seeing all those references ran through your creative filter.  Just don’t trace or else you will weaken your ability to convert things into your own style or make changes as quickly.

TIP#11 Study from the Masters

Masters can be anyone that you admire really.  They don’t all have to be Leonardo Davinci for you to learn from them.  Knowledge hides in the most inconspicuous places. 

Make sure to study the work but not copy it or pass it off as your own vision.  If you adhere to the original work you need to credit the artist.  That being said, it is actually a fantastic way to level up your art skills.  It allows you to peer through their eyes and follow the choices that they made. 

As a comic artist I often ink the work of others that I am inspired by.  Not because I want to be an inker but because I learn immensely every time I do it. Their lines are amazing to me for a reason, so inking their work can demystify some of the process. Plus, it’s just plain fun to do! 😉

These are just some of the things I do to improve my comic art on a daily basis.  I hope you find these tips to be valuable and I would love to know what are the ways your improve your art!  Comment below and feel free to share the post if you enjoyed it!

Sincerely,

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics

Want to learn more about my comic art process.  Check out my courses below…

How to Improve Your Figure Drawing – Step by Step –

https://ram-studios-comics-art-school.teachable.com/p/how-to-improve-your-figure-drawing-step-by-step/?product_id=2447689&coupon_code=RAMSTUDIOSCOMICS777

Or my Course, “How to Draw Heads from Any Angle” Link –

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

Blog

How to Draw Superheroes – Female Proportions and Suit Designs

How to Draw Superheroes Female Proportions and Suit Design
How to Draw Superheroes Female Proportions and Suit Design

I just created a new Skillshare class to add to my next course on, “How to Draw Superheroes – Start to Finish!”  This will be just another part to the course that will be packed full of great information!

In this particular lesson we will cover basic proportions of the superhero female form. You will learn how I draw a turnaround of a character, then how to apply anatomy and a suit design. Breaking down the process can make it much easier to accomplish.

This can seem like a basic lesson but I assure it is a very important one to practice. Turning the character around on the page gives you a great sense on how they look from these basic angles. Then drawing them in more dynamic poses is easier to envision. Don’t worry, we will get into all that advanced stuff later, I promise!

Get them on Skillshare!

If you want to give this class a look here is the link – https://skl.sh/2K8mb2w

You can also get my class on the male proportions version here –  https://skl.sh/2HCOOY2

Do you prefer Gumroad?

If you want to just buy this course you can get it on my Gumroad page here. Just please keep in mind that you pay for the full course now and get the lessons as they are completed. I will be adding new lessons each week until the course is completed.                           https://gum.co/zgpix

By the end of this course we will cover all the various techniques I use to create comic book heroes. Things like proportions + distortions of the body, dynamic anatomy, suit designs, powers, rendering/crosshatching, shapes of shadows, action poses, foreshortening, and by the end of it we will complete a full scene creation to put all that knowledge to the test.

I hope you will join me for these lessons and I am here if you have any questions. As always keep drawing and keep having fun! 🙂

Robert A. Marzullo                                                                                                     Ram Studios Comics

 

Blog

Drawing Comic Style Art in Procreate – On the iPad Pro

Venom Comic Art by RAM
Venom Comic Art by RAM

Hello Everyone!

I hope all is well on your side of this crazy rock. I am having fun drawing some new fan art and I wanted to share a few things I have learned while doing so.  For those of you that don’t know my process let me explain.  I have been drawing comic art for over 20 years now and I used to work on good old bristol board but a few years back I decided to start working digitally. ( I was a messy inker! :>)  I know people are rolling their eyes right now.  Real artists use traditional tools, right?  I get it, you’re in love with the feeling of real paper.  I don’t blame you, I draw on paper as much as I can too.  Something about it just feels…..you know…natural!  I switched because I am a big fan of technology and I like to be on the forefront  of it all.  Plus, I really just wanted to ink digitally but then later realized the pencils were possible as well.  By creating all of it digitally I was saving a lot of time.  I no longer had to scan my pages which was always a pain.  I know a lot of artists just don’t want to make the switch.  I truly don’t blame you, to each their own I guess!

So when I started drawing digitally I bounced around to a few different drawing softwares.  I quickly realized Manga Studio 4 could create full comic books as a single document and gravitated over to that.  I was a little less than enticed about the drawing process on there.  I was still using an  Wacom Intuos 3 at the time so that was a bit of a hinderance as well.  I hadn’t fully gotten used to drawing on a “lap tablet” as I like to call them.  Then I switched to Sketchbook Pro for the pencils and it started to feel more natural.  Once I finally upgraded to a Wacom Cintiq 22, I was like a kid in a candy store!  I finally had a really nice drawing experience going on.  I could pencil and ink all on this device and with the two programs I felt like I was really getting somewhere.

With each new update the programs have gotten better and better. ( For the most part. ) I still didn’t feel like I was creating to the level that I could achieve on paper though.  Keep in mind, there is a learning curve with any and everything, so part of it could have been that.  I truly believe you can create amazing art with anything if you put your mind and heart into it!

Almost two years ago I started hearing people talk about the new iPad Pro coming out.  I was a bit skeptical at first.  Maybe good for amateurs but I am a pro and I need a big fat Cintiq on my table.  ( By pro I mean a starving artist of course. lol )  Upon seeing other artists work on this device I was quickly sold.  I loved the fluid marks they were making.  I also thought the Apple Pencil looked more comfortable to work with.  Plus I really wanted to be portable with my art creation process.  After taking the leap of faith I was quickly at home using the device.  It was very intuitive and I was creating the style of art I like rather quickly.

The only issues I had was not being able to use all my favorite programs.  I felt a bit stuck.  I really enjoy the feel of the device but was missing some great apps to take advantage of it.  I even used Astropad for a short time to help bridge the gap but it didn’t fit well into my workflow.  I then started using Procreate more and more.  Within a few updates this app was really starting to appeal to me.  Plus, it records videos and I am such a Youtube junkie these days! 🙂

You can check out my channel here by the way – http://www.youtube.com/c/robertmarzullo

The Procreate app is extremely well designed.  It moves quickly and the interfaces is so streamline you will forget it is there.  The brush engine is nothing short of amazing and it has the most natural drawing experience I have found thus far.  The Venom art above was drawn in this app.  About 90 percent of my work is done there now.  I still jump over to my Cintiq when I need dual monitors and have to get some multi-tasking done but I quickly jump back over to my iPad Pro and Procreate combo to knock out some sketches or comic art.

So I just want everyone that reads this to know that the iPad Pro and Procreate is a VERY solid solution to creating professional art on the move.  Great battery life and stable as can be!  I am here if you have any questions I can help with and if you want to learn more about how I use these two together you can check out my Udemy course here – https://www.udemy.com/procreate-like-a-pro-create-awesome-digital-art-on-an-ipad/?couponCode=RAMCOMICSPOST101

Good luck with your art and thanks for your support! 🙂

Robert A. Marzullo

Ram Studios Comics