Draw easy comics. How to Draw Comics

Step 1. Script



School Survival Rules
Before drawing, you need to make notes on the visuals, plots and dialogues. Think about what emotions the characters will experience, what they will look like, what tone they will speak in, what stylistic features of speech each of them will have.

Here is an example and finished illustrations from the comic:

Pippi, dramatically: “I can’t-o-o-o-o-o-o-o... He probably hates me... I’m afraid to look him in the eyes-a-a -A…"


Mr. Ramirez leans on his desk and says irritably, “Miss Torres, I didn’t call everyone in the art group to discuss your problems!”

Jenson, horrified: “About spots on the Sun?!” They finally..."

Mr. Ramirez, irritated: “No, not about sun spots, Jenson! Sit down!”

Step 2: Storyboard

As Svetlana says, she makes it very approximate, sometimes it’s just sketches of people with stick-like pens. During this stage, the illustrator designs character poses, panel layouts, speech bubbles, and the script itself. Usually he draws on A4 printer sheets - they are easy to find.


Step 3. Pencil

First draw with a pencil. You can draw on plain paper. Try not to get too attached to your tools in case they get lost. Paper and pencil are easy to find at any office supply store, at home or at school.


Step 4: Stroke

Many artists prefer to ink their penciled drafts. Svetlana does things differently - she scans the drawings and applies a non photo blue filter. Then he prints it out and inks it (this is how the illustrator saves pages in both pencil and ink). The good thing about the stroke after non photo blue is that when scanning in Bitmap/BSW mode, the blue does not appear. Therefore, you won't have to erase the pencil lines.

Step 5. Tinting

Once the outlined pages have been scanned, you can color them in a graphics editor. Try using a drawing tablet and graphics program.

2 more tricks

1. When you draw a setting, think about how it relates to the characters.. Thus, in the comic book “Rules of Survival at School,” the classrooms of the drawing and science clubs correspond to the character of the teachers.

Here is the office of Mr. Ramirez - a handsome, absent-minded, fickle, creative man.


And this is the natural sciences room. There is order and cleanliness here, which matches the character of Miss Tobins - the most rational and organized person you have ever met.


2. Think through the secondary characters: their stories, problems, dreams. In this comic, we often see guys from two clubs and employees of the school newspaper. So, Maribella Samson is a talented and confident student who is ready to fight for the right to participate in the school clubs festival. And Jenson Graham is a funny, quirky guy who's troubled by sunspots and a story about school cafeteria robots gone rogue.




A comic that will teach you how to draw
If the young artist has not yet developed his drawing skills, it is worth spending time on this. For example, you can learn with David, the hero of the book “A Comic Strip That Will Teach You to Draw” (from artist Mark Crilly). Here are some quick tips:

  • Pay attention to the shape of the object you are drawing.
  • Maintain proportions.
  • Measure by eye. For example, when drawing a watch strap, think: how many dials could fit on one side and the other?
  • Notice mistakes.
  • Don’t press too hard on the pencil (then you’ll be tired of erasing it :-))
  • Pay attention to negative space - the space between or around the object/objects of the drawing.
  • Show volume with shading (when you need to add shadow, take the tip of the pencil and tilt it at an acute angle to the paper, speed up to make the strokes look more confident).
  • Do not draw the outline right away, but make a sketch - no need to go into details, draw the basic shapes. Starting with details is risky: you can depict them accurately, but the proportions will be distorted, or the technique will change during the drawing process and the upper part will be different from the lower. The point is to work on all elements of the drawing at the same time.
  • To draw shadows, find a light source. The shadows will be where he cannot reach. Pay attention to the saturation of the shadows.

Here's another tip: you can easily draw your first comic without computer programs or scanning. Trace the outlines with a gel pen, color the illustrations directly on paper, use colored pencils or felt-tip pens. And when you feel that things are going well, use professional tools.

The cover of the post is an illustration from the book “Rules for Survival at School”

Choose a drawing method: classic or on a computer. In the first case, you will need blank sheets of paper, pencils of different hardness, a ruler and a good eraser. If you are serious about creating comics, you can purchase a special tilting table. You will also need a lamp and an automatic sharpener.

If you want to draw comics on your computer, you'll have to shell out for a graphics tablet. This device allows you to use a special pen to create images directly in a graphics editor. You can use both regular programs that allow you to simply draw (Photoshop, PaintToolSAI) and specialized applications for comic book authors (MangaStudio).

Characters

The basis of any comic is the characters. You must not only think through the smallest details of the hero’s appearance, but also create his character. What are his main motives, how does he look at the world, what kind of people are he and so on. It's best to make separate cards that list the character's background, their favorite and least favorite things, and their approximate role in the plot.

It is recommended to create at least two main characters: a protagonist and an antagonist. This will add interest to the plot. Confrontations and difficulties always attract more attention. Also, don't make all characters the same gender. Pretty girls who play minor roles often become much more popular than the main character.

Plot

It doesn't matter whether you draw funny or - never draw until you come up with a plot. This will allow you to arrange your shots more correctly and accurately depict the feelings of the characters.

Particular attention should be paid to the surroundings. In the book, the author himself describes the location of the characters using metaphors. You will have to depict a dark forest, an interrogation room and much more. Therefore, it is better to first describe each scene in words (you can write it down or dictate it into a voice recorder), and only then start depicting it.

Remember the components of the work: prologue, exposition, plot, development of actions, climax, denouement and epilogue. You don't have to include them all, but they will help develop the story properly.

Composition

Remember that comics cannot begin and end with spreads; these parts are allocated a separate strip. The first frame should always contain the surroundings in great detail, this will allow the reader to immediately immerse themselves in the atmosphere. Each separate spread should contain a complete action, like a paragraph in a text.

It is better to place the main events and actions in the corners, and give minor ones the middle of the page. It's best if the last frame of each spread contains some phrase or action that will interest the reader and make him turn the page. Remember that wide horizontal frames slow down the action, while vertical frames, on the contrary, speed up the action.

Popular contemporary art that allows you to tell a captivating story, providing it with bright and captivating graphics, has become famous and has gained many fans. Fans of the unusual method want to know how to learn how to draw in a comic book style. Film adaptations of the most famous examples of the genre conquer movie screens, and the heroes of the short stories become recognizable.

From this article you will learn how to create a fascinating hand-drawn story, depict key characters and master the techniques used by specialists from Marvel Studios.

How to draw comics correctly: preparation

Many people who want to master a difficult method are put off by its complexity and lengthy learning process. However, if you master the basic rules of operation and understand the features that make this genre unique, you will be able to create any scene. Remember that drawing characters and creating dialogues require painstaking work and talent. You must not only skillfully depict, but also masterfully create texts. There are many nuances that affect the final result. Get ready for long and hard training. Don’t be discouraged if something turns out worse for you: the desire to learn something new and interesting should only grow stronger after failures and mistakes. Find the positives in your work and improve every day. Don’t forget to correct shortcomings and look for your weaknesses.

Decide what exactly you expect from the upcoming work. Success may come to you much later. Real comic artists take years to achieve fame. If you want to get a studio spot, be aware that a completely commercial activity does not leave the right to change an existing idea. You will make the same type of sketches, refusing to experiment with style. In order to create real works of art, you need to have a recognizable technique and be a creative individual. An artist who values ​​his work can reject the clichés of mass culture.

Take care of publishing your own works. This way you will not depend on anyone and will gain popularity among comic book fans.

Remember that this art requires attention to detail and conciseness. You must tell the characters' stories in a few pages. To do this, you need to constantly train: achieve automatism, which will allow you to depict different objects at the same speed.

Fast work is the key to a successful career. If you don’t know how to make high-quality images in a short time, choose the option that suits you: draw and post your works on the Internet, turning comics into a hobby.

Be inspired by the work of professionals and don’t be afraid to imitate them in some way: this is one of the stages on the path to acquiring mastery that you must go through.

Prepare all necessary materials and tools. To create a captivating story in pictures you need:

  • graphic editor (if you are going to work on the Internet);
  • pencil and paper;
  • ink (to outline the drawing);
  • thin feathers;
  • pens and markers for drawing;
  • whitewash or corrector;
  • rulers and triangles to create borders.

Now you can get to work. How to learn to draw cool comics from scratch? Do not forget that mastering this technique will require perseverance and attention, long step-by-step activity, talent and inspiration. It is very important to set yourself up for the creative process, find a place to draw, providing comfortable conditions for creating an entire universe populated by bright and interesting characters.

How to Draw Comics for Beginners: Pencil Work

Start with exercises that will help you develop your hand and wrist. Draw straight or smooth, curved lines. Make sure they are level and continuous;
During the learning process, do not forget about observations. Be aware of the people, wildlife and objects around you. Try to reflect on paper everything you see around you. Strive for an accurate and detailed drawing.

The most important thing is to learn how to portray people, because they will become the heroes of your graphic novels. Notice the features of the person’s physique, the proportions of the figure. Don't forget about fabric textures: your character's clothes should be depicted as authentically as possible. Outline folds and abrasions, using shading to create shadows and gaps.

Start by drawing the naked body: this way you will achieve an anatomically correct image. This approach helps many aspiring artists. The basics of academic drawing will also be useful to you in the difficult task of creating comics. Don’t be lazy and find special books or topical articles that will help you achieve your goal.

It’s difficult for beginners to depict a character’s face. In order to create an accurate portrait, learn to monitor emotions and facial expressions. Observe your face, sketching what you see. You can use stills from movies with expressive close-ups.

Achieve perfection in everything and try to beautifully and truthfully depict the objects that will surround your heroes on the pages of the comic. Study the laws of perspective, draw buildings and landscapes, animals and birds, make sketches and quick sketches of objects that you see right in front of you. This training will help you quickly overcome your own laziness and find your own style.

Don't forget to work on the background. This is an equally important part of the drawing, which requires special attention to detail and texture.

If you don’t yet know how to draw a comic, do all the work step by step, memorizing the sequence of actions and repeating them. Set aside several hours a day for classes, without missing a single workout.

In order to make the image clear and focus the viewer's attention on important details, outline the contours using a felt-tip pen, pen or ink. Correct your work and correct errors and minor defects using white paint or a special product that is sold at any office supply store.

Without referring to the works of professionals, it is impossible to learn how to draw comics correctly. Study the graphic novels of the masters in order to come up with an impeccable drawing.

Work carefully. Apply shading evenly, paint over shadows and carefully design the background of the drawing. Learn to distinguish shades of black and use them when contouring.

How to draw comics in the Marvel style

  • Find a story and create a rough storyboard;
  • Once you've done your basic sketches, work out each character;
  • Don't forget to line the sheet and indicate the boundaries by drawing a frame;
  • First, think over and sketch the composition, and then move on to the details;
  • Transform a pencil image with paints and inks;
  • Once you've finished your work, scan it and add dialogs in the editor.

You can find yourself in creativity at any age. But introducing a child to fine art is not difficult. And it’s even fun when there’s a comic book instead of a boring textbook. Comic?! Yes, let's look into it.

Who came up with this?

“The Comic Book That Will Teach You to Draw” has a very telling title. You can’t be more precise: the popular American author and YouTube channel host Mark Crilly came up with a graphic story in which the heroine teaches a boy to draw.

A comic that will teach you how to draw



This is David - the main character

The main character of the comic, David, meets Becky, who is sitting on a bench and sketching in her notebook.



And this is Becky drawing

David is sure that Becky draws better than anyone he knows. Even better than Ryan Pasternak, who can imitate a Lamborghini without peeking. “Do you think that peeking while you draw is bad?” - Becky asks him.

And the reader immediately learns something new: for example, that drawing and copying is normal. And everyone can learn this.

David asks the girl to teach him how to draw. And Becky agrees.

Adventure learning

The book is amazing. An interesting plot (there is one), useful tips and unobtrusive humor - on every page.


You read the story and don’t notice how, together with the hero, you remember the basics of drawing: negative space, how to depict a shadow and do shading. Moreover, the author does not seek to create an ideal situation.

David rarely succeeds in portraying something the first time. Like many beginning artists. But it's not scary.


But Becky helps him see and correct his mistakes. Teaches you to notice subtleties. Not just look, but see. And before the reader’s eyes, the first pictures appear on the pages.


What's good about a comic mentor?

Here are some more reasons why learning to draw from comics is cool, effective and fun.

Game+learning. This comic (or even graphic novel) aims not just to entertain a child, but to teach. This is important because children learn many things through play. Unobtrusively. Easily. As if by itself.


Flexible hike. No dry theory or confusing explanations. Everything is very short and succinct. The theory is presented vividly - in the dialogues of the characters. And the exercises do not set boundaries: it is not necessary to depict a bowl of fruit or a chair. You can choose any object and draw.


Tasks. After each lesson, the author offers to complete a task. For example, go to your favorite place and find a good composition there. Or draw an object or a landscape in which there is negative space. This way the child will be able to hone his skills and get a taste for drawing.


Illustrations. And of course, pictures. Looking at David and Becky's paintings is a pleasure. And watching someone draw, like contemplating fire or water, is captivating.


Prize. And finally: the fact that the book is special was recognized not only by readers, but also by experts. In 2017, the comic was nominated for an Eisner Award. It's always nice.



David's final work

“A comic that will teach you to draw” will awaken a dormant or dormant interest in drawing. Read, laugh, draw: how can you not try this?

Create a framework. Use a ruler to create a frame. Use suitable paper. For panels with unusual angles and those that do not fit into the overall context, use separate sheets. You can merge them after scanning.

Start adding content to the frames. Draw in such a way that it is easy to erase or correct details later. Continue until you reach the final conclusion.

  • Make sure you leave enough room for dialogue. Label bubbles, rectangles, and other test designs.
  • Circle the final version. Most comic book creators trace the pencil with a pen. After which the pencil is erased. Take your time and edit your work carefully.

    • Add dialogue if you want to make the text handwritten. Make any necessary adjustments when adding. You may have new ideas as you translate everything into comics. Think it through carefully.
  • Scan the comic. Once you've finished tracing, you can scan the comic onto your computer. This will help you add printed dialogue and also add color to the pictures if you wish. It will also make it easier to publish online.

    Clean up the image. Once you've scanned the comic, you can remove minor errors using Photoshop. Additionally, you can add additional shadows or thick lines.

  • Create your own font. One way to make your comic stand out from the rest is to use a custom font. There are many programs available on the Internet for creating your own personal font. One of the most popular is FontCreator.

    • When creating a font, consider both visual and written styles. You can use different fonts for each character, but too much font variation will likely only be distracting and annoying.
  • Add dialog boxes and text clouds in Photoshop.

    • First there is a layer with text on top, then a speech cloud and then your drawing.
    • Go to the blending options of the speech cloud layer by right-clicking on it and selecting the desired item. Different modes allow you to give the cloud a different outline. Select "Stroke" and set the following options:
      • size: 2 px;
      • position: inside;
      • blending mode: normal;
      • opacity: 100%;
      • stroke type: color;
      • black color.
    • Type text on the text layer. This text will be inside the speech cloud. You can use your own font or a font from the list of available ones. Comic Sans is the most popular.
    • Select the speech cloud layer. Use the Marquee Tool to create a cloud around your entered text. Place the cursor in the center of the text, and while holding down the Alt key, drag the selection area evenly.
    • Use the Straight Line Lasso Tool. Hold down the Shift key and create an acute triangle in the selected area.
    • Fill the foreground with white.
    • Press Alt+Del to fill the selection on the speech cloud layer. An outline will be created automatically; At this point, work on the speech cloud can be considered complete.


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