No comic for tonight's post, but I got something better for you: Comic Tip #1. A lot of people have asked me how to get started at making comics, and this is just my amateur way to help them out.
I've always liked to make funny comics. Most of my drawings are unprofessional and very stiff. Lately, I've tried to draw every day, and that has helped me add fluidity in my drawings.
So the other day while checking one of my friend @evacprocedure posts (yes I'm claiming the title of friendship without consulting hehe), she recommended that a good way to do better characters is to draw them multiple times, that will help get you consistency in your drawings. Usually my comics are about my cartoon self in different situations. Even after doing so many comics of me, I still feel like it's very difficult to get that consistent look on me. That's why I decided to practice drawing myself a few times.
But trying to kill two set tasks at the same time, I wanted to practice some facial expressions. Facial expressions are super important in cartoons and comics. Adding a text to your comic to communicate an idea is not that complicated. However, lining up that text with the corresponding facial expression, makes the comic more realistic. That's why is also very important to practice facial expressions and body movement in your comics (but that would be for another day).
Here're the expressions I practiced
Those are the final drawings, I usually like to start sketching in blue pen to play around with the face before actually inking it. Here's the sketched drawing
I think the expressions are OK, but then again, it seems like I still need to work on getting consistency at drawing my face. Some of the drawings have the shape of the head very round, others more oval shaped, then others I have the hair longer.... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm still not happy and more practice is needed. But since I like doing comics then is not a tedious thing to do :D!
Anyway, I hope this tip helps all the people who are starting to draw comics and don't know where to start. I might be sharing more posts about things that I learn on my way to make better comics :)
Remember, I'm running a Discord server and also a Facebook group with @jonathan-greer, in case you want to join and we can talk about webcomics and even collaborate to make ones.
If you also like to make webcomics or comic strips, you can use the tag #steemit-webcomics
Until next time!
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It is nice that I came across this post. My son loves to sketch and I think he has even done a comic strip but never showed it to the world :p I will show your post to him. Thanks for the tips
that'd be awesome! you could even post his comic, I bet it will be very good :)
Great post here is an alternative to href
[](https://discordapp.com/invite/mDSzBp5)If you can figure out how to make anchors work in href though that woulf be mint.
oh cool, that's a good tip :O!! but no I don't know how to make anchors work in href :(
Like the Style. Love doing Expression with the least amount of Lines. Keep it UP!
Thanks :D! I've been playing with this style for a while, I think I get the hang of it now :)
Ahh that’s a great idea to get started with faces and expressions. I want to get back started and dabbing in art lol just been so busy! However when I draw people they just tend to look really odd..
well yeah it's just a matter of practice, the more you do it the less odd they'll turn hehe. You should make at least one painting :) and then see how that goes
Hahah ok I will try to do that sometime! Or at least a drawing
I'd love it if it was a comic ;) hahaha! talking about that, I was also thinking on making one for you and karen way back when you were doing the olympics (good comic material) but now it's been so long that I might have to look into more recent events to make a comic out of you too crazy ladies :P
HAHAH can't wait to see what you come up with.. lolllll
Just a heads up, I'll be posting the comic pretty soon! I must say it's hilarious xD
Thanks for sharing. I think the expressions are great!
thanks :D I will be using these in the future :)
Faces look consistent to my untrained eye :). I like the cocky expression and the angry expressions. I should take a stab at my own self portrait cartoon soooon.
in general they look alike but the perfectionist side of me keeps asking for improvement hehe. Yeah you totally should :D
For sure, more practice is been needed in all field of life . Improving daily is what we should always have in back of our mind @cobmaximus
yes, it's something we should be striving for :D Thanks for the comment @tfame3865
Also, for any aspiring comic book creators out there I cannot recommend Scott McCloud's books Understanding Comics and Making Comics highly enough. Fantastic books that actually delve into the nitty gritty of comic book design and philosophy, rather than just being more garbage "how to draw comics" style books.
thanks a lot for the recommended book! I will definitely start going through it :D!
Good brother, practice is always good :D
Thanks :D! eventually I'll get as good as you :D
It is nice to see the process behind the cartoons, even if I don't draw myself. The drawing match all the expressions. :-)
aw thanks :) yeah looking at sketches and the process on how to draw is always good if you want to start drawing too
That is some awesome drawings, good job
aww thanks @abmakko
I find it hard to really shape the face also, and make it proportional 😅 but then again, we should continue doing what we like and be better by practicing
yes I struggle a lot with that as well, but with practice it eventually has become easier :) as long as you like it you will keep improving :)
Yes MOAR webcomics!!! 😂
:D! yes I try to make as often as I can.... until creativity runs out hehe
Very nice work! Awesome drawings!
thanks @rwedegis, I hope this inspire more people to adventure to do comics :)
Consistency is also a big problem of mine.
That's why I tend to draw my stuff wackily and less detailed.
It's easier to get away with it when you draw them like that.
But it is a problem I need to face sooner or later (gulp).
Especially if I want to make some serious scenes.
I'm just never able to draw the same thing exactly as I want it to.
Like I try to draw a circle and the next one turns out a square! A SQUARE! Something is seriously wrong with me!
But kidding aside this is very good advice man. So nice of you to share this.
Props to @evacprocedure also. She gives very pro advice!
hahahahaha oh man you have a serious problem if you start making circles and then they turn out as squares lol xD
I will try to give more advices in the future :), I also need to ask for advice on how ou make your comics
A serious problem right? Lol!
Sure no problemo. I'll try to help out anyway I can.
Knowing to draw expressions can be extremely useful for a lot of other things like game characters, even concept art to set the right mood :D
Also often character illustration requires this to excell and it's not just for humans. Learning to show expressions on animals can be harder, but a fun learning experience.
That's all true, I can see how well you draw your dragons and they do have some expressions in their faces, makes them look more alive :D!
Soon I want to start drawing my stories but I still do not feel ready. I appreciate your advice, I think it will help me later :)
for sure :D and feel free to ask for advice in Discord, there are a lot of experienced people there
This is a lovely tutorial to making different expressions and while I don't plan to venture into making comic strips, this will come in handy when I draw something for my 4 year old. :)
I bet your 4 year old will appreciate your drawings and the funny faces you cane come up with :P
This is a great idea! I had to do some of these when I first started doing these comics, so helpful and fun to make faces in the mirror haha.
oh yeah the idea of working with a mirror is great, I haven't done it yet but I read somewhere that professional artists and animators use it as a tool
Oh nice lol oh man, the comic with the guy waiting for the package, I could NOT find a person online that looked like they were running around on the floor so I tried to do it myself LOL I'll say that was an interesting one to explain!
Looool, that demands to have a backstage post with pics showing the faces you did xD
I used to be SO into cartooning and comics when I was younger. You're inspiring me to try it again. What a fun post and great information as well. I love it!
Yeah it's so fun to do cartoons and comics :D you should try and make one :)
I really should. I'll keep checking out your blog and I'm sure I'll get inspired enough to do it at some point! You do great work, and that is always inspiring to me.
Thanks a lot :) hearing does words give me extra inspiration to keep doing my best :)