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Some old concept art from about 2 years ago, when I had a comic project in the works. Slight chance I'll return to it, but mostly unlikely. Thought I'd post a bit of the prep work I did for it though.
If you're planning a comic...my two cents is screw the highly-fleshed out concept art (I did about a dozen environments and several characters), just jot down exactly what you need to inform yourself, and dig into the comic. Otherwise, you'll lose the steam. Maybe you can get really specific and fleshed out on your second or third comic, but don't let it be too daunting.
If you're planning a comic...my two cents is screw the highly-fleshed out concept art (I did about a dozen environments and several characters), just jot down exactly what you need to inform yourself, and dig into the comic. Otherwise, you'll lose the steam. Maybe you can get really specific and fleshed out on your second or third comic, but don't let it be too daunting.
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 649 x 1000px
File Size 92.3 kB
f you're planning a comic...my two cents is screw the highly-fleshed out concept art (I did about a dozen environments and several characters), just jot down exactly what you need to inform yourself, and dig into the comic. Otherwise, you'll lose the steam.
Hah ha! I could've told you that. So many times I've seen people with super-elaborate multi-chapter stories, tons of concept art and character development, complex world-building...and they end up doing absolutely nothing with it. When the fun stuff is done and they come up against the brutal reality of how much work doing a comic is, that's the end for 99% of them. A handful more might get a chapter or two done, then quit.
(check out the 'inactive', 'on hiatus' or 'lost' sections of the Belfry comics list to see how often that happens.)
I've been doing comics since the early 80's. I virtually never do concept art except if I need to nail down a character or costume design, and then it's just rough sketches for my eyes only. I don't write down any world-building notes (I keep everything in my head) and I never discuss what projects I have in the pipeline beyond the barest description.
So whenever anyone sits me down to describe in great detail the wonderful comic or book they're planning on doing, that's almost a certain sign it will never see the light of day. So I tell them to come to me again when they have a finished project to show me, rather than just a verbal description. I don't think it's ever happened (except once, about 20 years ago, when I was shown a pitch and concept art for what would later become Associated Student Bodies.)
Hah ha! I could've told you that. So many times I've seen people with super-elaborate multi-chapter stories, tons of concept art and character development, complex world-building...and they end up doing absolutely nothing with it. When the fun stuff is done and they come up against the brutal reality of how much work doing a comic is, that's the end for 99% of them. A handful more might get a chapter or two done, then quit.
(check out the 'inactive', 'on hiatus' or 'lost' sections of the Belfry comics list to see how often that happens.)
I've been doing comics since the early 80's. I virtually never do concept art except if I need to nail down a character or costume design, and then it's just rough sketches for my eyes only. I don't write down any world-building notes (I keep everything in my head) and I never discuss what projects I have in the pipeline beyond the barest description.
So whenever anyone sits me down to describe in great detail the wonderful comic or book they're planning on doing, that's almost a certain sign it will never see the light of day. So I tell them to come to me again when they have a finished project to show me, rather than just a verbal description. I don't think it's ever happened (except once, about 20 years ago, when I was shown a pitch and concept art for what would later become Associated Student Bodies.)
Well, my point was a little more focused on the intimidation it causes. Overplanning like that (which actually isn't overplanning and CAN be smart) causes this big project in your head that the more you create, the more you feel unprepared to start. That was my case...the more prep work I did, the more I felt unready. Now that I'm working on Red Lantern, I'm seeing just how smooth it can go if you just get started. Of course, I didn't have to prep the story or anything, but I can now definately see how a "learning" comic is almost necessary.
Pre-planning is good under certain conditions-- particularly if you're working as part of a team and the style needs to stay consistent, such as in animation production.
But for doing a comic solo, the advice of 'just do it and worry about the rest of the stuff later" usually works. The first long comic series I did (300+ pages, done while I was in college) I did no specific pre-production work for. It was based on a book I'd written a couple years before, so I already knew the story, I knew the background and what was going to happen in each chapter. So I just sat down, wrote the script, did the layouts and drew it. The main problem the final story had (beyond not-so great art) was that it tended to wander a lot. But that was all part of the learning curve. But now, a lot of people aren't willing to do work that's part of a learning curve. I am eternally grateful I went through my artistic formative years pre-internet.
People who never complete anything due to the fear it won't be perfect or good enough is a whole other can of worms. I know several artists who are geniuses, but produce virtually no art because nothing is good enough for them. Unfortunately the internet has exacerbated this-- where you're surrounded by people who are tons better than you, nobody wants to post work that looks shitty in comparison. The internet has changed so many things about how one does and presents art to the public.
But for doing a comic solo, the advice of 'just do it and worry about the rest of the stuff later" usually works. The first long comic series I did (300+ pages, done while I was in college) I did no specific pre-production work for. It was based on a book I'd written a couple years before, so I already knew the story, I knew the background and what was going to happen in each chapter. So I just sat down, wrote the script, did the layouts and drew it. The main problem the final story had (beyond not-so great art) was that it tended to wander a lot. But that was all part of the learning curve. But now, a lot of people aren't willing to do work that's part of a learning curve. I am eternally grateful I went through my artistic formative years pre-internet.
People who never complete anything due to the fear it won't be perfect or good enough is a whole other can of worms. I know several artists who are geniuses, but produce virtually no art because nothing is good enough for them. Unfortunately the internet has exacerbated this-- where you're surrounded by people who are tons better than you, nobody wants to post work that looks shitty in comparison. The internet has changed so many things about how one does and presents art to the public.
Beautiful fox. He reminds me of Riff as well.
I don't do art, but I write stories, and I've found that a certain amount of development is a must. If you start writing without knowing where you are going, your story will most likley wander aimlessly with no direction and no goal. Sure, world-building is necessary, but unlike real life, in which our personal stories happen in the world we are born into, you must first create your story and then build your world and characters around the story.
With a little creativity and some planning, we'll see this handsome fox in a comic yet.
I don't do art, but I write stories, and I've found that a certain amount of development is a must. If you start writing without knowing where you are going, your story will most likley wander aimlessly with no direction and no goal. Sure, world-building is necessary, but unlike real life, in which our personal stories happen in the world we are born into, you must first create your story and then build your world and characters around the story.
With a little creativity and some planning, we'll see this handsome fox in a comic yet.
I would think the bottom part of the tabard would have been abit past the knees instead of above, but I love the robe design overall. I always prefer magic based characters just because of the pretense that them not wearing armor allows them to be more "fashionable" with what they wear.
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