CaptainScience

I've heard good things about "Comic Book Creator"

www.mycomicbookcreator.com

(but haven't tried it myself)

So far, its nice - but I would say look at the curve of her spine just as it goes down behind the clothes - vs. how far in the opposite direction her seat-cheeks are. I think its a bit too severe of a turn.

Does that make any sense?

Perhaps this will seem ...I dunno, maybe redundant, but - since one of the best things people can do about a "problem" is to sit down and discuss it (and I know we're doing part of that now) - how about if we got to actually hear from the other site ("Them" if you will) - from the "powers that be" about what their concerns of this forum are? I mean, we can read the EULA and "interpret" it and all that, but wouldn't it be nicer, clearer if someone actually came in and said: "Look, guys, we hear you - but here's our side of the issue ..." ???

...but I suppose there's risks in doing that. (the vast majority f the people in this section of the forum are pretty great - but there's all ways someone out there, even here)

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To the Community: As I said above I am happy that this section has grown and that all of us as artists and art aficionados have grown also. I must say though guys, as a parent, the NSFW threads are getting a bit outta hand. There’s a time and a place and I don’t think it’s on an official gaming forum visited by as many minors as there are adults. If I need to I can put up a forum for us adults to share and discuss that kind of work though. Just let me know via PM or email if that’s something any of you would be interested in.

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Bolding here is mine, for focus - I just wanted to say I agree with this. If one of our favored artists is saying this - we should listen. It would be best if we the forum users "policed ourselves" on such issues ("Not Safe For Work"/nudity, etc.) before a mod has to come in and do it.

Okay - here's my two cents, seriously this time:

1) YES on better updating of the fan art gallery page on the main COH/COV site. (Question: has anyone submitted anything lately? How recently?)

2) YES on "Officially Sponsored" fan art contests - with or without in-game prizes. Either way, just SOMEthing!

3) A more clear and consistent understanding of what sorts of things we can and cannot post - in particular to Fan Art - would also be nice.

4) ...and (if we're dreaming, here) perhaps, a word from the "powers that be" as to whether they like some of the work these artists post here, or even if they hate it, or just don't ever bother to look... ? (ah, whom I kidding ? )

>> UN-serious: How about our own South Park episode!?

Just wanted to say it was nice ta see ya'all at the gathering, yesterday! Wished I coulda stayed longer...

I was there in my "Captain Goodness" persona, and I actually did manage to make it into the screenshot group pic that Gill posted! (I'm lower left, one in from the end, in pale blue and white) ...was in the "villainous minority" apparently!

First: That one example that you, yourself, posted, Zikar, works quite nicely!

As I remember, when "V For Vendetta" (the comic) was first published in Warrior magazine (a british comic mag) it was all black and white. David Lloyd was the artist, and it had some very striking, stark, black vs. white lighting.

Of course, all the suggestions given so far above are great!

I'm particularly impressed by the suggesstion from ChaseArcanum: "Don't draw to represent the colors, but the lighting." Plus, consider how the lighting is affected by the subjects material - Something that is shiney black will react to light differently than something thats more matte finished.

There is also the idea of using "zipatone" to get one or more middle gray(s) using black and white. If you're working the art on actual paper, then you can get sheets of various shades of "zipatone" - a pattern of black dots on a thin, plastic film with adhesive backing that you cut out and apply to the areas you want. If you're using digital image editing (like Photoshop) then you can use filters or just save as a GIF with only 2 color and use dithering.

Also, know that there are many, many different styles of "crosshatching" - from using just a series of lines all angled in one direction, to the literal cross-hatching, to small, curved-stroke squggling, and more.

As for ethnic features - I'd say get some photos of some real people and study, draw, and dissect them.

...aw heck, was any of that new or useful information?

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Ok, but they occasionally censure - that is my beef as well.

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Censure or censor? Huge difference, there. It's the difference between disapproval and decapitation.

I've certainly had my fair share of posts deleted by moderators, because I'm opinionated and sometimes cranky, but that's to be expected. Mostly, though, they leave me alone. So again I ask: has someone been banned for some reason?

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well, there was that whole issue with Gill/Jomaro's "Cuppajo" tribute peice being left out of the "official" Cuppajo fan art section...

Hey Lighthouse!

I've got a great idea! How about all true fan art players automagically get double experience in game, and their very own custome badge!

so, is the time still "around 8p.m. EST" (which would make it around 5 pm Pacific ??) - and where on the test server is it to be held? WIll it be accessible to heroes AND villains?

I might be able to make it...

I read a newspaper article some time ago regarding the probable non-longevity of digital media - it was talking broader than just digital art, tho. (documents and other data files) One of the things that I hadn't realized was this: in 50 years, regardless of whether the digital media is itself still viable, will we still have hardware/software that understands the FORMAT that old data was written in? Will we have blithely moved on from the "bad, old" JPEG format to something "newer, better" so far that we no longer can find an application to read the files we created today?

I have some old word processing documents (for pencil & paper RPG character sheets, for instance) that I haven't been able to sucessfully resurrect. This is just from 10 years ago. I can sorta just ignore all the formatting and only use the text, but at that point, I might as well just create a new one.

The idea of constantly "copying forward" to newer storage media and/or formats (as some of you have all ready suggested) is probably the best way to surmount the problem.

But its good to think about these things!

On the idea of "intentionally unpermanent art" - wasn't the artist Christo one of those who purposefully did his art thing, photographed it, then after a short while took it down - as if it was an "event" that happened and then was gone?

(stop me if you've heard this story) I recently read a thing about artist Steve Ditko (the guy who drew the first Spiderman stories). EDIT: here's the link:

http://goodcomics.blogspot.com/2005/...vealed-17.html

Seems, several years ago, this guy was over at Mr. Ditko's apartment, interviewing him for a fan magazine or something. The guy noticed a stack of thick cutting boards leaning against a wall - but something caught his eye about them. He asked Mr. Ditko to turn one around and it was some old, original Ditko Art pages! Ditko had been just using them as cutting boards. The story went on to say that the interviewer was flabbergasted and asked about it & Mr. Ditko showed him a stack a few feet high in a closet of more such original Ditko art pages. When asked why he hadn't sold them (for the thousands of dollars they'd be worth on the open market, these days) - Mr. Ditko replied that he didn't want to be known for that old stuff - that was not what he was doing NOW. He'd moved on to other things and wanted people to focus on what he was doing NOW, not on the comics he dis so long ago.

In general, I kinda thing that we, as humans just want to leave some part of us behind, as a little attempt at immortality. (as Serengheti_Lord noted in that quote by anonymous) (side note: I also think thats part of the facination with Zombies, Vampires, Mummies, etc - the idea of somehow cheating death, even as a Zombie, speaks to some deep fear of ending) I know that sometimes it strikes me, personally, pretty hard wondering if anyone will even remember who I was 10 years after I'm dead. (heckfire, does anyboody even rememeber who I am now! )

I just noticed a "Cel Shading Tutorial" over on Deviant Art by lastscoinz here:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/31279103/

(over on the left side, under "Add To Favorites" is a "Download" icon where you click to download a PDF)

This guy's pretty goot at coloring, so I thought you might like it.

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I'm talking cell shading here, though. Not like pencil shading.

That's what interests me.

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So you're looking at mostly just one darker shade area, maybe one lighter shade area, and one shadow area - ala Anime/ or cartoon shading? You can also get one of those posable wooden manniquins and a desk lamp. The mannequin is much simplified from a real human and thus will simplify the shapes of the shadow.

EDIT: Like this?
http://laerry.rpgdarkside.com/Oekaki2/ranmafistA.jpg


Dug these out of myfavorites, hope they're helpful

a deviantArt page that has lots of links to tutorials

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/...=cuts+tutorial


Polykarbon tutorial pages

http://www.polykarbon.com/tutorials/index.htm


and some free or low cost art programs:

the GIMP. It's free.

http://www.gimp.org/


ArtRage 2 both a free edition and a full version for $19.95

http://www.ambientdesign.com/artrage.html


Pixel image editor for $32

http://www.kanzelsberger.com/pixel/?page_id=12


Project Dogwaffle 1.2 - I believe its free

http://www.thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/f..._dw12free.html

Derek, Rowr is trying to encourage you to try harder, to push yourself a little, to get better.

Not to be mean, but in response it sounds like you're just making excuses for NOT trying to get better.

I'm saying this because I have seen this same thing in a dear friend of mine - they bemoan how bad they are at this thing, but when I offer her advice, she comes up with dozens of excuses why she cannot change anything.

Do not be afraid to put in some extra effort to improve. Do not wait to begin trying to improve. Do not fear change. You are the only thing holding you back. It will take some time, but if you don't push, even just a little, you'll never improve.

You CAN do this. Really. We believe in you. But you gotta try.

What program are you using? MS Paint? There are some great FREE art applications out there (I remember seeing a thread about this a while agao).

Congratulations Sayterra - glad to hear it! Hip Hip hoRAYYYY!

Hey guys and gals, its me again!

I just found a mind-blowing forum page over on the ComicArtCommunity chat boards. Look in the "Commission Reports" threads - basically people post about art pieces they've commissioned from various artists (Like Frank Brunner, Al Rio, Bob McLeod, Bob Layton, Kerry Gammil, and many, many others!). They talk about how well the whole process went (good, bad, etc.) and sometimes how long - and some of them post links to scans of the final peices. THey've even got a little thread with people's "Most Wanted" artists (meaning, people you'd love to get a commission from "some day").

Now, I know wha'cher thinkin: "This guy must be a shill for some of those guys..." - but I'm honestly not! I just love art and thought you all might be as blown away by some of that stuff as I am!

Anyway - check it out - the "Commission Report" over on:

http://www.comicartcommunity.com/chat/

and enjoy!

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Well that is very impressive my friend!!

Funny how their can be a different style pop up on these

boards almost everyday and it still blow me away!!

I guess I am not as picky as I should be no?

Gratz on that awesome commission!!!

*scribbles David Enciso on a notepad*

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pick·y

adjective: picki·er, picki·est.

informal

1) Excessively meticulous, fussy.
2) The polar opposite of Thor's Assassin




and thanks again, glad you all enjoyed it!

(just now back from the day out)

First, to all: Thank you! I'm really pleased with how it came out!

And thanks to Drayonix, MistressVine, and Darklilac for the kind words about her costume & color!

Roxstar - heh, I did not know that (about the Garfield 2 movie)!

Katfood - He seemed pleasant and professional - good, timely communication, too! Although I didn't need to ask for changes or anything (I was instantly happy with what he showed me), he seemed willing to work with me if I'd had any questions - he sent me a rough sketch for "Okay" first.

I've been playing COH for quite a while, and I used to be a bit more active on the boards but these days I mostly just read them some. Recently, I decided to get a commissioned art piece done of one of my many characters "Sister Brithuna" a natural, broadsword scrapper. I found Mr. Enciso's name & link here on this board recently.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l4...avidEnciso.jpg

This was done by a fabulous guy name of David Enciso. You can find him here:

http://davidenciso.com/

(for commissions, see the "Hire Me" page) As you can see, he's pretty great, but let me tell you - he is Blazing Fast too!

Here's the reference screenshot of the character for comparison:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l4...-CompSmall.jpg

just wanted to say real sorry to hear that Sayterra! Hope you'll be able to salvage somehting with your friend's help!

does the PayPal donation button help on your website?

Absolute agreement!

I remember, gosh - it seems many years ago now, purchasing some of his "Cannon" graphic novels and some other book in which this page accompanied some interviews. I, too, photo-copied it out to use as inspiration.

Its so simple, but its pure gold! As you said: "Genius"

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Captain Science, there was a thread called "drawing for my son" that gill did some toon style works in.

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Ah yes, I remember those!

"Drawing for my son" - #4915456 - by Static Thunder - way back on 03/01/06 04:36 PM

So, when will the MMOART Toons site/service be up and available? DO you have any examples to show?

I mean, I know you say: "from stylized cartoons, to anime, to the traditional Disney animation." but I'd imagine that you'd bring your own, special flavor to it...

Hey MECH_Flair,

RE: "Artistic Talent - Can it be learned?"

A lot of good responses have already been posted, here's hoping I can add something useful, too.

If by "talent" you mean that uncanny, innate "natural ability" some people seem to have - then no, obviously. Thats a matter of their particular brain/nervous system being wired from birth in a way that makes "artistic" pursuits easier for them. Thats genetics.

But if you change that to "Artistic Skill" ... well, by all means YES! Absolutely. Unless you are severely disabled in some ways, anybody can learn the skill of "art." (heck, I've seen people without arms paint with a brush held between their teeth.) Sure, some of us have to work harder at it than others, but thats the same with anything.

It really just comes down to: desire, instructional aid, and practice. Do you want to learn art? (its obvious that you do, from the post to the examples you've posted). You've taken some courses, bought some books (and I, assume, read/worked from them) - thats great! Don't stop taking courses, finding new books, seeking out online tutorials - in short, don't stop learning. ...and, of course: practice, practice, practice.

...okay, waitaminute - let me step back for a minute, here. There's a thing that we all do, and sometimes its not helpful, but it is innately "human." We look at other people's abilities and compare ours to them... and then we make some sort of judgement of our own worth based on that. "Wow, his work is SO much better than mine..." Its kind of impossible for us not to do this. Just try to not get carried away by it - try to realize you're doing it and "take it with a grain of salt."

There will always be someone better that you (better than me, better then them, better than that guy over there). Always someone. Big. Deal. So what? They will never be able to be YOU. They can never see the world in exactly the way you do, will never bring your unique life experience to their work. You have a unique and inalienable quality and value that you will bring to anything you do. Always remember that.

Who is it that you do the art for? Sure, we all want others to see and appreciate our work. ...but ultimately, your art is an expression of you. And you don't "suck." Unless you are dead, you are merely a "Work In Progress," and you'll always be. And thats a wonderful thing.

Sure, it can be frustrating. We're all our own worst critics (except those few who think they can do no wrong, who think they're the the best thing since sliced bread - I'll leave them out of the equation, they've lost touch with reality). Its fine to see that you have room for improvement. I'm sure if you ask any real great artist and they will probably tell you of someone else's work that they aspire to. Just don't let it dimish your own self worth. Anyone can improve - it just takes practice and study. If its something you desire to do - then do it because you love it. I find that sometimes I trip and fall into a bad mode of thinking: "I have to do this for Mr. so-and-so" - when I should be thinking: "I want to do this for me, because I love drawing - it brings me joy!".

Gosh, am I getting long-winded!

I especially like your first peice - it shows a great deal of promise. There's proof there that you've got a sense for the form in 3D, not just flat.

Do take photographs of real things and real people. Draw freehand from them, but also throw some tracing paper on them and trace them, dissect them - try to understand the perspective of the objects and people, and the proportions of things in relation to other things. But also try to draw from "life," too - ie: not from a photo. If you can get a family member or friend to sit still for a little bit, - and still life and landscape. Even quick sketches. There's a certain something that your eyes/mind perceive in real 3D that gets flattened-out in a photo. Its that sense of "this is in front of that" in true 3D. Try covering one eye and looking at something, then uncover the eye - flip back and forth a bit. Its often subtle to catch because intellectually you know whats in front - but you kinda have to let go of that "knowing" sometimes and instead really "draw what you see."

Also, do Not be affraid of mistakes. The world will not end if everythings is not perfect. If you draw something and it looks somehow wrong (sometimes, merely looking at it upside-down, or backwards, or holding it up to a mirror can help spot this) - then throw a piece of tracing paper over it and get a red pencil and try to work it out. Many instructors feel that this is the mark of a really good artist - the ability to see something thats "off" and them work through it to find a better solution.

I personally think highly of "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards as a great eye-opener, mind-expanding, artistic instruction book/method. Learning to "see" is an important part of learning to draw. Check it out at your local library - see if it speaks to you.

And hey, you mentioned: "I'm a pretty good writer and pretty creative" - and thats great! Absolutely do stretch your creative muscles in writing and any other non-art forms, too.

Ah, thanks, Pillbug! I hadn't thought of those points! That makes quite a bit of sense. (I had an old airbrush instructor who did a demonstration of how he used to do 15-minute illustrations for the cover of pulp science fiction magazines from way back in the day - he said he'd turn out two of em during his lunch break & sell em for whatever the going rate for covers was)

I can certainly see the idea of the comic art being just one part of a golden age artist's work load, and probably not their main focus.

A friend (out here, off-line) told me a couple of other places to look, one of which led me to this thread on the ComicArtFans forum:

http://www.comicartfans.com/forums/t...p?TOPIC_ID=864

Its starts off talking about some old cover art that was done "same size" as it was printed, but there's also some talk of interior work sizes and how it wasn't always "twice-up".

Very interesting.

(hoping this isn't too far off topic in this forum) Does anyone here happen to know what original art size the comic book artists used during the "golden age" of comic books (say, circa 1940-ish - around the days of the All Star Comics of DC's Justice Society) ???

I'm curious if they worked at the same size as current artists do (11" by 17" - safe area of 10" by 15")

I'm not sure what means they had for reducing original art to print size (I suppose photographic and printmaking technology could well have been up to the task in those days - I just don't know). Somehow the artwork just, I dunno, looks "small" in some strange sense to me. (don't get me wrong - I admire and respect those "golden Age" artists & their work -- this is just a curiosity that occurred to me)

Anybody know?