I've started working on my graphic novel

[leafer]

I don't know if graphic novel is the right term for what I'm doing, but basically, I have two finished screenplays and since the chance of having them read by someone in the industry is very slim, I've decided drawing them would be the only way to get them to the public.

 

I used to draw religiously when I was a kid and had to stop when I was around nine, and so the skill is, I hope, still there. The problem I am having is I can't seem to draw the characters the way I see them in my head. I know we have some good artists here and any advice from the pro would be greatly appreciated. Basically, how to get my imagination to flow effortlessly to the tip of my pencil? Do you guys have any suggestions on the basics of drawing and painting? The hardest part, for me, is shadowing. I have ruined many decent attempts with my crappy shading.

 

Oh, and a recommendation for an inexpensive tablet would be nice as well. Unless things have change I know Wacom is the best out there. I can't afford one of the big ones and was wondering if the smaller Bamboo would do the job?

 

Sorry for the rant. I'm just really stoked even though I just lost my job days ago. lol

[MTFDarkEagle]

OT: All I can say is: Make a cup of coffee (or thea, or something else you like), sit in a comfy chair, get a pack of paper, a nice pen or pencil, and start trying untill you get the way you wanted it to be.

 

I hope this is of any help, but this works for me :)

 

Last line: oh damn, why did you lose it? :(

[asparagin]

Buy yourself:

 

- a nice sketchbook

- 1 pencil 6B or 8B - you will love these. perfect for everything especially shadows. Blur with fingers.

- 1 harder one (2B) for outlines.

- draw A LOT whatever.

- for shadowing tale the first object you see, draw it in simple lines and then focus on the shadows (6B then finger for the gradient)

I wouldn't recommend learning to draw with tablet (I have the wacom bamboo, it's pretty decent) but I find it better to use pencils for learning.

 

Most important: have fun and make every drawing better then the last one.

[Teknetinium]

A good way is to draw things that u see not imagine before letting your imaginetion take it over. Tablet can make it easier when you want to paint you sketches. As Darkeagle say there is only one way to go, good tea paper and a pencil until u get it the way you want it.

[Grimes]

I've got a Wacom bamboo, its alright. The sensitivity is tough to get right with the small "drawing area". But I've never been great at drawing to begin with and never really got the hang of the Wacom. Honestly I used it more for note-taking and silent web-browsing during a class at school than I ever used it in art. I've become so used to using a mouse in Illustrator or Photoshop, it made learning a Wacom that much more difficult.

[asparagin]

The best drawing software IMO to use with tablets is corels painter (11 or whatever they have latest). It's done to mimic real drawing and painting utensils. Don't think there is something better on the market.

But, as said before, tablet, software it gets expensive, before you buy something, and leave it later to dust's mercy get a traditional good pencil. Some say it even writes upside down. :P

 

Honestly I used it more for note-taking and silent web-browsing during a class at school than I ever used it in art.

 

Naughty, naughty..:D

[leafer]

I guess what I was looking for was a shortcut that doesn't exist, so it's practice, practice and practice.

 

I think a graphic tablet is worth the investment since it does away with the mess and the expense that comes with traditional painting.

 

I will buy the pencils you've recommended and thanks for reminding me to blur with fingers... I can't believe it didn't occur to me since I've seen it done before. No wonder my shading doesn't blend.

 

Few more questions if you don't mind.

 

1. How to paint the eerie green glow of night vision? Do I start off with regular color then add a layer of green?

 

2. How to paint the world at night? I just can't get it right.

 

DarkEagle,

 

Yeah it sucked. I have a 5-year-old daughter and a fiance that depend on me, and even though on the surface I appeared fine and told my fiance not to worry, deep down I was in utter panic for two weeks. However, I've found a job. The pay is almost half less of what I used to make but at least I have a job. AND I don't have to work graveyard shift anymore.

 

As to why I lost my job... I have a weird personality. I have a strange ways of looking at things. The majority of people don't get me or my jokes. I can't carry a conversation beyond hey, how are you. Long story short, I lack people skills and I have OCD and have been doing weird things ever since I can remember. And as much as I try not to do them in front of people, some times, I can't help myself and on one such occasion my night manager noticed it. He laughed and asked me why I had done it but I said nothing. So, from then on I became a joke to him and several of his goons. They stole my keys and 2 thumb drives out of my backpack to mess with me. That was the period when I didn't have a pc and I stored everything on those drives. One of them had pics of my little girl that are gone forever. I know they did it but I couldn't prove it. Let's just say I took it for as long as I could then one night he went to far, and I took it to him. Of course the weird one gets the shaft, but he ain't laughing now.