How To Draw Comics

In this Episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk team up to discuss the biggest mistakes we make when it comes to learning and practicing the art of comic book illustration. We all know the saying "Practice makes Perfect". But in reality, practicing in the wrong way can be even worse than not practicing at all. Perfect Practice is in fact what makes Perfect. So figuring out the right method and approach is oftentimes the great challenge of all, with the highest pay off. How do we get there? Sometimes it's straight forward - and we simply stick with what we know works best. But commonly, we reach success by constantly rerouting via the mistakes we make along the way. But what if you could avoid those mistakes in the first place? Wouldn't that mean you could short cut your development? That's what we hope to help you do in some small way with this episode, as Ed and Clayton share the mistakes, challenges and obstacles they had to overcome in order to push their drawing skil

In this week's episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Co-Host Ric Bulow and Clayton Barton talk tactics on how to keep your skills sharp - even after you've been away from the drawing board for a while. Taking long breaks from your craft can leave you feeling fearful about getting back into your groove. We believe our abilities just won't be at the level we left them, and that can lead to a severe lack of confidence in what we're capable of artistically. So we end up in this perpetual cycle of increased anxiety over the fact our skills are getting rustier by the day, which prevents us from daring to go back and shake it off. The longer we leave it, the more freaked out we get about forgetting what we've learned! Luckily, for an aspiring comic book artist such as yourself, who's on the path to comic art mastery and has got a little mileage behind them already - it doesn't take a whole lot to hit the drawing gym again and ramp up your artistic fitness. It's not like you're starting out at square one. Ev

So many of you gained a ton of value out of our first Q&A Session, that we just couldn't wait to do another one! This episode Ed Foychuk, Ric Bülow, and Clayton Barton are back to answer your questions on such topics as - - Camera angles and lighting set-ups for dramatic mood and energy - Building teams to produce comics for Portfolio work - Workflow ideas for practice sessions - Guides to drawing chubby men - Scheduling and planning Plus loads more. This episode is packed full of valuable tips and insights for comic creators and we had an absolutely awesome time putting it together for you. What's amazing is that we all learn so much from each other's unique perspectives - and we hope that by tackling these topics from different angles, we're able to help you find the ideal path that's going to lead you to the next level in your artistic growth. As always, thanks so much for listening! And of course, if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, remember to visit our website at: https://w

This episode we're joined by the two headed hydra of comics - Comfort Love and Adam Withers.  Having published numerous acclaimed comic book titles such as "The Uniques" and "Rainbow In The Dark", Comfort and Adam are a power team who write, draw, color and letter all of their work together. They take equal part and ownership in the production process, brain storming ideas, developing them and ultimately bringing their vision to life. When it comes to collaborating as a team, Adam and Comfort know what it takes. Whether you're working with a studio of like minded talent, a group of friends, brother, sister or significant other to realize a common dream - having someone there to re-inspire you through those bouts of artist block, or to pick you up when you're feeling creatively depleted can be one of the most valuable perks a creative partnership can bring. But that doesn't mean there won't be a few hurdles you'll have to overcome together along the way. Sometimes finding solutions to the problems that pop

This episode I'm joined by Co-Host's Ed Foychuk and Ric Bulow for HTDC's first Q&A session. We'll be answering questions straight from the How To Draw Comic's Community on topics such as - Is self publishing a creator owned title the best way to break into the comic book industry? Is it okay to sell B&W Line Art Illustrations at Comic Con's, or will coloring it (or paying a colorist to do it for you) make your prints stand out amid the crowd? How do you choose the one idea that you'll see through all the way till the end, when there's so many choices to choose from? What is the best approach to learning anatomy, proportions and how do clothes fit around the body of your comic book character's? We take a stab at answering all of these questions and much more in this week's value packed episode of the HTDC Podcast. Thanks for listening, and as always, keep on creating! - Clayton For comic art tutorials, videos, and courses, visit https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/, and take your comic art skill set to the

In this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton, Ric Bulow and Ed Foychuk talk about the art - of teaching art. We reflect on our past experiences in the class room as both students and teachers, and discuss what we think it takes to be an effective art instructor who can walk the talk. Like art, teaching is a specialized skill all on it's own. A brilliant artist can create awe inspiring work no problem, but can they articulate exactly how they did it, in a way where their students are able to replicate the same results? We also discuss the pros and cons of learning in the class room, vs online training, and what each can offer to enhance the learning experience for aspiring artists. If you're on the look out for an art course and aren't quite sure where to start, give this episode a listen - hopefully it'll point you in the right direction. If you enjoyed this episode and would like more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials - please visit www.howtodrawcomics.net.

Is drawing a natural talent that some people are just born with? If so, where does that leave the rest of us - are we doomed to always be two steps behind the elites with little chance of ever reaching their divine level of god-given skill? This is both a question and a statement we hear all too often in the face of a masterfully executed piece of comic book art. When we see someone who can draw well, especially someone young, it's an almost automatic response to exclaim how brilliantly talented they are. But is there really any magic behind it? Or, as with any skillset, does becoming a great comic book artist come down to hard work and dedication? In this weeks Podcast Episode Clayton Barton and Co-Host Ric Bulow look at both sides of the equation, as well as the pros and cons of each. Hope you enjoy the episode, and thanks for listening! -Clayton For more comic art tutorials, videos, podcast episodes and courses visit www.howtodrawcomics.net

Where should you begin if you want to learn how to become a comic book artist, ? There's vast oceans of information available online, but how do you sift through the fluff to get to the good stuff? Art school and university seems notoriously ineffective, serving merely as an introductory taste into the extensive skill set one must acquire to become a successful comic book illustrator - plus it's extremely costly. There's online courses and books, containing laser focused information designed to address the fundamental gaps in your drawing abilities - but which ones are best for a beginner? In this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast, we're joined by Co-Host Ed Foychuk to share our experiences as up and coming comic book artists - where we sourced our drawing knowledge and our highest recommendations for beginners who are looking for some direction in their learning. Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks for listening. -Clayton For comic art tutorials, videos, podcast episodes and courses, visit us at: https

In Episode 25 of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton and Co-Host Ric Bulow are joined by special guest artist Vince Rodriguez to talk about his background in comic books and storyboard illustration - and what it takes to deliver the best possible product to your clients, on time. Vince is an insanely talented artist who like many of us grew up adoring comic books. He was so inspired by artists like Jack Kirby that he pursued a career which allowed him to make the most of his artistic abilities. Throughout that journey, he's gained deep insights about what clients expect, how to juggle multiple jobs at once, and how to meet the intense deadlines that must be kept to keep ones reputation intact. One of the things I admire most about Vince is his killer work ethic, and listening to him speak about some of the work he's undertaken and what it took to execute those projects was truly inspirational. It was an honor to have him join us on the show and hope that the knowledge and experience he brings to the table her

In this jam packed episode, we blow the lid off the age old question every aspiring comic book artist wants an answer to - should you be using references when you draw?... How much should you really depend on them and is it worse not to use them at all? Find out in Episode 24 of the HTDC Podcast! Want more comic advice, tips, tricks and tutorials? - visit us at http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/

In Episode 23 of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton and Ric revisit perfectionism vs getting your work finished! There's certainly something to be said about honing your skills through mileage, but does perfectionism offer a chance to enhance your learning experience, and raise the quality of the work you produce to a higher level?

As most people do, we artist also strive to have a good and strong family life. Many have wives, kids and a day-job. So how are you supposed to have all that and still have time to work on your art? Moreso, how can you best jump from having that dayjob and go into focusing on being a freelance artist, if that is your end-goal, while you still have a family to care for? In this episode hosts Ed Foychuk and Ric Bülow talks about these things and how they made the change work for them and their families as best possible. Furthermore they also take up an equally important subject and that's keeping healthy. As an artist, you tend to not move around alot while working, which can strain the muscles you're using while working alot and in the end cause great pains from it.

Success can mean many things to different people. But what remains true for all of us is the deep, core need to pursue a worthy cause that we find fulfilling. In our case, that's creating comics, and that's exactly what today's guest is setting out to do with his new studio. To make our dreams a reality, mindset is everything. Because what you can and can't achieve all comes down to belief. If you believe in your potential as a comic book artist, that potential will become a promise. And vice versa - if you think it's an impossibility to become a true master of your craft, you'll never be motivated, or driven enough to do what needs to be done to succeed in the first place. Tom Bilyeu is the man behind Impact Theory - a multi-media platform created to empower the minds and will of people to succeed in a world where most of us are born into a narrative that hinders what we're truly capable of. Interviewing some of the most successful people on the planet such as Tony Robbins, Gary Vanerchuck and many more, T

There's many things that set comics apart from other art forms. Not only must you be skilled in the traditional teachings of drawing, but you must also harness the ability to take the audience on a visual journey throughout your stories. Comics are about guiding the reader through an immersive narrative and it's your job as the creator to cultivate that experience - an experience that makes them feel like they are right there inside the panel as they read. This requires an in-depth knowledge of the hidden nuances that make a comic book work, and in Episode 20 of the HTDC Podcast, special guest artist Moti Friedman shows us the tip of the ice berg. Moti has had his art published around the world since 1993, fulfilling his most recent role as co-writer and artist on Tom Raches Black Alpha Comic Book Series. As well as honing his abilities as a practiced comic book artist, children's book illustrator, and writer - for almost three decades he’s developed courses and taught aspiring artists at numerous univer

Wouldn't it be great to wake up everyday and work at your passion? To put your time and energy into something that matters to you, something that you truly find fulfilling. Maybe you've got characters to share and a story to tell in that future comic book series you've been thinking of creating. Imagine how surreal it would feel knowing that your fans have posters, collector cards, and T-Shirts of the titles you came up with. It can happen. But only if you get down to business. Because if you're creating art for more than just the love of it, that's exactly what you are - a business owner, your art, the product. It's more than just a matter of mastering your drawing skills. You might be the best of the best when it comes to skill and raw talent, but if no one ever gets to see what you can do, they won't be able to pay you for it. In this special, extended episode of the HTDC Podcast, I'm joined by Co-Host Ric Bulow and special guest artists Ed Foychuk and Deth Phimmasone to talk about the business side

When it comes to pursuing your passion, knowing your 'why' is everything. You must have a powerful enough reason to break through the challenges, self doubt, and fear you'll face on the road to mastery. Without it as your compass, your goals are aimless. In a very special, extended Episode 18 of the HTDC Podcast, we're joined by guest artist Caanan White to talk about the approach he took to developing a high level skill set that allowed him to create some of the most spectacular comic book art in the industry. Having worked for multiple studios, including Marvel, Caanan's unrelenting drive pushed his ability to the epitome of it's potential - dangerously coming close to sacrificing everything for the love of his passion. The question is, was it all worth it? This 1.5 hour episode is packed with loads of value as Caanan shares his experiences and wisdom gained from lessons learned over the years. Don't miss it! -Clayton Check out Caanan White's art at: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfCaananWhite/

Do you prefer to create your art digitally or traditionally? As the world of technology has evolved in our modern age, so have the creative tools we have at our disposal as comic book artists. A whole new array of mediums, processes and styles are now possible thanks to the advent of digital technology, but where does that leave the traditional ways of working we've held sacred for so long? In Episode 17 of the HTDC Podcast, I'm joined once more by Co-Host Ric Bulow to discuss the pros and cons of traditional and digital methods of production for comic book illustration. We hope you enjoy this episode! Thanks so much for listening and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments. We all have so many different perspectives on the merits of digital and traditional ways of working - so lets get the conversation happening around this topic. How do you prefer to work and why? -Clayton

So you want to learn how to draw comic books but don't know where to begin... The self taught route could lead to a unique approach that yields an original style and way of working. On the flip side, it can take a while to bang out the kinks and develop a fluid production process. Something that could take months to learn, may very well end up taking years without formal direction and guidance. Art school is another option of course; expensive but a possible avenue that could fast-track the learning process. Even better, you could apprentice under a mentor capable of teaching you the way of the comic book Jedi - though would their way of working work for you and would it leave you lacking an identifiable originality in your own work? In Episode 16 of the HTDC Podcast we discuss the best options you can go for when it comes to excelling your learning. We look at the pros and cons of each as well as their financial practicality. Learning the art of comics isn't easy, and no matter which way you cut it you

Sometimes life throws a curve ball at your creativity and forces you to take an elongated break away from that which you're most passionate about. In Episode 15 of the HTDC Podcast we talk about getting back into the saddle after you've been knocked off track.

In Episode 14 of the HTDC Podcast we’re joined by special guest artist Robert Marzullo of Ram Studios Comics. Over the years Robert has produced hundreds of comic art tutorials and several courses, helping aspiring artists around the world harness their abilities and master their craft. If there’s one thing that can be said about Robert, it’s that he has a burning passion to not only create comics but to help others develop the skillset they need to do the same. During our catch up with Rob we talked about where it all began for him as an artist and the journey he took to develop his artistic abilities. Like many comic creators, the desire to tell his stories through the medium greatly over powered his doubts about the industry. Regardless of how much money, fame or praise it earned him, creating comics was simply something Robert had to do out of love for the craft. But it took time to learn it; to master the tools, techniques and habits of a seasoned pro. That’s why at the core of this episode we’ve foc