I remember when I was younger and looking to improve my skills, I was often met with “Just practice,”. Although the intentions behind the adage were well meaning, that did not help me improve. As I’ve gotten older, I found myself at times, usually when I was tired myself ...
"Just practice" - Giving better advice
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, Nov. 20, 2020Gimme Strength
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 19, 2020
Plenty has been said about giving characters flaws - we've talked about it around the site, on the Quackcast and out loud, to ourselves, on the bus and in the park.
Characters gotta have flaws!
But something I've thought about more lately, in the years well after starting my ...
Horror - Immersion and the Slow Burn
Banes at 12:00AM, Oct. 15, 2020
I just started the Netflix series called “The Hanting of Bly Manor”.
It's hard to say how it's going to turn out in the end, since I'm just at the beginning. But overall so far, I'm enjoying the thing. There are many unanswered questions already, and ...
Character Design Brainstorming: The Monster Among Us
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Oct. 10, 2020
We live in a world of routine, predictability, and pedestrian problems. (2020 doesn't count. Much.)
Magic doesn't really seem to exist in our world.
Or does it?
Perhaps we live above a very thin surface, like floating on a tranquil lake, and just underneath it there are ghouls ...
The Drunk Duck Anthology...Oh, the HORROR!!
PIT_FACE at 12:00AM, Aug. 2, 2020
Greetings, Fowl Fiends. It is I, the spectral lamentation known as PIT-FACE!
I have been torn from my lurid sepulcher to inform you dreadful Ducks that your votes have been cast! Behold your ill-fate! The theme for the Drunk Duck anthology is:
HORROR!
That’s right, it’s time to ...
Falling flat on your characters
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, July 17, 2020
A three dimensional character is needed to keep the reader emotionally invested in your comic, however there are a few pitfalls creators might find themselves tripping into, causing their characters to fall flat. Here are three holes you may encounter when constructing a three dimensional character.
Not giving your characters ...
Preventing burnout
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, June 12, 2020
I took this past week off, in part to celebrate reaching the goal age of 30, but mostly to take some time to address an encroaching feeling, burnout. Creativity is a muscle, and like any muscle in your body, if overused it can become strained or even tear. I am ...
Speeding up production
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, June 5, 2020
A couple of weeks ago I was discussing with my family the importance of doing studies in drawing. I was asked, “What do you focus on these days?”. My answer was simple.
“Speed.”
As a creator who juggles work, comics and an ever looming list of hobbies, my aim is ...
The Art of the Conversation
kawaiidaigakusei at 12:00AM, June 1, 2020
Understanding the importance of the dialogue between two characters (or an internal monologue) is crucial for writing conversations in comics. It is true that comics are written differently than real world conversations because it removes a lot of the idiosyncrasies that happen in real-time conversations. However, learning to apply techniques ...