Whitechapel - Drawing Backgrounds2013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/
Lussumo Vanilla & Feed Publisher
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=13637#Comment_136372008-01-18T11:58:47-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Curiosityhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1957
(I didn't know exactly where to put this discussion, whether it would go here or in Printheads.)
Why is it that every single book about "How to Draw _______" (be it comics, fantasy, ...
Why is it that every single book about "How to Draw _______" (be it comics, fantasy, manga, whatever) focuses solely on character design and posing and completely neglects backgrounds? I've searched for a decent book on how to draw comic-style cityscapes and the like to no avail. Can anyone recommend something? Or if it doesn't exist, would anyone please publish it and make their millions, so I can buy a copy?
Curi.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=13642#Comment_136422008-01-18T12:34:22-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Ferburtonhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=53
I don't think there is any way to draw "comic-style" city scapes really... you develope a style and it goes with how you draw the entire comic. You should be looking for a book on how to ...
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=13643#Comment_136432008-01-18T12:50:01-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Rootfireemberhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1551
There are how-to-draw landscape books. There might be a how-to-draw cityscape books. I know most of my books spoke about perspective and buildings, etc...
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=13649#Comment_136492008-01-18T13:12:27-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Alexishttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=385
I'm not sure what you mean by backgrounds, but I would recommend a book called "Perspective for comic book artists" by David Chelsea.
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=13665#Comment_136652008-01-18T14:01:05-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Paul Duffieldhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=6
In my opinion, drawing isn't about learing a bunch of tricks and rules that you can apply to different situations, which is how the majority of 'How to Draw x,y&z' books tend to approach ...
if you're interested, I'm writing an all-purpose how to draw text at the moment that takes a different approach (click here). Should cover people, backgrounds, whatever you want: the things I discuss are hopefully universal to any representational drawing.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=13673#Comment_136732008-01-18T14:11:24-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00carneyhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1415
Yes back grounds are tedious, and frustrating at times. I've been using a ruler alot more than usual. Man I wish I owned a scanner that scanned 14"x 17". Those types of scans get expensive ...
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=13692#Comment_136922008-01-18T14:55:48-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Brandhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=455
I know this sounds cheesed but How to Draw the Marvel Way goes into perspective and some background stuff.
Draw the Marvel Way goes into perspective and some background stuff.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=13801#Comment_138012008-01-19T03:42:48-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00tonymoorehttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=365
drawing's overrated.
just stick a photo back there.
-T
just stick a photo back there.
-T]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=14558#Comment_145582008-01-21T16:54:36-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00howyadoinhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1675
In my opinion, drawing isn't about learing a bunch of tricks and rules that you can apply to different situations, which is how the majority of 'How to Draw x,y&z' books tend to approach ...
In my opinion, drawing isn't about learing a bunch of tricks and rules that you can apply to different situations, which is how the majority of 'How to Draw x,y&z' books tend to approach things...
Bingo. "Here's a bunch of ways to avoid learning how to draw!"
Well fuck, sign me up. God forbid I might actually try to be an artist.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=14590#Comment_145902008-01-21T18:18:35-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Andre Navarrohttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1561
drawing's overrated.
just stick a photo back there.
Rob Liefeld is fond of that...
drawing's overrated. just stick a photo back there.
Rob Liefeld is fond of that...]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=14596#Comment_145962008-01-21T18:53:40-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Alan Tysonhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1299
I'm weird. I like drawing the backgrounds and props more than the actual characters.
What I've found works very well is sort of a half-finished look: instead of drawing every brick in a brick ...
What I've found works very well is sort of a half-finished look: instead of drawing every brick in a brick house, draw a few of them scattered about evenly, and the eye fills in the rest. Ditto for things like wrought-iron designs on fences, windows on skyscrapers, scales on giant city-devouring fish monsters, leaves on trees, etc. It gives it a stylized look, cuts down on work, and doesn't distract from the characters, which are, usually, the main focus of any comic panel or illustration. Perspective! for Comic Book Artists by David Chelsea is a great source for perspective and backgrounds in general.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=15446#Comment_154462008-01-24T06:10:29-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Frank Allenhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1765
it such an esential part of it, its sort of mention when the books cover perspective but thats not enough really.
I use photos for bckgrounds and sort draw a really basic outline of them.
I use photos for bckgrounds and sort draw a really basic outline of them.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=19235#Comment_192352008-02-05T13:41:18-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Curiosityhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1957
I'm actually more interested in manga backgrounds than anything. How can there be 5583095 books on how to draw a magical girl or a battle scene, but nothing on how to draw a neighborhood? I know ...
In my opinion, drawing isn't about learing a bunch of tricks and rules that you can apply to different situations, which is how the majority of 'How to Draw x,y&z' books tend to approach things...
Agreed. I already know how to draw. But I'd like to have certain things that I draw look better.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20228#Comment_202282008-02-07T04:35:22-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00sebasphttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2326
I use to print an image of a background, and I trace that image with a light table. I don´t do it exactly like the reference picture, the details that I let in and out will make this image unique ...
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20252#Comment_202522008-02-07T08:15:56-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00davechisholmhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2336
one piece of advice that i heard that stuck with me was this:
when drawing inorganic backgrounds, draw in pleasing organic shapes and then build up the background to fit into those organic shapes. ...
when drawing inorganic backgrounds, draw in pleasing organic shapes and then build up the background to fit into those organic shapes. this way you are thinking compositionally first...]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20335#Comment_203352008-02-07T13:29:18-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Aberrant_Presshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1308
Another tip of the hat to David Chelsea over here. That book is damned fine.
Carney: As a low-level publisher of comic books I have to scan pages all the time. And as we all hopefully know, most ...
Carney: As a low-level publisher of comic books I have to scan pages all the time. And as we all hopefully know, most comic pages are 11x17 inches in size. What most may not know is that to scan a single image at that size usually takes something called a "commercial scanner", which is very costly. Now, again, I'm low end, so I don't have thousands to spend on such a piece of equipment, but I got lucky, and now so can you. May I suggest the Mustek Scan Express A3. This scanner is pretty decent for scanning color work (if you know how to use it), but where it really kicks ass is in scanning black and white work like pencils and inks. You can't beat it for the price (less than 200 U.S.). Highly recommended for the "young buck on the come-up", to use the parlance of our times.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20347#Comment_203472008-02-07T14:03:52-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00nickmaynardhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2351
i think great backgrounds are way more impressive than great character work. i mean, if you can draw a city scape like the following example, which isn't the best example but just the one that ...
http://www.ryanottley.com/images/covers/pencilsTOinks.jpg]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20387#Comment_203872008-02-07T16:06:03-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Brandhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=455
I'm actually more interested in manga backgrounds than anything. How can there be 5583095 books on how to draw a magical girl or a battle scene, but nothing on how to draw a neighborhood? I know ...
I'm actually more interested in manga backgrounds than anything. How can there be 5583095 books on how to draw a magical girl or a battle scene, but nothing on how to draw a neighborhood? I know Manga University offers premade books of useable backgrounds, but I'd rather know some tips on how to do it myself than use someone else's work or a photo.
But that's how a lot manga artist's today do there backgrounds, using pre-made ones. I've also seen where a photograph is photoshopped to become a screen toned background.
Honestly the same basic rules are going to apply no matter if it's an American comic book or a manga, It's all about the perspective drawing.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20527#Comment_205272008-02-08T03:30:19-08:002008-02-08T03:35:15-08:00Salgood Samhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1713
I tend to take a 'cinematic' approach so BG are important to the sense of place, and atmosphere. But it's also cool to drop them if you want to emphasis something else. And not trying to draw ...
Don't think using photos is such a taboo, well really anything in art should not be 'taboo'. But i do pref for my own work to make whatever i do feel as organic as the rest of it, so my modus is to take my own, or hunt for reference material, sketch it in some detail, and then draw the final art with the sketch, rather than free hand from the source material directly. Mostly its just a way to filter the work through my minds eye, and to get away from 'correcting' things that happen in the sketches which tends to happen if the source ref is in front of you at the time. Keeps it from being too stiff or didactic.
The suggestion about working from organic forms and then building up details from there is a good one as well, use it a lot for the basic composition proses.
Studying perspective is very important if your going to go for a realist look at all, but eventually once you have the hang of it, i suggest experimenting with doing it free hand, rather than using rulers. One ruled line on a page makes every organic one seem messy, but if you just go by gut and do it free hand then the internal logic of the image will be constant and you wont have to spend horrific amounts of times getting everything 'just so'. Real sweat saver that one is, picked it up working in animation.
You are going to have to learn how to draw the stuff though, cant fake it, it shows. Doesn't mean it has to be strait from your head, you can use life study just like for figure work. but you do have to learn to understand why you do the things your doing for them to look like you know what your doing.
good luck.
max]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20731#Comment_207312008-02-08T19:44:21-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Brandon Palashttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2360
Another recommendation for the David Chelsea book here.
But, someone asked about books about manga backgrounds. This book has a TON of really specific stuff about drawing buildings, cityscapes, ...
But, someone asked about books about manga backgrounds. This book has a TON of really specific stuff about drawing buildings, cityscapes, etc. Really cheap if you get it used, too.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20767#Comment_207672008-02-08T23:17:12-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00davechisholmhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2336
to nickmaynard:
that ottley piece is amazing, and this is in no way a knock on his work or your comment about backgrounds being more impressive than character work...
but...
i get sort of irked ...
that ottley piece is amazing, and this is in no way a knock on his work or your comment about backgrounds being more impressive than character work... but... i get sort of irked when people talk about art being 'impressive.' at a certain point, being impressed doesn't mean shit. i mean, this isn't running a 4 minute mile or lifting a car. it is drawing a city. i believe that, with any piece of art, whether it be music or writing or drawing or film, if your initial reaction is "wow, that's impressive," then the artist has failed (unless their goal is to impress someone, in which case...i hope it got them laid or at least a gold medal at the artist olympics). i want a gutteral reaction, something deeper than 'impressed.' like, when you hear miles davis play trumpet, it is so effortless and amazing, but so perfect...it might sound like anybody could play it, but it is perfect in its restraint or perfect for that moment.
mignola's art comes to mind, i guess, because his backgrounds are hardly ever super impressive in the sense that they are detailed with perfect perspective, and to some people his art might look basic, but they are always perfect for the page, always well thought out...does that make sense?
[/rant] sorry, it just got me thinking about art and...backgrounds...i dunno...]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20773#Comment_207732008-02-09T00:49:30-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00AlexApprobationhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1806
Carney: As a low-level publisher of comic books I have to scan pages all the time. And as we all hopefully know, most comic pages are 11x17 inches in size. What most may not know is that to scan a ...
Carney: As a low-level publisher of comic books I have to scan pages all the time. And as we all hopefully know, most comic pages are 11x17 inches in size. What most may not know is that to scan a single image at that size usually takes something called a "commercial scanner", which is very costly. Now, again, I'm low end, so I don't have thousands to spend on such a piece of equipment, but I got lucky, and now so can you. May I suggest the Mustek Scan Express A3. This scanner is pretty decent for scanning color work (if you know how to use it), but where it really kicks ass is in scanning black and white work like pencils and inks. You can't beat it for the price (less than 200 U.S.). Highly recommended for the "young buck on the come-up", to use the parlance of our times.
Buyer beware... if you have a Mac, this scanner might not work for you. PC users... this scanner is very tempermental. Every few months or so it'll stop working completely and you'll have to re-install the drivers and/or leave unplugged for a week to a month. I've owned mine for about two years and over the past month it's stopped working completely. None of the usual fix-it methods work.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20810#Comment_208102008-02-09T07:19:50-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Paul Sizerhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=44
I've actually gotten to like doing the occasional "establishing shot" background in more the manner of manga, where you get one REALLY detailed, expressive money shot which tells the reader ...
It's taken me a while to overcome my aversion to using photo-reference, as I also used to think it was kind of cheating, but truthfully, that fell by the wayside once I started eliminating dumb drawing mistakes in my work (not that I've eliminated ALL of my dumb drawing mistakes, plenty to go around folks). Depending on how realistic a scene I'm drawing, I'll always at least look for details from photos. For overly dramatic perspective (like most of the city shots in MOPED ARMY), I just pull out the rulers and triangles, set up those 3 perspective points and just go to town for the effect: ( I don't want to clog up the page with a really big scan, so here's a link to an example from my work: MOPED ARMY PERSPECTIVE SHOT]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=20878#Comment_208782008-02-09T13:56:00-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Brandon Palashttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2360
that ottley piece is amazing, and this is in no way a knock on his work or your comment about backgrounds being more impressive than character work...
but...
i get sort of irked when people talk ...
that ottley piece is amazing, and this is in no way a knock on his work or your comment about backgrounds being more impressive than character work... but... i get sort of irked when people talk about art being 'impressive.' at a certain point, being impressed doesn't mean shit. i mean, this isn't running a 4 minute mile or lifting a car. it is drawing a city. i believe that, with any piece of art,
I kind of agree. When I saw that image, I thought that, while it is very impressive, and it looks great -- stuff like that is more a matter of just putting your head down and doing it than anything else. It's practically math.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=22893#Comment_228932008-02-15T00:18:31-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Tom Raneyhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=2223
There's a workaround available for the Mustek Scan Express A3 here.
here.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=22895#Comment_228952008-02-15T00:27:12-08:002013-05-23T18:45:02-07:00Salgood Samhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1713
To davechisholm: I think you put it perfectly, impressive is fine if you want to show off and the ego loves it, but if the point is the story then being too impressive can take energy away from it. ...
Risking sounding concerned i have to say, I get 'wow' reactions sometimes, and while it's nice on one level, it always leaves me concerned i might have over done it. Was talking to a writer/editor today about this, he was wondering why i was going into as much detail as i have with the work I'm doing now - it's a fair question, i have my reasons, trying to evoke an intense dreamlike experience - but it's always possible people will miss that and get caught up in the details. For sure if your doing it as a display of skill it's not going to help your work, maybe your carrier but only in a limited way.]]>
Drawing Backgroundshttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=559&Focus=23278#Comment_232782008-02-15T20:31:01-08:002008-02-15T20:38:36-08:00Salgood Samhttp://freakangels.com/whitechapel/account.php?u=1713
Looked at that link - took my time to post this but wanted to add - still think what was being said about impressive having a down side is true but looking at that, given it's a superhero shot and ...
at that link - took my time to post this but wanted to add - still think what was being said about impressive having a down side is true but looking at that, given it's a superhero shot and all - i don't think thats a problem with that one. It's a very clean graphic line image, but really the detail drops out pretty early. Not really overkill at all. If i were going to try to think of something to critique i think I'd have more of a problem with the spotting of blacks than anything to do with detail.
More on topic to the original question - big part of the how too for shots like that is the perspective, collected some good links for that over on PNP, think i can find them to post here....
ok, yeah, these are perspective grid resources, come in handy for cityscapes.
