Four Pieces of Advice for New Artists

I get sent and review at least ten portfolios a day from new artists, and I usually find myself replying to each and every one with one or more of the exact same four comments. All newbies tend to get ahead of themselves make the same four mistakes. So much so, in fact, that I now keep these four constructive comments as a document on my desktop that I cut, paste and expand from for each individual. Since some of you have been asking about FAQs for new pencilers, I figured I'd start with this. Here you go...

1. When doing layouts, stick to the grid. Boring, I know, but learn and use the basics when it comes to storytelling. You need to walk before you run.

2. Don’t break panel borders. This is a more advanced penciling technique that is usually mis-used and abused far too often, causing the reader's eye to go to the wrong panel and only serves to confuse your storytelling.

3. Pull your camera out. You are going in too tightly and cropping out too much of the figures/body parts/action. Don't be lazy. Start by learning to draw everything asked for in the script inside your panel walls effectively first.

4. Include more backgrounds to give us a better sense of place. Think of your background as another character in the story and use it to help enhance the storytelling and the world your characters are inhabiting.

More soon...