I found a great source for action shots....since I am a huge fan of baseball, I will, quite often, go through the galleries online of recent baseball games....and as I was looking at these photographs, still shots of athletes in action....it occoured to me...take off the mitt, give him a sword....change the outfit.....there are so many shots of ball players leaping, running, diving, rolling....pitching.....I began to print up these shots and put them in my own pose gallery book...then, when I needed to show my character throwing something...find a good shot of a pitcher...
Also, one other piece of advice I'd give to budding artists: draw the body first, then the clothes. And don't be afraid of the (pardon the word) crotch. I see so many good works with the body totally out of line because they were afraid to draw "that area". You don't have to detail it...just know where it is....
All the resources you mentioned are good ones. I've used a few myself!
I'm agaisnt the "How to Draw Manga" series since they often go for a generic anime-style that doesn't appeal to many. Young, anime artist are better off learning to draw by looking at the many styles of manga and anime. They should also look at other art mediums as well. Other art forms can actually help you draw manga and anime better. All the best manga/anime artists are very well-rounded artists.
And about the fashion magazines....those help alot.
;O
Good article by the way.
These are good ideas that you got here. I haven't checked out the links yet, but I'll get back to them. Honestly, I have completely forgotten about the google search... It's so common and under my nose that I didn't saw it there... Gah!
Here in the Philippines though, so far the most common source of Anime related referrence are the How to Draw and the Mangas themselves. Of course, there are a lot of drawing references everywhere. It really does help a lot to have knowledge of basic anatomy.
I'm replying from experiances in my past, I've seen some really good American anime/manga artists, but I'm just saying that there is a LOT of crap out there trying to cash in on the anime wave. and even out of the better books I've seen,
The how to draw manga series has always stayed on top for me with authenticity. but in some cases I do think that there is something to getting native books, my thoughts are that anime was born there, and I think a lot of the artists there are more experianced than many of the ones producing here.
I would check out the books you've mentioned here, but as I sort of nodded at before, a anme'manga art book would be virtually useless to me in my current position, it's sad, but unfortunetly it's true T.T
I agree with Erzengel Weiss, I would like to know more about plot and storyline stuff. How to start, how to keep going, that kind of thing. Just anything you think would be usefull.
It's a shame that you're leaning in the direction of 'if it's not japanese, it's not authentic.' I know some awesome American artists who draw in the Anime and Manga style. And remember, thats all it is. A style. I think I know what books you're mentioning though. Christopher Hart's books have never impressed me. It's a rehashing of other books, and he does have alot of that 'jackie chan adventures' stuff going on.
I really suggest you give the DMP books a whirl. They're done by artists usually from Japan and they're really great material! I also urge you to try new things. =) Just because it's made here in the states doesn't make it any less authentic.
This is good, but I gotta say when I'm prejudice against how to anime/manga books that aren't from Japan. I just believe I should lfrom the source, ya know? plus I've had very bad experiances with some of the stateside counterparts, seriously a lot of what they seem to think is manga or anime looks like something out of "Jackie Chan Adventures" or worse!
But unfortunetly, none of this matters for me anymore, because my Art Institute hates everything anime, and I'm indirectly banned from drawing it in the public eye...
Thanks for the suggestion. That might make a great crosspoint article for me and my husband to do. I do tend to agree though. I've seen some great talent with very little writing ability to back it up with story. Thanks for that! =)
This would help artists quite a bit when it comes to drawing figures and whatnot. I may have missed it somewhere, but I'd like to see some advice about storyline and plot development in manga somewhere. Because while there are great fan manga artists out there, they do not necessarily have a good storyline to back up their manga. Mostly, I just see perfect imitations of artworks and poses, but a lack of plot, depth and content.
I think it's something that a lot of manga artists tend to miss.
Anyway, great list of references here, and it supplies a good amount of useful information.
I usually find something really heavy and just set it on top of the pages/book to keep it open. After a while the book will break in and it won't be so difficult =)
Kya, thank you; that human anatomy for artists one will really help. Yeah, manga like Saiyuki is helpful, but it's so darn hard to find something to decently prop the book open while you're trying to sketch.
ChimeraHead
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/11/08 | Reply
cool..
thankz 4 sharing it,,
it's rly2 useful...^^
Puddentater
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/04/08 | Reply
I found a great source for action shots....since I am a huge fan of baseball, I will, quite often, go through the galleries online of recent baseball games....and as I was looking at these photographs, still shots of athletes in action....it occoured to me...take off the mitt, give him a sword....change the outfit.....there are so many shots of ball players leaping, running, diving, rolling....pitching.....I began to print up these shots and put them in my own pose gallery book...then, when I needed to show my character throwing something...find a good shot of a pitcher...
Also, one other piece of advice I'd give to budding artists: draw the body first, then the clothes. And don't be afraid of the (pardon the word) crotch. I see so many good works with the body totally out of line because they were afraid to draw "that area". You don't have to detail it...just know where it is....
All the resources you mentioned are good ones. I've used a few myself!
Kachikamac
Title: Senior Otaku | Posted 05/04/08 | Reply
Thanks so much for writing this. It was very helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of it! It made me giggle at some parts...
---Kachikamac
jeweloflife
Title: Senior Otaku | Posted 05/03/08 | Reply
I'm agaisnt the "How to Draw Manga" series since they often go for a generic anime-style that doesn't appeal to many. Young, anime artist are better off learning to draw by looking at the many styles of manga and anime. They should also look at other art mediums as well. Other art forms can actually help you draw manga and anime better. All the best manga/anime artists are very well-rounded artists.
And about the fashion magazines....those help alot.
;O
Good article by the way.
jomz
Title: Senior Otaku | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
These are good ideas that you got here. I haven't checked out the links yet, but I'll get back to them. Honestly, I have completely forgotten about the google search... It's so common and under my nose that I didn't saw it there... Gah!
Here in the Philippines though, so far the most common source of Anime related referrence are the How to Draw and the Mangas themselves. Of course, there are a lot of drawing references everywhere. It really does help a lot to have knowledge of basic anatomy.
Well, keep it up. Tools of the trade sounds nice.
See ya around!
Marth Master
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
@Rokuchan:
I'm replying from experiances in my past, I've seen some really good American anime/manga artists, but I'm just saying that there is a LOT of crap out there trying to cash in on the anime wave. and even out of the better books I've seen,
The how to draw manga series has always stayed on top for me with authenticity. but in some cases I do think that there is something to getting native books, my thoughts are that anime was born there, and I think a lot of the artists there are more experianced than many of the ones producing here.
I would check out the books you've mentioned here, but as I sort of nodded at before, a anme'manga art book would be virtually useless to me in my current position, it's sad, but unfortunetly it's true T.T
Hana1991
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
I agree with Erzengel Weiss, I would like to know more about plot and storyline stuff. How to start, how to keep going, that kind of thing. Just anything you think would be usefull.
But this week, I say Tools of the trade. ^^
angelicgirl
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
i say the same webcomics
Rokuchan
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
@Adam:
Hey objective or not, it's snazzy. XD So nyah!
Adam
Title: Bossman | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
@Rokuchan:
Haha, I should have disclosed that I'm the publisher of Art Of Otaku, so my endorsement of it isn't objective...
chibimaster
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
I gotta agree with you kazuya's art is beautiful I'm a big fan of her works, mainly saiyuki.
Rokuchan
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
@Marth Master:
It's a shame that you're leaning in the direction of 'if it's not japanese, it's not authentic.' I know some awesome American artists who draw in the Anime and Manga style. And remember, thats all it is. A style. I think I know what books you're mentioning though. Christopher Hart's books have never impressed me. It's a rehashing of other books, and he does have alot of that 'jackie chan adventures' stuff going on.
I really suggest you give the DMP books a whirl. They're done by artists usually from Japan and they're really great material! I also urge you to try new things. =) Just because it's made here in the states doesn't make it any less authentic.
Marth Master
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/02/08 | Reply
This is good, but I gotta say when I'm prejudice against how to anime/manga books that aren't from Japan. I just believe I should lfrom the source, ya know? plus I've had very bad experiances with some of the stateside counterparts, seriously a lot of what they seem to think is manga or anime looks like something out of "Jackie Chan Adventures" or worse!
But unfortunetly, none of this matters for me anymore, because my Art Institute hates everything anime, and I'm indirectly banned from drawing it in the public eye...
...sorry, emo moment...I'll shut up now...
Rokuchan
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/01/08 | Reply
@Erzengel Weiss:
Thanks for the suggestion. That might make a great crosspoint article for me and my husband to do. I do tend to agree though. I've seen some great talent with very little writing ability to back it up with story. Thanks for that! =)
Erzengel Weiss
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/01/08 | Reply
This would help artists quite a bit when it comes to drawing figures and whatnot. I may have missed it somewhere, but I'd like to see some advice about storyline and plot development in manga somewhere. Because while there are great fan manga artists out there, they do not necessarily have a good storyline to back up their manga. Mostly, I just see perfect imitations of artworks and poses, but a lack of plot, depth and content.
I think it's something that a lot of manga artists tend to miss.
Anyway, great list of references here, and it supplies a good amount of useful information.
Rokuchan
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/01/08 | Reply
@cougarsama:
I usually find something really heavy and just set it on top of the pages/book to keep it open. After a while the book will break in and it won't be so difficult =)
Kyrianne
Title: Senior Otaku | Posted 05/01/08 | Reply
This will be SO helpful to me, since I'm seriously considering a job in the field of graphic noveling.
Thank you for posting this!
~Kyrianne
cougarsama
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/01/08 | Reply
Kya, thank you; that human anatomy for artists one will really help. Yeah, manga like Saiyuki is helpful, but it's so darn hard to find something to decently prop the book open while you're trying to sketch.
Rokuchan
Title: Otakuite | Posted 05/01/08 | Reply
@Adam:
Oooh shiny! Thanks. ^_^ Call me crazy, had no idea about this one but I'll edit the post and add this to the list!
KoInu kyan
Title: Senior Otaku | Posted 05/01/08 | Reply
oooh! Webcomics! Webcomics! C'mon, do webcomics! ^^
Adam
Title: Bossman | Posted 05/01/08 | Reply
** Cough **
Art Of Otaku
** Cough **