Resources for aspiring cartoonists
April 30, 2022 12:22 PM Subscribe
What's a good reference for how to comic? I know about Lynda Barry (<3). I'm most interested in the more technical stuff like what materials to use but open to whatever.
Best answer: Author Scott McCloud has written several books about comics. I've only read "Understanding Comics", which is great, but you may be more interested in "Making Comics".
posted by rakaidan at 1:05 PM on April 30, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by rakaidan at 1:05 PM on April 30, 2022 [6 favorites]
You might look at Terry Moore's YouTube channel. The creator of comics like Strangers In Paradise, Echo, Rachel Rising and others, he posts new videos every Sunday talking about everything from materials to technique to live demos his own work in progress. Not a single source of information, but insight into the life and technique of someone who's been making his living as an independent comics creator since the mid-90s.
If you like what you see of his work, he's got a Humble Bundle of all his books in PDF format for $30 or more, through the end of next week.
posted by lhauser at 4:59 PM on April 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
If you like what you see of his work, he's got a Humble Bundle of all his books in PDF format for $30 or more, through the end of next week.
posted by lhauser at 4:59 PM on April 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: How to Read Nancy is a tour-de-force analysis of almost literally everything that goes into a comic strip.
posted by Creosote at 5:20 PM on April 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Creosote at 5:20 PM on April 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The question of what materials to use depends a lot on if you're going to be doing black and white Xeroxing, or if you have plans for color printing, and/or if you are making a webcomic. The traditional answer about materials is that you need Bristol board to draw on, photo blue pencil for initial drafting, and various types of ink pens for ... inking, obviously. Here's someone talking about the materials she uses.
I recommend Tom Hart's free pdf "How To Say Everything" which is more on the creativity side but might contain technical advice too, I don't recall.
I also recommend the Sequential Artists' Workshop which has online classes, yearlong programs, free workshops most Friday nights, and online forums -- all where you can get a lot of your questions answered.
posted by hungrytiger at 4:48 PM on May 1, 2022
I recommend Tom Hart's free pdf "How To Say Everything" which is more on the creativity side but might contain technical advice too, I don't recall.
I also recommend the Sequential Artists' Workshop which has online classes, yearlong programs, free workshops most Friday nights, and online forums -- all where you can get a lot of your questions answered.
posted by hungrytiger at 4:48 PM on May 1, 2022
Response by poster: Thank you folks! I have ordered all of the above books from the library and also signed up on the Sequential Artists Workshop forums. These are good resources.
posted by latkes at 10:07 AM on May 3, 2022
posted by latkes at 10:07 AM on May 3, 2022
Response by poster: Marked best the stuff I've checked out so far... Especially appreciate learning about SAW, what an amazing, supportive community and resource!
posted by latkes at 12:29 PM on June 6, 2022
posted by latkes at 12:29 PM on June 6, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by shadygrove at 1:04 PM on April 30, 2022 [2 favorites]