What's a good present for a young teenager who likes drawing anime?
May 3, 2016 5:30 AM Subscribe
I want to spend $50 US / $70 Australian on a birthday present for a young teenager who likes drawing anime-ish figures and hasn't got arty friends or other external resources. They have an Ipad Air, but I was thinking of books, plus maybe some nicer paper and/or pens? The stuff they like drawing is mostly Gothic-like figures in formal poses, it might be good to help them branch out a bit too.
I was this teen not a whole long time ago. I used to get presents every birthday/Christmas that were very sweet attempts to include my hobby, mostly read-and-copy "How To Draw Anime" books and boxes of oil pastels and things. I barely touched most of them, not out of disinterest, but because I already had my "system" of creative expression and I didn't want to change that.
I don't know if your teen is similar, but I would look at what they're using now. Do they draw on the iPad? Maybe get them a nice stylus they might not have. Do they use books as references? Find out the series and see if they have any new ones. If you want to help them learn as an artist, then I would look into a good quality general human anatomy reference book, something they can keep and use over the next few years rather than something that tries to capture their current artistic interest. Otherwise, maybe a really cheap digital tablet so they can expand their digital art skills (these days an essential part of any artist's CV, especially manga/comic artists), or you could buy them a few months of Photoshop CS or Illustrator or something.
posted by fight or flight at 5:50 AM on May 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
I don't know if your teen is similar, but I would look at what they're using now. Do they draw on the iPad? Maybe get them a nice stylus they might not have. Do they use books as references? Find out the series and see if they have any new ones. If you want to help them learn as an artist, then I would look into a good quality general human anatomy reference book, something they can keep and use over the next few years rather than something that tries to capture their current artistic interest. Otherwise, maybe a really cheap digital tablet so they can expand their digital art skills (these days an essential part of any artist's CV, especially manga/comic artists), or you could buy them a few months of Photoshop CS or Illustrator or something.
posted by fight or flight at 5:50 AM on May 3, 2016 [9 favorites]
Hi, I was this teen!
I'm going to give you a few answers, depending on how "serious" you think they are about this -- like, are they doodling what are essentially copies of manga panels or anime screenshots as an expression of their enthusiasm, or are they using manga and anime as a jumping-off point for a more serious interest in really learning how to draw?
For a casual artist: A basic set of grayscale markers like this (Deleter neopiko markers are one step up in quality, Copic are another step up), a small set of technical pens (I have this one and it's REALLY GREAT), and a nice pad of paper to use them on. If you aren't sure of what paper to get and are buying this in person at a store, the clerk can help you. Otherwise, basically any semi-decent bristol board is probably the way to go here, it can hold up to a lot of erasing.
For a more serious artist: All of the above would still apply, but maybe consider a smaller set of nicer markers, and swap the tecnical pens out for a nib inking starter set like this and a small container of waterproof blank ink like this. And maybe a nice black brush pen for filling in larger areas of black. If they're very Serious Business about learning to draw manga-style characters, then playing around with nib inking is just about the nerdiest possible expression of that interest. And it would combine well with their gothic style.
If they're serious enough about this that they already own all the above supplies: consider getting them a couple of screentone starter sets like this one (and maybe one sillier one like this), as well as a good-quality art knife to cut them with.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:36 AM on May 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm going to give you a few answers, depending on how "serious" you think they are about this -- like, are they doodling what are essentially copies of manga panels or anime screenshots as an expression of their enthusiasm, or are they using manga and anime as a jumping-off point for a more serious interest in really learning how to draw?
For a casual artist: A basic set of grayscale markers like this (Deleter neopiko markers are one step up in quality, Copic are another step up), a small set of technical pens (I have this one and it's REALLY GREAT), and a nice pad of paper to use them on. If you aren't sure of what paper to get and are buying this in person at a store, the clerk can help you. Otherwise, basically any semi-decent bristol board is probably the way to go here, it can hold up to a lot of erasing.
For a more serious artist: All of the above would still apply, but maybe consider a smaller set of nicer markers, and swap the tecnical pens out for a nib inking starter set like this and a small container of waterproof blank ink like this. And maybe a nice black brush pen for filling in larger areas of black. If they're very Serious Business about learning to draw manga-style characters, then playing around with nib inking is just about the nerdiest possible expression of that interest. And it would combine well with their gothic style.
If they're serious enough about this that they already own all the above supplies: consider getting them a couple of screentone starter sets like this one (and maybe one sillier one like this), as well as a good-quality art knife to cut them with.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:36 AM on May 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Staedtler Triplus Fineliners are delicious to draw with. But fight or flight makes a superb point -- gift card to your country's best art supply shop, perhaps? Also check out stuff like these Itoya Art Profolios; having a nice professional book with clear plastic sleeves for his art might be nice to store the better stuff and show it off from time to time.
posted by kmennie at 6:36 AM on May 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by kmennie at 6:36 AM on May 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh, and to be clear: my entire answer is predicated on the assumption that this teen has any interest whatsoever with "analog" drawing.
If they seem 100% focused on drawing digitally, that's different, and fight or flight is totally correct about supporting that existing process.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:02 AM on May 3, 2016
If they seem 100% focused on drawing digitally, that's different, and fight or flight is totally correct about supporting that existing process.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:02 AM on May 3, 2016
Response by poster: All their drawing is analog, actually. I just threw the iPad thing in in case there was an app with tutorials or something. Speaking of which, they do want a book on drawing. Any suggestions?
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:13 AM on May 3, 2016
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:13 AM on May 3, 2016
If they want to learn how to draw comics, then Drawing Words and Writing Pictures is an excellent excellent place to start. It's basically a semester of cartooning instruction in a self-guided workbook form, it's fantastic. And there's a more advanced sequel book if they end up being interested.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:41 AM on May 3, 2016
posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:41 AM on May 3, 2016
Speaking of which, they do want a book on drawing. Any suggestions?
I always hesitate to recommend 'How To Draw' books because they tend to focus on getting the reader to emulate another artist's style, often to the detriment of the reader's own style. As a young artist I learned and grew best when I was drawing from references in my own style, rather than trying to carbon copy someone else.
So with that in mind, I'd recommend:
Figure Drawing for All It's Worth by Andrew Loomis
Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet (with an aside warning that it contains a few pages of non-sexual close-ups of genitalia, if that's something you might be concerned by)
posted by fight or flight at 7:46 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I always hesitate to recommend 'How To Draw' books because they tend to focus on getting the reader to emulate another artist's style, often to the detriment of the reader's own style. As a young artist I learned and grew best when I was drawing from references in my own style, rather than trying to carbon copy someone else.
So with that in mind, I'd recommend:
Figure Drawing for All It's Worth by Andrew Loomis
Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet (with an aside warning that it contains a few pages of non-sexual close-ups of genitalia, if that's something you might be concerned by)
posted by fight or flight at 7:46 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maybe a few books on Japanese traditional art and modern design? Taschen has a few books on both, particularly Hiroshige. Or on the story of Manga? Seconding the idea it's more interesting to learn that Tezuka was inspired by Disney and particularly Fleischer (originating the "big eyes" thing started with Astro Boy) than a how-to book on to replicate the style of Toriyama, Eiichiro Oda or Shirow.
As for drawing material, I love the Kuretake ZIG number 22 brush pen, and Pigma has delightful markers. Copic AFAIK is the gold standard on markers for manga, maybe a skin color set which is more useful than a bunch of basic colors you'd get on every supermarket (even if they're lower quality).
Personally I'd probably go with black markers/brushers/fine liners of quality and variety rather than going all in with Copic - they're crazy expensive (your budget would be almost all spent on those six skin color markers), and not as much value as a learning tool. On more regular stuff, a good white gel pen - if they like drawing gothic, to make lacy patterns all they need to do is draw a thick black line, then fill in details with white gel and a black fineliner outside the line. Maybe some metallic gold/silver/purple gel pens and markers for highlights, too. Those are cheap, and can have a lot of impact on a finished drawing - this is something I did on top of a print with around €3 worth of a Zig golden marker and a Uniball gel pen.
posted by lmfsilva at 9:16 AM on May 3, 2016
As for drawing material, I love the Kuretake ZIG number 22 brush pen, and Pigma has delightful markers. Copic AFAIK is the gold standard on markers for manga, maybe a skin color set which is more useful than a bunch of basic colors you'd get on every supermarket (even if they're lower quality).
Personally I'd probably go with black markers/brushers/fine liners of quality and variety rather than going all in with Copic - they're crazy expensive (your budget would be almost all spent on those six skin color markers), and not as much value as a learning tool. On more regular stuff, a good white gel pen - if they like drawing gothic, to make lacy patterns all they need to do is draw a thick black line, then fill in details with white gel and a black fineliner outside the line. Maybe some metallic gold/silver/purple gel pens and markers for highlights, too. Those are cheap, and can have a lot of impact on a finished drawing - this is something I did on top of a print with around €3 worth of a Zig golden marker and a Uniball gel pen.
posted by lmfsilva at 9:16 AM on May 3, 2016
Also: this app appears to be free, so not eligible for the gift part of your question, but if your teen friend is interested in recs for manga-focused ipad drawing apps to try out, this one has been making the rounds on Tumblr recently and people seem pretty excited about it.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 9:48 AM on May 3, 2016
posted by Narrative Priorities at 9:48 AM on May 3, 2016
I'm looking at a mini photography studio kit the artist in my life can use to take good pics of her art to upload on Deviant Art (she has an iPod touch).
posted by tilde at 10:10 AM on May 3, 2016
posted by tilde at 10:10 AM on May 3, 2016
Copic is the gold standard for art markers, but they are mad expensive. I would highly recommend some water brush pens that have built in reservoirs and a decent, artist quality watercolor pan set. All of that experience with using a brush tip and learning color theory will translate into the high quality brush tipped markers that professionals use when the teenager is ready to start buying and using markers that cost five bucks each. Any multimedia or watercolor paper will do.
posted by xyzzy at 9:41 PM on May 3, 2016
posted by xyzzy at 9:41 PM on May 3, 2016
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posted by easily confused at 5:48 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]