Q: Do you have any tips on creating graphic novels/comics? Any ways to have a faster production process?
Thumbnails from Star Knights! “Thumbnails” are rough sketches of a pages.
A: For graphic novels, speed is definitely important! I work fully digitally, usually in batches of pages at a time. So after I have thumbnails of every page, I’ll take a chunk and do the line art, then when I get burnt out of that, I'll swap and do color flats and shading. Clip Studio Paint has a lot of great shortcuts, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to do comics (especially for flatting quickly). Also vector line art layers in CSP are super convenient!
Using apps like Sketchup to create 3D models of buildings.
I also reuse drawings when I can, mostly for backgrounds. I’ve copy pasted buildings before to save time. I’ve also used sites/apps like Sketchup to make models of buildings that I can trace over (this was especially helpful for Misfit Mansion).
Simplifying colors can also save time, like coloring a crowd scene/ group of background characters a solid color instead of coloring every single one…also I try not to get too bothered by something not looking great. Most people read so quickly they aren’t going to notice stuff I might be hung up on as the artist.
Q: How did you come up with your art style? I’m having trouble figuring out what my art should look like.
A: I think getting stuck on perfecting your art style is very common for younger artists, and was definitely something I struggled with as well. I think when you’re starting out, the most important thing isn’t to figure out what the drawing should look like, but to first learn how to draw everything. The more you draw, the more your style will fall into place. After all, an “art style” is just a reflection of how you see the world! While it’s great to find influence from other styles you like, strive less to copy exact that thing, and work more on improving your drawing skills first. Draw from life— rooms, buildings, cars, people! But also, have fun with it! My own art style has changed many times over the years, and will continue to change in the future. Here are some drawings I did in middle school, when I was mostly influenced by Pokemon and anime/manga.
