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~onegemini

Blair D. Shedd
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An Old PSA

Fri Oct 16, 2009, 10:43 AM
Still a bit sick, but chatting with some people today made me remember this PSA I post every year or so. I have new watchers now, so maybe it'll be of some use (and give you something to gander at until I'm well enough to draw for more than five minutes at a time);

Word to the youngin's (the wise already know).

Back at the Joe Kubert School they used to ram one idea into our heads -- "Bad is not a style." Even Joe himself said this at one point.

What that means is learn the basics BEFORE you try to find a style. It might be fun to draw anime/manga, or just like Rob Liefeld (shudder ;)), or make up a style that you think is cool, but can you draw a good drawing of a tree? A baby? A portrait of your grandmother WITHOUT making them cartoony? I bet most pro anime/manga artists can, I bet Charles Shultz could, Bill Watterson DEFINITELY could. Trust me, it shows if you can't draw the basics; you drew Batman's ears nicely, but it looks like he has scoliosis, and not in a "stylized" way -- the whole piece suffers for it.

Walk before you run. Run before you fly. You don't get your artistic license until you prove you earned it.

Now go on. Grow.

~B
____
It is returning through the dark...

...And I shall help him meet it there.
__________________
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All images appearing within this dA gallery are copyright © 2009 Blair D. Shedd unless otherwise noted. All original characters are copyright © 2009 their original owners unless otherwise noted. Blair D. Shedd makes no claims of ownership on characters, stories, people, places, or events appearing in his illustrations unless specifically noted.

15 Comments
  • Mood: Pain

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:iconian-x:
=ian-x Oct 16, 2009, 10:44:35 AM
Is "getting talented artists to do it for me" a style?

--
BEST WORK - [link]
THE DEATHLINGS: New comic, check out our site!
FAN ART CONTEST for The Deathlings!
:icononegemini:
~onegemini Oct 16, 2009, 10:49:46 AM
I think that's called "writer's style." ;)

--
Artist on DOCTOR WHO from IDW Publishing.
Website and Blog: oneGemini Studios
:iconian-x:
=ian-x Oct 16, 2009, 11:07:09 AM
"Lucky Writer's Style"

That almost makes it sound like Kung-Fu, actually... hmm...

--
BEST WORK - [link]
THE DEATHLINGS: New comic, check out our site!
FAN ART CONTEST for The Deathlings!
:icononegemini:
~onegemini Oct 16, 2009, 11:49:17 AM
Eventually you shall master "Drunken Writer's Style." ;)

--
Artist on DOCTOR WHO from IDW Publishing.
Website and Blog: oneGemini Studios
:iconian-x:
=ian-x Oct 16, 2009, 11:50:27 AM
That would be impressive. I don't really drink.

Though I am pretty sure I can manage making people think "Was he drunk when he wrote this shit?!" Style if I really try.

--
BEST WORK - [link]
THE DEATHLINGS: New comic, check out our site!
FAN ART CONTEST for The Deathlings!
:iconatomicageethan:
~AtomicAgeEthan Oct 16, 2009, 3:55:06 PM
Yeah. Joel Naprstek gave us some good pointers while I was at JKS and that one you mentioned was one of them. He went a bit further and mentioned these tidbits I utilize to this day;
-Think about art and the producing of images all the time.

-Don't just make pretty pictures; make art (by this he was referring to layout, design, and structure of a piece. Granted, he was a painter primarily but the rules still apply in my mind when we're working on comic pages or single images).

-Hammer on your art but don't be mindless; mindless hammering produces weak art and you don't learn anything from the process.

Joel was a hard as nails guy with a really soft center so a few of the things he quoted would make you scratch your head but once you thought about it and talked to him about it; you got it. That last one was about pushing yourself but using your brain while you were doing it.

Anyway, there's the gist of it.
I hope you feel better!

--
We watch the world exploding every single night.
:iconerikwilliams:
~ErikWilliams Oct 16, 2009, 5:03:08 PM
Joel Naprstek! Awesome! He was the man. Jeez OneGemini, more Liefeld hate! Drink some hater-aide! Liefeld is everyone's example of the bad artist... yet somehow, whenever he draws something, it sells ba-trillions of copies! It's like Madonna albums! :)
:icononegemini:
~onegemini Oct 16, 2009, 5:33:58 PM
I don't hate as much as Yellow Hat. I respect his accomplishments, and him as a person -- but no one can make me like his art. And I remember just about everyone at JKS with the Liefeld hate when we were there. That was Heroes Reborn time. There was plenty of hate for his Captain America, then resurrection of Fighting American at Awesome!

There's no doubt he has a fan base, but I believe he also makes sales via those who like to rubberneck at car wrecks. While I don't buy Liefeld stuff, I do buy any comic I can from creators (indie usually, but mainstream if they make it) that think they're the shit, when they actually are just shit.

--
Artist on DOCTOR WHO from IDW Publishing.
Website and Blog: oneGemini Studios
:iconseoulmanted:
*seoulmanTED Oct 16, 2009, 6:49:21 PM
Ah, yes I remember that well (Blair and I were in the same class,folks ;p). It's very true. The other thing I'd say is, don't try too hard to come up with a style, everyone has their influences but I find the way one naturally draws will come out at develop into a style without forcing it. Usually if you force a style, drawings never live up to their potential vs. trusting your instinct, that couple with training and practice or course!

--
Ted Kim
illustrator • concept artist
official site: [link]

Prints available: [link]
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