Multi-Channel Publishing
You want to write longform stories that are brisk and engaging, and yet you also want to optimize your comic to use social media to build an audience. It feels impossible to write a quality story and...
View ArticleShould You Re-Draw Old Comics?
It’s an inevitable part of getting better at comics. You look back on your earlier work and cringe. (And the better you’ve gotten, the more intense your regret!) Then, perhaps as you’re considering...
View ArticleHow to find your drawing style
I often say on the ComicLab podcast: ”It’s hard to drive towards an art style that you want. Usually, it’s something you see in the rearview mirror.” The content you are trying to access is only...
View ArticleWebcomics Confidential: Draw larger
I took a question on Twitter recently: “Would it be wrong to draw my comics on A4 paper? I find it hard to fill big spaces.” My answer was, of course. that he should do what they felt comfortable...
View ArticleCMYK vs RGB
If you’re saving your comics in RGB mode, you may be making a potentially expensive mistake. The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
View ArticleAdding lettering to improve original art sales
Selling original art is an integral part of the business model of an independent cartoonist who works with traditional media (pencils, inks, etc.). But if you use digital lettering, that final art...
View ArticleWebcomics Confidential — Photo reference
Many artists have conflicting views on using photo references. The truth is that judicious, conscientious use of photo references can be a valid part of the drawing process. The content you are trying...
View ArticleWebcomics Confidential: Unnecessary Tangents
Unnecessary tangents in an illustration can be distracting — and kill the composition in an otherwise great drawing. While sketching a page for his Evil Inc comic, cartoonist Brad Guigar discusses...
View ArticleDesigning a logo — Dos and Don’ts
Designing a logo for your comic can be surprisingly daunting. After all, many of us are artists or collaborate directly with artists. However, designing a logo requires a slightly different skill set...
View ArticleOne concept: Focusing your writing
A comic strip has three or four panels in which to deliver its punchline. That’s not a lot of space. In fact, many novice comic strip writers stumble because they’re trying to do too many things in the...
View ArticleBookplates
Offering an original illustration inside a book — as part of an Artist Edition — is a tremendous way to drive sales and/or Kickstarter pledges. But… have you ever tried to draw a decent drawing on a...
View ArticleDrawing with a “dead” line
The quality of your line can add intensity and energy to your art. Let’s talk about drawing with a “dead” line… and why there might be a better choice for you! The content you are trying to access is...
View ArticleAccepting criticism
I accept criticism of my art from two sources: peers who are on a similar journey whom I reach out to for advice (like an art-school critique, for example), and people with a demonstrated proficiency...
View ArticleClip Studio tip: Draft layers
If you’ve ever inked on your pencil layer, here’s a Clip Studio tip that will change your life. The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
View ArticleShould you re-draw old comics?
It’s an inevitable part of getting better at comics. You look back on your earlier work and cringe. (And the better you’ve gotten, the more intense your regret!) Then, perhaps as you’re considering...
View ArticleManaging commissions
I set up commissions as a Patreon reward, and it was so popular I had to set a limit to the monthly subscribers so I didn’t fall behind. One of the things that I use is a pre-written list of […] ↓ Read...
View ArticleHow to find your drawing style
I often say on the ComicLab podcast: ”It’s hard to drive towards an art style that you want. Usually, it’s something you see in the rearview mirror.” The content you are trying to access is only...
View ArticleThe Wally Wood Panelling Challenge
Many cartoonists are familiar with Wally Wood’s indelible contribution to comics theory: The 22 Panels That Always Work! I was thinking about Wally over breakfast — a morning Wood, if you please. And I...
View ArticleHow to draw…“better”
Let’s talk about an important part of drawing: Making mistakes. The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
View ArticleHow I draw a comic book page in Clip Studio
Let’s talk about the digital drawing process for a typical Evil Inc page. I start with a template I built in Clip Studio Paint. I’ve got a number of layers I can activate or deactivate to change the...
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