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Published: 2008-08-08 12:56:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 201187; Favourites: 3812; Downloads: 48725
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Description
Hey everyone. This is the tutorial that goes with the 25 Essential Expressions exercise sheet.Now, I want it to be understood that I don't think this is the only way or even the best way to make unique characters. The beauty of comic art is that it's infinitely varied and approached from all different angles. I just wanted to share how I do it, and a couple of weaknesses I've noticed in the dominant styles and how I personally try to work around those. Remember that above all, you gotta play to your strengths. I remember agonizing over my style to a colleague once, and she said to me, "Yeah, but that's your style and it's great." So often in comic art guides I see instructions that basically tell you to drop everything that makes your art unique - don't do this! In the final figure in the tutorial, you'll see me try to do traditional western comic style, and then I do my own style. The first style is neater, but the second style, as bobbly and loose as it is, has a lot more emotion in it.
I'm rambling. Thank thank thank THANK you for all the wonderful feedback with 25 Essential Expressions! I'm touched beyond words. Feel free to share any good sketches you might make from this tutorial - I love to see if I've helped anyone out!
Lots of love and hugs,
Nancy.
Related content
Comments: 360
Djeroon In reply to ??? [2010-10-21 11:39:32 +0000 UTC]
Very insightful! Gives me alot of things to think about and practice!
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napalmnacey In reply to Djeroon [2010-12-14 20:28:15 +0000 UTC]
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!
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Sunny-Showers In reply to ??? [2010-10-19 04:09:43 +0000 UTC]
VERY helpful! I wish I could think of more words to describe how awesome and amazing and helpful this is, but I'm rather tired right now from spending hours using this as a guide for designing a new character. Which is definitely a good thing!! I especially love it because it isn't in an anime/manga style, and I'm having a hard time finding tutorials for "American" style comics. So bonus points for that!
Thanks so much, and wonderful job!
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napalmnacey In reply to Sunny-Showers [2010-12-14 20:29:25 +0000 UTC]
I was hoping that my tut managed to transcend style. There are certain elements that are essential in all comics, though my specialty is Western Style (in the Indie subset).
Feel free to ask me any questions or whatever, I'm happy to help out.
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the-soup [2010-08-06 13:51:46 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much for this! I'm trying to become a better artist, and your tutorial has helped me one step of the way.
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napalmnacey In reply to the-soup [2010-12-14 20:29:40 +0000 UTC]
Then I am deeply honoured to help you on that journey.
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ScrambledMeg [2010-07-25 05:21:20 +0000 UTC]
Thanks so much for this, i'm going to test out my characters on the meme now! ^w^
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Stefi-Delly In reply to ??? [2010-07-24 06:24:39 +0000 UTC]
This was really helpful and awesome!
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napalmnacey In reply to Stefi-Delly [2010-07-25 03:54:07 +0000 UTC]
Glad to be of assistance!
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Layla-TB [2010-07-20 18:36:04 +0000 UTC]
What a pitty! I can't dowload pdf forms. But it looks really beutifuly
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napalmnacey In reply to Layla-TB [2010-07-21 00:52:58 +0000 UTC]
HTML form coming soon.
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clashdraig [2010-06-07 19:57:23 +0000 UTC]
Ack... Why does this computer crash with PDF... Is it ok if I fav this to view later?
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napalmnacey In reply to clashdraig [2010-06-08 09:53:46 +0000 UTC]
Of course it is! LOL!
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napalmnacey In reply to EvilNessCroft [2010-05-31 02:18:44 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! Glad to be of service.
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MizuKieko [2010-05-17 18:58:08 +0000 UTC]
Umm... Is there any other way to view it, or am I SOL? It's just that I don't have that program to view the document. ^-^'
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napalmnacey In reply to MizuKieko [2010-05-18 08:23:01 +0000 UTC]
At the moment, SOL, but I am going to get an HTML version up before long, I promise.
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MizuKieko In reply to napalmnacey [2010-05-18 18:48:51 +0000 UTC]
Alright. I'm glade for that. ^-^ Thanks.
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pilee [2010-05-15 21:29:28 +0000 UTC]
Uh. . .where is the tutorial? It doesn't show here to me TTnTT
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napalmnacey In reply to pilee [2010-05-16 14:58:29 +0000 UTC]
You have to download it and open it in a PDF viewer.
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pilee In reply to napalmnacey [2010-05-17 01:28:19 +0000 UTC]
Oh, I see. Thanks!
Now i feel kinda stupid but . . . oh well.
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napalmnacey In reply to pilee [2010-05-18 08:20:21 +0000 UTC]
It's not immediately apparent, so don't feel stupid!
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aque-mizuhara [2010-04-16 10:58:53 +0000 UTC]
I'm not into western style, more a manga artist, but I'll surely give this one and the 25 essential expressions a try when I find some time! I always had major problems with making one character resamble oneself in different pictures, so this might be very helpful.
Thank you for making and posting it!
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napalmnacey In reply to aque-mizuhara [2010-05-08 04:14:03 +0000 UTC]
I think, in manga/anime, from what I've seen, the way of differentiating characters tends to be very slight stylistic differences within the way each character is drawn. It's completely different from Western art, which is why I didn't include it in the tutorial (plus I'm really unfamiliar with the wide range of styles that are prevalent in that particular drawing culture, so I wouldn't be doing it justice). I hope you get something out of the tutorial, at any rate.
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dreamoctober [2010-01-18 21:51:27 +0000 UTC]
thanks for posting this, it really helps and it's lots of fun trying different ways of creating a character on paper.
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napalmnacey In reply to dreamoctober [2010-05-08 05:18:19 +0000 UTC]
Character creation is my favourite part of being a comic artist!
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pjryandesigns In reply to ??? [2010-01-11 20:40:52 +0000 UTC]
Thank you for sharing this great info! Can't wait to practice my drawing.
Patti Ryan
Editor
Totally-Creative Magazine
[link]
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napalmnacey In reply to pjryandesigns [2010-05-08 04:15:05 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! I hope it helped!
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Tai-chow In reply to ??? [2010-01-02 09:41:19 +0000 UTC]
I humbly thank you for this. I really need to work more on expression in my work, so this is really a huge help. Thank you!!!
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napalmnacey In reply to Tai-chow [2010-05-08 04:15:16 +0000 UTC]
No problems! Good luck.
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Romy-SD In reply to ??? [2010-01-02 04:35:02 +0000 UTC]
this tutorial is amazing, there are a lot of things I thought of myself but I couldnยดt express it in my thought, words or drawings n_n this clears up everything!
Thank you so much for taking the work and time to do the tut!
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napalmnacey In reply to Romy-SD [2010-05-08 05:18:00 +0000 UTC]
Thanks for taking the time to give me feedback! I appreciate it!
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Bun800 In reply to ??? [2009-12-20 01:19:01 +0000 UTC]
I wish I could see this. is there another link to your "characters"?
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napalmnacey In reply to Bun800 [2010-05-08 04:15:33 +0000 UTC]
I will put up an HTML version soon.
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admiral-squee [2009-12-13 23:45:55 +0000 UTC]
Wow, it looks like you really worked on this!
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napalmnacey In reply to admiral-squee [2010-05-08 04:15:59 +0000 UTC]
I did! Took me a week or two to put together, but I love sharing what I know about comics and art.
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admiral-squee In reply to napalmnacey [2010-05-08 04:37:38 +0000 UTC]
Glad that you do. The DA community will surely benefit from your input.
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RocMegamanX In reply to ??? [2009-11-11 05:10:22 +0000 UTC]
Question about the faces:
How do you know what each shape symbolizes on a person's face?
Did you research shapes?
If so, is there a book or website?
I hope to use that 25 essential expressions sheet, but do I need to fill in every panel?
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napalmnacey In reply to RocMegamanX [2010-05-08 05:17:07 +0000 UTC]
I just chose them at random. Plus, there's a lot of art theory out there, about symbolism and so forth.
The square shape I chose for Carrie is because the square is seen as a solid, firm, earthy form. Carrie is the leader of the bunch, so this transmits a sense of strength about her.
Andrea is round, oval, curvy. These things are traditionally seen as feminine, fluid, sensual. The circle is a symbol for eternity, and is linked to many fertility Gods and Goddesses. It's a potent symbol, and so I incorporated it into Andrea's design.
Ci-Ki/Psyche is designed with the triangle in mind. The triangle is used repeatedly to symbolise the esoteric, the occult, and the spiritual. Ci-Ki's superpower is empathy and psychic ability, so this reflects that. Other triangular symbols of spiritualism include the Pyramid, which is another very potent symbol.
By studying symbols prevalent in human culture throughout the world, I can strongly transmit the nature of my characters through these visual cues. It acts in concert with the script and the expressiveness of the art itself to do most of the hard work of character for me.
I recommend studying symbolism. There are a lot of symbolic cues that people pick up almost subliminally that aid the communication in an art piece.
Use the 25 essential expression sheet as you need/want. What I do is use the prompts on the sheet and draw on a separate sheet. Maybe there are prompts that your character doesn't need. Maybe there are prompts I haven't got that your character DOES need. Alter and use as you desire.
Good luck!
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RocMegamanX In reply to napalmnacey [2010-05-08 18:39:59 +0000 UTC]
Are there any such books about symbolism that you suggest? In the meantime, would searching on the Web for the time being suffice?
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napalmnacey In reply to RocMegamanX [2010-05-09 07:13:45 +0000 UTC]
I just read books and stuff. Plus I have studied a lot of mythology and Occult subjects, where most of my symbolism comes from.
There are heaps of resources for it online.
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Shishiaru In reply to ??? [2009-10-22 21:51:05 +0000 UTC]
I can download it but dont have a program to view it D:
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napalmnacey In reply to Shishiaru [2010-05-08 05:17:26 +0000 UTC]
You'll need a PDF viewier. There are a few free ones floating around.
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straw-hat In reply to ??? [2009-10-19 00:58:15 +0000 UTC]
You have great advice! Thank you very much! I'll remember this next time I'm drawing.
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