IDEAS

Students are progressing with their understanding and ability to utilize drawing techniques. Students are developing with own aesthetics that combine figurative, abstract and iconic drawings. The drawings are becoming complex as we introduce perspective and cross hatching.

The class, for the most part, however, is lacking in narrative and ideas.

Manga is created in fragments. Each fragment is an idea.

"An idea is a thought. It's a thought that holds more than you think it does when you receive it. But in that first moment there is a spark. In a comic strip, if someone gets an idea, a light bulb goes on. It happens in an instant, just as in life.
It would be great if the entire story cam all at once. But it comes, for me, in fragments. That first fragment is like the Rosetta Stone. It's the piece of the puzzle that indicates the rest. It's a hopeful puzzle piece.
You fall in love with the first idea, that little tiny piece. And once you've got it, the rest will come in time." - David Lynch, Film Director, Painter, Cartoonist

Let us observe the many FRAGMENTS that have been created in this class.


Lyquan did a portrait of yours truly. His proportions in the figure improving! Remember the
"Adventures of Link" cross hatched drawings (see the last blog post). These arms are in perfect length, even though the hands are a little small. I believe this is an improvement because he's LOOKING at me while he's drawing, AKA - LIFE DRAWING. Drawing from life will always improve your drawing ability. Also, lots of cross hatching. Good stuff!

While there in narrative in this drawing, it is still just a fragment. This picture, in order to be manga, needs a sequential PANEL that connects it and throws the story in the future.
Once again, he is a very well proportioned figure drawing and a nice tonal portrait. However, once again, these are just FRAGMENTS. Who is this person? Where is he? Why is he in a mask? Is he hiding? Remember, this class is SEQUENTIAL. Very good drawing technique, but let's further the ideas.
Once again, incredible drawing. Now it is time to work more than just figurative. use the WHOLE page.

Eric is working on a long term project, Michael is working on a long term project, ... and they're working in fragments. One panel at a time. You don't need to have the whole story plotted out, just a sense of organization by using Will Eisner's story chart.

If you are stuck, start with something you like. The top right corner - something you've been thinking about. Maybe it's just a room. Or an animal. Or an object. Then, think of a problem related to this setting, etc.



EXTRA CREDIT:

24 HOUR COMIC.

1. Take your notebook home. Pick a day, start at midnight: record when you wake up. Example: 7:30 AM. At 7:30 draw one panel documenting yourself at that present moment. At 8:30, draw another panel recording yourself that that present moment. Then at 9:30. Then at 10:30. Then at 11:30. Finish when you go to bed.

The drawings don't have to be super detailed. make this activity and fun; don't kill yourself with the drawings.

Bring in the 24 hour comic on the next manga/anime class.