We have talked about 3 types of drawing.
* Iconic
* Abstract
* Figurative
1. Iconic:
Iconic drawing is the closest type of drawing to writing; iconic comes from the word "icon".
i·con (kn)
n.
1. also i·kon (kn)
a. An image; a representation.
b. A representation or picture of a sacred or sanctified Christian personage, traditionally used and venerated in the Eastern Church.
2. An important and enduring symbol: "Voyager will take its place ... alongside such icons of airborne adventure as The Spirit of St. Louis and [the] Bell X-1" (William D. Marbach).
Icons are EVERYWHERE and express multitudes of ideas, instructions, faiths ... even corporations. They are so powerful and simplistic we forget that they are designed DRAWINGS.
Icons are used constantly in manga, cartoons, graphic novels and sequential art. In manga, one of the most apparent is the sweat bead.
The sweat bead represents embarrassment, anxiety or other emotions and usually works along side a facial expression to fully represent an emotion.
Here is another iconic drawing. This smiley face looks absolutely nothing like a real face. It is a circle, a line and two dots. However, our minds do not read it as such. We read a face. This is because the smiley is an accepted icon to represent "smile" ... or ... "happy".
As described in Scott McCloud's "Understand Comics", the more iconic an image is, the more universal it becomes. This can work for the artist's advantage or disadvantage depending on what the artist is attempting to articulate.
Here are some iconic cartoon heads to depict various emotions. Notice how this artist is not your typically cliche version of a "good drawer". This person's drawing ability lies in his/her ability to express emotion iconically. I particularly like "dizzy" ... a scribble line is next to the person's head (this does not exist in reality, but totally makes sense in the context of a cartoon).
2. Abstract Drawing
Abstract drawing in manga and cartoons is related to iconic drawing and can help express emotions, but in a subtly different way. 
The "contours" of a line can express emotion in and of themselves. In America one of the most famous abstract expressionist painters was Jackson Pollock. By today's standards where abstraction is fully accepted in the art world, this above painting is a bit dull. But in the context of the time of its creation (1950ties), a time of repression, Pollock's lines were LIBERATING, FREE, OUT OF CONTROL and captivating. Let's look at how specific manga artists use their lines to convey certain emotions.
The "contours" of a line can express emotion in and of themselves. In America one of the most famous abstract expressionist painters was Jackson Pollock. By today's standards where abstraction is fully accepted in the art world, this above painting is a bit dull. But in the context of the time of its creation (1950ties), a time of repression, Pollock's lines were LIBERATING, FREE, OUT OF CONTROL and captivating. Let's look at how specific manga artists use their lines to convey certain emotions.
Taiyo Matsumoto's "Black and White" takes place is a dystopian future Japan where the mafia and government control people's lives, including when it is ok to go outside, how and where people work, etc. However, the mafia and the government have a problem with the two street brat/building jumpers known as black and white; two 10 year old orphans who play by their own rules and disobey law.
The artist's line is on purposely linear and childish. The faces are very iconic; while the artist enjoys detail, perspective and advanced drawing techniques, the contours of his line are loose, care free and not attempting to depict reality.
Brian Chippendale's line is fast, frantic and bursting with energy. You can read the comic in English, but the abstract line gives his comics a very unique aesthetic that compliments the fast paced, stream of consciousness storytelling. He makes "mess-ter-pieces".
The artist's line is on purposely linear and childish. The faces are very iconic; while the artist enjoys detail, perspective and advanced drawing techniques, the contours of his line are loose, care free and not attempting to depict reality.
Brian Chippendale's line is fast, frantic and bursting with energy. You can read the comic in English, but the abstract line gives his comics a very unique aesthetic that compliments the fast paced, stream of consciousness storytelling. He makes "mess-ter-pieces".
3. Figurative Drawing
Figurative drawing is different than iconic drawing as it is less concerned with presenting an idea and more concerned with depicting the human body as it is seen. Drawing figuratively takes time, patience and practice; but the outcome in well worth the wait.
To draw figuratively the artist must have a memorized sense of how the human body is made up. Understanding anatomy is paramount; first the artist must have a good sense of the skeleton and THEN the muscular structure. In this class, I am not super concerned with students memorizing the body; college students spend entire semesters simply figure drawing and its HARD. With this said, I do expect everyone in this class to try figure drawing and to IMPROVE by the end of the semester.
Figurative drawing is different than iconic drawing as it is less concerned with presenting an idea and more concerned with depicting the human body as it is seen. Drawing figuratively takes time, patience and practice; but the outcome in well worth the wait.
To draw figuratively the artist must have a memorized sense of how the human body is made up. Understanding anatomy is paramount; first the artist must have a good sense of the skeleton and THEN the muscular structure. In this class, I am not super concerned with students memorizing the body; college students spend entire semesters simply figure drawing and its HARD. With this said, I do expect everyone in this class to try figure drawing and to IMPROVE by the end of the semester.
There are tricks to understanding the figure better as well; 3 heads equals the distance from between the head and the shoulders for instance. But more importantly, figure drawing means a student must LOOK at the figure constantly. When figure drawing, keep your head UP! LOOK! Don't keep your eyes on the paper ... this is a recipe for making inaccurate mistakes.
Figurative drawing is the basis to lots of action/adventure mangas, as well as dramas, sci-fis, etc.
In Manga, all three types of drawing is utilized to express a character.
Figurative drawing is the basis to lots of action/adventure mangas, as well as dramas, sci-fis, etc.
In Manga, all three types of drawing is utilized to express a character.
CLASS TEST:
Here is a page from Kentaro Miura's "BERSERK".
1. find an example on the page of ICONIC drawing.
2. Find an example on the page of ABSTRACT drawing.
3. Find an example on the page of FIGURATIVE drawing.
Here is a page from Kentaro Miura's "BERSERK".
1. find an example on the page of ICONIC drawing.
2. Find an example on the page of ABSTRACT drawing.
3. Find an example on the page of FIGURATIVE drawing.
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