Would you guys critique my samples and give me some advice?

[LiamMartinArtist]

Hi I'm Liam Martin, a penciller, and here are my samples. I'd like to get to a pro level where I could get hired by an actual comic publisher and I'd just appreciate some objective critique.

I recently turned 21 and the last job I had was at a grocery store but my parents allowed me until I'm 22 to get a pro art/comic job, and if I don't I'll have to move out. So what are your guy's thoughts?

[LiamMartinArtist]

https://imgur.com/a/4i1qCCU

[jorgezeraba]

Liam I do appreciate the effort you put into these pages.

It's a bit difficult to go in depth with what you should consider, for your future work.

All I can say is, your storytelling is basic. But it can be more economical. Meaning, have panels that are needed, to tell the story. Try not to be superfluous, UNLESS that is your intent.

Try to identify, what is VITAL in your drawings, meaning, if you over render things, it will may soften the strength of the clarity in your storytelling.

Anatomy, and perspective, can be improved over time.

You have the energy to draw, which is great. But now, I would focus on clarity of storytelling, and not trying to IMPRESS editors.

[SageGod]

What's up Liam! I really enjoy new discovering new artist trying to find their way in to the funny pages. First off nice work, your situational composition and vision frame by frame is high level even though it needs work. Art work on a whole is promising but need a lot of improvement.
-----------------
Now even though we all love comics you have to remember the medium is cascading downward due to the digital age and paid comic book work is maintained mostly by the vets.. hell even Jim Lee has been sidelined. So you may want to land your self a self sustaining gig and level up your art at the same time so at least you are earning with your art and not working at a job you dislike.
---------------------
The best way to do that is Gnomon or Kubert
Here is the link. https://www.gnomon.edu/academics/fou...n-art-&-design or https://www.kubertschool.edu/about.html
-------------------------

I had this same convo with a friend of mine in 2009. He went to Daves School for a year and then got job placement assistance... and although he didnt end up in comics he ended up working on the walking dead show and cw arrow verse designing... so at the vry least you would be in the art world and can navigate from there.
---------------------------------------------

That Gnomon course will give you all the tools you need for comics so will Kubert. As a matter of fact I believe one of Gnomons instructors is David Finch.

If you go the route of self study you will need more than a year.
If you spend all your time refining and learning even for 6 months you then have to shop your portfolio around and the only way to do that is the Cons which are only once a year... and Im not sure but I believe only New York, Texas, and San Diego Con will look at portfolios for DC and Marvel.

----------------------------------------
Apply that to no industry experience that will make shopping your portfolio very hard and longer than a year. That brings me to possible solutions for you if you are unable to get to Gnomon or Kubert to get comics to notice you. (Warning you will get no sleep so stock up on REDBULL)
------------------------------------------

1- Take 3 months and upgrade your work as much as you can not with comic book art but with real life art people, faces, anatomy, lighting, and environments. downloads reference and draw the piece several times in a day to get automatic with the subject matter.

2- Take the next 6 months- select a famous comicbook story and panel it in your own fashion. Also take some time to make singular iconic splash work of you favorite characters. Post this work to your social media often aim for 3 posts or more per day. Gain an online following. As a matter of fact post all of your work as a progression diary.

3- Your last 3 months - begin shopping your work to who you can. If you are able to, looking into getting a talent agent as that is really the only way to get into comics now unless someone in comics recommends you or you become phenomenal. Remember to pencil then ink your work. and display both because most cb houses now require their artists to pencil and ink their own work.

---------------------------

Good Luck!

[DCdraw]

Nothing stands out to me as being glaringly off, just seems like you need further refinement on your skills all around. That's great that your parents are giving you some time, make the most of it and use that time hustling to level up instead of aimlessly scrolling through social media and playing video games lol.

Also avoid gnomon workshop...its mostly geared towards visual fx for tv and movies. They have some good comicbook courses but i mean david finch has been postingfree content on his YouTube channel for over a year. So why would you pay for content when the same type of content is available elsewhere for free,right?

[Lovecraft13]

There are some cool, little things happening here. The immense details you put into each panel are my favorite bits: the bricks, the bottom of the car, the bus's exterior and interior. Having an eye for great detail means you're willing to make each panel nice to look at. There is also a great cinematic approach to the storytelling. When the robber gets onto the bus, you have this tilted angle with the long perspective in the background is great. Looks rather awesome.

General perspective work is something you'll get better at the more you do it. When the predator flips the car, it looks a bit off, but maybe because of the predator's posture related to the angle of the street. With that said, I do love that first sample with the castle. You certainly have your own distinct style, which is hard for most to do starting out.

I would recommend practicing more human anatomy work. Some of it looks stiff and stilted, but that's also something that will also get easier with time, as long as you're willing to keep at it.

Overall, there's some great promise here.

[SageGod]

Originally Posted by DCdraw

Also avoid gnomon workshop...its mostly geared towards visual fx for tv and movies. They have some good comicbook courses but i mean david finch has been postingfree content on his YouTube channel for over a year. So why would you pay for content when the same type of content is available elsewhere for free,right?

Because education is the best way into a career that requires mastery. Being taught by an industry professor directly holds more weight that watching a video... That professor has no way of conveying to his peers that you the pupil understands what he has taught you thru a video on Youtube... Then there is also the fact that the other skills taught for TV and movies will land you a career anyway even without comics providing you experience and connections to get you into comics later on. If you miss and cant get into comics which is a dying medium and has fired even Jim Lee as of late including almost 500 other pro artists in the last two years.... Im sure you would rather work at Pixar than Walmart. GET THE PRO EDUCATION and CREDENTIALS IF POSSIBLE. "Remember you get what you pay for."

[DCdraw]

As far as youtube....the Finch material is simlar quality to his Gnomon courses and actually goes into far greater detail than the gnomon courses....speaking firsthand, I have those gnomon courses... which is why I mentioned youtube in the first place. Finch, Proko, New Masters Academy, Watts Attelier...they have great stuff on YouTube and even more content through their courses. Way more useful and practical than the specialized courses Gnomon offers.

Anyway, at the end of the day all that matters is the portfolio, education credentials not so much unless you're looking to teach. Ive been making a living drawing character/creature designs for tabletop minis for the last 12 years as well as comic cover work (idw,valiant) and not once have I ever been asked about my education, diploma or if I learned from a video.

And yes, I absolutely believe someone can learn from a free youtube video just as effectively as a high priced course.
To quote Gene Hackman in Superman: "Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe."

[Metalni]

I am a professional storyboard artist from Croatia- and yeah, nobody asked me for anything but portfolio.
Hell, nobody asked me do I even speak english.
Ever.
And I am in this job for over a decade.

Anyway, I totally agree with @DCdraw about those free YT videos... with a practice and discipline, you can learn anything for free. When we're talking about drawing, yes, Finch channel is a really great place if you're loking for a knowledge.
But dont hesitate to find others and see what they have to offer.

And of course, you need to implement what you learned- othervise, it's pointless.
Study and practice.