The Atomic Think Tank

by **Khantalas** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:13 pm

OK, basically, I've gone wrong somewhere in the basic proportions. Hoping someone more experienced than me can clear it up.

So, basically, a hero figure is eight-and-a-half heads tall, right? So, a drawing with a head that is six centimeters should be about fifty one centimeters.

OK, than why does it look like the head is way too small compared to the body when I draw the skeleton? Have I gone loco?

Speaking of proportions, what should be the ratio of the head's length to its width?

by **ReeboKesh** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:43 pm

Hey Khantalas

I can see the standard "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" formula your trying to use but the the thing is unless your drawing in a 'realistic' style like Perez or DMAC then it shouldn't really matter. I can assure you artist like Skottie Young

and Mike Mignola don't stick to that formula.

If we could see your work then we could offer some suggestions.
Reebo

by **mancerbear** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:53 pm

I would agree, seeing your work would help us help you

Cheers,

by **DMAC** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:55 pm

Here's a scan of the male figure diagram from HTDCTMW:

by **Khantalas** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:19 am

ReeboKesh wrote:I can see the standard "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" formula your trying to use but the the thing is unless your drawing in a 'realistic' style like Perez or DMAC then it shouldn't really matter. I can assure you artist like Skottie Young and Mike Mignola don't stick to that formula.

If we could see your work then we could offer some suggestions.
Reebo

Actually, the eight-and-a-half heads rule is from another book I have on drawing a human figure (and yes, I'm trying to draw in a realistic style, but failing utterly).

And sadly, I don't have a scanner available at the moment, and the only one I can think of can't scan an A2 drawing. I'll see what I can do, though.

by **Libra** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:01 am

Excellent. It's always good to see more artistic efforts on the Think Tank.

by **Khantalas** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:40 pm

Hi, me again. Another problem.

What do I do if my table isn't long enough to lay my paper on completely? Get a new table? Call it a night? Draw on the floor?

by **mancerbear** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:40 pm

Use smaller paper

Cheers,

by **ReeboKesh** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:45 pm

Mate can I ask why are you drawing on A2 size paper?! That's 4 times the size of A4 which is 840cm by 594cm! You trying to draw a poster?

You could always draw on A4, cover it with a grid and enlarge it manually or get a projector.

Reebo

by **Khantalas** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:06 pm

Huh? I'm pretty sure A2 isn't that large (695 mm x 495 mm, in fact).

Drawing on A2 helps me work larger, making mistakes more obvious and more easily corrected. Although I could move to A3...

And, forgive my ignorance but... grid?

by **mancerbear** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:09 pm

I work primarily on A3, and at other times on A4... Never really had the need to go any larger, and when I do, I just do the drawing on seperate A3 sheets.

I think going bigger than A3 is more problematic than useful.

Just MHO though.

Cheers

by **ReeboKesh** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:16 pm

Ah yes my mistake you are correct but A2 is still a big sheet of paper.

Ok grid is when you draw a grid over your small picture then draw a scale grid over your large sheet of paper. Then basically you follow the placement of lines in each box and draw an enlarged picture. Its not very accurate but it depends on how detailed the pic is.

Reebo

by **Omega Girl** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 6:03 pm

If it's really frustrating you getting proportions to look right in your head, then try this little trick: Grab a pad of cheapo tracing paper and a sports or outdoorsman-style magazine from the checkout stand (the ones that are 80% ads), and go through with your tracing paper and trace the basic proportions off of as many different figures as you can (be careful not to confuse hair size with head size; that can throw you). Tracing like this is a terrible way to draw anything, but it's a great way to start teaching your brain and you hand the approximate proportions of "realistic" figures. It's also a handy way of roughing our perspective.

by **Khantalas** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:24 am

Excuse my curiosity (again), but is Bristol paper supposed to be non-grainy? And if it is, it it used for inking only or is it also used for pencils?

Speaking of pencils, how's Stædtler Mars Lumograph as a choice of pencils?

Speaking of which, why don't we have a stickied help for budding artists thread?

by **DrZero** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:55 am

Khantalas wrote:Excuse my curiosity (again), but is Bristol paper supposed to be non-grainy? And if it is, it it used for inking only or is it also used for pencils?

I use Bristol paper for both pencil and inking, its smooth and non-grainy making it ideal for detailed work and scanning.

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