{"id":35575,"date":"2014-01-07T20:00:22","date_gmt":"2014-01-07T12:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/?p=35575"},"modified":"2016-08-23T18:43:09","modified_gmt":"2016-08-23T10:43:09","slug":"how-to-create-great-illustrations-and-comics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/2014\/01\/07\/how-to-create-great-illustrations-and-comics\/","title":{"rendered":"How to create great illustrations and comics"},"content":{"rendered":"

I read a post by Seth Godin a couple of weeks ago, and in it, he mentions that:<\/p>\n

“No one reads a comic strip because it’s drawn well.”<\/a><\/p>\n

I almost yelled out a loud “YES!” (barred only by the fact that I was in a public place at the time) because that’s one of the main things I keep harping on and on about whenever I speak to students or people who tell me that their work isn’t good enough to be shown.<\/p>\n

It’s not about coloring in the lines, nor making that perfect technically executed piece.<\/p>\n

It’s not about making sure you’ve dotted out all your i’s and crossed all your t’s.<\/p>\n

It’s not about comparing yourself to others, nor putting yourself up to impeccable standards set by others.<\/p>\n

I’ve come across so many different illustrations, comics and graphic novels that might not be fit into the mainstream standard of “pretty” \u2013 but are powerful, thought-provoking and edgy. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n

\"Brian<\/p>\n

Avoid This \u2013 a collection of illustrations by Brian Rea<\/a>\u00a0(who also regular on the NYTimes, illustrating a segment called Modern Love<\/a>)<\/h6>\n

\"Hyperbole<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Allie Brosh illustrates how dogs don’t understand basic concepts at Hyperbole and a Half<\/a><\/h6>\n

\"Amanda<\/p>\n

Excerpt from The Bun Field<\/a>\u00a0(published by Drawn & Quarterly)\u00a0\u2013 a collection of five stories by Amanda\u00a0V\u00e4h\u00e4m\u00e4ki<\/a><\/h6>\n

\"Kate<\/p>\n

Historical figures with a twist of humor by the inimitable\u00a0Kate Beaton<\/a><\/h6>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Oatmeal<\/a> – a webcomic by Matthew Inman that pokes fun at almost everything under the sun.<\/h6>\n

\"Ryan<\/p>\n

Ryan North draws dinosaurs that talk in\u00a0Dinosaur comics<\/a><\/h6>\n

\"Cyanide<\/p>\n

Rob DenBleyker for Cyanide & Happiness<\/a><\/b><\/h6>\n

It’s all about the story behind them that makes them stand out.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just think about it:<\/p>\n

What makes you want to scribble your thoughts down so quickly that you don’t mind the messiness of the process? What experiences, thoughts and things that you want to say<\/strong> that you find yourself continuing your lines right off the edges of your sketchbook \u2013\u00a0just so you won’t have to turn the page and lose that train of thought?<\/p>\n

What propels you get your ideas out there as fast as possible<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

Great illustrations\/stories\/comics start with ideas first, execution second. If your idea doesn’t resonate with others<\/strong>, no amount of great execution can help \u2013\u00a0and on the other hand, if you have a great idea, execution is secondary to the transmission of the idea itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your fans (or non-fans) will figure it out sooner or later, no matter if it’s the former or the latter.<\/p>\n

More: Cyanide & Happiness<\/a><\/p>\n

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